MXPA97010020A - Method and apparatus for disabling a retired case device of a possessing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a postal postage measuring system that includes a portable postage meter box, the structure for printing an indication of the value of the postage a postage measuring terminal that includes an apparatus for receiving the box portable franchise meter, a device to be determined at times when the postal franchise box is inserted in the receiving medium, if the postal franking measurement box has been designated as incapacitated to perform box functions, and a device for automatically disable the portable postal franq measurement box to perform cash functions, if the determination is made that it has been designated as incapacitated to exercise cash functions. A method to decapacitate a portable box from a postage meter system is also presented, which includes the stages of A) inserting the portable box into a terminal of the franchise meter system; B) automatically determining via the terminal whether the box or device portable has been deregulated as incapacitated to perform cash functions, and CO in case that in stage B) it has been determined that the portable box is unable to perform box functions, automatically disable the inserted box or portable device to perform functions of AC

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABILITIZING A RETIREMENT BOX DEVICE FROM A POSTAL FRANCHISING SYSTEM DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to a postal postage meter system utilizing a removable safe device and more particularly a method and apparatus for automatically disabling the operation of a remote accounting safe device. Postage measuring systems are well known and typically include a keyboard, a display, an accounting circuitry and a printing mechanism. The keyboard and the screen operate together to allow communication between the postage meter operator and the postage meter itself in order to identify the amount of postal postage to be provided. The accounting circuitry includes a plurality of records that are intended to maintain a ratio of the postage amount still available in the postage meter and to deduct the amount of postage donated for an individual postage transaction from the amount of postage available. Conventional postage meters are also able to communicate with a remote data center through a modem and telephone line in order to recharge the funds in the meter. This is communicating in a secure way with the remote data center, additional funds can be added to the meter at the discretion of the meter user. Furthermore, the same communication link with the data center can be used for code information, withdraw funds of the meter and obtain critical inspection data from the meter for a subsequent analysis with reference to the operation of the meter or to know if fraudulent attempts have been made against the meter. In a large majority of conventional postage meters the accounting circuitry, the board and the screen, and the printing mechanism are all within the same warehouse to define a self-contained franking unit- Therefore when a user no longer requires the use of the meter, a service representative of the postage meter manufacturer must be sent to the user and use specialized codes to withdraw funds from the meter. Subsequent to the withdrawal of funds from the meter, the customer service representative returns the postage meter to the postal authority to officially remove the service meter. The postal authority then returns to the customer the funds that were withdrawn and not used. The postal authority also initializes the meter, so that it can subsequently be sent for another user to use.

The procedure indicated requires a large amount of manual meter handling, is time-consuming and requires a large ratio system for each meter. In order to overcome the problems associated with the return of the meter, in the US patent application No. 08 / 701,946 filed on August 27, 1996, and entitled "APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE DEDUCTION OF FUNDS FROM A POSTAL POSTAGE METER" describe a method and apparatus for using the communication link with the remote data center to securely remove all funds from the postage meter thus eliminating the need for the representative to service the customer. However, since the physical postage meter must be sent to the post office it is still necessary a great manual work on the meter. U.S. Patent 4,802,218 issued to Wright and asoc. describes a postage measurement system that uses a portable external accounting box. In the structure of Wright the circuitry is not contained within the main container of the postage meter, but it is an external card box that tac. inserted into a recess of the card reader contained within the postage meter system container. The user card has its own microprocessor and associated memories that allow it to communicate with the rest of the postage meter including the screen, the keyboard and the printing mechanism, through the card reader- Thus the user of the card can perform all the accounting functions outlined above so that when the card box is removed from the deposit the remaining portion of the measurement system It can not work to give postage. By incorporating the postage meter circuitry in a portable card box, a great flexibility capacity is provided to the user of the total measurement system. J? Fctt is a single base terminal having a single print and display function can receive a plurality of individual card users to provide postage while ensuring that only the card that is inserted into the card reader is Take into account for that specified postage donated. Therefore, in a single company with many departments, each department can have an accounting box card that will keep a relation of the amount of postage when it is provided by that department each time the corresponding card is used. Additionally, the