WO2001011491A1 - Automated product designer system and method - Google Patents

Automated product designer system and method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001011491A1
WO2001011491A1 PCT/US2000/021369 US0021369W WO0111491A1 WO 2001011491 A1 WO2001011491 A1 WO 2001011491A1 US 0021369 W US0021369 W US 0021369W WO 0111491 A1 WO0111491 A1 WO 0111491A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
product
graphics
design
user
customer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/021369
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2001011491A9 (en
Inventor
David M. Bridgeland
Wayne D. Lutz
Frederick J. Steele, Jr.
Ricky J. Daugherty
Michal Miskin-Amir
Original Assignee
Kinkos.Com
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kinkos.Com filed Critical Kinkos.Com
Priority to CA002381328A priority Critical patent/CA2381328A1/en
Priority to AU65205/00A priority patent/AU6520500A/en
Publication of WO2001011491A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001011491A1/en
Publication of WO2001011491A9 publication Critical patent/WO2001011491A9/en

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/06Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F40/00Handling natural language data
    • G06F40/10Text processing
    • G06F40/166Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
    • G06F40/186Templates
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06TIMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T11/002D [Two Dimensional] image generation
    • G06T11/60Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to automated systems and methods for generating products having graphics images or artistic layouts thereon through the use of a web based system and method that models the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer. More specifically, the present invention relates to automated systems and methods in which graphics designs and layouts and various components thereof are iteratively assembled in accordance with specific user preferences for use in products such as stationery, business cards, corporate merchandise, and the like. The present invention also provides systems and methods for facilitating the printing/manufacture of the products on which the graphics designs/layouts may be applied. Still further, the present invention provides systems and methods for effecting prompt delivery of the completed product.
  • Graphics designs are used in many applications, including corporate and organizational logos and marks that serve to identify or associate a product, service, or event with a particular organization or sponsor. Such logos and marks frequently use creative or artistic graphics designs to aid in their visual impact and effectiveness. Specific uses of graphic designs include organizational or personal artifacts including stationery such as letterheads, business cards, envelopes, presentation materials, product literature, and sales collateral; as well as clothing, apparel, banners, and broadcast media, to name but a few.
  • the present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a web based system and method that models the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer.
  • the present invention is directed to an automated system and method for generating products that incorporate graphics images and other elements or components such as fonts, colors and layout.
  • the products are items such as stationery, business cards, announcements, notepads and folders as well as corporate merchandise incorporating the graphics images such as corporate t-shirts, mugs, pens and other items that might include a company's emblem, for example.
  • the aforementioned items are hereinafter referred to as a "product” or "products”.
  • the system of the present invention includes networked general purpose computers that are programmed to allow a remote user to interact with a computer or computers that perform the steps of the method of the present invention.
  • the system further comprises electronic storage devices for storing data, including graphic design images and components thereof.
  • the steps involved in the method of the present invention are intended to mimic the interaction of a graphic designer and a customer. These steps may be may be summarized as follows. To begin with, the system may query the customer as to its needs from among a suite of available products including: letterhead, business cards, presentation materials and the like. The system also queries the customer with regard to certain subjective criteria (preferences as to style, look and feel) that influence design. In response, the customer provides general subjective preferences with regard to a plurality of subjective criteria that influence the design, e.g., the customer indicates a preference for a contemporary, somewhat reserved, but highly structured design. These steps mimic the initial meeting between a graphic design specialist and a customer.
  • the system then receives and processes the customer input and makes a proposal to the customer. More specifically, the system selects one or more product design templates from a stored library of design templates based on the customer's input. The system then presents the customer with a reconfigurable design template selected based on the customer's specified preferences. These steps mimic the initial concept stage of the interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer. The system next solicits the customer reaction to the suggestion. In response, the customer will either select a suggested design or provide additional feedback to the system. If the customer provides additional feedback, the system receives the feedback and based on the feedback revises the product based on the feedback and presents revised suggestions until the customer accepts a suggestion. These steps mimic the iterative interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer that leads to a final design concept.
