Importance

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Abstract

The postage meter terminal has the ability to telecommunicate with a remote central computer for the principal purpose of remotely resetting the funding registers of the postage meter terminal. During the telecommunication and subsequent to completing meter recharge, the postage meter terminal can be remotely inspected by the central computer. The terminal includes a microprocessor control system which is programmed to generating inspection data and store that data in a memory unit. The microprocessor control system also includes a random number generator for generating a random number within a limited range. Each number within the range of random number selections corresponds to a respective scrambling technique executable by the microprocessor system. The method of remote inspection is carried out by the microprocessor control system storing desired inspection data in the terminal memory unit generating a random number and then creating a data word of the inspection data and the random number. The data word is then partitioned into a first and second partition. The first partition of the data word including the random number selection at a predetermined bit location within the first data word portion. The second partition of the data word is scrambled pursuant to the scrambling techniques which corresponds to the random number. The data word may then be encrypted utilizing the encryption key which was generated during the remote reset process and communicating the data to the central computer via the communication port. The central computer can then decrypt the encrypted data word since it is aware of the encryption key used to complete the remote meter reset. The central computer then retrieves the random number and descrambles the second portion of the data work according. The central computer is thereby informed of the inspection data for that particular postage meter terminal.

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First Claim