CA2287011A1 - Customized marketing message presentation - Google Patents
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- CA2287011A1 CA2287011A1 CA 2287011 CA2287011A CA2287011A1 CA 2287011 A1 CA2287011 A1 CA 2287011A1 CA 2287011 CA2287011 CA 2287011 CA 2287011 A CA2287011 A CA 2287011A CA 2287011 A1 CA2287011 A1 CA 2287011A1
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Abstract
Business forms, such as brochures, announcement postcards, etc., commonly needed by sales and marketing personnel to follow up inquiries or sales leads, are composed, customized, produced, and distributed in an effective, quick, and accurate manner by utilizing an electronic system and procedure. From remote PC
terminals a user accesses server databases over a global or wide area computer network (such as the Internet), viewing and modifying or inputting user and survey information if desired or where necessary, and accessing templates which have the appropriate and approved accurate text and graphics information. Customer's database information (to whom the collateral should be sent) may be uploaded during the placement of the order, to facilitate quick and effective delivery of customized pieces, typically within 72 hours or less.
Screens displayed on the user's monitor are typically in a WINDOWS format allowing ready utilization and execution of the collateral composition and order placement and fulfillment. E-mail confirmations are sent when the order is placed.
terminals a user accesses server databases over a global or wide area computer network (such as the Internet), viewing and modifying or inputting user and survey information if desired or where necessary, and accessing templates which have the appropriate and approved accurate text and graphics information. Customer's database information (to whom the collateral should be sent) may be uploaded during the placement of the order, to facilitate quick and effective delivery of customized pieces, typically within 72 hours or less.
Screens displayed on the user's monitor are typically in a WINDOWS format allowing ready utilization and execution of the collateral composition and order placement and fulfillment. E-mail confirmations are sent when the order is placed.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the sales and marketing of products and services, it is necessary that an organization be able to quickly and effectively respond to inquiries or sales leads.
Oftentimes this is attempted by production of standard letters, brochures, newsletters, and other materials for a selling network that are delivered to individual locations, and which require the expenditure of a great deal of time and money to update the materials, maintain inventories, and destroy obsolete literature. This sometimes can result in sales people creating their own non-approved communications, with potential credibility or legal drawbacks. Therefore a need exists to simplify and streamline literature fulfillment processes and enable entities to communicate more effectively, quickly, and accurately with prospects and customers.
The invention utilizes a global or area computer network (e.g.
Internet/intranet), database technology and E-commerce as a channel for providing an automated system order entry, customization of the marketing message, digital content management, variable document generation in full process color, b/w or electronic format, and on-line reporting, order status, response measurement and data mining.
The Internet based order entry component enables a business end user to access, browse and manage their virtual digital content library which contains a collection of intelligent design templates and variable content that is unique for that end-user or end user category and/or is shared with another end-user or end-user category. It is these intelligent templates that drive the variable document creation based on a set of marketing/business rules contained in the database and the end-user's input.
An end user, without any graphics training, has the ability to customize b/w or process color documents to tailor their sales/marketing message to their audience and then receive instant feedback via an instantly generated WYSIWIG screen proof for confirmation or additional changes to the customization of the document. The system can also provide the ability to select a billing method, process credit card, select a shipping method, upload, standardize and validate the direct mail list, receive an order confirmation electronically, check order status and view reports. The order information, document information, and mailing list are automatically stored in the database when an order is entered.
That is according to the present invention, sales people, agents, dealers, distributors or the like can use an intranet or Internet site to build a unique and compelling fulfillment package for each individual customer or group of prospects. Through access to a secure, password-protected web site, they are able to customize (with point and click simplicity) a variety of sales support materials from an on-line menu of templates and have them sent to a specified destination within 72 hours or less. The templates utilized contain "generic" copy blocks, photographs, and other graphic images which are pre-approved by management and can be constructed. by highly experienced advertising professionals, ensuring the highest quality in creative execution, and accuracy. The communications can be readily monitored to ensure that they adhere to individual, corporate, or other business entity standards, and reflect brand image. The products produced can be business forms such as letters, brochures, newsletters, postcards, or almost any other printed material, and the web site may also contain an archive of past collateral for date reference.
Utilizing the invention it is possible for each sales representative, dealer, distributor or the like to access a web site individually and then select the collateral (in the form of proof templates including copy blocks, graphic blocks, etc.) of his or her own choice from a menu, customizing any material on-line from an electronic library according to the recipient's profile; review a proof on-line; choose the quantity and indicate the specified destination for the product being printed; on-line query or upload a house file of customer names and addresses for mailing; receive an order confirmation electronically; and forward the order via a secured Internet 2a connection to a printing facility (such as a high technology digital printing facility such as exists at facilities of Moore North America, Inc., headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois) so that the requested literature is in the mail or bulk shipped to a specific destination within 72 hours. By practicing the invention an entity can do away with generic collateral, storage costs, inventory management, wasted material, and inaccurate and out-dated product information.
Also according to the invention, through an intranet or Internet web interface, the production and fulfillment entity has the ability to access the database to process the orders, update the status, view production reports, and initiate and manage the automated variable document creation process which can utilize Moore's unique variable imaging system to produce b/w or full process color, one-to-one variable documents either on paper or in electronic format. The Moore variable document process on-the-fly merges intelligent templates, images, vector artwork, and text blocks and prints these unique documents in b/w or full process color at industry leading speeds on the appropriate b/w and process color digital press engines. Printed documents will be mailed to specified destinations according to a direct mail list for each order, and/or an electronic document will be e-mailed to each intended recipient according to a direct e-rr~ail list for each order.
Using an Internet web interface, an electronic library administrator may maintain and manage the electronic library using add, delete, edit and report capabilities to maintain menu selections, electronic layouts, images, and texts, and to generate usage reports.
The invention is an enhancement of, an improvement over, and/or a combination of, two previous Moore systems and methods. In co-pending application serial no.
08/749,641 filed November 15, 1996 (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein) there is provided a method for producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of low resolution (always under 90 dots per inch, and typically about 17 dots per inch) graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, selection device, and processor.
At the user station, one or more low resolution graphics templates are selected and displayed on the video monitor and text related to the graphics is selected from the text templates and also displayed on the video monitor. The low resolution graphics and the text together provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format. This customized business form or brochure is then transmitted to a printing installation (there being no need to transmit a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station) and at the printing installation a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure is imaged (e.g. printed) so that it has high resolution (always over about 100 dots per inch and typically 200-800 dots per inch) graphics corresponding to the low resolution graphics template earlier selected. This system and method produce business forms or brochures by only displaying low resolution graphics at the user station, yet producing a final product with high resolution graphics.
In the sales and marketing of products and services, it is necessary that an organization be able to quickly and effectively respond to inquiries or sales leads.
Oftentimes this is attempted by production of standard letters, brochures, newsletters, and other materials for a selling network that are delivered to individual locations, and which require the expenditure of a great deal of time and money to update the materials, maintain inventories, and destroy obsolete literature. This sometimes can result in sales people creating their own non-approved communications, with potential credibility or legal drawbacks. Therefore a need exists to simplify and streamline literature fulfillment processes and enable entities to communicate more effectively, quickly, and accurately with prospects and customers.
The invention utilizes a global or area computer network (e.g.
Internet/intranet), database technology and E-commerce as a channel for providing an automated system order entry, customization of the marketing message, digital content management, variable document generation in full process color, b/w or electronic format, and on-line reporting, order status, response measurement and data mining.
The Internet based order entry component enables a business end user to access, browse and manage their virtual digital content library which contains a collection of intelligent design templates and variable content that is unique for that end-user or end user category and/or is shared with another end-user or end-user category. It is these intelligent templates that drive the variable document creation based on a set of marketing/business rules contained in the database and the end-user's input.
An end user, without any graphics training, has the ability to customize b/w or process color documents to tailor their sales/marketing message to their audience and then receive instant feedback via an instantly generated WYSIWIG screen proof for confirmation or additional changes to the customization of the document. The system can also provide the ability to select a billing method, process credit card, select a shipping method, upload, standardize and validate the direct mail list, receive an order confirmation electronically, check order status and view reports. The order information, document information, and mailing list are automatically stored in the database when an order is entered.
That is according to the present invention, sales people, agents, dealers, distributors or the like can use an intranet or Internet site to build a unique and compelling fulfillment package for each individual customer or group of prospects. Through access to a secure, password-protected web site, they are able to customize (with point and click simplicity) a variety of sales support materials from an on-line menu of templates and have them sent to a specified destination within 72 hours or less. The templates utilized contain "generic" copy blocks, photographs, and other graphic images which are pre-approved by management and can be constructed. by highly experienced advertising professionals, ensuring the highest quality in creative execution, and accuracy. The communications can be readily monitored to ensure that they adhere to individual, corporate, or other business entity standards, and reflect brand image. The products produced can be business forms such as letters, brochures, newsletters, postcards, or almost any other printed material, and the web site may also contain an archive of past collateral for date reference.
