Virtual security device

Abstract

A system and method for remote postage metering of postage indicia, including demanding a desired postage amount and subsequently printing the postage indicia onto a piece of mail. A user inputs certain necessary information, as well as additional desired information, into a local processor-based system. The local system then assembles a postage demand in suitable format and transmits the same to a remote postage metering device. The remote postage metering device then verifies the demand for authority to demand and valid funding. Upon verification, the remote postage meter serves the transaction by configuring a shared device using virtual user device data structures and assembles a data packet representing an authorized postage indicia. The data packet is transmitted to the local system for printing. Printing of the postage indicia may be unaccompanied, or may include additional information. Such additional information may include destination and return address, machine readable routing or identification information, or a complete document to be posted.

1 . A computer program product having computer program logic recorded on a computer readable medium for providing remote postage metering of postage indicia, said computer program product comprising: 
 a platform independent program operable to communicate a demand for postage to a remote metering system and to print a postage indicia generated as a result of said demand.    
   
   
       2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said demand is communicated from said platform independent program to said remote metering system via the Internet.  
   
   
       3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein platform independent program is operable within a browser.  
   
   
       4 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 code for providing a web page, said web page comprising said platform independent program.    
   
   
       5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program is operable on a general purpose computer.  
   
   
       6 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein said general purpose computer is selected from the group consisting of an IBM compatible computer and a MACINTOSH computer.  
   
   
       7 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program is operable on a general purpose operating system.  
   
   
       8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein said general purpose operating system is selected from the group consisting of a disk operating system and a UNIX operating system.  
   
   
       9 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program interfaces with a separate program which provide functionality unrelated to said platform independent program.  
   
   
       10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein said separate program is selected from the group consisting of a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, an accounting program, a database program, and a graphics program.  
   
   
       11 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program utilizes a cryptographic key for encrypting said demand for postage.  
   
   
       12 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program utilizes a cryptographic key for decrypting a data packet returned from said remote metering system in response to said demand.  
   
   
       13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein said data packet includes information corresponding to said postage indicia.  
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a data packet including information corresponding to said postage indicia returned from said remote metering system in response to said demand.    
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein said data packet includes postage credit value encoded therein.  
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said postage credit value is deducted from a secure memory of said remote metering system.  
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program is further operable to calculate an amount of said postage as a function of mailing parameters input to said platform independent program.  
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program is further operable to size said postage indicia as a function of printing media information.  
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program is further operable to communicate address information to said remote metering system for validation.  
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said platform independent program is further operable to obtain address information related to said postage indicia from a separate program operable upon a same host system as said platform independent program.  
   
   
       21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein said separate program comprises a word processing program.  
   
   
       22 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein said demand includes funding information for funding said postage indicia.  
   
   
       23 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a log file including information with respect to operation of a secure device of said remote postage metering system utilized in generating said postage indicia, said log file further including information therein for determining alteration of said log file.    
   
   
       24 . A method for printing a postage indicia, said method comprising: 
 accepting printing format information including information with respect to media upon which said postage indicia is to be printed;    determining a size of said postage indicia as a function of said printing format information; and    printing said postage indicia.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of said printing format information is accepted from a process selected from the group consisting of a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, an accounting program, a database program, and a graphics program.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 determining an amount of said postage indicia as a function of said printing format information.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 determining information to include in said postage indicia as a function of said printing format information.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said accepting printing format information and said determining a size of said postage indicia is performed by a platform independent program operable upon a general purpose computer.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 communicating a demand for postage to a remote metering system, wherein said postage indicia is generated as a result of said demand.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said information with respect to media upon which said postage indicia is to be printed comprises information with respect to a size of an envelope.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said information with respect to media upon which said postage indicia is to be printed comprises information with respect to a size of a label.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 updating a log file to include information with respect to said postage indicia being generated, said log file including information with respect to operation of a secure device of a postage meter apparatus generating said postage, said log file further including information therein for determining alteration of said log file.    
   
   
       33 . A method for generating postage, said method comprising: 
 providing a remote processor-based system for generating postage;    providing a demand for postage from a processor-based system to said remote processor-based system, said demand comprising information with respect to a destination of a postal item for which said postage is to be used;    changing at least a portion of said destination information by said remote processor-based system; and    generating postage in response to said demand, wherein said destination information as changed by said remote processor-based system is utilized in generating said postage.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said information with respect to said destination is provided by a program operable upon a general purpose processor-based system.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said program is selected from the group consisting of a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, an accounting program, a database program, and a graphics program.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said changing at least a portion of said destination information comprises: 
 updating a destination address.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said changing at least a portion of said destination information comprises: 
 adding additional destination address information.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said changing at least a portion of said destination information comprises: 
 providing forwarding address information.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said changing at least a portion of said destination information comprises: 
 providing a destination address from a shorthand designation of said destination information.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said demand is provided by a platform independent program.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said platform independent program is operable upon a general purpose computer.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said platform independent program is operable within a browser.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 accepting printing format information including information with respect to media upon which said postage is to be printed; and    determining a size a postage indicia representing said postage as a function of said printing format information.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 updating a log file to include information with respect to said generating postage in response to said demand, said log file including information with respect to operation of a secure device of a postage meter apparatus generating said postage, said log file further including information therein for determining alteration of said log file.    
   
   
       45 . A postage metering system comprising: 
 a log file including information with respect to operation of a secure device of a postage meter apparatus, said log file further including information therein for determining alteration of said log file.    
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said log file is stored on a bulk storage device of said postage meter apparatus.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein said bulk storage device comprises a general purpose disk drive.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information with respect to operation of said secure device comprises information with respect to transactions involving value exchange.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information with respect to operation of said secure device comprises ascending register information.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information with respect to operation of said secure device comprises descending register information.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information with respect to operation of said secure device is used to compare with information used by said secure device in operation to detect a replay attack with respect to said secure device.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information with respect to operation of said secure device comprises information regarding the status of registers of said secure device after completion of a transaction.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information with respect to operation of said secure device comprises a demand data packet.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information with respect to operation of said secure device comprises a data packet issued in response to a demand.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information with respect to operation of said secure device comprises information with respect to an indicia created using said secure device.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said log file further includes identification information to identify a particular secure device said log file is associated with.  
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said log file further includes a digital signature of at least one of said information with respect to operation of said secure device and said information for determining alteration of said log file.  
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said log file further includes timing information.  
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein said timing information provides information with respect to a time of each log entry's generation.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said secure device includes information with respect to a last time of audit between said secure device and said log file.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information for determining alteration of said log file comprises counter information.  
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein said counter information is incremented for each entry of information with respect to operation of said secure device made with respect to said log file.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein said counter information is also stored within said secure device.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein said secure device compares said counter information stored within said secure device with said counter information stored within said log file to detect tampering with said log file.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said information for determining alteration of said log file is used to detect a replay attack with respect to said log file.  
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 a master ascending register, said master ascending register being used in combination with said log file to detect tampering with respect to said postage meter apparatus.    
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 a master descending register, said master descending register being used in combination with said log file to detect tampering with respect to said postage meter apparatus.    
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said log file is controlled to remove oldest entries, wherein only log entries aged to a particular threshold are maintained in the log file.