ADVANCE POSTAGE PAYMENT SYSTEM EMPLOYING PRE-COMPUTED DIGITAL TOKENS AND WITH ENHANCED SECURITY

摘要

A method and system for postage payment include the generation of a plurality of dispensable discrete items of encrypted data. Each of said item s of encrypted data, which may be digital tokens, have a specific value. The generated plurality of discrete items of encrypted data are stored on a portable mediu m. A prepayment value is also stored on the portable medium. The stored plurality of discrete items of encrypted which are dispensable is limited based on the prepayment value stored on the portable medium. The medium may be a device or member having memory means for storing a plurality of dispensable tokens. Means to account for digital tokens dispensed from the memory means. The portable member or device may have a housing with a register means within said housing. The postage prepayment value is stored in the register. The plurality of discrete items of encrypted data is stored in the housing with each of the items of encrypted data adapted to be formatted for printing. Means with in said housing are coupled to the plurality of discrete items of encrypted dat a and to said prepayment register for enabling at least one selected item of encrypte d data to be communicated outside of the housing if the value stored in register is at least equal to the specific value of the selected item of encrypted data.