Wireless display controller for inbound and outbound mailing and shipping system

1 . A mail processing system comprising:

a franking/postage machine;

at least one removable user interactive display coupled to the franking machine, then at least one removable display including a wireless connection for wireless communication between the removable display and the franking machine when the removable display is physically disconnected from the franking machine.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the franking machine includes a second graphical user interface that is activated when the at least one removable display is in an undocked operating mode.

3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one removable display comprises a personal digital assistant.

4 . A method for managing mail processing activities in a mailroom comprising:

removing a portable display of the franking machine from the franking machine;

activating a second display associated with the franking machine;

using the portable display to operate another function in the mailroom related to the mail processing activities other than the franking machine, while the franking machine is franking mail pieces.

5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising using the portable display to scanning incoming packages and mail for identifier information.

6 . The method of claim 4 further comprising using the portable display to meter outgoing mail.

7 . The method of claim 4 further comprising arranging for a shipment of mailpieces via a commercial carrier using the portable display.

8 . The method of claim 4 further comprising replenishing funds for the franking machine to print postal indicia by establishing a telemeter setting link between the portable display and a funds provider; transferring data related to the funds to the portable display; and transferring the data related to the funds from the portable display to the franking machine.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the information related to the funds is transferred from the portable display to the franking machine when the portable display is reinserted into the franking machine.

10 . The method of claim 8 wherein the information related to the funds is transferred from the portable display to the franking machine over a wireless communication link.

11 . A computer program product comprising:

a computer useable medium having a computer readable code means embodied therein for causing a computer to manage multiple activities in a mailroom by using a portable display of a franking machine to operate other mail processing devices, the computer readable code means in the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to activate a second display of the franking machine when the portable display is removed from the franking machine;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to maintain a wireless communication connection between the portable display, the franking machine and other mail processing devices in the mailroom; and

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to enable the portable display to interface with and operate the other mail processing devices in the mailroom while the franking machine is franking mail pieces.