CA1268544A

CA1268544A - Postage meter communication system

Info

Publication number: CA1268544A
Application number: CA000534193A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Anthony Storace; Donatas V. Gasiunas
Original assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
Current assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
Priority date: 1986-04-10
Filing date: 1987-04-08
Publication date: 1990-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-01
Also published as: US4812992A; FR2597231A1; DE3712127A1; JP2598404B2; GB2188876B; GB8708632D0; GB2188876A; JPS62284492A; FR2597231B1; CH674589A5

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electronic postage meter has a communication port enabling communication between the postage meter and an external device for recharging an internal register of the postage meter.
A manual control such as a button on the postage meter effects the application of dialing signals to the communication port.
The manual control may effect the automatic dialing of a service center, for oral communication when a funding register in the postage meter has a value above a predetermined amount, and dialing signals of an accounting center to effect the recharging of the register when the register has a value stored down below the predetermined amount.

Description

5~
I

POSTAGE METER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a postage meter system and more in particular to a postage meter adapted for remote recharging and other communication.

_ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Postage meter devices have found wide application in many businesses. The device prin-ts a standard unit of value for governmental or private carrier delivery of parcels and mail. It is understood that the term "postage meter" also includes other like devices which provide a uni-t value me-tering capability.
One of the chief disadvan-tages of the postage me-ter devices as they are u-tilizecl today is the problem of recharging the postage meter with funds to be metered. A-t present, pos-tal regulations re~uired that the -funds be prepaid before metering commences. This re~uirement results in a pos-tage meter being physically -taken to a post office facility for recrediting or there being means for obtaining a remote recrediting of the me-ter device.

25~.00~.PIT 178 -1-~,~4 5~9!
\

Various schemes havs been devised and implemented to obtain ths desired remote recrediting based on information from a remote accounting station. Typical configurations are shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,792,446 to McFiggans, et. al. entitled "REMOTE POSTAGE METER RESETTING METHOD" and in U.S. Patent No.
4,097,923 to Eckert, Jr., et. al. entitled "POSTAGE METER
CHARGING SYSTEM USING AN ADVANCED MICROCOMPUTERIZED POSTAGE
METER." These patents teach a data center which is equipped with a programmed digital computer and a voice answer-back unit to process telephone calls from users of postage meters equipped either with a combination lock such that the lock prohibits recharging of the associated meter until it is unlocked or, in the case of U.S. Patent No. 4,097,923, of a working memory which contains a seed number for generating postage funding combinations to unlock the meter. The remote system of the lattsr patent includes the capability of adding variable amounts of postage to the postage meter. The teaching of U.S. Patent No. 3,792,446 relate only to the addition of a fixed increment to the meter.
U.S. Patent No. 3,255,439 to Sim;ian discloses a system in which ths meter communicates directly to a central accounting station for accounting for each and all of the metering operations either on a real time basis or in batches. Similar systems are disclosed for instance in w~st German Patcn' App]i~tion ~o. DE 2636852 published February 23, 1978 in which a 254.000.PIT-178 2-59~

data transmitting unit is employed to recharge the postage meter by way of telephone or telegraph lines. U.K. Application

2,147,853 published May 22, 1985 further discloses a telephone integrated with a mail franking device which will operate as either a telephone or a postage meter. The telephone key pad may used to set postal values and it is disclosed that the accounting may be done either in the device or in a central accounting unit.
`Each of the devices is limited in that there are required a number of complex operations in order for the user of the postage meter to assure that there are funds in the meter to be dispensed. In every case in t~e known pos-tage meters, where the meter funds are required to be updated, it is up to the user to realize that the funds in the meter are low and that the user should initiate a telephone call or take the meter to the Post Office in order to recredit the meter. In many cases, a low funds event may occur as the user is in the midst of a mailing run. Because the prior art devices typically have a lock-out feature to prevent meter operation when the funds get too low, the user is unable to continue with postage metering operations.
In such cases, the user e~periences dissatisfaction because one of the reasons for utilizing the remote recharging features of the pos-tage meter is to eliminate the problem of having to go to the Post Office and -to be able to obtain postage as needed.

