The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1996
Robert G Arsenault, Stratford, CT (US);
Paul A Diel, Fairfield, CT (US);
Dale A French, Clinton, CT (US);
Joseph M Mozdzer, Beacon Falls, CT (US);
Steven J Shapiro, Monroe, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes, Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A postage metering system includes a portable postage meter vault; structure for printing an indication of postage value; a postage meter terminal including apparatus for receiving the portable postage meter vault, a device for determining at times when the portable postage meter vault is inserted into the receiving means if the portable postage meter vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions and a device for automatically disabling the portable postage meter vault from performing vault functions if the determination is made that the portable postage meter vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions. A method for disabling a portable vault of a postage metering system includes the steps of: (A) inserting the portable vault into a terminal of the postage metering system; automatically determining via the terminal if the portable vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions; and (C) at times when in step (B) it is determined that the portable vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions automatically disabling the inserted portable vault from performing vault functions.