base terminals can be placed in various places in the community such as a transaction terminal, for example, the grocery store and individual users can have their respective cards to insert them into the base terminal and allow the printing of the postage data in Your pieces that have to be sent by mail. Therefore, instead of having a great cost associated with a single auto content meter, user card boxes can be obtained almost free of charge and used by a plurality of individual users in the single transaction terminal. This greatly reduces the total cost for the measurement system. Also, since the single transaction terminal of the measurement system does not have accounting data, there is no reason why the transaction terminals need to receive the postal service inspection. In this configuration only the individual cards have real interest in the postal service since that is where the postage funds are. It is obvious that the physical handling and the sending of a user card box is much simpler and can be done more economically than if all the postage meter were returned to the post office. Also in the United States where only the meters can be rented, the terminal of the measurement system can be a component that is obtained by the user and only the individual card boxes have to be rented and accounted for by the postal service. Although the above flexibility provides an important advantage to a multi-department company and supports the concept of having transaction terminals open to the public that can accommodate individual card boxes, it presents other problems, for example, the problem discussed above with respect to putting alone postage meters, there is still some degree, since if the user does not need the card box, it must be returned to the post office to be fully accounted for. Furthermore, in the situation where the individual box is lost or stolen, it can be used by anyone and take out all the postage left in the individual user's card box in the terminal of the postage measuring system. Although the use of personal identification numbers associated with each card case would help prevent its use by an unauthorized person, this is not a sufficiently protective feature. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for automatically deactivating a removable portable box from a postage measuring system subsequent to the case that said portable and removable card box is mentioned as lost or stolen or is no longer need by the user. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for deactivating or disabling a card of a postage meter system so that the removable portable card can be discarded by the user and considered destroyed by the respective postal service. The above objectives are met by providing a postage measuring system including a postage measuring box, a structure to print an indication of the value of the postage; a postage measuring terminal including an apparatus for receiving the portable box, a device for determining at times when the box or card has been inserted, in the receiving means if that device or card box has been designed to deactivate it and that no longer perform the cash functions if the determination is made that it has been designed and providing a method to deactivate or disable the portable cash register of a postage measuring system that will have the following steps: A) insert the device or portable card in a terminal of the postage measurement system; B) automatically determine the termination if the portable card has been designed to be disabled to perform cash functions; and C) sometimes when in step B) it is determined which device or card has been designed to be deactivated from the box functions, automatically disable "to the inserted portable card to perform box functions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings that are incorporated into the specification and form a part thereof, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and together with the general description given above and the detailed description that follows, serve to explain the principles of the invention. invention. Figure 1 is a schematic electrical block diagram of a postage meter embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a flow chart of the inventive method for disabling the postage meter card or box device. Referring to Figure 1, the postage meter 1 includes two primary modules, a base module 3 and a print head module 5 each of which is contained within a container defining a unit transaction terminal 6. The module base 3 includes a smart card reader 8 that receives a smart card or device 7, and a base microprocessor 9. The smart card device 7 has a central processing unit 7a, RAM 7b, and a non-volatile memory (NVM) 7C that together with the operating programs stored in NVM 7c allow the card 7 to perform the accounting functions of the postage meter 1. This is the smart card 7 has the ability to download there, from a remote data center 10, a predetermined amount of postal funds by communicating securely with the data center 10 via a modem 11 and a transaction micro-processor 9. In addition during each postage transaction, the card in teligente 7 checks if there are enough funds. If there are sufficient funds the card 7 discounts the amount of a downward register, adds the amount to an ascending register and sends the postage amount to the printhead module 5 via the microprocessor 9. The ascending and descending registers are not shown They are in NVM 7c. The transaction microprocessor 9 also sends the date data to the module 5 so that a conventional postal indication image can be printed on the piece that is sent by mail. The smart box card 7 governs the postage funds with the ascending register representing the spent amount of life of the franking funds, the downward registration represents the amount of funds available, and a checksum record represents the total amount that is current. Card 7 has been