Apparatus, system, and method for postage genertion

(54) Title: APPARATUS AND POSTAGE SEAL GENERATION SYSTEM, SERVER TO VALIDATE SEAL GENERATION REQUESTS, AND METHOD TO ALLOW A USER TO GENERATE A PERSONALLY SELECTED POST SEAL (30) Unionist Priority: 08/10/2003 us 10 / 680,925 (71) Depositor (s): Leonard W. Burningham (US) (72) Inventor (s): Leonard W. Burningham (74) Attorney: David do Nascimento Advogados Associados S / C (86) International Request: pct US2004 / 022877 of 07/15/2004 (87) International Publication: wo 2005/041150 of 06/05/2005 (57) Summary : APPLIANCE AND POSTAGE STAMP GENERATION SYSTEM, SERVER TO VALIDATE STAMP GENERATION REQUESTS, AND METHOD TO ALLOW A USER TO GENERATE A PERSONALLY SELECTED POSTAGE STAMP. It is a device, a system, and a method for generating postage stamps. The apparatus includes a printing module (210) configured to print a personalized stamp based on an image or text, and a communication module (206) to receive verification from a server (106). The apparatus may include a creation module (202) to create a stamp based on an image or text, and a selection module (204) for selecting a saddle from a previously approved selection of stamps. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a personal computer configured for generating the postage stamp. Alternatively, the device may include electronic handheld devices, notebooks, or the like. The system may comprise the apparatus (110), a verification server (106), and a printer (104) operably coupled to the apparatus (110). The method comprises selecting or creating a seal, sending the seal to the server for verification, receiving the verification, previewing the seal, purchasing the seal, and printing the seal.

<img file="BRPI0415331A_D0001.tif" />

• •• r ········ «« · ··· · i / ji::

» · · · · · ·« ·· «·

APPLIANCE AND POST SEAL GENERATION SYSTEM,

SERVER TO VALIDATE SEAL GENERATION REQUESTS,

AND METHOD TO ALLOW A USER TO GENERATE A SEAL OF

PERSONALLY SELECTED POSTING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

ΡΛΜϋΛ ΓΊΛ TMVFMrÀn

The present invention relates to the generation of postage stamps, and more particularly concerns systems and methods for remotely selecting or creating personalized postage stamps.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE

For more than 150 years, postage stamps have been the primary currency of the United States postal service. There has been very little change in the way letters are sent and received in the United States. In the twenties, registered mail was introduced for business. Over the next seventy years there was little innovation for the label. However, in the late nineties the United States Postal Service approved the first e-stamp or electronic stamp, which allowed a user to purchase postage over the Internet.

The electronic stamp appears to be very similar to a registered stamp, and is generally nothing more than an encrypted barcode. While this may be appropriate for the business customer, individual customers want to personalize letters and envelopes, and for this reason the United States Postal Service offers a wide range of image-based stamps.

However, despite the large selection of stamps currently available, it was found that there is a greater demand for variety. For example, legal entities want to use their logo as a post, and individuals would like to use their own images in a • · •_Λ·, · · · ·: -G / iL:: ··; ·

<img file="BRPI0415331A_D0002.tif" />

seal. Therefore, there is a need for an appliance, system, and / or method that allows a customer to create a personalized stamp that employs a personal image, special text, or a company logo. In addition, there is a need for an apparatus, method and / or system to validate the personalized stamp as an appropriate legal proposal for the United States Postal Service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was developed in response to the state of the art, and particularly, in response to problems and needs in the state of the art that have not yet been fully solved by the currently available customizable postage stamp systems. Consequently, the present invention has been developed to obtain a process, an apparatus and a system for generating postage stamps that overcome many or all of the drawbacks in the state of the art discussed above.

A postage stamp generation device is presented. The apparatus may comprise a printing module configured to print a stamp based on an image or text, and a communication module configured to receive verification from a server. In one embodiment, the postage stamp generating apparatus may also include a creation module configured to create a stamp based on text or an image. In addition, the apparatus may comprise a plurality of previously approved ones stored within the postage stamp generating apparatus. In one embodiment, the plurality of previously approved stamps is contained within a database. Alternatively, the plurality of previously approved stamps can be located on a remote server.

The postage stamp generating apparatus may comprise a selection module configured to select • · · · · · · · · • ·

<img file="BRPI0415331A_D0003.tif" />

a stamp based on an image or text from the plurality of previously approved stamps. A preview module is used to preview a stamp generation request. In addition, a printing module is used to finalize and format the generation request ~ cic for a number, the postage stamp generating device additionally comprises a purchase module configured to accept payment information for the stamp generation request, and the printer attached to the printing module and configured to print the stamp generation request.