Utilizing the invention it is possible for each sales representative, dealer, distributor or the like to access a web site individually and then select the collateral (in the form of proof templates including copy blocks, graphic blocks, etc.) of his or her own choice from a menu, customizing any material on-line from an electronic library according to the recipient's profile; review a proof on-line; choose the quantity and indicate the specified destination for the product being printed; on-line query or upload a house file of customer names and addresses for mailing; receive an order confirmation electronically; and forward the order via a secured Internet 2a connection to a printing facility (such as a high technology digital printing facility such as exists at facilities of Moore North America, Inc., headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois) so that the requested literature is in the mail or bulk shipped to a specific destination within 72 hours. By practicing the invention an entity can do away with generic collateral, storage costs, inventory management, wasted material, and inaccurate and out-dated product information.
Also according to the invention, through an intranet or Internet web interface, the production and fulfillment entity has the ability to access the database to process the orders, update the status, view production reports, and initiate and manage the automated variable document creation process which can utilize Moore's unique variable imaging system to produce b/w or full process color, one-to-one variable documents either on paper or in electronic format. The Moore variable document process on-the-fly merges intelligent templates, images, vector artwork, and text blocks and prints these unique documents in b/w or full process color at industry leading speeds on the appropriate b/w and process color digital press engines. Printed documents will be mailed to specified destinations according to a direct mail list for each order, and/or an electronic document will be e-mailed to each intended recipient according to a direct e-rr~ail list for each order.
Using an Internet web interface, an electronic library administrator may maintain and manage the electronic library using add, delete, edit and report capabilities to maintain menu selections, electronic layouts, images, and texts, and to generate usage reports.
The invention is an enhancement of, an improvement over, and/or a combination of, two previous Moore systems and methods. In co-pending application serial no.
08/749,641 filed November 15, 1996 (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein) there is provided a method for producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of low resolution (always under 90 dots per inch, and typically about 17 dots per inch) graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, selection device, and processor.
At the user station, one or more low resolution graphics templates are selected and displayed on the video monitor and text related to the graphics is selected from the text templates and also displayed on the video monitor. The low resolution graphics and the text together provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format. This customized business form or brochure is then transmitted to a printing installation (there being no need to transmit a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station) and at the printing installation a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure is imaged (e.g. printed) so that it has high resolution (always over about 100 dots per inch and typically 200-800 dots per inch) graphics corresponding to the low resolution graphics template earlier selected. This system and method produce business forms or brochures by only displaying low resolution graphics at the user station, yet producing a final product with high resolution graphics.
In co-pending application serial no. 08/909,075 filed August 14, 1997, which was also the subject of WO 98/08176 published February 26, 1998 (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein), there is provided another method and system for creating customized documents or other printed materials utilizing template formats utilizing the Internet or other global (or wide area) computer network. The system and method provide a dynamic PDF [Portable Document Format] solution, creating a dynamic PDF file on the fly based on template information, variable data provided by the users, and low resolution images based on the references selected. The PDF file provides a proofing version of the customized material, and is generated by an application that directly reads and writes a PDF file, by inserting the components and placing them at the right locations.
The PDF is an accepted Internet standard, very well supported by the major Internet browsers. It is device independent and provides one to one representation of how the final document would look when printed. The PDF file is displayed in the user's Internet browser using a conventional PDF reader plug-in. The PDF file can be viewed or printed to a local low resolution printer for the final proofing. If changes are required the user moves back to the main HTML page to modify the selection and/or the variable data. Then a new dynamic PDF file is generated that reflects the changes. The process continues until the user is satisfied with the document. After that the same references used to build the dynamic PDF file are sent for printing using known XLC printing technology.
Alternatively, the same generated PDF file could be sent for printing using conventional printing technology where the low resolution images would be replaced by the high resolution images by an OPI
(Open Pre-press Interface) process before printing.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of low resolution graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network. The method comprises: (a) At the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more low resolution graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor. (b) Using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format.
(c) Using the selection device transmitting order information for the customized business 5 form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station; and (d) at the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in (c), the customized business form or brochure in physical form having high resolution graphics corresponding to the template graphics selected in (a), and shipping the customized business form or brochure.
The method may further comprise (e) uploading electronic or shipping address information from the user station prior to (c), and (f) electronically transmitting the address information with the order information in (c) so that copies of the printed customized business form or brochure are shipped to the entities listed in the address information. It may still further comprise promptly after receipt of the order information from (c) sending an e-mail order confirmation from the remote computer to the user station. The method may still further comprise (g), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display new product information from the remote computer system on the monitor; and (h), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display complete product listing information from the remote computer system on the monitor; and (i), prior to (a) and (b), from the remote computer system displaying on the monitor a screen requiring the input of user identifying information, and (j) in response to (I) displaying information substantially unique to the user identifying information from the remote computer system on the monitor. The method may also further comprise (k) in response to (j), acknowledging or changing the information substantially unique to the user, and electronically transmitting that acknowledgment or change to the remote computer system.
In the typical practice of the method (d) is practiced substantially at the remote computer system location, and shipping occurs within 72 hours of (c). The method may further comprise, at the remote computer system location, viewing and updating status of orders, and viewing and updating user and template database information.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising (a) At the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor.
(b) Using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format. (c) Electronically uploading electronic or shipping address information from the user station to the remote computer system. (d) Using the selection device electronically transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system, along with electronically transmitting the address information from (c) without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station. (e) At the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in step (d); and (f) electronically transmitting or shipping copies of the customized business form or brochure from (e) to the entities listed in the address information.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising:
(a) At the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor.
(b) Using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format. (c) Using the selection device electronically transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system, along with electronically transmitting the address information from (c) without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station. (d) At the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in step (c); and (e), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display new product information from the remote computer system on the monitor, and to display complete product listing information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
The invention also comprises a system for producing customized business forms or brochures, comprising: A plurality of user stations each including a monitor, a browser, and a selection device. A remote computer system including servers for processing electronic order information, and providing a database including templates.
The user stations connected to said remote computer system over a global computer network which allows the user stations to access templates form the remote computer system and place orders for business forms or brochures to the remote computer system over the global computer network. A high speed printing facility for printing business forms or brochures in response to electronic order information transmitted from a user station to said remote computer network over a global computer network; and electronic form address information provided at said user stations that may be uploaded to said remote computer system along with order information over said global computer network to provide shipping of customized business forms or brochures printed at said high speed printing facilities to said electronic form address information. The invention also relates to other systems for practicing the methods described above.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple yet highly effective method and system for the production of sales collateral utilizing templates, that also can be managed in a simple and effective manner, allowing the elimination or minimization of generic collateral, brochure and other sales material storage costs and inventory management, wasted materials, and inaccurate and outdated product or service information. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of exemplary equipment that may be utilized to practice the method and provide the system according to the claimed invention;
FIGURE 2 is a high level flow chart showing an exemplary set-up of various databases in order to facilitate practice of the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a high level schematic flow chart showing the creation of a customized business form or brochure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 4 is a high level schematic showing the production and fulfillment system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is an illustration of an exemplary log-on screen, in a WINDOWS
format, for the practice of the invention;
FIGURE 6 is a view of an exemplary overview screen for the implementation of the present invention;
FIGURE 7 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays the newest articles added to the database for the user to browse;
FIGURE 8 is an exemplary screen displaying the article categories for selection for browsing;
FIGURE 9 is an exemplary display of the names and reference designations of articles of a particular category for selection to browse;
FIGURE 10 is an exemplary representation of a particular article that has been selected during browsing;
FIGURE 11 is an exemplary screen requesting user survey input;
FIGURE 12 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays user account information, including indicating a scroll down to illustrate the entire account information display area;
FIGURE 13 is an illustration of an exemplary screen that displays a user's order history;
FIGURE 14 illustrates an exemplary screen that displays all of the template order forms available for ordering;
FIGURE 15 illustrates an exemplary "Product Show Postcard" order form, including illustrating scroll down of the screen to show all the information thereof;
FIGURE 16 is an illustration of an exemplary screen that displays the first page of a screen proof for a selected template;
FIGURE 17 illustrates an exemplary display order confirmation;
FIGURE 18 illustrates an exemplary screen allowing the user to upload a mailing list to mail with the ordered template, including the scroll down to show all portions of the screen;
FIGURE 19 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays uploaded file information with a number of pieces in the mailing piece during order processing;
FIGURE 20 is an illustration of an exemplary screen main menu of an intranet production system utilizable with the database driven Internet web templates order application system and method pursuant to FIGURES 5 through 19;
FIGURE 21 is an illustration of an exemplary screen when one executes the "Departments" option of FIGURE 20, displaying all available departments or categories;
FIGURE 22 is an exemplary screen illustrating a display of the detailed information of a department or category selected from FIGURE 21;
FIGURE 23 is an illustration of an exemplary screen that appears when the "Add New Department" option of FIGURE 21 is selected;
FIGURE 24 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which is displayed when the "Products" option of the screen of FIGURE 20 is selected;
FIGURE 25 is an illustration of an exemplary screen for shopper account maintenance which is displayed when the "Shoppers" option from the screen of FIGURE
20 is selected;
FIGURE 26 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays all shoppers when the "All Account Managers" option of FIGURE 25 is selected;
FIGURE 27 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which appears when the "Orders" option from the screen of FIGURE 20 is selected, and including scroll down to show the entire data area;
FIGURE 28 is an illustration of an exemplary order maintenance screen which is 5 displayed when one of the options illustrated in the screen of FIGURE 27 is selected;
FIGURE 29 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays detailed order information when one of the options of an earlier order maintenance screen is selected;
FIGURE 30 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary brochure type business form that can be produced according to the present invention; and 10 FIGURE 31 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary postcard type business form that may be produced according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of equipment that may be used in accordance with the system of the invention, and for practice of the method according to the invention.