accredited. Other features of card 7 that may be included are a counter-per-piece register, encipherment algoritfor encoding the information sent to the printhead module 5, and software to require the user to use a personal identification number that must be verified by the cash microprocessor 7 before authorizing a postage transaction. The transaction microprocessor 9 acts as a transit agent by coordinating and assisting in the transfer of information along line 12 and module 5, as well as coordinating various support functions necessary to complete the measurement function. The microprocessor 9 includes RAM 9a, ROM 9b and the central processing unit 9c to provide the effective realization of the measurement operation programs stored in ROM 9b to fulfill the coordination functions discussed. The microprocessor 9 also interacts with the keypad 13 to transfer the information put by the user via the keys 13a (such as number NIP postage number) to the smart box card 7. Additionally, the microprocessor 9 sends data to a crystal presentation liquid 14 by means of an impeller / controller 15 for the purpose of presenting the user's inputs or asking him to put new entries. In addition, the microprocessor 9 provides power and re-establishes the signal to the box microprocessor 7 along the lines 17, 19 upon detection of the insertion of the card 7 in the card reader 8 by a conventional electric switch, a clock 20 provides information of time and data. to the transaction microprocessor 9. Alternatively the clock 20 can be eliminated and the function performed by the microprocessor 9. The postage meter 1 also includes a conventional power supply 21 which conditions the coarse AC voltages. from a wall mounted transformer 23 to provide the regulated and unregulated voltages for the meter 1. The voltages exit through the lines 25, 27 and 29 to the print engine 31 and to all the logic circuits. The motor 31 serves to control the movement of the print head with respect to the data to be printed. The base microprocessor 9 controls the power supply to the motor 31 to ensure proper stopping and starting of the print head 33 after the smart box card authorizes a transaction. The base module 3 also includes a motion encoder 35 which processes the movement of the motor or 31 so as to determine the exact position of the print head 33. The signals from the encoder 35 are sent to the module 5 to coordinate the energization of the the individual printing elements 33a on the head 33 with the placement of the head 33. Alternatively, the * encoder 35 can be eliminated and the pulses applied to the stepper motor 31 that are counted to determine the placement of the head 33 and to coordinate the energization of the elements of the print head 33a. The printing module 5 includes the head 33, a head driver 37, and a drawing machine 39 (which can be a microprocessor or a specific application integrated circuit (ASIC)), a microprocessor 41 and a non-volatile memory 43 NVM 43 has stored the image data of the fixed indications and image data for each set of printing that may be required as part of the variable data. The microprocessor 41 receives a printed order, amount of postage and data through the transaction microprocessor 9. The postage amount and the date are sent by the microprocessor 41 to the drawing machine 39 which then accesses the non-volatile memory 43 to obtain image data that is sent by the drawing machine 39 when driving of the print head 37 in order to energize the elements 33a to produce a single column of indication template. The generation column by column of the indications is synchronized with the movement of the print head 33, until all indications are produced. As discussed previously, there are two important disadvantages in using a portable and removable accounting device in a measurement system. The first thing is, when a user no longer needs the measurement system, the accounting device must be changed in the postal authority and its individuals followed until it is properly disposed of. The second disadvantage occurs when the portable accounting device is lost or stolen. Well then, in either case anyone who owns the portable box can use it on any compatible measuring terminal to spend the postage value that exists on the portable account device. When this occurs, whether the user loses the value of the postage given illegally, the postal authority will not obtain the profit of such postage, or the manufacturer of the device will have to reimburse the user, depending on the governmental and business policies with respect to the devices of portable accounting that have been stolen. In order to overcome the established problems, the present invention makes use of the communications link between the postage meter 1, and the data center 10, to disable the smart card 7, from operating as an authorized box subsequent to reported, lost, stolen, or the user no longer needs it. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the deactivation by the invention of the card 7 will be described. In the SI stage, a user of the postal meter reports to the data center 10, the serial number (or other identification), of the card box 7, esp. € >It also includes information on whether it has been lost, stolen or if the user does not need it. This information can be transmitted by a manual operation, where the user calls by telephone to the data center, and verbally provides the information or can be done by the postage meter 1. That is, one of the keypad buttons 13b, can be designated for this purpose of reporting. If that button is pressed by the user, the postage meter 1, by programming in the transaction micro processor 9, will do the following 1) request the user to enter the serial number of the card box 7, and an indication of if it has been stolen, lost or no longer needed, 2) mark the data center 10, to establish a communication link with the data center 10, and 3) send a message to the data center 