ELECTRONIC POSTAGE METER SYSTEM HAVING INTERNAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND REMOVABLE EXTERNAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

摘要

A metering system includes means for printing postage value. Firstmeans are coupled to the printing means for accounting for value printedby the printing means. Second means are coupled to the printing meansfor accounting for value printed by said printing means. Meansdetermine which of the first and the second accounting means accountsfor value printed by said printing means. The system may be arrangedwhere the first accounting means is a smart card chip mounted internalto the metering system and the second accounting means is an externalsmart card. When the system is operable only one accounting system isrendered operable with priority given to the external smart card.