A plurality of remote user stations 10, 11 are preferably connected through a global computer network, such as the Internet, illustrated schematically at 12 in FIGURE 1, to a remote computer system at 15, including computer network servers 13. Each of the user stations 10, 11 includes a global computer network (Internet) browser, a conventional monitor 14, and s selection device (typically a mouse and/or keypad), and typically includes a processor and memory. Preferably the stations 10, 11 are personal computers, although they may be dumb terminals under some circumstances, or of more complex architecture.
At the remote computer system location 15 where the server equipment 13 is provided there also is a database server shown schematically at 16, operatively connected to an appropriate database 17, and connected through a local area network 18 to a CSR
station 19 which performs production functions for the printing of business forms. including brochures, postcards, letters, newsletters, and other "collateral", and a conventional shipping station 20 which updates the status information. The Internet server 13.
database server 17, CSR station 19, and shipping station 20, each include conventional computer equipment.
FIGURE 2 is a high level flow chart showing the operative association of various databases according to the invention in order to facilitate the production of current, customized, accurate, and highly professional business forms or like collateral according to the invention.
As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the basic building blocks for the utilization of the system and method are templates 22 and images and graphics 23. The templates 22 may be composed utilizing any suitable conventional equipment and software, such as using a XLC/XLO system of Moore, as illustrated schematically at 24 in FIGURE 2. The images and graphics are converted to digital format utilizing conventional techniques, as illustrated at 25 in FIGURE 2. The templates from 22, 24 which are constructed have pre-approved accurate copy information, and the form, copy, and other aspects of the templates may be added to, updated, or deleted, utilizing conventional techniques as illustrated at 26 in FIGURE 2. The templates are provided to the database 17.
The images and graphics are preferably in two formats, one digital format --as illustrated schematically at 27 in FIGURE 2 -- of low resolution images, and another digital format 28 of high resolution images. These images may be added to, updated, or deleted, utilizing conventional techniques as illustrated at 29 in FIGURE 2, for a wide variety of products (e.g. different types of business forms) illustrated schematically at 30. These digital images are also provided to the database 17, and the low resolution images are used for display on monitors 14, while the high resolution images are used for actual printing, as schematically indicated by the connection of the block 28 to the order process block 31 in FIGURE 2.
The database 17 may also be provided with shopper information 32, which may be added to, updated, and deleted, as indicated schematically at 33 in FIGURE 2, and by browser and order input 34. Ultimately, information from the database 17 is used in process order block 31 to print the end business forms (such as brochures, postcards, newsletters, etc.) as indicated by the fulfillment block 35 where typically the business forms are printed using high speed effective printers at station 35, and mailed or otherwise shipped as indicated at 36 in FIGURE 2 (typically within 72 hours of receipt of an order), or electronically transmitted as indicated schematically at 37 in FIGURE 2 to another location (where a local printer may effect printing).
FIGURE 3 is a high level schematic (which will be developed further by the computer screen illustrations in subsequent figures) showing the creation of a customized business form according to the invention.
The first step in FIGURE 3 as indicated by block 39 is to log in, an exemplary log in screen being illustrated schematically at 40 in FIGURE 5. The user's web order entry application name is inserted or displayed at 41 in FIGURE 5, and data input at the "User Name" and "Password" lines on the screen 40 of FIGURE 5 at one of the remote stations 10, 11, such as by using a keyboard. The information input is compared to the information in the shopper portion of the database 17, as illustrated schematically at 17 in both FIGURES 3 and 5. As indicated by block 42 in FIGURE 3 and by the information personalized for the shopper illustrated at 43 in FIGURE 6 on the screen 44 that typically comes up after the log on using screen 40 has been completed, information related to the user may be displayed and edited.
As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the screen 44 (and preferably all related screens) are in a WINDOWS format as illustrated. Displays in addition to the conventional WINDOWS
options 45 at the top of the screen 44 include various options for selection as shown schematically at 46 along the left of the screen, the overview option 47 being illustrated as selected in FIGURE 6.
One of the options displayed in FIGURE 6 is the "What's New" option 48, for which an exemplary screen is shown at 49 in FIGURE 7, and which also is schematically represented by block 50 in FIGURE 3. The information on screen 49 is obtained from a product database portion of the database 17. Exemplary products illustrated on the screen 49 are newsletter articles 51, letters 52, and other products that can be viewed by cursoring down in a conventional manner include brochures, postcards, and other types of business forms. The screen 49 display is illustrated schematically at 53 in FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 8 shows a screen 54 which is displayed when it is desired to browse newsletter articles, such as the articles 51 from FIGURE 7. The screen 54 will pop up when clicking on or otherwise executing the option 55, and the information displayed on the exemplary screen 54 comes from the category (department) database 56, which preferably is part of the database 17.
One of the browse options displayed on the exemplary screen 54 in FIGURE 8 is "custom articles" 57, and when that option is selected the exemplary screen 58 of FIGURE
9 appears, which lists a plurality of custom articles 59 provided by the product database portion of the database 17. By clicking on, or otherwise selecting, one of the custom articles 59 a screen such as the exemplary screen 60 in FIGURE 10 appears, which includes the particular article 61, including any graphics portion thereof, a code number 62 for future reference or entry into an order format, and possibly other aspects. The entire article may be read by cursoring down as is conventional, on the exemplary screen 60 of FIGURE 10.
Another of the options 46 displayed on the left of the monitors 14 at the user terminals 10, 11 is -- as illustrated selected in FIGURE 11 -- the user survey option 63, which is provided for display from a separate survey database 64. FIGURE 3 schematically illustrates a box 65 corresponding to the selection of the survey options 63 in FIGURE 11, and the survey database 64. The screen 66 illustrated in FIGURE 11 shows part of an exemplary survey where a number of questions are provided each with a plurality of multiple choice options 67, although questions may also be provided that require essay or true and false answers as opposed to, or in addition to, multiple choice answers.
FIGURE 12 illustrates an optional exemplary screen 68 (an upward part of the cursor and downward part of the cursor portions of the screen both being illustrated in FIGURE 12) that may be displayed after the log on screen of FIGURE 5, and before the overview screen of FIGURE 6, and as indicated schematically at 42 in FIGURE 3.
That is the block 42 may be provided between the block 39 and the blocks 50, 53, 65, and the yet to be described block 69. In the screen 68 various account information is displayed indicating what is on record for that particular customer, as indicated schematically at 70 in FIGURE 12, and the user has the option to update that information by clicking on, or otherwise executing, button 71, so that the information may be edited by the user at a remote terminal 10, 11 using his or her keyboard. The order history option 72 from the list of options 46 may be executed at this time (or at other times during the utilization of the system) to provide the exemplary screen 73 in FIGURE 13, the screen 73 having the order history personalized for the particular user, as indicated at 74 in FIGURE 13.
