Method and arrangement for backup of customer data stored in a franking machine

Abstract

In a method and an apparatus for transferring customer data stored in a non-volatile manner in a franking machine for backup purposes, a customer card is inserted in a card reader and a processor of the franking machine transfers data from a non-volatile memory in the franking machine to the customer card in the card reader.

1 . An arrangement for backing up customer data that are stored in a non-volatile memory in franking device, comprising: 
 a processor in communication with said memory;    a card reader having a card receptacle in communication with said processor;    a customer card having a non-volatile data storage region, said customer card being received in said card receptacle of said card reader; and    said processor serially transferring said customer data from said non-volatile memory to said non-volatile memory region of said customer card.    
   
   
       2 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said customer card is a commercial memory card.  
   
   
       3 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said customer card is a MultiMedia Card.  
   
   
       4 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said franking device is selected from the group consisting of franking machines and personal computers operable as a PC franker, and wherein said processor controls a commercially-available printer to perform franking functions therewith.  
   
   
       5 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 4  comprising an ESD protection assembly group connecting said card receptacle with said processor.  
   
   
       6 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a program memory with a program stored therein that is accessible by said processor, said program programming said processor to cause any altered data to be directly updated on said customer card.  
   
   
       7 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said program in said program memory is a first program, and wherein said program memory contains a second program that operates said processor to cause altered data to be updated on the customer card at respective time intervals, and for current altered data to be stored in said non-volatile memory between said time intervals.  
   
   
       8 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said processor updates said data on said customer card at a time selected from the group consisting of a printing pause, activation of said franking device, and deactivation of said franking device.  
   
   
       9 . A method for backing up customer data that are stored in a non-volatile memory in franking device, comprising: 
 placing a processor in communication with said memory;    placing a customer card having a non-volatile data storage region in a card receptacle of a card reader; and    via said processor, automatically serially transferring said customer data from said non-volatile memory to said non-volatile memory region of said customer card.    
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  comprising employing a commercial memory card as said customer card.  
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10  comprising employing a MultiMedia Card as said customer card.  
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said franking device is selected from the group consisting of franking machines and personal computers operable as a PC franker, and comprising from said processor, controlling a commercially-available printer to perform franking functions therewith.  
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  comprising connecting said card receptacle with said processor through an ESD protection assembly group.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  comprising storing a program in a program memory that is acceptable by said processor, and with said program, programming said processor to cause any altered data to be directly updated on said customer card.  
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said program in said program memory is a first program, and comprising storing a second program in said program memory, and with said second program, programming said processor to cause altered data to be updated on the customer card at respective time intervals, and for current altered data to be stored in said non-volatile memory between said time intervals.  
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  comprising, with said processor, updating said data on said customer card at a time selected from the group consisting of a printing pause, activation of said franking device, and deactivation of said franking device.