Apparatus, system, and method for postage stamp generating

A postage stamp generation system, comprising:

• a postage stamp generation apparatus, comprising:
• a processor configured to execute executable data structures;
• and
• a memory device connected to the processor for storing the executable data structures and associated operational data structures, the executable and operational data structures comprising:
• a creation module configured to create a customized stamp in response to user input provided through an input device in communication with the processor, the customized stamp comprising at least one of text and images;
• a print module configured to print a selected stamp on a printer device in communication with the processor, the selected stamp designated by data of the operational data structures stored in the memory device, the selected stamp comprising one of the customized stamp and a pre-approved stamp;
• and
• a communication module configured to receive authorization from a server through a communication device to authorize the print module to print the selected stamp;
• a database storing stamp data relating to at least one of authorized stamps and unauthorized stamps;
• and
• the server configured to receive stamp generation requests from the postage stamp generation apparatus and to validate the availability of the customized stamp by comparing the customized stamp with the stamp data in the database.

A postage stamp generation system, comprising:

• a stamp generation apparatus configured to generate a selected postage stamp designated by user input provided through an input device in communication with the stamp generation apparatus;
• a server in communication with the stamp generation apparatus by way of a communication device, wherein the server is configured to automatically validate that a user has authorization to use the selected postage stamp, wherein the authorization depends on validation of the selected postage stamp through an automatic comparison of the selected postage stamp and a database staring stamp data corresponding to at least one of authorized stamps and unauthorized stamps, the server further configured to receive stamp generation requests describing the selected postage stamp from the stamp generation apparatus;
• and
• a data communication network enabling communication between the server and the stamp generation apparatus.

A computer program product in a computer system, said computer program product comprising a plurality of computer executable instructions recorded on a computer-readable media, wherein said instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform operations for generating a postage stamp, the operations organized into a plurality of functional modules, the modules comprising:

• a creation module configured to create a customized stamp in response to user input provided through an input device in communication with the computer, the customized stamp comprising at least one of text and images;
• a print module configured to print a selected stamp on a printer device, the selected stamp being selected, based on user input, from at least one of the customized stamp and a pre-approved stamp;
• and
• a communication module configured to receive authorization from a remote server through a communication device to authorize printing of the selected stamp in response to stamp generation requests, wherein the authorization depends on validation of the customized stamp through an automatic comparison of the customized stamp and a database.

A method for generating a customized stamp, the method comprising:

• creating, at a user access device, customized stamp data comprising at least one of text and images;
• communicating to a server the customized stamp data, by way of a communication device;
• verifying, via the server, that the customized stamp data is usable as legal postal tender;
• validating, via the server, the customized stamp data through an automatic comparison of the customized stamp data and a database;
• and
• generating, at the user access device and in response to verification and validation from the server, a customized stamp based on the customized stamp data.