25~.000.PIT-178 -3-~a~6135~

In addition, especially with respect to inexperienced users, the techni~ues or obtaining oral assistance from a service center are generally inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a postage meter monitors the funds remaining in its descending register and whenever the value reaches a predetermined level, an automatic dialing device establishes communication to initiate a funds transfer. An account corresponding to the posta~e meter is maintained at a remote accounting data center such as a bank.
Once communication -to the remote accounting cen-ter is established, the account of the postage meter user is verified to assure that sufficient funds are available for transfer to the postags meter. In the event that the account is verified as proper, a signal, preferably recredlting data encrypted to prevent fraud, is transmitted to the postage meter to update the credit register. Preferably, the predetermined threshold is selectable by the user to match his expeoted use of postage. For best results, the meter s-tores the signal indicating the necessity for recrediting of the register and communicates during an offpeak period such as nighttime when the cost of telephone communications are lower and when -the data center can be expected to encounter much less demand on its facilities. The calls from various postage meters may be staggered in order to avoid 254.000.PIT-178 -4-~6~3S~

overloading the system. To ensure -the integrity of the recharging operation, provision is made upon calling the data center to ascertain the identity of the calling meter location and then to break the connection and for the data center to immediately redial the location. Upon connec-tion the meter at the called location is polled for identification and the responding code compared with the prestored identity of the meter at such location. In response to verification, the meter funding registèr is then activated as described above. These verification operations take plac~ in a manner requiring no user intervention and thus are completely transparent to the user.
Preferably, the communications are established through a telephone exchange utilizing dual tone multifrequeney generators and receivers for decoding the data communicated be-tween the meter and remote accounting center. It will be understood that conventional communication through MODEM connec-tions are also contemplated. For best results, -the data is encrypted in both directions in order to block fraudulent at-tempts to recredit the register.
In accordance with the invention, the above features for recharging a postage meter may be enhanced by the provision of a manually controlled switch, such as a "help" button, on the pos-tage meter which, when depressed by the operator, automatically effects the recharging of the postage meter by establishment of communications with the data center. The 254.000.PIT-178 -5-~2~8~

operator may thus initiate -the recharging of the postage meter at a time when the meter is no-t to be used, without the necessit~
for waiting un-til automatically charging, for example, during the night.
In a still further feature of the invention, the manually operated switch or button on the postage meter may be alternatively employed to serve the function of applying dialing signals to the communications line corresponding to a service center,-so that the operator of the postage meter may initiate a telephone conversation, by way of an adjacent phone also connected to the communication line, to a service center, in order to obtain assistance in the use of the postage meter. This feature is of a special interest for economical low cost meters adapted to be employed domestically or in small business establishments, whereat the operators may no-t be Fully familiar with the operation of the postage meter. The "he].p" button in this instance thereby avoids the difficulty previously encountered in obtaining communication with a service center, in the location and the dialing of the number of the service cen-ter.
In accordanca with a still further feature of the invention, the "help" button may serve the function of effecting the dialing, i.e. the emission of dialing signals, of a service center when adequate funds are present in the meter, but alternatively automatically dials the data cen-ter for effecting the recharging of the postage meter when the funds are inadequate 254.000.PIT-178 -6-35~

for continued operation of the meter. Thus, if inoperativeness of a meter is due to the lack of adequate funding, the meter will be automatically recharged upon depression of the "help" button, whereas if other difficulties are pres~nted to the operator, in the presence of adequate funding, an oral communication will be established with the service center in order to obtain oral assistance.

