Apparatus and method for creating an electronic version of printed matter

#This application claims §119 priority to Singapore Patent Application No. 200403322-1 entitled AN APPARTUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING AN ELECTRONIC VERSION OF PRINTED MATTER, which was filed on May 27, 2004.

#The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for creating an electronic version of printed matter, and is of particular but by no means exclusive application to creating an on-line and off-line version of a newspaper or magazine.

#With the prevalence of computer technology, producers of printed matter often create electronic versions of their printed matter before sending out to print (such as newspapers, magazines and books). The electronic versions provide many advantages such as ease in making changes, being readily printable and the ability to be quickly and efficiently distributed to a large number of people over a wide geographic region (particularly via the Internet). However, it takes a long time to deliver and download since the files are normally very big.

#Notwithstanding any other embodiments that may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computer system including the apparatus and method according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 illustrates an electronic image presented by the system of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system 1 which includes the apparatus 3 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 3 is in the form of a computer. The system also includes a storage medium 5 in the form of a computer database, a distribution means 7 in the form of an Internet web server, and an image processor 9 in the form of a scanner or utilizing the digital image output (entire high resolution page) exported directly from the current printing/publishing software. The apparatus 3 and storage medium 5 are interconnected together via a local area network so that they can exchange data. The apparatus 3 is connected to the image processor 9. The storage means 5 and distribution means 7 are also interconnected to each other via the local area network so that they too can exchange data with each other.

#The apparatus 3 includes a data reading means for obtaining image data which can be used to present an electronic image of the printed matter. The electronic image has substantially the same appearance as the printed matter, and includes a region containing information which cannot be readily discerned when viewed.

#The data reading means is in the form of software which allows a user to operate the image processor 9, and hardware in the form of an input/output port. The software provides a graphical user interface for allowing the user to easily operate the image processor 9. The software interacts with the image processor 9 via the input/output port, the latter of which is connected directly to the image processor 9 via a data cable.