Systems and methods for facilitating replacement of computer-based value-bearing items

1. A method for facilitating replacement of customized value-bearing items, in response to a request to replace an original, customized, computer-based, value-bearing item for an original value, with a replacement, customized, computer-based, value-bearing item for a replacement value, said method comprising:

identifying a set of full, digitally-signed, original, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data corresponding to the original, customized, computer-based, value-bearing item for the original value;

determining if the replacement value and the original value are different;

if the replacement value and the original value are different:

calculating a replacement value difference,

obtaining a set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data for a value corresponding to the replacement value difference, and

generating a set of replacement, customized, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data comprising a subset of the set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data and further comprising an indication of the replacement value;

if the replacement value and the original value are equal:

obtaining a set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data for a value corresponding to the replacement value, and

generating a set of replacement, customized, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data comprising a subset of the set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia and further comprising an indication of the replacement value.

2. The method of claim 1 , said method further comprising:

creating an index that maps a relationship between:

the set of replacement, customized, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data;

the set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data; and

the set of full, digitally-signed, original, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data.

3. The method of claim 2 , said method further comprising:

generating the replacement, customized, computer-based, value-bearing item comprising the set of replacement, customized, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of replacement customized value-bearing item indicia data does not include a digital signature.

5. A computer system for facilitating replacement of an original, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing label having an original value, in response to a request for a replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing label for a replacement value, said computer system programmed to:

identify a set of digitally-signed, original, computer-based, postage-bearing indicia data corresponding to the original, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item for the original value;

determine if the replacement value and the original value are different;

if the replacement value and the original value are different, for a replacement value that is greater than the original value:

calculate a replacement value difference,

obtain a set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing indicia data for a value corresponding to the replacement value difference, and

update an ascending register and a descending register with the replacement value difference; and

if the replacement value and the original value are equal:

obtain a set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data for a value corresponding to the replacement value.

6. The computer system of claim 5 , said computer system further programmed to:

generate a set of replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data comprising a subset of the set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data and further comprising an indication of the replacement value.

7. The computer system of claim 6 , said computer system further programmed to:

create an index that maps a relationship between:

the set of replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data;

the set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data; and

the set of full, digitally-signed, original, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data.

8. The computer system of claim 6 , said computer system further programmed to:

generate a set of data for the replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item comprising the set of replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data.

9. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the set of replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data does not include a digital signature.

10. A method using a computer-based postage system for facilitating replacement of an original, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing label having an original value, in response to a request for a replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing label for a replacement value, said method comprising:

identifying a set of digitally-signed, original, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data corresponding to the original, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing label for the original value;

wherein the request for a replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing label comprises a request to allocate the original value across multiple instances of corresponding denomination values, wherein each corresponding denomination value is less than the original value, the request to allocate comprising:

a number of instances, and

for each respective instance of the number of instances, a corresponding respective denomination amount; and

obtaining a set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data for each respective instance for the corresponding respective denomination amount.

11. The method of claim 10 , said method further comprising:

generating a set of replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data comprising a subset of the set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data and further comprising an indication of the corresponding respective denomination amount.

12. The method of claim 11 , said method further comprising:

creating an index that maps a relationship between:

the set of replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data;

the set of full, digitally-signed, replacement, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data; and

the set of full, digitally-signed, original, computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data.