Other aspects of this invention are as follows:
A remotely rechargeable electronic postage meter having a communication port, an accounting circuit including a descending register, communication control means coupled to said accounting circuit for applying dialling signals and coded identification signals to said communication port, said dialling signals corresponding to a data center and said identification signals including data identifying said meter and data dependent upon the contents of said descending register, said control means comprising means responsive to the receipt of determined coded signals at said port for modi~ying the contents of said register to correspond to a determined higher postage. printing value authorization, and a manuall~ controllable switch means on said meter means and coupled to said control means, said control means comprising first means responsive to operation o~ said switch means for automatically applying said dialling siynals and identification signals to said communication port whenever the contents of said descending register are at a value less than a predetermined value and third means responsive to the operation of said switch means when said register has a value higher than said lesser value for applying dialling signals corresponding to a service center to said port, thereby enabling establishment of a telephonic path to said service center to permit oral 7a communication between said service center and telephone means coupled to said port.
An electronic postage meter having a commu~ication port for accessing a telephone transmission path, an accounting circuit including a descending register for storing data corresponding to the value of postage which s~id meter is authorized to print, a communication control means coupled to said communication port for applying dialling signals thereto, and a manually operable switch accessible t.o an operator of said postage meter, said control means comprising means responsive to actuation of said switch means for automatically applying determined firs~ dialling signals to said communication port corresponding to the telephone number of a postage meter service center to enable the establishing of oral communication therebetween, said control means responsive to data in said register corresponding to a determined minimum value of postage printing authorization for said postage meter for inhibiting the application of said first dialling signals to said port and for instead applying second dialling signals corresponding to a second telephone number, along with coded meter identification and register content signals t3 said communication port upon actuation of said switch.
A method for operating an electronic postage meter having a communication port for accessing a telephone transmission path, an accounting circuit including a descending register for storing data corresponding to the value of postage which said meter is authorized to print, a communication control means coupled to said communication port for applying dialling signals thereto, and a manually operable switch accessible to an operator of said postage meter, said method comprising the steps of determining the value stored in said descending register; actuating said manually operable ~685~
7b switch; automatically applying predetermined f.irst dialling ~ignals to said com~unication port corresponding to the telephone nu~ber of a postage meter service center in response to actuation of said switch to enabl~ the establishing of oral communication therebetween; and inhibiting said ~tep of applying first dialling signals when said register ha~ data stored therein corresponding to an authoriz~d value lower than a predetermined amount and instead, in response to actuation of said switch and said lower value in said register, applying predetermined second dialling signals to said communication port corresponding to the telephone number o~ a postage data center for enabling 1~ recharging of said postage meter.
It is therefore an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a postage meter recharging system that is transparent to the postage meter user, hut that may be initiated by the user. It is a further object to provide a postage meter recharging system which will provide communication with the data center at a lower cost to the postage meter user and at a predetermined level of funds in the meter, preferably selectable by the user while enabling communication with a service center in a simple manner.

DESCRIPTTON OE' TH~ DRAWINGS
In order that the invention will be more clearly understood, it will now be disclosed in greater detail with reEerence to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram o~ a postage meter recharging system in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a postage meter in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of the operation of the postage meter;
Fig. 4 is a ~low chart of a communication routine for establishing communication batween tha postase meter and the remote accounting center;
Fig. 5 is a flow chart of the operation of the equipment at the remote accounting data center;
Fig. 6 is a flow chart of an alternate method of operation; and Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a modification of a part of the flow chart o~ Fig. 3 showing the use of a manual "Help"
button on the postags metar.
DESCRIPTION OF THE P~EFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to Fig. 1, a schematic block diagram of the remote meter funding system o~ this invention is shown. A
plurality of blocks 10 rapres~nt postage meter stations capable of communicatlng with a data center or remote accounting ~tation represented by block 12. The postage meter station~ communicate with remote accountlng center 12 via telephone exchange equipment generally illustratad by block 14. The transmitter-recei~er 16 at each station 10 is prefarably a DTMF generator-receiver combination such as for example, Motorola MC 14410 DTMF Generator Trq and GTE G8870A DTMF Receiver.

