Publication system
OwnerJames Hays, Kenneth Mossinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network-based system that provides functionality for controlling the content of printed menus includes an electronic data repository and a web-based application program. The electronic data repository contains descriptions of content items that may be selected to include within printed items. The electronic data repository also contains a set of rules that specify, at least, specific content items that are required. The web-based application program allows a user to interactively create a printed item that includes selected content item descriptions from the data repository, and to place an order for printed copies of a created printed item. The web-based application inhibits the creation of printed items that do not comply with the set of rules.
Claims49
A network-based system that provides functionality for controlling the content of a printed article, the system comprising:
- an electronic data repository that contains content elements that may be selected to include within printed articles, and contains a set of rules that specify, at least, specific required content elements;
- and
- a web-based application program that provides functionality for a user to interactively create a printed article that includes selected content elements descriptions from the data repository, and to place an order for printed copies of a created printed article, wherein the web-based application inhibits the creation of printed articles that do not comply with the set of rules.
A method of controlling the content of a printed article, the method comprising:
- providing an electronic data repository that contains content elements that may be selected to include a printed article;
- providing a set of rules that specify, at least, specific required content elements;
- receiving a selection of at least one of the content elements;
- determining if said selection complies with the set of rules;
- and
- generating a data file corresponding to the printed article when said determining indicates that the selection complies with the set of rules.
A method of collecting and aggregating print orders includes the steps of:
- retrieving a template corresponding to the printed article, wherein the template includes a plurality of fields that corresponds to the at least one fixed content element and the at least one variable content element;
- receiving the at least one fixed content element and the at least one variable content element;
- searching a database for an existing version corresponding to the at least one variable content element;
- creating a new version within the database when the existing version is not found, wherein the new version corresponds to the at least one variable content element;
- and
- updating a production quantity associated with the existing or new version.
A method of automatically aggregating orders for printed articles, comprising:
- receiving a first order for a first printed article, wherein the first printed article comprises a first set of content elements;
- receiving a second order for a second printed article, wherein said second printed article comprises a second set of content elements;
- comparing said first and second sets of content elements;
- and
- programmatically aggregating said first and second orders when said first and second sets of content elements are substantially identical.
A network-based system that provides functionality for controlling the content of a printed article, the system comprising:
- an electronic data repository that contains content elements that may be selected to include within printed articles;
- a web-based application program that provides functionality for a user to interactively create a printed article that includes selected content elements from the data repository and to provide order entry data for printed copies of a created printed article;
- and
- an analysis engine program that generates report data based at least in part on said order entry data and provides a report comprising said report data upon request from a user.
A method of automatically aggregating orders for printed articles, comprising:
- receiving a first order for a first printed article, wherein the first order comprises an associated first production completion date and first shipping destination;
- receiving a second order for a second printed article, wherein the second order comprises an associated second production completion date and second shipping destination;
- comparing said first and second shipping destinations;
- and
- programmatically coordinating a production schedule associated with said first and second orders such that the first and second production completion dates are about equal when said first and second shipping destinations are equivalent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.