10, identifying the number of smart card card series 7, and if it has been lost, stolen or not needed. The identification of whatever the case, stolen, lost or not needed, can be attached to a keyboard input with a button associated with each situation. Alternatively, for the situation in which the card is not needed, and the card 7 is inserted into the card reader 8, and detected by the switch 16, the serial number that is stored in NVM 7c is automatically downloaded to the card. data center 10, without requiring the operator to enter the serial number. In any case, once the data center 10 has received the serial number and the deposit of the card, it stores this information in a database that has as boxes boxes 7, (stage S3), stolen, lost , not needed, authorized and disabled. Subsequently, in step S5, the next time it is reported, lost, stolen or no longer needed, when inserted in the postage meter 1, for any transaction, two things can happen. if the postage measuring terminal 6, is of the type that has a wide memory to have there from the data center 10, the lists of cards, stolen, lost or not needed, terminal 6, is programmed via, the micro processor terminal 9, to perform step S6, as will be discussed in more detail. However, if the postage measuring terminal 6 does not have that wide memory, and the smart card 7 has been inserted into the reader 8, for the purpose of any type of communication, with the data center 10, such as filling the card 7, or inspecting it (step S7), the micro processor 9, of transaction establishes communication with the data center 10, in a conventional manner identifying the serial number of the card 7 inserted. The data center 10, before performing the requested transaction, checks its cash database to determine in step S9, whether the card 7, has been reported as lost, stolen, or no longer needed. If the answer to the interrogation is NO, the requested transaction is carried out in the postage meter (Sil stage). However, if the answer to the interrogation in step S9 is YES, the data center 10, automatically performs a withdrawal of all the postage funds remaining in the inserted box card 7, in accordance with the procedure established in U.S. Patent Application 08/701946 (Step S13). Subsequently, upon verification of a successful withdrawal, the data center 10 sends a message, either in readable text or in encrypted form, to the micro processor 9, to edit a portion of NVM 7C, of the letter card 7 , to incapacitate it from functioning as a postage measuring box (step S13). The transaction micro processor sends the disabling message to CPU7A, which in turn performs the editing function (step 15), the editing function can be as simple as raising a flag, however, in order to protect against which the flag re-placed, portion 7c1, of NVM 7c, which is edited can be such that it can only be written once. Additionally, the programming in the transaction micro processor 9, can be such that it only accepts a single editor instruction, once and only for the purpose of establishing the flag to disable card 7, to work as a measuring box. Thus, placing the flag will be a one-way operation, which will permanently and effectively disable the card 7, to be used as a meter. In step S17, an encrypted message can be returned to data center 10, verifying that box 7, has been disabled, so that the user's accounting can finally be reconciled and the card with its database updated to identify ßl disabled statute of the measuring box 7, postage. Finally, any refund due to the legal user of the card 7, can be sent from the data center 10, to the user, either in a manual or automatic operation (S19).

It should be noted that the telephone connection between the data center 10, and the meter 1, is liable to be lost before the verification of the step S17 is completed, in this case, the data center will not know if the card has been disabled . Therefore, during the deactivation of the smart card in step S15, the capacity of the card 7, to establish a communication link with the data center 10, and to provide its serial number, remains in effect even when all the measurement functions have been disabled. Thus in the event that the communication is lost before verification, a disabling verification message will be automatically sent to the data center 10, when the box 7, disabled in the card reader 8 is reinserted, and communication with the data center 10. The structure and method described above, for a postage measuring terminal 6, which does not have enough memory to load there the status list of all the boxes, card 7, is effectively used to remotely disable a card 7, subsequent to being reported as lost, stolen or no longer needed. In addition, all the remaining funds on card 7, can be claimed by the data center. However, in the system described it is necessary for the user of the lost, stolen or non-needed card 7 to initiate communication with the data center 10, so that the disablement and withdrawal of the funds is carried out. which card 10, has been lost, stolen and illegally used on the other hand, there is no way to prevent all remaining funds on card 7 from being used completely. That is, if the illegal user only inserts the card 7, in terminal 6, to obtain postage and does not establish a communication link with the data center 10, no remote disabling of the smart card 7 will take place. previously described, is satisfactory for a low cost measurement system. Furthermore, in such a low-cost system the effects of postage lost due to stolen or lost cards 7, can be carried to a minimum by limiting the amount of postage funds that are available on card 7. However, applicants hereof invention, have recognized that in large measurement systems, where the low level is not primary, the previously described limitations of the low cost system can be overcome by adding NVM 48, additional to terminal 6. That is, referring to the step S5, of Fig. 2, if NVM 48 is available