Data center 12 includes a similar generator-receiver shown at 18. Thls generator-receiver 18 wlll receive frequency encoded data lnput from the transmitter ~ecelver combination 16 at any of the stations 10 and transform this lnput lnto a suitable, machine language for a programmed or special purpose digital computer 20. The computer 20 may be, for example, a Data TM ~M
General "Nova". The computar in turn communicates back to the particular postage meter station 10 via the communication llne establlshed, by the telephone exchange equipment. It will appreciated that communication between each postage meter station and the remote accounting center could be by way of a MODEM as is well known in the art of computer communlcation.
The data center 12 i5 shown in conJunction with a customer servlce facility 22 for providlng human communication, if requlred, to the user o~ the postage meter statlon lO in order to provide help or in~ormation. In one embodlment of the charging system in accordance wlth the inventlon, the data center 12 may be in communication with a remote banking f acility 24 to provide a ~unds tran~er betwean an account maintalnsd at the banking facility 24 and the remote accounting center 12.
Typlcally, the postal meter station 10 wlll be used ln conJunction with a conventlonal telephone handset 26 coupled thereto.

s~

Referring now to Fig. 2, the general functional arrangement of the computeriz~d psstags meter station 10 of the present invention is illustrated.
Electronlc postage meters are known and are described, for instance, in U.S. Patent No. 3,978,457 for MICROCOMPUTERIZED ELECTRONIC POSTAGE METER SYSTEM and in U.S.
Patent No. 4,301,507 for ELECTRONIC POSTAG~ METER HAVING PLU~AL
COMPUTlNG SYSTEMS.

The heart of the system ls tha CPU or microprocessor 28 and it perform~ two basic functlons: per~ormance of calculations based on input data and controlling the flow of data between various memory unlts. Three basic memory unlts are employed with the CPU 28. The first is the ROM or permanent memory 30 which as is well known is a non-alt~rable memory stori~g the specific sequence of operatlons for parformlng postal data calculations in accorda~ce with cartain predetermined inputs a5 well as per~orming other routlnes for operatlng the system. The second memory unit is a temporary memory, RAM 32 which interacts with the CPU 28 for forming a temporary storage, holdlng and forwarding worklng data in accordance with the calculations being performed by the CPU 28. An addltional memory component, NVM 3~
which may be a battery backed RAM or other mamory capable of long term storage o~ data ls also coupled to the CPU 28. It will be understood that the data calculation may be performed and stored 5~

in battery backed RAM or an appropriate NVM of other known types.
The NVM 34 is a non-volatile memory which acts to s-tore certain critical information employed in the postal system. In~ormation stored in the temporary memory 32 which represents crucial accounting functions such as descending balances in a descending register or ascending credits in an ascending register and the like are stored in the nonvolatile memory 34 wherein -they may ba held while the machine is deenergized and then recalled upon a subsequent start-up. In this manner, the computer system may continually act upon these balances in the temporary memory 32 without fear of loss of this information upon shut-down.
Further, the information may be recalled on reactivation by start-up by retrieving it from the nonvolatile memory 34. The nonvolatile memory is shown as coupled to the CPU and deriving an output therefrom in accordance with the transfer of information from the temporary storage 32 under the control of the permanent memory 30 through the CPU 2~. The nonvolatila memory 34 is also shown as providing an output line coupled back into the CPU 28 for transferring the data back into and through the CPU 28 and into the temporary mamory 32 in accordance with the start-up routine under the control of the permanent memory 30.
The system operates in accordance with data applied from an appropriate input means 36. It will appreciated that the input means may include mechanical print value setting deviccs and switches in place of or in addition to a keypad. This data 254.000.PIT-178 -11-35~