  • the next step would typically involve creating a "mock-up" for the customer's approval.
  • the system applies selected design features to a suite of products (or representations thereof) including letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials.
  • the customer may have already expressed an interest in all or some of the products available. In this way, the system preferably shows the customer what the desired product will look like on paper.
  • the system next allows the customer to selectively revise any or all of the range of products.
  • the graphic images created by the system can be altered by the customer with regard to features such as scale, color, rotation and the like.
  • the products presented for the customer's approval can include a logo component, a font specification (1 or more fonts), a layout component, a paper-type preference record, a colors record, a data record and/or other records associated therewith.
  • the customer may alter all of these aspects of the product. All of these components can be automatically combined based on customer preferences and the system can integrate these various components to produce a product on demand.
  • the present invention further contemplates a system for improved production and delivery of a suite of products such as, for example, letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials.
  • the system contemplates on-demand remote production and delivery of printed products. More specifically, a customer or user preferably uploads a document from their personal computer, PDA or any device connected to an electronic network (e.g., a wireless device), selects printing and binding options (in the case of a printed product), previews the final product, and receives the printed version via courier.
  • a customer accesses a remote web server via a web- browser enabled device such as a personal computer, PDA or WAP-enabled wireless device.
  • the webserver is preferably in communication, via a network, with one or more database servers and one or more "design factory" servers where product/design assembly preferably occurs.
  • the present invention is described herein in the context of a world wide web-based system with several interconnected computers, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that all of the functionality described herein can be implemented on a single, stand-alone computer.
  • the present invention can be implemented within an intra-net environment, thereby avoiding complexities that are sometimes associated with public electronic networks such as the Internet.
  • the webserver stores user information including user name, address, password and user account information.
  • the webserver preferably also stores past user product designs which can be used for reordering purposes and/or as starting points for new or updated product.
  • the present invention assembles an "identity hub" for each user whereby that user's preferences are stored for future use and can be easily and quickly accessed if the user decides to apply a previously-designed graphics design to a new product.
  • the database servers preferably store a plurality of graphical images, fundamental layout schemes, fonts and colors.
  • the design factory servers preferably operate under the control of instructions received from the user (via a webserver) to combine selected graphical images with the fundamental layout schemes, paper type, background color and preliminary placement of graphical images on the product.
  • the graphical images themselves are preferably artistic renderings that are saved as "shells" that can be easily colored, sized and oriented on the product being designed.
  • the design factory server creates or assembles, in real-time, based on selected layout, graphics, fonts, papers, etc., and personal information in text form, portable data format (PDF) files (or any other suitable content-rich data format such as POSTSCRIPT, SVG, LATEX), and renders the created PDF files into easily-displayable file formats such as GIF, TIFF, PNG or JPEG files that can be accessed for image proofing by, e.g., a web-browser enabled computer. That is, the design factory server preferably renders several possible preliminary product designs from which a user may select.
  • PDF portable data format
  • the preliminary product designs are chosen based on input from the user through the use of a novel "smart design" feature including slidable bars that are framed by pairs of image- or impression-related terms.
  • a novel "smart design” feature including slidable bars that are framed by pairs of image- or impression-related terms.
  • the user moves the slidable bars towards or away from a term to thereby eliminate or indirectly select particular graphics, designs, fonts and colors.
  • the image- or impression-related terms "contemporary/traditional” might frame a sliding bar.
  • the user indirectly eliminates or selects graphical designs, layouts, etc., that might be categorized by such criterion.
  • the slidable bars of the present invention are used to take the place of the conventional interaction that a customer would typically have with a graphics designer. Instead of instructing a graphics designer to incrementally change the "look and feel" or "image" of a graphics design, a user of the present invention can simply adjust the slidable bars to any given position and corresponding layouts, logos, fonts and colors, most associated with the slidable bar positions are selected from the database servers, assembled by a design factory server and offered as preliminary designs for the product.
