Postage metering system and method for automatic detection of remote

Abstract

A postage metering system includes a plurality of printer modules connected as part of a network and operating as clients on the network. Postal security devices (PSDs) are coupled the clients. Each PSD is local to the coupled client functioning as a host to the PSD and remote to the other of the plurality of clients. The PSD includes unique identification, postal value storage and a digital signature generator. The clients function as a postage metering network wherein a client requests evidence of postage payment from a remote PSD for concluding postage metering transactions. Each of the clients determines which of the remote PSDs are available for metering transactions on the network by broadcast messages and requests. In one embodiment, a broadcast request for the identity of remote PSDs whose host is logged onto the network is sent over the network by a client when the client logs onto the network. Additional broadcast requests are periodically sent over the network by the client to other clients logged onto the network. Broadcast messages indicating the unique identification of the PSD coupled to a host are sent over the network by the host when the host logs onto the network. Additional broadcast messages are sent periodically over the network by the host. Another broadcast message indicating that a PSD is no longer available is sent over the network by the host when it logs off the network. In alternate embodiments a network server controls broadcast requests and messages.