Importance

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Abstract

A postage metering system includes a computer, a docking station, and a postage metering device. The computer includes an interface to receive postage information (i.e., from a user). The docking station couples to the computer, and the postage metering device operatively couples to the computer via the docking station (i.e., the postage metering device is removably coupled to the docking station). The postage metering device includes a secure metering device (SMD) that stores accounting information and, in some implementations, circuitry that performs secure processing. In some implementations, the postage metering device further includes a printer that couples to the SMD and prints indicia. In some implementations, the postage metering device is characterized at least by a 'docked' operating mode and an 'undocked' operating mode. The docked operating mode corresponds to the postage metering device being coupled to the computer, and the undocked operating mode corresponds to the postage metering device being uncoupled from the computer. Each operating mode is defined by a set of operating characteristics relating to, for example, funding of the metering device and printing of indicia.

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First Claim