  • a final PDF file preferably is created and downloaded to the user and/or transmitted (e.g., downloaded) to a professional printing house where the product is printed.
  • the product may then be delivered by known means to the user.
  • a person interested in acquiring products that include personalized or unique graphics and layouts can now avoid having to find and hire a commercial artist to develop such products, or choose from a limited selection of commercially-available, mass-produced, pre-formatted and unchangeable graphics images, which may not even be reproducible or printable in high-resolution.
  • Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating the method of graphics/product design in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure la is a block diagram description of a presently preferred embodiment of the automated graphics designer system
  • Figures 2- 12a illustrate exemplary browser pages that are displayed on a user's web browser-enabled computer, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 13 and 14 are high level overview flow diagrams describing the operation of the automated graphics designer system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 15 is a detailed control and data flow diagram describing operation of a preferred embodiment of the automated graphics designer system of the present invention.
  • the present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a networked-based system and method that models the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer.
  • the present invention simplifies and accelerates the design of products incorporating graphics elements or components through the use of an iterative process that helps customers create an identity hub or image.
  • This customer specific identity hub or image can be stored and automatically applied to a range of products on demand.
  • networked computers such products may be produced at a remote location and delivered on demand.
  • the graphics elements or components include all or various combinations of a logo component, a font specification file (1 or more fonts), a layout component, a paper-type preference record, a colors record, a data record and/or other records associated therewith.
  • a logo component e.g., a trademark of Adobe Connect, GoToMeeting, GoToMeting, GoToMeting, GoToMeting, GoToMeting, GoToMe, etc.
  • a font specification file e.g., a graphics design
  • a layout component e.g., a graphics layout component
  • a paper-type preference record e.g., a colors record
  • a data record and/or other records associated therewith e.g., a data record, a data record and/or other records associated therewith.
  • the product is a t-shirt or mug, for example, then the "paper" selection is, naturally, replaced by the appropriate underlying article (t-shirt, mug, etc.) on which
  • the architecture of the system of the present invention is highly scalable.
  • the system of the present invention need only include networked general purpose computers and printers that are programmed to allow a remote user to interact with a computer or computers that perform the steps of the method of the present invention.
  • the system can be scaled up to include thousands of user computers linked to multiple web server and design factory computers through a computer network (such as a private computer network or the global information network (GIN) or Internet) and one or more remote printing sites and a delivery or order processing infrastructure.
  • the system further comprises electronic storage devices for storing data, including graphic design images and components thereof.
  • the storage capacity of the system is also scalable to meet the needs of the system.
  • the system may query the customer as to his needs from among a suite of available products including: letterhead, business cards, presentation materials and the like.
  • the system also queries the customer at step 125 with regard to certain subjective criteria (preferences as to style, look and feel) that influence design.
  • the customer provides general subjective preferences with regard to a plurality of subjective criteria that influence the design, e.g., the customer indicates a preference for a contemporary, somewhat reserved, but highly structured design.
  • the system receives and processes the customer input (steps 120 and 125) and makes a proposal to the customer. More specifically, at step 130 the system selects one or more product design templates from a stored library of design templates based on the customer's input. The system then presents the customer with a reconfigurable design template selected based on the customer's specified preferences, step 135. These steps mimic the initial concept stage of the interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer.
  • the system next solicits the customer reaction to the suggestion.
  • the customer will either select a suggested design or provide additional feedback to the system.
  • customer provides additional feedback (step 145)
  • the system receives the feedback at step 155 and based on the feedback revises the product at step 160 based on the feedback and presents revised suggestions until the customer accepts a suggestion at step 150.
  • the next step would typically involve creating a "mock-up" for the customer's approval.
  • the system applies selected design feature to a suite of products (or representations thereof) including letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials.
  • the customer may have already expressed an interest in all or some of the products available. In this way, the system preferably shows the customer what the desired product will look like on paper.
  • the system next allows the customer to selectively revise any or all of the range of products.
  • the graphic images created by the system can be altered by the customer with regard to features such as scale, color, rotation and the like.