The present invention can also include a server to validate stamp generation requests. In one embodiment, the server comprises a database coupled to the server, which comprises a previously approved selection of postage stamps, and a verification module configured to verify stamp generation requests. In addition, the server can include a module configured to receive stamps and to issue. To the server, it is a validation module configured to communicate with the database in order to validate the stamp generation request.

In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer-readable code configured to perform a method for generating stamps. The method may include identifying a stamp based on an image or text to be printed, communicating the stamp with a server for verification, checking that the stamp can be used as a legal postal proposal, previewing of the stamp before the purchase of the stamp, the purchase of the stamp, and the printing of the stamp.

communication request generation requests validations coupled operatively from das one, «·······

4 / Ή *

Α Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all features and advantages that can be realized with the present invention must be or are in any simple realization of the invention. Instead, features and advantages mean that a feature, an advantage or a specific feature described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the discussion of characteristics and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification can, but not necessarily, refer to the same realization.

In addition, the features, advantages, and features described of the invention can be combined in any appropriate manner in one or more embodiments. An element skilled in the technique in question will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more characteristics or specific advantages of a particular embodiment. In other examples, additional features and advantages can be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and the appended claims, or can be learned from the practice of the invention as determined below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the advantages of the invention to be understood immediately, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be presented with reference to the specific realizations that are

5 / = 1¾ * • · · · · • · · · · · ···· illustrated in the attached drawings. Once it is understood that these drawings illustrate only the typical realizations of the invention and, therefore, should not be considered as limiting its scope, the invention will be described and explained with specificity and additional details through the use of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a postage stamp generation system in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a postage stamp generating apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for generating postage stamps in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to emphasize more particularly their independence of implementation. For example, a module can be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or port arrangements, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module can also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as programmable field gate arrangements, programmable arrangement logic, programmable logic devices, or the like.

The modules can also be implemented in the software for execution by various types of processors.

An identified module of executable code can, for example, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions that can, for example, be

67¼

<img file="BRPI0415331A_D0004.tif" />

organized as an object, procedure or function. However, the executable elements of an identified module do not need to be physically located together, but they can comprise different instructions stored in different locations that, when logically brought together, comprise the module and achieve the objective indicated for the module .

In fact, an executable code module can be a single instruction, or many instructions, and can even be distributed across several different code segments, between different programs, and across different memory devices. Similarly, operational data can be identified and illustrated here within modules, and they can be incorporated in any appropriate form and organized into any appropriate type of data structure. Operational data can be collected as a series of simple data, or it can be distributed in different locations that include different storage devices, and can exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals in a system or on a network.

Reference throughout this specification to an embodiment, the embodiment, or a similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or feature described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. In this way, all the appearances of the phrases in a realization in the realization and a similar language throughout this specification can, but not necessarily, refer to the same realization.

In addition, the features, structures, or features described of the invention can be combined in any appropriate manner in one or more embodiments. In the · ·········· »· · · · · ·· ·· ·· description below, numerous specific details are provided, such as programming examples, software modules, user selections, transactions of network, database questions, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a complete understanding of the invention's achievements. An element skilled in the technique in question will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so on. In other examples, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a post generation system (100) of the present invention. The post generation system (100) may comprise a user access device or an access module (102), a printer (104), a stamp operation server (106) (hereinafter referred to as a server), and a communications channel data transmission network (112). In one embodiment, the access module (102) can be a desktop computer or a server configured with a stamp generator module (110). Alternatively, the access module (102) can comprise a PDA, a mobile phone, or any electronic device on which the access module (102) can be configured to operate. The stamp generator module (110) can be configured to operate in the same way within portable computers such as notebooks and handheld devices. In an additional embodiment, the access module (102) can be configured to communicate with a printer (104) via the communications channel (112). The communications channel (112) is preferably a local area network. Alternatively, the communications channel (112): / · Π.

············ • · ·· · · · · can comprise a WAN, a WLAN, or a direct connection such as USB^lM, Firewire ™, or something like that.

The access module (102) can communicate with the server (106) through the communications channel (112). In one embodiment, the communications channel (112) can comprise the Internet (112). In a further embodiment, the server (106) and the access module (102) can be configured to operate within the same local area network. The server (106) can comprise a verification module (114), and a database (116). The verification module (114) can be configured with a communication module (118) and a validation module (120). The communication module (118) can comprise a network interface card that is well known in the art and does not require further explanation here.