Substantially any time after log on and/or after the display of the screen 44 of FIGURE 6 or the screen 68 of FIGURE 12, the "place an order" option 75 from the options 46 may be executed, corresponding to the block 69 in FIGURE 3, and the selected screens may be displayed on the monitors 14 of the remote stations 10, 11 as illustrated at 76 in FIGURE 14. The options 77 illustrated on the screens 76 each correspond to a plurality of templates from the template portion of the database 17 (see FIGURES 2 and 3), and the different types of business forms or like collateral options that are exemplified at 77 in FIGURE 14 include announcement postcards, letters, a specialty brochure, a newsletter, a newsletter for a distributor, a "product show" postcard, etc.
FIGURE 15 illustrates an exemplary screen 78 that might be provided if one selected the "product show" postcard option of the option 77 of FIGURE 14. A
number of different "product show" postcards are displayed in a list 79, and the user can click on, or otherwise execute, any of those options, ultimately provided from the product aspect of the database 17 as schematically illustrated in FIGURE 15, and as shown schematically at 80 and 81 in FIGURE 3.
If instead of merely submitting the order (after making a selection of one of the options 79) the user wants to view a proof screen on the monitor 14, the "proof" button 82 in FIGURE 15 (schematically illustrated by block 82 in FIGURE 3) is clicked on or otherwise executed. FIGURE 16 shows an exemplary proof screen 83 that is displayed on the monitor 14 when the button/block 82 is executed, including in low resolution format as illustrated at 84 in FIGURE 16, and as shown by connection to the low resolution image digital format 27 in FIGURE 3. FIGURE 16 illustrates the first page of a multi-page product, the next page of which (and ultimately previous pages of which) may be viewed by clicking on or otherwise executing the navigate page buttons 85 in FIGURE
16, or by cursoring on the current page display 86 in FIGURE 16 (as is conventional per se). After review of the entire screen proof, the user can click on or otherwise execute the "order form" button 87 to return to the order form of FIGURES 15 or 14, for a change, or to submit the order by clicking on or otherwise executing button 88.
While FIGURE 3 schematically illustrates, as do the sequence in FIGURES 14 through 16, that the screen proof must be viewed before an order can be submitted, if desired a "submit order" button like the button 88 of FIGURE 16 can be provided on the screen 78 so that order may be submitted directly from screen 78.
5 After the execution of the submit button 88 in FIGURE 16, a display order confirmation screen will appear on the monitor 14, as illustrated at 89 in FIGURE 17.
Elements displayed on the screen 89 preferably include an order number 90, and a "file upload" option 91. By clicking on or otherwise executing the order number 90, the detail of the order will be displayed, while by clicking on or otherwise executing the "file upload"
10 element 91, also schematically illustrated at 93 in FIGURE 18, data will be uploaded.
Among the options that may be provided on the screen 93 are the browse button 94 which may be clicked on or otherwise executed to navigate the local P.C. (10, 11 ) hard drive to select a file containing a mailing list. Ultimately, assuming everything is in order, the "upload file" button 95 will be clicked on or otherwise executed to upload a mailing list so 15 that mail addresses are provided for the ordered template/business form.
When the button 95 is executed the next screen appearing on the monitor 14 may be the exemplary screen 97 illustrated in FIGURE 19, which displays the uploaded file name with a number of pieces in the mailing list (98 in FIGURE 19). Buttons 94, 95 to complete the browser upload also may be provided, as well as a button 99 which must be clicked on or otherwise executed to complete the order process (also shown in FIGURE 3), and which also can automatically provide an e-mail confirmation 100. As illustrated schematically in FIGURE 3, the screen 93 of FIGURE 18 may be circumvented, and an appropriate button on screen 89 (not shown in FIGURE 17) executed in order to complete the order process directly (that is a button comparable to the button 99 in FIGURE 19, or a button that gets one to screen 97 in FIGURE 19).
Using the system and procedure as set forth above, any number of business forms with template blocks and graphics, individually or jointly selected, and for any type of business form, may be selected, proofed on screen, uploaded with a particular mailing database, and then executed in a simple and effective manner.
FIGURE 4 is high level schematic showing the production and fulfillment system that is utilized with the creation and ordering system and procedure of FIGURE
3. The production and fulfillment system of FIGURE 4 is typically operated at the server location 15, including utilizing the CSR station 19 and the shipping station 20, seen in FIGURE 1, and is not available to the users at the remote stations 10, 11.
After log in at 102 in FIGURE 4 (for example utilizing a screen similar to the screen 40 in FIGURE 5), a number of options are displayed as illustrated by the screen 103 in FIGURE 20 including various maintenance databases including departments 104, products 105, orders 106, and shoppers 107, as well as an optional Internet shop site 108. A
"close" button 109 for the Internet shopping site is also provided. The buttons 104 through 109 in FIGURE 20 correspond to similarly numbered blocks in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 21 illustrates an exemplary screen 110 which is displayed when one clicks on or otherwise executes the button 104, providing a list of departments or categories 111 from the category (department) part of the database 17. Any of the individual elements 111 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to view and, if desired, update a particular department involved. Also the display 112 on the screen 110 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to add a new department.
FIGURE 22 shows an exemplary screen 113 that displays detailed information of about one of the departments 111 if clicked on. This would typically include dialog boxes or displays to allow updating or revision, or the like, including 114 which reports to the parent's department, 115 which is the name to display on the Internet web site, and a description block 116. If it is desired to update information the button 117 is clicked on or otherwise executed, or if this particular department is to be deleted, the delete button 118 is clicked on or otherwise executed.
FIGURE 23 shows an exemplary screen 120 that is displayed when the element 112 is clicked on from FIGURE 21. By utilizing a computer terminal (e.g. 19, 20) the user can enter data at various plates 121 to add information about a new department including a new department number.
FIGURE 24 illustrates an exemplary screen 122 that is displayed when the button 105 is executed, to display all available products/templates from the product/template portion of the database 17. The dialog box 123 allows one to search for a product, the display 124 can be clicked on or otherwise executed to add a new product name, and any one of the products displayed as illustrated at 125 can be clicked on or otherwise executed to view in detail a product description to update or to delete a product.
FIGURE 25 illustrates an exemplary screen 127 which is displayed when the shopper button 107 is clicked on. The screen 127 facilitates shopper account maintenance. The elements that will be displayed on the screen 127 include a dialog box 128 that allows one to search for a shopper, a display 129 that can be clicked on or otherwise executed to add a new shopper, and a display 130 that may be clicked on or otherwise executed to display all shoppers. For example if the display 130 is clicked on a screen like the screen 131 in FIGURE 26 comes up, which also includes a search dialog box 132, and summary listings 133 of shoppers provided from the shopper part of the database 17. By clicking on any of the shopper names 133 one may view in detail the shopper information, and update and delete it if desired.
FIGURE 27 illustrates an exemplary screen for order maintenance, 135, that is displayed when the button 106 is executed. The screen 135 preferably includes a search dialog box 136 to allow one to search for an order, and includes option 137 (FIGURES 4 and 27) that allows one to view orders by status, option 138 (FIGURES 4 and 27) that allows one to generate/prepare an LDF file for new orders (e.g. utilizing the conventional XLC/XLO system schematically illustrated at 139 in FIGURE 27), and a reports option 140.
When the "view order" option is executed, as illustrated by block 141 in FIGURE 4, a screen such as illustrated schematically at 142 for new orders, or 143 for fulfilled orders, pops up as illustrated in FIGURE 28. Any of the order numbers 144 in either of the screens 142, 143 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to display detail order information, from the order part of the database 17. The button 145 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to view the order in a different status, which may display the box 146 illustrated at the bottom of FIGURE 28.
Upon clicking on an order number 144, screens like those illustrated at 148 and 149 may appear on monitor 14 to update/change the status of an order. The button 150 may be clicked on or otherwise executed (shown as block 150 in FIGURE 4) so as to update or change the status, and text changes may also be updated by clicking on or otherwise executing box 151. Clicking on box 151 can display the screen 149, and changes may be made by clicking on or otherwise executing the box 152 on screen 149.
The box 153 of FIGURE 29 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to generate an LDF file, again as illustrated schematically 139 in FIGURE 29. This is also indicated by box 153 in FIGURE 4, and the LDF file generation is illustrated schematically at 139 in FIGURE 4.
Once the appropriate LDF file has been generated, whether directly from box 138 or from box 153 in FIGURE 4, a high technology digital printing facility (such as exists at Moore North America, Inc., headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois), is utilized to produce the final products such as the full color or black and white brochure 155 illustrated in FIGURE 30, or the full color or black and white announcement postcard 156 illustrated in FIGURE 31.