  • the products presented for the customer's approval can include a logo component, a font specification file (one or more fonts), a layout component, a paper-type preference record, a colors record, a data record and/or other records associated therewith.
  • the customer may alter all of these aspects of the product. All of these components can be automatically combined based on customer preferences and the system can integrate these various components to produce a product on demand.
  • the present invention further contemplates a system for improved production and delivery of a suite of products such as, for example, letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials.
  • the system contemplates on demand remote production and delivery of printed products.
  • the present invention receives (using a printed product as an example) a document via upload, stores the document in a standard file format while checking for viruses and the like, and then presents the document back to the user for page-by-page proofing. The user is then asked to select finishing options and to specify recipients of the completed product.
  • the present invention also manages the printing process by directing print jobs to particular printers or fulfillment centers based on, e.g., the complexity of the print job, the location of the printer or fulfillment centers vis-a-vis the recipient, how busy a printer may be and/or the pricing of the various printers or fulfillment centers.
  • PDF files in real-time from user-selected layouts, images (logos), font choices, text, and paper.
  • PDF files any file format that capable of "capturing" an image in within the scope of the present invention.
  • Such other file formats could include POSTSCRIPT, LATEX, ILLUSTRATOR, PAGEMAKER, QUARKXPRESS or other file formats of this genre.
  • the PDF files produced by automated product designer system 100 can be downloaded by users and are compatible with the print procedures of a professional print foundry.
  • the automated product designer system 100 is preferably controllable from ColdFusionTM scripts and allows full control over the final graphics product.
  • any suitable web authoring tool or application software can be used in place of ColdFusionTM such as Weblogic, MS IIS, APACHE, NETSCAPE ENTERPRISE or IBM WEBSHARE.
  • the automated product designer system 100 allows for a set of "product types” each of which have a specific list of available fields that have customizable text and font, an optional image which may be one, two or many colored, and the selection of a "template” PDF which is used as the canvas for the product. Should a user be working with multiple product types, automated product designer system 100 allows for "copying" information from one product to another. That is, an "identity hub" is created for a user after at least one product is completed. The system of the present invention thereafter knows color combinations, layout schemes, font types, etc. that are preferable from a user's point of view. Thus, if a user decides to create a new product, the information from the identity hub can be easily retrieved and applied to the new product or easily modified as will be explained later herein.
  • automated product designer system 100 is capable of producing a preview image of the PDF at a specified zoom or width/height. This image can then be displayed via web pages or used in a design applet. By controlling the zoom, automated product designer system 100 is also be able to produce smaller, "thumbnaillike" previews of the product PDF.
  • the presently preferred embodiment of the automated product designer system 100 comprises a plurality of webservers 101, each webserver 101 being operably coupled, as demand warrants, to at least one web browser-enabled personal computer (PC) 104, a plurality of database servers 102, and a plurality of design factory servers 103.
  • PC personal computer
  • all of the functionality described herein could be implemented on a single stand-alone computer, or over an intra-net, as opposed to the internet/world wide web.
  • a commercial (e- commerce type) enterprise a world wide web implementation may be desirable in view of the market penetration achievable via this medium.
  • a stand-alone system that can be used by a graphics artist is also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
  • the present invention contemplates the use of wireless devices that communicate with automated product designer system 100 via wireless protocols such as the Wireless Applications Protocol (WAP).
  • WAP Wireless Applications Protocol
  • Performing operations such as building PDFs and capturing pages of PDFs as images typically requires large amounts of processing time.
  • an application such as ColdFusionTM is preferably implemented to achieve scaling where desired.
  • process-intensive operations are migrated into separate programs that run on different servers.
  • DFServer design factory server
  • Using separate servers for web and backend processes in this fashion also makes scaling easier for automated product designer system 100.
  • a program called DF Access, preferably is installed at each client webserver 101 and communicates with design factory servers 103, which performs PDF and image-related operations, such as sizing, orientation and coloring.
  • DFAccess is written in C++ and installs into a ColdFusionTM server as a CFX tag with multiple entry points depending on the operation.