in terminal 6, the system will be able to download there from data center 10, the list of lost, stolen or non-needed cards 7, in the stage S6, programming through transaction micro processor 9, terminal 6, transaction automatically on any periodic basis (such as daily) calls data center 10, via modem 11, and establishes a data link. ommunication In response, the data center 10, downloads to the letter card 7, the lists in the NVM 48, so when any card 7 is inserted in the terminal 6, for a transaction, including obtaining postage or for communication with the data center 10 (step S8), the transaction terminal obtains the serial number of the card box 7, and has access to the cash lists stored in the NVM 48, to determine if the box 7, is lost, stolen or it is not needed (SIO). In the event that the card 7 is not lost or stolen, or is not needed, the postage transaction is carried out (step S12), however, if the card box is identified in any of the three cases, in micro processor of transaction 9, automatically marks and communicates with database 10, and withdraws the remaining funds from box 7, (step S14). Subsequently, in step S16, it edits the smart card 7, in the same way as previously described by performing the card box 7 disablement., in step S18, a verification of the message is sent to the data center 10, and in the step S20, the funds are reimbursed to the user (step S20). The method described above, allows a check of the status of any box 7, in the terminal measurement system 6, so that any attempted use of a box card 7, which has been reported as lost or stolen or not needed, will be prevented from insert the box or card in terminal 6. Thus, if a user quickly reports a lost, stolen card, the opportunity for illegal use of the stolen, lost card decreases. Although the present invention has been described in relation to a postage meter, the invention is equally applicable to any type of stock dispenser, wherein an article having an indication of value is provided and accounts for such value. In addition, although the preferred embodiment refers to a "smart card" of a box, any type of removable portability can be substituted, other advantages and modifications added will be immediate for the technician. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative devices that have been shown and described. Many modifications can be made without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims (19)

1. R E I V I ND I CA C I O N S 1.- A postal postage measuring system comprising: an authentic portable postal postage measuring box; means for printing an indication of the value of the postage; a postal postage measuring terminal including means for receiving the authentic postage measuring cassette, means for determining at a certain time when the authentic postage measuring cassette is inserted into the receiving medium if the authentic postage measuring box portable has been designated as disabled to perform box functions and also means to automatically disable the authentic portable postage measuring box, so that it does not perform box functions if the determination is made that the authentic portable postage measuring box has been designated as disabled to perform cash functions.
2. 2. A postage measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining includes a microcontroller and means for storing a list of portable, authentic postage meters that have been designated as disabled to perform box functions and the micro controller communicates with the portable postage meter authenticated box inserted in the receiving medium to obtain data that specifically identify the authentic postage measuring box inserted in the receiving medium and have access to the storage medium to determine if the authentic portable postage measuring box inserted in the receiving means has been designated as incapacitated to perform box functions.
3. 3. A postal postage meter system according to claim 2, wherein the authentic postage measuring portable box includes a memory and the automatic deactivation means includes a deactivation program and sometimes or times when the determining means , determines that the postage measuring box inserted in the receiving means has been designated as incapacitated to perform box functions, the micro controller performs the deactivation program to edit the memory of the authentic postage measuring box, with which It is disabled to the authentic postal postage measuring box to perform cash functions.
4. 4. A postal postage measuring system according to claim 1, comprising a data center remotely located with respect to the postage measuring terminal, and means for establishing a communication link between the data center and the data center. postage measuring terminal, and wherein the data center includes means for storing a list of portable authentic postage meter boxes that have been designated as disabled for performing box functions, and the determining means includes a micro controller that communicates with the portable measuring box inserted in the receiving means to receive data that specifically identifies the portable authentic postage measuring box inserted in the receiving medium and that has access to storage media via the communication link to determine whether the box of authentic postage measurement inserted in the receiver has been designated as disabled for rea to perform cash functions.
5. 5. A postal postage measuring system according to claim 4, wherein the measurement box includes a memory, the automatic deactivation means includes a disabling program, and sometimes or at a certain time when the determining means determines that the box inserted in the receiver has been designated as disabled to perform box functions, the microcontroller executes the deactivation program to edit the memory of the authentic postal postage measuring box, thus disabling the postal postage measuring box authenticates to perform cash functions.