FIGURE 30 illustrates a brochure 155 having a front face 157, and a back face upon which a company name and address type information is typically imaged, as well as various graphics and typically a modest amount of text. On the interior pages 159 and 160 various copy blocks, which are provided by templates from the template source 22, as well as graphics blocks, provided from the images and graphics section 23 in FIGURE
2, are provided, as well as personalized information 161 (which may also of course appear on the front cover 157) for the particular entity or group to whom the brochure 155 is directed. Of course any number of pages may be provided for the brochure, either by folding a large sheet of paper or other sheet material, or stapling or otherwise affixing various sheets together in booklet form.
The postcard 156 of FIGURE 31 has a front face 162 on which address information and postage information are provided, and the backside 163 which is primarily illustrated in FIGURE 31 has various copy block and graphics information again provided by the templates and images and graphics source 22, 23, respectively, schematically illustrated in FIGURE 2. A wide variety of other business forms/collateral are producable, the structures 155, 156 in FIGURES 30 and 31 being exemplary only.
FIGURE 4 schematically illustrates final fulfillment where the produced collateral (e.g. 155, 156) is appropriately sorted and packaged as indicated schematically at 165 in FIGURE 4, and then mailed, as indicated schematically at 166 in FIGURE 4, or shipped, as indicated schematically at 167, or otherwise forwarded. The turnaround time from entry of the order by clicking on button 99 in FIGURE 19 (at which time an e-mail confirmation 100 is sent out) to shipment or mailing as indicated at 166 and 167 in FIGURE
4, is typically only about 72 hours. The business forms (e.g. 155, 156) produced have management approved full color or black and white text, that is updated and properly worded and professional, with high quality, high resolution full color or black and white images that also are updated and management approved, so that an entirely professional, presentable, product ensues.
By utilizing the system and practicing the method as described above, it will be seen that sales and marketing personnel of every type may easily select collateral of their choice, customizing it as necessary, review a proof on line, choose the quantity and destination, upload a house file of customer names and addresses for mailing or other shipment, receive an electronic order confirmation, and forward the order via a secure Internet connection to a digital printing facility at which point a high quality product is produced and the order fulfilled. This allows minimization or complete elimination of generic collateral, storage costs, inventory management, waste of material, and incomplete, or outdated, or inaccurate product information.
While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent systems and methods.
The PDF is an accepted Internet standard, very well supported by the major Internet browsers. It is device independent and provides one to one representation of how the final document would look when printed. The PDF file is displayed in the user's Internet browser using a conventional PDF reader plug-in. The PDF file can be viewed or printed to a local low resolution printer for the final proofing. If changes are required the user moves back to the main HTML page to modify the selection and/or the variable data. Then a new dynamic PDF file is generated that reflects the changes. The process continues until the user is satisfied with the document. After that the same references used to build the dynamic PDF file are sent for printing using known XLC printing technology.
Alternatively, the same generated PDF file could be sent for printing using conventional printing technology where the low resolution images would be replaced by the high resolution images by an OPI
(Open Pre-press Interface) process before printing.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of low resolution graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network. The method comprises: (a) At the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more low resolution graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor. (b) Using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format.
(c) Using the selection device transmitting order information for the customized business 5 form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station; and (d) at the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in (c), the customized business form or brochure in physical form having high resolution graphics corresponding to the template graphics selected in (a), and shipping the customized business form or brochure.
The method may further comprise (e) uploading electronic or shipping address information from the user station prior to (c), and (f) electronically transmitting the address information with the order information in (c) so that copies of the printed customized business form or brochure are shipped to the entities listed in the address information. It may still further comprise promptly after receipt of the order information from (c) sending an e-mail order confirmation from the remote computer to the user station. The method may still further comprise (g), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display new product information from the remote computer system on the monitor; and (h), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display complete product listing information from the remote computer system on the monitor; and (i), prior to (a) and (b), from the remote computer system displaying on the monitor a screen requiring the input of user identifying information, and (j) in response to (I) displaying information substantially unique to the user identifying information from the remote computer system on the monitor. The method may also further comprise (k) in response to (j), acknowledging or changing the information substantially unique to the user, and electronically transmitting that acknowledgment or change to the remote computer system.
In the typical practice of the method (d) is practiced substantially at the remote computer system location, and shipping occurs within 72 hours of (c). The method may further comprise, at the remote computer system location, viewing and updating status of orders, and viewing and updating user and template database information.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising (a) At the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor.
(b) Using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format. (c) Electronically uploading electronic or shipping address information from the user station to the remote computer system. (d) Using the selection device electronically transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system, along with electronically transmitting the address information from (c) without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station. (e) At the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in step (d); and (f) electronically transmitting or shipping copies of the customized business form or brochure from (e) to the entities listed in the address information.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising:
(a) At the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor.
(b) Using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format. (c) Using the selection device electronically transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system, along with electronically transmitting the address information from (c) without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station. (d) At the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in step (c); and (e), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display new product information from the remote computer system on the monitor, and to display complete product listing information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
The invention also comprises a system for producing customized business forms or brochures, comprising: A plurality of user stations each including a monitor, a browser, and a selection device. A remote computer system including servers for processing electronic order information, and providing a database including templates.
The user stations connected to said remote computer system over a global computer network which allows the user stations to access templates form the remote computer system and place orders for business forms or brochures to the remote computer system over the global computer network. A high speed printing facility for printing business forms or brochures in response to electronic order information transmitted from a user station to said remote computer network over a global computer network; and electronic form address information provided at said user stations that may be uploaded to said remote computer system along with order information over said global computer network to provide shipping of customized business forms or brochures printed at said high speed printing facilities to said electronic form address information. The invention also relates to other systems for practicing the methods described above.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple yet highly effective method and system for the production of sales collateral utilizing templates, that also can be managed in a simple and effective manner, allowing the elimination or minimization of generic collateral, brochure and other sales material storage costs and inventory management, wasted materials, and inaccurate and outdated product or service information. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of exemplary equipment that may be utilized to practice the method and provide the system according to the claimed invention;
FIGURE 2 is a high level flow chart showing an exemplary set-up of various databases in order to facilitate practice of the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a high level schematic flow chart showing the creation of a customized business form or brochure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 4 is a high level schematic showing the production and fulfillment system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is an illustration of an exemplary log-on screen, in a WINDOWS
format, for the practice of the invention;
FIGURE 6 is a view of an exemplary overview screen for the implementation of the present invention;
FIGURE 7 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays the newest articles added to the database for the user to browse;
FIGURE 8 is an exemplary screen displaying the article categories for selection for browsing;
FIGURE 9 is an exemplary display of the names and reference designations of articles of a particular category for selection to browse;
FIGURE 10 is an exemplary representation of a particular article that has been selected during browsing;
FIGURE 11 is an exemplary screen requesting user survey input;
FIGURE 12 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays user account information, including indicating a scroll down to illustrate the entire account information display area;
FIGURE 13 is an illustration of an exemplary screen that displays a user's order history;
FIGURE 14 illustrates an exemplary screen that displays all of the template order forms available for ordering;
FIGURE 15 illustrates an exemplary "Product Show Postcard" order form, including illustrating scroll down of the screen to show all the information thereof;
FIGURE 16 is an illustration of an exemplary screen that displays the first page of a screen proof for a selected template;
FIGURE 17 illustrates an exemplary display order confirmation;
FIGURE 18 illustrates an exemplary screen allowing the user to upload a mailing list to mail with the ordered template, including the scroll down to show all portions of the screen;
FIGURE 19 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays uploaded file information with a number of pieces in the mailing piece during order processing;
FIGURE 20 is an illustration of an exemplary screen main menu of an intranet production system utilizable with the database driven Internet web templates order application system and method pursuant to FIGURES 5 through 19;
FIGURE 21 is an illustration of an exemplary screen when one executes the "Departments" option of FIGURE 20, displaying all available departments or categories;
FIGURE 22 is an exemplary screen illustrating a display of the detailed information of a department or category selected from FIGURE 21;
FIGURE 23 is an illustration of an exemplary screen that appears when the "Add New Department" option of FIGURE 21 is selected;
FIGURE 24 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which is displayed when the "Products" option of the screen of FIGURE 20 is selected;
FIGURE 25 is an illustration of an exemplary screen for shopper account maintenance which is displayed when the "Shoppers" option from the screen of FIGURE
20 is selected;
FIGURE 26 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays all shoppers when the "All Account Managers" option of FIGURE 25 is selected;
FIGURE 27 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which appears when the "Orders" option from the screen of FIGURE 20 is selected, and including scroll down to show the entire data area;
FIGURE 28 is an illustration of an exemplary order maintenance screen which is 5 displayed when one of the options illustrated in the screen of FIGURE 27 is selected;
FIGURE 29 is an illustration of an exemplary screen which displays detailed order information when one of the options of an earlier order maintenance screen is selected;
FIGURE 30 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary brochure type business form that can be produced according to the present invention; and 10 FIGURE 31 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary postcard type business form that may be produced according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of equipment that may be used in accordance with the system of the invention, and for practice of the method according to the invention.