In one embodiment, the stamp generator module (110) can communicate a stamp generation request to the verification module (114). The communication module (118) receives the request, and the validation module (120) validates the request. Request validation can be an advantage of the present invention.

The present invention allows a customer to create a personalized postage stamp or an individually selected postage stamp. As defined herein, the personalized post can comprise any image, text, numbers, or a combination thereof, as selected or created by a server. However, it should not be advantageous to allow a customer to create and use the post that resembles the copyrighted logo of another company. For example, without the validation module (120) a server may be able to create a post that resembles the Coca Cola® logo. The validation module (120) validates the stamp generation request when accessing the

<img file="BRPI0415331A_D0005.tif" />

9 / ífll ··· ·· · • · · · _Λ • · ····· • · · · ··· ·· ⁹ • ···· · • · · · ··· · · • · · · ··· ·· database (116). This process will be discussed in more detail with reference to Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a stamp generator module (110). In the illustrated embodiment, the stamp generator module (110) can comprise a creation module (202), a selection module (204), a communication module (206), a preview module (208), a (210), and a purchase module (212). The creation module (202) can be configured to allow a server to design or write a custom stamp. It is also contemplated the design of the creation module (202) to form an interface with drawing and image manipulation programs such as Adobe Photoshop ©, Adobe Illustrator ©, or MGI Photosuite®. For example, the creation module (202) can be activated from the drawing program or illustrating as an export option. Alternatively, the creation module (202) may comprise an image manipulation program configured to create stamps based on image or text.

If a user or access module does not want to design their own image, text or use their company logo, it is contemplated that a user selects a stamp from a previously approved selection of stamps. The selection module (204) can be configured to allow the user to make his selection among previously approved stamps. In one embodiment, the stamp generator module (110) can access the database (116) and download a selection of previously approved stamps. Alternatively, the stamp generator module (110) may comprise a local database (not shown) configured to store a selection of previously approved stamps. Once a seal is created or selected, the communication module (206) can communicate with the server (106) through the communication channels (112).

ιοΓΙ '

<td> ·· ··</td><td> •</td><td></td><td></td><td> • ·</td>

<td> • · · • · ·</td><td> • •</td><td> •</td><td> • · · _ _Λ• ··· *· ·</td><td></td>

<td> • · *</td><td> •</td><td> ···</td><td> • · · · · · *</td><td></td>

<td> • · · ·· ··</td><td></td><td> • •</td><td> .........</td><td> • ·</td>

As described above with reference to the communication module (118), the communication module (206) of the seal generator can comprise a network interface card.

In another embodiment, the preview module (208) can be configured to preview the stamp before printing. Once approved by the user, the printing module (210) is configured to prepare the seal for printing. Alternatively, the print module (210) can be operatively coupled to the printer (104), and configured to receive requests for stamp generation from the access module (102). In an additional embodiment, the purchase module (212) can be used and configured to accept payment information from the user and transmit the information to the server (106). Permission is also provided for payment information to include credit card information. Alternatively, payment information can comprise account information for automatic billing.

Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for generating stamps (300) of the present invention. Method (300) is initiated and a user selects (304) an image or text from a selection of previously approved stamps. Alternatively, the user can create (306) the stamp based on an image or text when using the creation module (202) of Figure 2. Once the image is selected (304) or created (306), the communication module (206) sends (308) the image or text for validation via the communication channel (112). The communication module (118) of the server (106) receives the seal (312) and the validation module (120) validates (314) the seal. In one embodiment, the validation module (120) validates (314) the stamp when accessing the database (116) and when comparing the stamp with the stamps stored in the database (116). In addition, η &lt;ι · ν. ·· .:

• · · · · ·: ··::: ί ··· ·· • · '• · · ·· · validation module (120) can be configured to authorize the user to use a company logo or with copyright protected .

Once validated (314), the server (106) communicates the validation to the access module (102), and the validation module (120) determines (318) whether the seal has been validated or not. If it has not been validated, method (300) is started (302) again. If it has been validated (318), the seal can then be previewed (320) and the user can accept (322) the seal. In one embodiment, the accepted stamp can then be finalized (324) by the printing module (210), and the user then purchases (326) the stamp as discussed above. The communication module (206) can then transmit the stamp to the printer (104) for printing (328) and the method (300) is terminated (330).

The present invention can be incorporated in other specific forms without deviating from its character or essential characteristics. The described achievements should be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims and not by the foregoing description. All changes that fall within the meaning and equivalence range of the claims must be encompassed within their scope.

Χ / 5.

<img file="BRPI0415331A_D0006.tif" />