  • the program DFServer has relatively large system requirements in that it is designed to handle PDF editing and PDF imaging requests from DFAccess clients.
  • DFServer preferably is written in a high level language such as MFC/C++ and runs in a Windows NTTM environment. Adobe's PDF Library 1.0 or any custom PDF library is used in conjunction with DFServer as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
  • DFAccess When DFAccess is initialized on a webserver 101 it begins sending broadcast (UDP) messages requesting statistics from all running design factory servers 103.
  • UDP broadcast
  • DFAccess Periodically, DFAccess sends another request in an attempt to keep an internal list of available servers 103 and their processing capabilities. In the preferred embodiment, the requests are sent every minute but this frequency can be easily adjusted by setting a registry entry, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
  • DFAccess processes the responses and keeps an internal sorted list of servers and capabilities.
  • user sessions with automated product designer system 100 can be allocated by webserver 101 to the least-busy design factory server 103 to achieve load balancing throughout the system. Further to this capability, immediately upon starting up, DFServer listens for broadcasts from DFAccess. Upon receiving such a broadcast DFServer replies directly to the client (using UDP) with its own information concerning past requests, capabilities, and current load.
  • DFAccess Upon being activated from a ColdFusionTM script (or any other suitable script), DFAccess checks the existing internal list to find the design factory server 103 best suited to perform the requested operation. A TCP (or other suitable protocol) connection is then initiated to the "best" design factory server 103. If the connection fails, the next available design factory server 103 in the list is used. When no design factory servers 103 are available, broadcasting continues for a predetermined amount of time before an error is returned to the calling application. Further, automated product designer system 100 preferably supports partitioning of design factory servers 103 to provide dedicated support to specific client webservers 101.
  • DFServer applications running on the several design factory servers 103 constantly watch for connection requests from DFAccess. When a connection is made, a new thread is created to handle the request and listening continues. After the request has been processed, the results are sent back to DFAccess (webserver 101) via the TCP connection established to initiate the process. This connection is then closed. In addition to the processing results, DFAccess also preferably receives updated statistics concerning design factory servers 103 in order to update its internal list. A more detailed description and example of the foregoing discussion is provided later herein. Immediately below is a description of the present invention from a user's point of view.
  • Figures 2-12 illustrate exemplary display screens (e.g., HTML browser screens or pages) that a user would be presented with when using the automatic graphics designer system 100 of the present invention.
  • the user is presented with choices as to what general type of personalized product he wishes to design.
  • the icons shown in the screen of Figure 2 are associated with links to other HTML pages such that, when a user clicks on one of the icons, web browser-enabled PC 104 displays a screen having the address corresponding to the link.
  • the user is presented with a choice of (i) designing an entirely new product by clicking the icon or "go" button in upper region 410, or (ii) accessing previously-saved designs/products by clicking on the icon or "go” button in lower region 420 and modifying those designs to create new products.
  • a dropdown menu 510 is preferably provided which lists several different business categories including, for purposes of example only, those listed below.
  • the user After a business category is chosen from dropdown menu 510, the user is asked whether he would like to include a business logo or graphic. If no, the appropriate checkmark is denoted and "next" button 520 is clicked to pass the browser to the next screen. If the user already has a logo that he would like to employ in the product that he is designing, then after denoting the appropriate checkbox and entering a path to the logo or graphic in text box 530, the user preferably clicks on "next" button 520 to continue with the designer system in accordance with the present invention, albeit, using his own graphic or logo.
  • the logo available form the user is in one of the following formats: PDF, GIF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, PS or EPS.
  • checkbox 560 preferably is clicked.
  • the user has the option of choosing one or more criteria upon which the logo will be created.
  • the logo can be created based on business category 560a (previously identified via pull down menu 510), business description 560b, business name 560c, and/or some other criteria denoted by 560d.
  • Corresponding text boxes 570b - 570d are provided for criteria 560b - 560d.
