Postal franking meter used as a trusted gateway

摘要

A trusted gateway system for a proof-of-postage system. The system includes a postage meter system, a secure accounting and financial system for providing secure information to the meter, a secure connection between the meter and accounting and financial system providing at least authentication and encryption between the meter and the financial system and accounting, and a user interface, remotely coupled to the meter and adapted to allow a user to access the meter functionality with respect to the accounting and financial system.