DATA CENTER FOR REMOTE POSTAGE METER RECHARGING SYSTEM HAVING PHYSICALLY SECURE ENCRYPTING APPARATUS AND EMPLOYING ENCRYPTED SEED NUMBER SIGNALS

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA data center for remote postage meter rechargingreceives resetting signal information to reset a remotelylocated postage meter. The remotely located postage meterhas signal information stored therein for use in rechargingthe meter with additional postage in conjunction with asignal information received from the data center and enteredinto the meter. The data center includes a sealed unit forprocessing received resetting signal information and encryptedsignal information stored at the data center outside of thesealed unit. The stored encrypted signal information at thedata center is equivalent to the signal information storedin the remotely located postage meter. The sealed unitincludes a decrypter for decrypting the encrypted signalinformation so that it may be combined with the resettingsignal information to generate a signal for use in resettingthe remotely located postage meter. The sealed unit alsoincludes an encrypter for encrypting information to provideupdated encrypted signal information to be stored at the datacenter outside of the sealed unit for use when the remotelylocated postage meter is again to be reset with additionalpostage.