Computer-based value-bearing item customization security
View Patent ↗The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide computer systems and methods for protecting the security of processing for customization of computer-based value-bearing items, such as, for example, securing processing of exemplary image-customized computer-based postage label 1 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 1 . The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will further provide computer systems and methods for securing computer-based value-bearing items, such as, for example, securing image-customized computer-based postage label 1 as depicted in FIG. 1 . With reference to FIG. 1 , the exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear an image 2 that would be provided by a corresponding user, namely by the user that orders the customized computer-based postage label. The user may provide image 2 in an electronic form, such as by uploading a digital representation of image 2 . In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a user could alternatively provide a hardcopy image. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear a human-readable indication of the country 4 for which the postage is approved. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable indication of an amount of postage 5 . The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable identifier (such as a serial number) 6 that will uniquely identify the particular customized computer-based postage label. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a machine-readable set of information 7.
1. A computer system for generating a plurality of image-customized computer-based value-bearing items, said computer system comprising:
a first set of computer program instructions, that when executed by a first computer, causes the first computer to generate a client request for generic value-bearing item indicia data for each image-customized computer-based value-bearing item of the plurality;
a second set of computer program instructions, that when executed by a second computer, causes the second computer to receive each said client request for generic value-bearing item indicia data, and generate a corresponding set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data for each image-customized computer-based value-bearing item of the plurality, wherein each said corresponding set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data comprises a digital signature;
a third set of computer program instructions, that when executed by the first computer, causes the first computer to receive the corresponding set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data for each image-customized computer-based value-bearing item of the plurality; and
a fourth set of computer program instructions, that when executed by the first computer, causes the first computer to generate a set of image-customized computer-based value-bearing item indicia data for each of the plurality of image-customized value-bearing items, wherein each of said set of image-customized computer-based value-bearing item indicia data is generated using a corresponding subset of the corresponding set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data, wherein said corresponding set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data comprises at least one portion of data that is not included in said corresponding subset.
2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of image-customized computer-based value-bearing items comprises a sheet of postage labels.
3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of image-customized computer-based value-bearing items comprises a photograph.
4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of image-customized computer-based value-bearing items further comprises a digital representation of an image.
5. The computer system of claim 1 , said computer system further comprising:
a fifth set of computer program instructions, that when executed by one of the first computer or the second computer, causes a saving in a computer-readable memory of a relationship between each said image-customized computer-based value-bearing item indicia data and each said corresponding set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data.
6. The computer system of claim 1 , said computer system further comprising:
a fifth set of computer program instructions, that when executed by one of the first computer or the second computer, causes a saving in a computer-readable memory of a relationship between each said corresponding subset and each said corresponding set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data.
7. A method of generating a representation of an image-customized computer-based value-bearing item, said method comprising:
receiving with a first computer a set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data generated by a second computer, wherein said set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data comprises a digital signature;
generating with the first computer a set of image-customized computer-based value-bearing item indicia data for an image-customized value-bearing item, wherein said set of image-customized computer-based value-bearing item indicia data is generated using a subset of the set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data, wherein said subset comprises less data than said set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the image-customized value-bearing item comprises a postage label.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the image-customized value-bearing item comprises a photograph.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the image-customized value-bearing item further comprises a digital representation of an image.
11. The method of claim 7 , said method further comprising:
saving in a computer-readable memory a relationship between said set of image-customized computer-based value-bearing item indicia data and said set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data.
12. The method of claim 7 , said method further comprising:
saving in a computer-readable memory a relationship between said subset and said set of generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data.
13. A method of generating a plurality of customized value-bearing items, said method comprising:
generating a plurality of customized value-bearing items, comprising generating, for each customized value-bearing item of said plurality, corresponding digitally-signed, value-bearing item data, a corresponding set of customized value-bearing item indicia data, and a customized value-bearing item indicium that corresponds to said corresponding set of customized value-bearing item indicia data, wherein said corresponding set of customized value-bearing item indicia data comprises a corresponding subset of said corresponding digitally-signed, value-bearing indicia data, wherein said corresponding digitally-signed, value-bearing indicia data comprises at least one portion of data that is not included in said corresponding subset.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of customized value-bearing items comprises a sheet of postage labels.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of customized value-bearing items comprises a photograph.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of customized value-bearing items further comprises a digital representation of an image.
17. The method of claim 13 , said method further comprising:
saving in a computer-readable memory a corresponding relationship between each said corresponding set of customized value-bearing item indicia data and each said corresponding digitally-signed, value-bearing indicia data.
18. The method of claim 13 , said method further comprising:
saving in a computer-readable memory a corresponding relationship between said corresponding subset and each said corresponding digitally-signed, value-bearing indicia data.