Patent ID: 7127434

Claim:
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 remote server through a communication device to authorize the print module to print 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.