A plurality of remote user stations 10, 11 are preferably connected through a global computer network, such as the Internet, illustrated schematically at 12 in FIGURE 1, to a remote computer system at 15, including computer network servers 13. Each of the user stations 10, 11 includes a global computer network (Internet) browser, a conventional monitor 14, and s selection device (typically a mouse and/or keypad), and typically includes a processor and memory. Preferably the stations 10, 11 are personal computers, although they may be dumb terminals under some circumstances, or of more complex architecture.
At the remote computer system location 15 where the server equipment 13 is provided there also is a database server shown schematically at 16, operatively connected to an appropriate database 17, and connected through a local area network 18 to a CSR
station 19 which performs production functions for the printing of business forms. including brochures, postcards, letters, newsletters, and other "collateral", and a conventional shipping station 20 which updates the status information. The Internet server 13.
database server 17, CSR station 19, and shipping station 20, each include conventional computer equipment.
FIGURE 2 is a high level flow chart showing the operative association of various databases according to the invention in order to facilitate the production of current, customized, accurate, and highly professional business forms or like collateral according to the invention.
As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the basic building blocks for the utilization of the system and method are templates 22 and images and graphics 23. The templates 22 may be composed utilizing any suitable conventional equipment and software, such as using a XLC/XLO system of Moore, as illustrated schematically at 24 in FIGURE 2. The images and graphics are converted to digital format utilizing conventional techniques, as illustrated at 25 in FIGURE 2. The templates from 22, 24 which are constructed have pre-approved accurate copy information, and the form, copy, and other aspects of the templates may be added to, updated, or deleted, utilizing conventional techniques as illustrated at 26 in FIGURE 2. The templates are provided to the database 17.
The images and graphics are preferably in two formats, one digital format --as illustrated schematically at 27 in FIGURE 2 -- of low resolution images, and another digital format 28 of high resolution images. These images may be added to, updated, or deleted, utilizing conventional techniques as illustrated at 29 in FIGURE 2, for a wide variety of products (e.g. different types of business forms) illustrated schematically at 30. These digital images are also provided to the database 17, and the low resolution images are used for display on monitors 14, while the high resolution images are used for actual printing, as schematically indicated by the connection of the block 28 to the order process block 31 in FIGURE 2.
The database 17 may also be provided with shopper information 32, which may be added to, updated, and deleted, as indicated schematically at 33 in FIGURE 2, and by browser and order input 34. Ultimately, information from the database 17 is used in process order block 31 to print the end business forms (such as brochures, postcards, newsletters, etc.) as indicated by the fulfillment block 35 where typically the business forms are printed using high speed effective printers at station 35, and mailed or otherwise shipped as indicated at 36 in FIGURE 2 (typically within 72 hours of receipt of an order), or electronically transmitted as indicated schematically at 37 in FIGURE 2 to another location (where a local printer may effect printing).
FIGURE 3 is a high level schematic (which will be developed further by the computer screen illustrations in subsequent figures) showing the creation of a customized business form according to the invention.
The first step in FIGURE 3 as indicated by block 39 is to log in, an exemplary log in screen being illustrated schematically at 40 in FIGURE 5. The user's web order entry application name is inserted or displayed at 41 in FIGURE 5, and data input at the "User Name" and "Password" lines on the screen 40 of FIGURE 5 at one of the remote stations 10, 11, such as by using a keyboard. The information input is compared to the information in the shopper portion of the database 17, as illustrated schematically at 17 in both FIGURES 3 and 5. As indicated by block 42 in FIGURE 3 and by the information personalized for the shopper illustrated at 43 in FIGURE 6 on the screen 44 that typically comes up after the log on using screen 40 has been completed, information related to the user may be displayed and edited.
As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the screen 44 (and preferably all related screens) are in a WINDOWS format as illustrated. Displays in addition to the conventional WINDOWS
options 45 at the top of the screen 44 include various options for selection as shown schematically at 46 along the left of the screen, the overview option 47 being illustrated as selected in FIGURE 6.
One of the options displayed in FIGURE 6 is the "What's New" option 48, for which an exemplary screen is shown at 49 in FIGURE 7, and which also is schematically represented by block 50 in FIGURE 3. The information on screen 49 is obtained from a product database portion of the database 17. Exemplary products illustrated on the screen 49 are newsletter articles 51, letters 52, and other products that can be viewed by cursoring down in a conventional manner include brochures, postcards, and other types of business forms. The screen 49 display is illustrated schematically at 53 in FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 8 shows a screen 54 which is displayed when it is desired to browse newsletter articles, such as the articles 51 from FIGURE 7. The screen 54 will pop up when clicking on or otherwise executing the option 55, and the information displayed on the exemplary screen 54 comes from the category (department) database 56, which preferably is part of the database 17.
One of the browse options displayed on the exemplary screen 54 in FIGURE 8 is "custom articles" 57, and when that option is selected the exemplary screen 58 of FIGURE
9 appears, which lists a plurality of custom articles 59 provided by the product database portion of the database 17. By clicking on, or otherwise selecting, one of the custom articles 59 a screen such as the exemplary screen 60 in FIGURE 10 appears, which includes the particular article 61, including any graphics portion thereof, a code number 62 for future reference or entry into an order format, and possibly other aspects. The entire article may be read by cursoring down as is conventional, on the exemplary screen 60 of FIGURE 10.
Another of the options 46 displayed on the left of the monitors 14 at the user terminals 10, 11 is -- as illustrated selected in FIGURE 11 -- the user survey option 63, which is provided for display from a separate survey database 64. FIGURE 3 schematically illustrates a box 65 corresponding to the selection of the survey options 63 in FIGURE 11, and the survey database 64. The screen 66 illustrated in FIGURE 11 shows part of an exemplary survey where a number of questions are provided each with a plurality of multiple choice options 67, although questions may also be provided that require essay or true and false answers as opposed to, or in addition to, multiple choice answers.
FIGURE 12 illustrates an optional exemplary screen 68 (an upward part of the cursor and downward part of the cursor portions of the screen both being illustrated in FIGURE 12) that may be displayed after the log on screen of FIGURE 5, and before the overview screen of FIGURE 6, and as indicated schematically at 42 in FIGURE 3.
That is the block 42 may be provided between the block 39 and the blocks 50, 53, 65, and the yet to be described block 69. In the screen 68 various account information is displayed indicating what is on record for that particular customer, as indicated schematically at 70 in FIGURE 12, and the user has the option to update that information by clicking on, or otherwise executing, button 71, so that the information may be edited by the user at a remote terminal 10, 11 using his or her keyboard. The order history option 72 from the list of options 46 may be executed at this time (or at other times during the utilization of the system) to provide the exemplary screen 73 in FIGURE 13, the screen 73 having the order history personalized for the particular user, as indicated at 74 in FIGURE 13.
Substantially any time after log on and/or after the display of the screen 44 of FIGURE 6 or the screen 68 of FIGURE 12, the "place an order" option 75 from the options 46 may be executed, corresponding to the block 69 in FIGURE 3, and the selected screens may be displayed on the monitors 14 of the remote stations 10, 11 as illustrated at 76 in FIGURE 14. The options 77 illustrated on the screens 76 each correspond to a plurality of templates from the template portion of the database 17 (see FIGURES 2 and 3), and the different types of business forms or like collateral options that are exemplified at 77 in FIGURE 14 include announcement postcards, letters, a specialty brochure, a newsletter, a newsletter for a distributor, a "product show" postcard, etc.
FIGURE 15 illustrates an exemplary screen 78 that might be provided if one selected the "product show" postcard option of the option 77 of FIGURE 14. A
number of different "product show" postcards are displayed in a list 79, and the user can click on, or otherwise execute, any of those options, ultimately provided from the product aspect of the database 17 as schematically illustrated in FIGURE 15, and as shown schematically at 80 and 81 in FIGURE 3.