is fed into the CPU 28 under control of the program in the permanent memory 30. At any time during the operation of the system, the contents of the temporary memory 32 storing the appropriate credit, debit, balances, or other accumulations in accordance with the various features of the system could be made available by an appropriate instruction provided by the input means 36 or communicated to the meter. This causes the CPU 28 to access the desired location in temporary memory 32, thereby storing-the information requested. The information may also be provided through the CPU 28 into the output display unit 38.
Further in accordance with the invention, there is shown a clock 40 connected to -the CPU for the purpose of providing time and date information to the CPU. Such clocks are well known and may comprise for instance an LSI logic circuit in combination with a quartz-crystal controlled oscillator. In connection therewith, there is provided a timeout device coupled to the clock 40 and the CPU 28. The timeout device operates to measure the time during which the meter is without power. Since the meter of the present invention is designed to be operative only at one specific location, it is assumed that an inordinate time without power may be indicative of an attempt to change the location of the meter. The use of the timeout signal will be explained further below. The dater wheels indicated at 42, which are typically positioned manually, have encoders 44 coupled thereto which provide date wheel positioning information -to the 254.000.PIT-178 -12-~2685~
C~U. A suitable arrangement is shown for example in U.S. Patent 4,060,720 to Check.
As previously describad with respect to Fig. 1, a DTMF
Transmitter and Receiver combinatlon 16 is coupled to the CPU and to an output port 46 for establishing communication and for communications between the remote accounting center and the CPU
under the control of the CPU or the remote accounting center.
Fig. 3 illustrates in a flow chart the operation of a postage meter in accordance with the invention. Once the postage meter station 10 is installsd, the mster program proceeds through its initializing routines shown at block 100; Thereafter as descrlbed more fully below the meter will continuously loop throu~h its routines to check meter parameters and input conditions and to prlnt postaga as desired by the user.
As shown ln block 110 the meter program proceeds through housekeeping routines such as those described for instance in U.S. 4,301,507 for monltoring various meter conditions. The routine then proceeds to decision block 120 to check whether the fundq in the descending reglster have been dacremented to a predetermined threshold level. Preferably this threshold level i9 set in accordance with the user's desires. Thls may be accomplished either through preset values ln the program stored in ROM or through communication between the installed meter and the remote accounting center.

~6~15~

If the threshold value has been reached further checks decision block 130 to determine if a predetermined time has been reached. If the time is appropriate, the communication routine shown as block 300 and described in conjunction with Fig. 4 is called and communication is established at port 46 through the telephone exchange to the remote accounting center 12. It will be appreciated that it is preferable that the calls which may be made to the remote accounting center be staggered in order that the center be able to accommodate the various postage meter stations. Accordingly the predetermined intervals may preset in the permanent program memory or may be downloaded to the postage meter station at the initial communication between the postage meter and the remote accounting center.
If however the threshold value has not been reached or the threshold was reached and funds have been recredited to the meter, the program proceeds -to block 140 which is a routine to set print wheel value (in conjunction with block 4~, Fig. 1).
Typically the print wheels wlll remaln set at the previously selected value since the ma~ority of letters will probably not weigh more than that requiring the minimum postage. Known electronic postage meters conventionally use stepping motors for the purpose of setting the print wheels to a value commanded from a keyboard. The block 140 will also be understood to encompass the manual selec-tion of printwheel positions through mechanical coupling between the setting means and the print wheels and the verification of each print wheel position.

254.000.PIT-178 -14-~%6~3S~

At decision block 150 the value stored in the descending register is compared to a meter lockout value to determine for instance whether there are funds available for metering even though ths predete~mined recrediting thresho.ld has been reached.
If the meter lockout point has been reached the program branches to block 400 to display a message to the user, for example,"CALL
CUS~OMER ASSISTANCE" or the like. When funds remain, the program decision block 160 checks to see if a postage prlnting has been commanded. I~ no printing has been initiated, the program loops back. If a print cycle has b2en requested, the descending register is decremented and the ascendiny register is incremented as illustratsd in blocks 170 and 180. ~he program moved to block 190 where the printer prints the selected postal value and the program returns to block 110.
Fig. ~ is a ~low chart of a communication routlne called by khe postage meter program in the event that funds in the descending register have baen decrementad to the previously set threshold value. $he routine 310 signals the DTMF transmitter-receiver 16 to dial the preselected telephone numb2r o~ the remote accounting center 12 and establishes communication between the postage meter and the remote accounting center. It will understood that various "handshaking" procedures are well known and may be utillzed for establishin~ valid communication.

