A METHOD OF INHIBITING TOKEN GENERATION IN AN OPEN METERING SYSTEM

摘要

A method is provided for inhibiting the generation of digitaltokens in an open metering system that includes a host processor anda vault. The method includes the steps of generating in the hostprocessor a first digital token request that corresponds to a firstdestination identifier and a first postage amount; determining in thehost processor if one of the first destination identifier and the firstpostage amount is different than a prior destination identifier and aprior postage amount, respectively, that correspond to an immediatelypreceding digital token request; sending the first digital token requestto the vault when the first destination identifier and the first postageamount are different than the prior destination identifier and the priorpostage amount, respectively; and rejecting the first digital tokenrequest when the first destination identifier and the first postageamount are different than the prior destination identifier and the priorpostage amount, respectively. The method includes the further stepsof notifying a user when the first destination identifier and the firstpostage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier andthe prior postage amount; providing the user with a capability toconfirm that the first digital token request is valid; and sending thefirst digital token request to the vault when the user confirms that thefirst digital token request is valid.