If instead of merely submitting the order (after making a selection of one of the options 79) the user wants to view a proof screen on the monitor 14, the "proof" button 82 in FIGURE 15 (schematically illustrated by block 82 in FIGURE 3) is clicked on or otherwise executed. FIGURE 16 shows an exemplary proof screen 83 that is displayed on the monitor 14 when the button/block 82 is executed, including in low resolution format as illustrated at 84 in FIGURE 16, and as shown by connection to the low resolution image digital format 27 in FIGURE 3. FIGURE 16 illustrates the first page of a multi-page product, the next page of which (and ultimately previous pages of which) may be viewed by clicking on or otherwise executing the navigate page buttons 85 in FIGURE
16, or by cursoring on the current page display 86 in FIGURE 16 (as is conventional per se). After review of the entire screen proof, the user can click on or otherwise execute the "order form" button 87 to return to the order form of FIGURES 15 or 14, for a change, or to submit the order by clicking on or otherwise executing button 88.
While FIGURE 3 schematically illustrates, as do the sequence in FIGURES 14 through 16, that the screen proof must be viewed before an order can be submitted, if desired a "submit order" button like the button 88 of FIGURE 16 can be provided on the screen 78 so that order may be submitted directly from screen 78.
5 After the execution of the submit button 88 in FIGURE 16, a display order confirmation screen will appear on the monitor 14, as illustrated at 89 in FIGURE 17.
Elements displayed on the screen 89 preferably include an order number 90, and a "file upload" option 91. By clicking on or otherwise executing the order number 90, the detail of the order will be displayed, while by clicking on or otherwise executing the "file upload"
10 element 91, also schematically illustrated at 93 in FIGURE 18, data will be uploaded.
Among the options that may be provided on the screen 93 are the browse button 94 which may be clicked on or otherwise executed to navigate the local P.C. (10, 11 ) hard drive to select a file containing a mailing list. Ultimately, assuming everything is in order, the "upload file" button 95 will be clicked on or otherwise executed to upload a mailing list so 15 that mail addresses are provided for the ordered template/business form.
When the button 95 is executed the next screen appearing on the monitor 14 may be the exemplary screen 97 illustrated in FIGURE 19, which displays the uploaded file name with a number of pieces in the mailing list (98 in FIGURE 19). Buttons 94, 95 to complete the browser upload also may be provided, as well as a button 99 which must be clicked on or otherwise executed to complete the order process (also shown in FIGURE 3), and which also can automatically provide an e-mail confirmation 100. As illustrated schematically in FIGURE 3, the screen 93 of FIGURE 18 may be circumvented, and an appropriate button on screen 89 (not shown in FIGURE 17) executed in order to complete the order process directly (that is a button comparable to the button 99 in FIGURE 19, or a button that gets one to screen 97 in FIGURE 19).
Using the system and procedure as set forth above, any number of business forms with template blocks and graphics, individually or jointly selected, and for any type of business form, may be selected, proofed on screen, uploaded with a particular mailing database, and then executed in a simple and effective manner.
FIGURE 4 is high level schematic showing the production and fulfillment system that is utilized with the creation and ordering system and procedure of FIGURE
3. The production and fulfillment system of FIGURE 4 is typically operated at the server location 15, including utilizing the CSR station 19 and the shipping station 20, seen in FIGURE 1, and is not available to the users at the remote stations 10, 11.
After log in at 102 in FIGURE 4 (for example utilizing a screen similar to the screen 40 in FIGURE 5), a number of options are displayed as illustrated by the screen 103 in FIGURE 20 including various maintenance databases including departments 104, products 105, orders 106, and shoppers 107, as well as an optional Internet shop site 108. A
"close" button 109 for the Internet shopping site is also provided. The buttons 104 through 109 in FIGURE 20 correspond to similarly numbered blocks in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 21 illustrates an exemplary screen 110 which is displayed when one clicks on or otherwise executes the button 104, providing a list of departments or categories 111 from the category (department) part of the database 17. Any of the individual elements 111 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to view and, if desired, update a particular department involved. Also the display 112 on the screen 110 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to add a new department.
FIGURE 22 shows an exemplary screen 113 that displays detailed information of about one of the departments 111 if clicked on. This would typically include dialog boxes or displays to allow updating or revision, or the like, including 114 which reports to the parent's department, 115 which is the name to display on the Internet web site, and a description block 116. If it is desired to update information the button 117 is clicked on or otherwise executed, or if this particular department is to be deleted, the delete button 118 is clicked on or otherwise executed.
FIGURE 23 shows an exemplary screen 120 that is displayed when the element 112 is clicked on from FIGURE 21. By utilizing a computer terminal (e.g. 19, 20) the user can enter data at various plates 121 to add information about a new department including a new department number.
FIGURE 24 illustrates an exemplary screen 122 that is displayed when the button 105 is executed, to display all available products/templates from the product/template portion of the database 17. The dialog box 123 allows one to search for a product, the display 124 can be clicked on or otherwise executed to add a new product name, and any one of the products displayed as illustrated at 125 can be clicked on or otherwise executed to view in detail a product description to update or to delete a product.
FIGURE 25 illustrates an exemplary screen 127 which is displayed when the shopper button 107 is clicked on. The screen 127 facilitates shopper account maintenance. The elements that will be displayed on the screen 127 include a dialog box 128 that allows one to search for a shopper, a display 129 that can be clicked on or otherwise executed to add a new shopper, and a display 130 that may be clicked on or otherwise executed to display all shoppers. For example if the display 130 is clicked on a screen like the screen 131 in FIGURE 26 comes up, which also includes a search dialog box 132, and summary listings 133 of shoppers provided from the shopper part of the database 17. By clicking on any of the shopper names 133 one may view in detail the shopper information, and update and delete it if desired.
FIGURE 27 illustrates an exemplary screen for order maintenance, 135, that is displayed when the button 106 is executed. The screen 135 preferably includes a search dialog box 136 to allow one to search for an order, and includes option 137 (FIGURES 4 and 27) that allows one to view orders by status, option 138 (FIGURES 4 and 27) that allows one to generate/prepare an LDF file for new orders (e.g. utilizing the conventional XLC/XLO system schematically illustrated at 139 in FIGURE 27), and a reports option 140.
When the "view order" option is executed, as illustrated by block 141 in FIGURE 4, a screen such as illustrated schematically at 142 for new orders, or 143 for fulfilled orders, pops up as illustrated in FIGURE 28. Any of the order numbers 144 in either of the screens 142, 143 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to display detail order information, from the order part of the database 17. The button 145 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to view the order in a different status, which may display the box 146 illustrated at the bottom of FIGURE 28.
Upon clicking on an order number 144, screens like those illustrated at 148 and 149 may appear on monitor 14 to update/change the status of an order. The button 150 may be clicked on or otherwise executed (shown as block 150 in FIGURE 4) so as to update or change the status, and text changes may also be updated by clicking on or otherwise executing box 151. Clicking on box 151 can display the screen 149, and changes may be made by clicking on or otherwise executing the box 152 on screen 149.
The box 153 of FIGURE 29 may be clicked on or otherwise executed to generate an LDF file, again as illustrated schematically 139 in FIGURE 29. This is also indicated by box 153 in FIGURE 4, and the LDF file generation is illustrated schematically at 139 in FIGURE 4.
Once the appropriate LDF file has been generated, whether directly from box 138 or from box 153 in FIGURE 4, a high technology digital printing facility (such as exists at Moore North America, Inc., headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois), is utilized to produce the final products such as the full color or black and white brochure 155 illustrated in FIGURE 30, or the full color or black and white announcement postcard 156 illustrated in FIGURE 31.
FIGURE 30 illustrates a brochure 155 having a front face 157, and a back face upon which a company name and address type information is typically imaged, as well as various graphics and typically a modest amount of text. On the interior pages 159 and 160 various copy blocks, which are provided by templates from the template source 22, as well as graphics blocks, provided from the images and graphics section 23 in FIGURE
2, are provided, as well as personalized information 161 (which may also of course appear on the front cover 157) for the particular entity or group to whom the brochure 155 is directed. Of course any number of pages may be provided for the brochure, either by folding a large sheet of paper or other sheet material, or stapling or otherwise affixing various sheets together in booklet form.
The postcard 156 of FIGURE 31 has a front face 162 on which address information and postage information are provided, and the backside 163 which is primarily illustrated in FIGURE 31 has various copy block and graphics information again provided by the templates and images and graphics source 22, 23, respectively, schematically illustrated in FIGURE 2. A wide variety of other business forms/collateral are producable, the structures 155, 156 in FIGURES 30 and 31 being exemplary only.
FIGURE 4 schematically illustrates final fulfillment where the produced collateral (e.g. 155, 156) is appropriately sorted and packaged as indicated schematically at 165 in FIGURE 4, and then mailed, as indicated schematically at 166 in FIGURE 4, or shipped, as indicated schematically at 167, or otherwise forwarded. The turnaround time from entry of the order by clicking on button 99 in FIGURE 19 (at which time an e-mail confirmation 100 is sent out) to shipment or mailing as indicated at 166 and 167 in FIGURE
4, is typically only about 72 hours. The business forms (e.g. 155, 156) produced have management approved full color or black and white text, that is updated and properly worded and professional, with high quality, high resolution full color or black and white images that also are updated and management approved, so that an entirely professional, presentable, product ensues.