6. 6. A postal postage measuring system according to claim 5, wherein the terminal comprises means for automatically establishing the communication link with the data center, each time the authentic postage measuring box is inserted into the receiving medium.
7. 7 - A postal postage measuring system according to claim 1, further comprising a data center remotely located with respect to the postage measuring terminal, and means for establishing a communication link between the data center and the terminal, wherein the determining means include a memory and the data center includes means for storing a list of the authentic individual postal postage measuring boxes that have been designated as disabled to perform box functions and means for downloading the list of those boxes that have been designated as disabled to perform cash functions through the communication link from the data center to the memory, and where the determining or determining means has access to the list of portable postage meters that have been designated as disabled to perform box functions, list stored in memory, to determine if the box An authentic portable postage meter inserted in the receiver means has been designated as disabled to perform box functions.
8. 8. A postal postage measuring system according to claim 7, wherein the measurement terminal includes means for periodically establishing the communication link with the data center so that periodically the list of authentic measurement boxes is updated. portable postage that has been designated as incapacitated to perform cash functions, which is downloaded from the data center to the terminal memory of the postage meter.
9. 9. A postal postage measuring system according to claim 8, wherein the authentic postage measuring box includes a cash memory, the automatic deactivation means includes a decapacitation program, sometimes when the means determines that the protable box inserted in the receiver means has been designated as incapacitated to perform box functions, the automatic deactivation means executes the decapacitation program to edit the box memory of the portable authentic postage measuring box with which disable said box to perform box functions.
10. 10. A measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the portable and authentic postal postage measuring box is a smart card.
11. 11. A method for disabling a portable box of an authentic postal postage measuring system, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: A) inserting the authentic portable box in a postage metering system termination; B) determine automatically via the terminal if the authentic portable box has been designated as unable to exercise cash functions; and C) sometimes when in stage B) it is determined that the authentic portable box has already been designated as disabled to perform box functions, automatically it is disabled to the authentic portable box inserted to perform box functions.
12. 12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of automatically withdrawing all the funds stored in the authenticated portable box inserted subsequent to the inserted box having been identified as designated incapacitated to exercise box functions.
13. 13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of verifying, that the disablement of the authenticated portable insert case has occurred.
14. 14. A method according to claim 11, wherein during step B) the terminal communicates with a remote data center to determine if the inserted portable authenticated box has been designated as incapacitated to perform box functions.
15. 15. A method according to claim 11, wherein during step C) a portion of the memory of the authentic portable box is edited to disable the authentic portable box to perform box functions.
16. 16. A method according to claim 15, comprising the step of downloading from a remote data center to a storage medium of the terminal a list of authentic portable boxes designated as disabled to perform box functions and determining from the list downloaded and now stored, if the inserted box has been designated as disabled to perform cash functions.
17. 17. - A method according to claim 16, comprising the step of using the terminal to automatically establish communication with the data center to download the list of portable boxes that have been designated as unable to print.
18. 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the terminal periodically establishes communication with the data center so that a periodically updated list of the authentic portable boxes that have been designated as incapacitated to exercise functions of the terminal is downloaded to the terminal. box.
19. 19. A method for disabling an authentic portable box of a value dispensing apparatus comprising the steps of: A) inserting the authentic portable box into a terminal of the dispensing apparatus; B) automatically determine via the end if the authentic portable box has been designated as disabled to exercise box functions; C) sometimes when in stage B) it is determined that the authentic portable box has been designated as incapacitated to perform box functions, it automatically works to disable the inserted authentic portable box to perform box functions. RE SUM E N A postage meter system that includes a portable postage meter box; the structure for printing an indication of the value of the postage a postal postage measuring terminal including an apparatus for receiving the portable postage meter box, a device for determining at times when the portable postal franking box is inserted in the receiver medium, if the postal postage measuring box has been designated as incapacitated to perform cash functions, and a device to automatically disable the portable postal franq measurement box to perform cash functions, if the determination is made that it is has been designated as unable to exercise cash functions. A method for decapacitating a portable box from a postage meter system is also presented, which includes the steps of: A) inserting the portable box in a terminal of the postage meter system; B) automatically determine via the terminal if the box or portable device has been designated as incapacitated to exercise cash functions; and CO in the event that in stage B) it has been determined that the portable box is unable to perform box functions, automatically disable the inserted box or portable device to perform box functions.