Sui-table protocols are descr~bed in U.S. 4,253,158 and in previously cited U.S.

5~
4,097,923. As shown in block 320 the program falls to a transmit meter data information block. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that all of the required meter data can be transmitted to the remote accounting center in a group of tone signals or the information may be transmitted piecemeal in response to queries from the computer in tha remote accounting center.
The program then remains in an idle loop until the register recrediting data i5 received at block 340. For best results the recrediting information transmitted by the remote accounting center to the postage ~eter must be encrypted to prevent fraudulent register update~ being sent to the meter by unscrupulous partles. Accordlngly, the block 340 also includes a routine for decryptlng data that has been encrypted by the computer in the remote accounting center for transmission to the particular individual postage meter. A s~litable encryption scheme is described for example ln U.S. 3,792,446.

Upon assuring that the meter has received proper and authentic register recrediting information from the remote accounting center, the program performs the update of the descending register at block 360 and returns to the main program illustrated in Fig. 3.

~26~S~

Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the sequence of operations carried on at the remote accounting center upon communication being established between the postage meter and the accounting center. The instant routine is initiated by a telephone connection being established between the postage meter and the remote accounting center. As described previously in connection with Fig. 4, the counterpart "handshake" is achieved in block 400. Once the communication is established, the program falls ~o--block 410 to request the meter to transmit meter data to the computer. The data to be transmitted includes at least the meter I.D. number and the values in the descending and ascending registers in the meter.
The computer then proceeds to verify that the account is valid and that sufficient funds are available in decision block 440. If funds are not available the program branches to block 450 to alert customer service that there are no funds for -transfer to this particular meter. Assuming that there are sufficient funds, register update information, preferably encrypted as described above, is transmitted to the meter via the telephone connection, block 460. The user's account ls debited, block 470, and if the funds available have reached a predetermined threshold level, decision block 480, customer billing is notified.

;

254.000.PIT-178 -17-Fig.6 shows an alternative method for maintaining the user's account. In accordance with this method the user's funds are maintained in a fund in a bank. Whenever the postage meter is to be recredited, the user's account is verified and the postage meter recrediting information is transmitted. The ~unds to cover the recrediting are transferred from the bank to the remote accounting center, block 520. The advantage o this arrangement is that the user's funds can be drawing interest instead of being tied-up in the account for directly funding the meter.~
In accordance with -the invention, a manually operated control, such as a "help" button is provided on -the postage meter, such as the help button 600 illustrated in Fig. 2 connected to the CPU. The help button 600 may be connected to control an interrup-t o the CPU, or it may be connected to a port scanned by the postage meter program in accordance with conventional practice. While the actuation of the help button 600 may ef~ect the control the postage meter in a number of different manners, for example, for signaling for assistance and/or signaling for recharging of the postage meter, one technique that may be employed is illustrated in the flow diagram of FigO 7. In this flow diagram, a test block 602 is illustrated batween the procedures of the housekeeping routines llO and testing ~or the amount of the funds in block 120 (as provided in Fig. 3). The block 602 tests for the condition of actuation o~

