US 8,806,331 B2 · System and methods for creating and editing photo-based projects on a digital network

Abstract

A system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects includes a server connected to a data network, the server having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) accessible by computer browser, at least one data repository residing on the network, the repository accessible to the server, the repository containing images, and product-related graphics, a print configuration engine implemented in software residing on and executable from the digital medium or another accessible medium, the print configuration engine for rendering image and or text-based products for printing, and at least one bi-directional communication channel established between a computing appliance running a version of the GUI while connected to the network and a server managing the data repository.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for creating and editing media-based projects for printing products, comprising:

a computerized server connected to a data network, the server having access to a memory storing instructions for providing an executable graphical user interface (GUI) accessible by a computer browser and adapted for creating, displaying, editing, publishing, and printing one or more media-based products;
at least one data repository residing on the network, the data repository accessible to the server, and storing individual project pages and page assets including at least images and project-related graphics;
a print configuration engine executable from the memory, the print configuration engine adapted for rendering media-based projects for printing products;
and
at least one bi-directional communication channel established between a computing appliance executing a version of the GUI while connected to the network and a server managing the data repository,
wherein the GUI enables logical selection, grouping, and sizing of the individual project pages and the page assets, and automatic page population of page assets based on determining a core aspect ratio for the projects based on metadata particular to each page asset including at least size, shape, and orientation, wherein the core aspect ratio comprises two or more output sizes corresponding to a given orientation of the individual project pages, wherein any individual project page having said given orientation does not require any editing of page content before printing in said corresponding two or more output sizes, wherein the core aspect ratio is calculated so as to result in minimal loss of page content during printing of said individual project pages, and wherein the GUI is capable of displaying the project in the two or more output sizes, and
wherein the GUI enables an automated process whereby new project pages are dynamically created for printing a new product requiring second page size aspect ratios based on the core aspect ratio of the project, and the size, shape, orientation, and metadata particular to individual page content assets.

4 more elements

In a system for creating and editing media-based projects for printing products, the system including a networked server and a data repository, the server having access to a digital medium with an executable graphical user interface (GUI), a method for creating the media-based project comprising:

accessing the GUI;
creating and selecting basic project attributes including individual project pages and page assets of specific size, shape, orientation, and groupings;
determining page size aspect ratios for each page in the project and a core aspect ratio for the project from the page size aspect ratios of the individual pages and content assets, wherein the core aspect ratio comprises two or more output sizes corresponding to a given orientation of the individual project pages, wherein any individual project page having said given orientation does not require any editing of page content before printing in said corresponding two or more output sizes, wherein the core aspect ratio is calculated so as to result in minimal loss of page content during printing of said individual project pages, and wherein the GUI is capable of displaying the project in the two or more output sizes;
invoking an editor to assemble and display the project;
and
adding, removing, and editing project content;
wherein the GUI enables logical selection, grouping, and sizing of individual project pages and the page assets, and automatic page population of assets based on metadata particular to each asset, and wherein new project pages are dynamically created for printing a new product requiring second page size aspect ratios based on the core aspect ratio of the project, and the size, shape, orientation, and metadata particular to individual page assets.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description29,637 words

Summary1,183 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention is in the field of electronic commerce and pertains particularly to methods and apparatus for creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network.

#2. Discussion of the State of the Art

Brief description of the drawings32 figures

#FIG. 1 is an architectural overview of a communications network supporting network-based graphics manipulation and production of image and or text-based products according to embodiments of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an exemplary screen shot of an introduction page of Website of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is an exemplary screen shot of a login/sign-up page presented to a user as a result of interaction with the introduction page.

Detailed description27,654 words

#The inventors provide a unique network-based graphics-manipulation system along with a set of novel manual and automated methods and processes that enable users operating network-capable computing appliances to efficiently create a variety of image and or text-based products with or without collaborative effort. The systems and methods of the present invention are described in enabling detail using the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the invention.

#System Architecture

#FIG. 1 is an architectural overview of a communications network 100 supporting network-based graphics manipulation and production of image and or text-based products according to embodiments of the present invention. Communications network 100 includes a wide-area-network (WAN) that is in most embodiments the well-known Internet network. WAN 101 may be a private, corporate, or publicly-accessible data network without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. WAN 101 may be referred to throughout this specification as the Internet 101. Internet 101 is further illustrated by way of a network backbone 116, which represents all of the lines, equipment, and access points that make up the World Wide Web (WWW) as a whole including any connected sub-networks. Therefore, there are no geographic limits to practice of the present invention.

Facts

Application

12/838,347Filed 16 Jul 2010 · us provisional application

Priority

20 Jul 2009

Published

US 2011/0167353 A17 Jul 2011

Granted

12 Aug 2014

Term ends

3 Aug 2031

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 383 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification10 codes

H04N 1/387
Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof: composing, repositioning or…
G06F 3/12
Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for…: digital…
G06F 3/14
Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for…: digital…
G06F 15/00
Digital computers in general

Timeline

20 Jul 2009Priority claimedParent application 61/227,042
16 Jul 2010Application filedUS 12/838,347
30 Sep 2010Assigned to Interactive Memories, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
7 Jul 2011PublishedUS 2011/0167353 A1
27 Apr 2014Assigned to Interactive Memories, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
12 Aug 2014GrantedUS 8,806,331 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
3 Aug 2031Term endsEstimated, includes 383 days of adjustment

System and methods for creating and editing photo-based projects on a digital network

Life of this patent

System and methods for creating and editing photo-based projects on a digital network

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description29,637 words

Drawings

Classification10 codes

Life of this patent

Description29,637 words