By utilizing the system and practicing the method as described above, it will be seen that sales and marketing personnel of every type may easily select collateral of their choice, customizing it as necessary, review a proof on line, choose the quantity and destination, upload a house file of customer names and addresses for mailing or other shipment, receive an electronic order confirmation, and forward the order via a secure Internet connection to a digital printing facility at which point a high quality product is produced and the order fulfilled. This allows minimization or complete elimination of generic collateral, storage costs, inventory management, waste of material, and incomplete, or outdated, or inaccurate product information.
While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent systems and methods.
Claims (12)
1. A method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of low resolution graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising (a) at the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more low resolution graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor;
(b) using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format;
(c) using the selection device transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station; and (d) at the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in (c), the customized business form or brochure in physical form having high resolution graphics corresponding to the template graphics selected in (a), and shipping the customized business form or brochure.
(b) using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format;
(c) using the selection device transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station; and (d) at the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in (c), the customized business form or brochure in physical form having high resolution graphics corresponding to the template graphics selected in (a), and shipping the customized business form or brochure.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising (e) on-line querying uploading electronic or shipping address information from the user station prior to (c), and (f) 20a electronically transmitting the address information with the order information in (c) so that copies of the printed customized business form or brochure are shipped to the entities listed in the address information.
3. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising promptly after receipt of the order information from (c) sending an e-mail order confirmation from the remote computer to the user station.
4. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising (g), prior to (a) and f,b), using the selection device at the user station to display new product information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
5. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising (h), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display complete product listing information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
6. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising (i), prior to (a) and (b), from the remote computer system displaying on the monitor a screen requiring the input of user identifying information, and (j) in response to (l) displaying information substantially unique to the user identifying information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
7. A method as recited in claim 6 further comprising (k) in response to (j), acknowledging or changing the information substantially unique to the user, and electronically transmitting that acknowledgment or change to the remote computer system.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (d) is practiced substantially at the remote computer system location.
9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising, at the remote computer system location, viewing and updating status of orders, and viewing and updating user and template database information.
10. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein shipping occurs within 72 hours of (c).
11. A method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system 22a 13. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising (g), prior to (a) and (b), from the remote computer system displaying on the monitor a screen requiring the input of user identifying information, and (h) in response to (g) displaying information substantially unique to the user identifying information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising (a) at the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor;
(b) using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format;
(c) on-line querying or electronically uploading electronic or shipping address information from the user station to the remote computer system;
(d) using the selection device electronically transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system, along with electronically transmitting the address information from (c) without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station;
(e) at the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in step (d); and (f) electronically transmitting or shipping copies of the customized business form or brochure from (e) to the entities listed in the address information.
containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising (a) at the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor;
(b) using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format;
(c) on-line querying or electronically uploading electronic or shipping address information from the user station to the remote computer system;
(d) using the selection device electronically transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system, along with electronically transmitting the address information from (c) without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station;
(e) at the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in step (d); and (f) electronically transmitting or shipping copies of the customized business form or brochure from (e) to the entities listed in the address information.
12. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising promptly after receipt of the order information from (d) sending an e-mail order confirmation from the remote computer to the user station.
14. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising (i) in response to (h), acknowledging or changing the information substantially unique to the user, and electronically transmitting that acknowledgment or change to the remote computer system.
15. A method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising (a) at the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor;
(b) using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format;
(c) using the selection device electronically transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system, along with electronically transmitting the address information from (c) without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station;
(d) at the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in step (c); and (e), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display new product information from the remote computer system on the monitor, and to display complete product listing information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising (f), prior to (a) and (b), from the remote computer system displaying on the monitor a screen requiring the input of user identifying information, and (g) in response to (f) displaying information substantially unique to the user identifying information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
17. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising promptly after receipt of the order information from (c) sending an e-mail order confirmation from the remote computer to the user station.
18. A system for producing customized business forms or brochures, comprising:
a plurality of user stations each including a monitor, a browser, and a selection device;
a remote computer system including servers for processing electronic order information, and providing a database including templates;
said user stations connected to said remote computer system over a global computer network which allows the user stations to access templates form the remote computer system and place orders for business forms or brochures to the remote computer system over the global computer network;;
a high speed printing facility for printing business forms or brochures in response to electronic order information transmitted from a user station to said remote computer network over a global computer network; and electronic form address information provided at said user stations that may be uploaded to said remote computer system along with order information over said global computer network to provide shipping of customized business forms or brochures printed at said high speed printing facilities to said electronic form address information.
19. A system for practicing the method of claim 1.
20. A system for practicing the method of claim 15.
14. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising (i) in response to (h), acknowledging or changing the information substantially unique to the user, and electronically transmitting that acknowledgment or change to the remote computer system.
15. A method of producing customized business forms or brochures using a plurality of graphics templates in electronic form, and a plurality of text templates, using a user station including a video monitor, a selection device, and a remote computer system containing a database connected to the user station over a wide area computer network, comprising (a) at the user station, using the selection device to access the remote computer system, selecting one or more graphics templates in electronic form from the plurality of templates, and displaying graphics corresponding to the graphic templates selected on the video monitor;
(b) using the selection device selecting text related to the graphics selected from the text templates, and displaying the text corresponding to the text template or templates selected on the video monitor with the selected graphics to provide a customized business form or brochure in electronic format;
(c) using the selection device electronically transmitting order information for the customized business form or brochure in electronic format over the wide area computer network to a printing installation associated with the remote computer system, along with electronically transmitting the address information from (c) without transmitting a document, physical graphics, or templates from the user station;
(d) at the printing installation imaging a physical copy of the customized business form or brochure in electronic format transmitted in step (c); and (e), prior to (a) and (b), using the selection device at the user station to display new product information from the remote computer system on the monitor, and to display complete product listing information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising (f), prior to (a) and (b), from the remote computer system displaying on the monitor a screen requiring the input of user identifying information, and (g) in response to (f) displaying information substantially unique to the user identifying information from the remote computer system on the monitor.
17. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising promptly after receipt of the order information from (c) sending an e-mail order confirmation from the remote computer to the user station.
18. A system for producing customized business forms or brochures, comprising:
a plurality of user stations each including a monitor, a browser, and a selection device;
a remote computer system including servers for processing electronic order information, and providing a database including templates;
said user stations connected to said remote computer system over a global computer network which allows the user stations to access templates form the remote computer system and place orders for business forms or brochures to the remote computer system over the global computer network;;
a high speed printing facility for printing business forms or brochures in response to electronic order information transmitted from a user station to said remote computer network over a global computer network; and electronic form address information provided at said user stations that may be uploaded to said remote computer system along with order information over said global computer network to provide shipping of customized business forms or brochures printed at said high speed printing facilities to said electronic form address information.
19. A system for practicing the method of claim 1.
20. A system for practicing the method of claim 15.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US15695999P | 1999-09-30 | 1999-09-30 | |
| US60/156,959 | 1999-09-30 | ||
| US41348899A | 1999-10-06 | 1999-10-06 | |
| US09/413,488 | 1999-10-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2287011A1 true CA2287011A1 (en) | 2001-03-30 |
Family
ID=26853694
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2287011 Abandoned CA2287011A1 (en) | 1999-09-30 | 1999-10-20 | Customized marketing message presentation |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2287011A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1975772A3 (en) * | 2007-03-28 | 2009-01-21 | Rr Donnelley | Systems and methods for managing print jobs |
| US8184304B2 (en) | 2007-11-19 | 2012-05-22 | Moore Wallace North America, Inc. | System and method of operating a raster image processor |
| US8564808B2 (en) | 2007-12-18 | 2013-10-22 | R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company | Systems and methods for processing of variable documents |
-
1999
- 1999-10-20 CA CA 2287011 patent/CA2287011A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1975772A3 (en) * | 2007-03-28 | 2009-01-21 | Rr Donnelley | Systems and methods for managing print jobs |
| US8289538B2 (en) | 2007-03-28 | 2012-10-16 | Moore Wallace North America, Inc. | Systems and methods for managing print jobs |
| US8184304B2 (en) | 2007-11-19 | 2012-05-22 | Moore Wallace North America, Inc. | System and method of operating a raster image processor |
| US8564808B2 (en) | 2007-12-18 | 2013-10-22 | R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company | Systems and methods for processing of variable documents |
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