254.000.PIT-178 -18-the push button 600. As discussed above, the help button may alternatively control an interrupt of the program.
As illustrated in FigO 7, if the push button 600 has been actuated, a test is made at block 604 to determine if the postage meter has adequate funds to continue operation. This may be effected by determining if there are no funds remaining in the postage meter, or if the funds are at such a low level, for example, lower than the test value T of block 120, that further operat`ion of the meter is not feasible. If the funds available are that low, upon the actuation of the push button, the communication routine is called at block 608, to effect the recharging of the postage meter in the manner discussed above, the program then returning to the housekeeping routines.
If, however, ade~uate funds are provided in the postage meter, the program effects the dialing of the service center number at block 606, so that the operator of the postage meter is merely re~uired to pick up the ad;acent telephone receiver upon answering of the call by the service center. It is of course apparent that blocks 604 and 606 may be omitted to effect the direct recharging of the postage meter by depression of the help button at all times, or that the blocks 604 and 608 may be omitted to employ the help but-ton solely for the calling of the service center number.

~';

254.000.PIT-178 -19-20 ~.~6~4~

Other variations and modlfications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AM EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A remotely rechargeable electronic postage meter having a communication port, an accounting circuit including a descending register, communication control means coupled to said accounting circuit for applying dialling signals and coded identification signals to said communication port, said dialling signals corresponding to a data center and said identification signals including data identifying said meter and data dependent upon the contents of said descending register, said control means comprising means responsive to the receipt of determined coded signals at said port for modifying the contents of said register to correspond to a determined higher postage printing value authorization, and a manually controllable switch means on said meter means and coupled to said control means, said control means comprising first means responsive to operation of said switch means for automatically applying said dialling signals and identification signals to said communication port whenever the contents of said descending register are at a value less than a predetermined value and third means responsive to the operation of said switch means when said register has a value higher than said lesser value for applying dialling signals corresponding to a service center to said port, thereby enabling establishment of a telephonic path to said service center to permit oral communication between said service center and telephone means coupled to said port.

2. The electronic postage meter of Claim 1 wherein said control weans comprises second means responsive to the reduction of the value stored in said descending register to a predetermined first value for applying said dialling signals and identification signals to said communication port only at determined times during a day.

3. An electronic postage meter having a communication port for accessing a telephone transmission path, an accounting circuit including a descending register for storing data corresponding to the value of postage which said meter is authorized to print, a communication control means coupled to said communication port for applying dialling signals thereto, and a manually operable switch accessible to an operator of said postage meter, said control means comprising means responsive to actuation of said switch means for automatically applying determined first dialling signals to said communication port corresponding to the telephone number of a postage meter service center to enable the establishing of oral communication therebetween, said control means responsive to data in said register corresponding to a determined minimum value of postage printing authorization for said postage meter for inhibiting the application of said first dialling signals to said port and for instead applying second dialling signals corresponding to a second telephone number, along with coded meter identification and register content signals to said communication port upon actuation of said switch.

4. The electronic postage meter of Claim 3 wherein said recharging control means comprises automatic means responsive to a data in said register corresponding to a second value higher than said minimum value for automatically applying said second dialling signals and coded signals to said port.

5. The electronic postage meter of Claim 4 wherein said automatic means comprises means for applying said second dialling signals and coded signals to said port automatically only during determined times of the day, in response the occurence of data corresponding to said second value in said register during or preceding said times of the day.

6. A method for operating an electronic postage meter having a communication port for accessing a telephone transmission path, an accounting circuit including a descending register for storing data corresponding to the value of postage which said meter is authorized to print, a communication control means coupled to said communication port for applying dialling signals thereto, and a manually operable switch accessible to an operator of said postage meter, said method comprising the steps of determining the value stored in said descending register; actuating said manually operable switch; automatically applying predetermined first dialling signals to said communication port corresponding to the telephone number of a postage meter service center in response to actuation of said switch to enable the establishing of oral communication therebetween; and inhibiting said step of applying first dialling signals when said resister has data stored therein corresponding to an authorized value lower than a predetermined amount and instead, in response to actuation of said switch and said lower value in said register, applying predetermined second dialling signals to said communication port corresponding to the telephone number of a postage data center for enabling recharging of said postage meter.