  • Figure 5 the functionality represented by Figure 5 is replaced by an on-line logo/graphic development application which allows users to modify an existing logo or have one created for them.
  • a user can access this application from the "live designer" process ( Figures 9a-9d) or independently.
  • To modify an existing logo a user may choose to access a logo from their account or upload a graphic from their computer. Uploaded graphics are preferably analyzed for resolution, color depth and transparency. The uploaded image is then preferably converted to vector art to facilitate subsequent editing. Editing tools made available to the user permit the user to modify the logo's hue, color saturation, brightness, color depth, transparency and rotation.
  • a new logo can be created for a user based on keywords, company name, industry or other specific categories. Advanced editing capabilities such as colorization are also preferably made available to the user through this application.
  • Figure 6 depicts a novel "smart designer" feature of the present invention.
  • the smart designer feature is meant to mimic the process of working with a real-life graphic designer.
  • the user is preferably presented with a set of look and feel options which enable him to define a "look" or "image” for the product that is being designed via automatic product designer system 100.
  • the present invention creates several different preliminary product designs from which a user may select.
  • the smart designer selects the product components (layout, graphic/logo (assuming one is not provided by the user), font and paper) that best match the user's look and feel preferences.
  • the smart designer feature of the present invention comprises a series of look and feel properties which are associated with respective sliders 610a - 610c.
  • Sliders 610a - 610c are used to define how much of a particular property the user wants in his product.
  • the properties are "contemporary/traditional,” “energetic/reserved” and “artistic/structured.”
  • database servers 102 store a plurality of different types of fonts, color pairs, layouts, etc.
  • the slidable bars 610a-610c can be viewed as selectors on a number line that ranges from 1-100.
  • the automated product designer system of the present invention attempts to match, as closely as possible, the values of the different types of fonts, color pairs, etc. with the values indicated by slidable bars 610a-610c. For each component of the product a "three-dimensional" search will be conducted, the three dimensions corresponding to the three property pairs.
  • FIG. 7 depicts a series of preliminary possible designs 705a, 705b, 705c.., preferably thirty different combinations or permutations of graphic elements, that have been selected based on the input provided via the screens of Figures 5 and 6. That is, the preliminary designs capture the information that was previously input by the user and are formatted in a way consistent with the user's look and feel intentions, indicated by the positioning of slidable bars 610a-610c.
  • the user preferably can magnify any one of the preliminary designs by clicking on icon 710.
  • the user may preferably also obtain a preliminary cost estimate for any of the preliminary designs (i.e., products) by clicking on icon 720.
  • the user clicks on the associated "start with this" button 730 which causes the browser of web browser-enabled PC 104 to display the screen shown in Figure 8.
  • the several fields shown in Figure 8 provide information necessary to personalize the product (in this case, a business card) for the user. Accordingly, fields are provided for the user's name (or someone else's name if the user is designing the product for someone else), a title, a company name, a separate message, an address, telephone and fax numbers, an e-mail address and a web address.
  • "next" button 840 is clicked, the information provided in these various fields is incorporated into the selected design from Figure 7 and shown singly on one of the exemplary screens of Figures 9a-9c. In these figures, product 930 is depicted in the widow on the right and area 910 lists the six major components of product 930.
  • Figure 9a illustrates that the font on product 930 can be chosen from one of the fonts in area 920.
  • the user can preferably change any of the six major components by clicking on the appropriate item in area 910 and then clicking on the selection in areas 920.
  • Product 930 is then immediately refreshed and displayed to the user.
  • Figures, 9b-9d shown exemplary selection for different layouts, paper and color. Though not shown, if the "text" component is selected then a window including the text information like that shown in Figure 8 is displayed and the user is given the opportunity to modify of this information. If the "graphic" component is clicked, then a plurality of graphics/logos are displayed in area 920.
  • the present invention provides an iterative process whereby a user can select one of many preliminary designs, and thereafter modify that preliminary design in almost any imaginable.
  • Each component of the designed product can be changed such that none of the preliminary design even exists by the end of the session. This is possible since the product is re-assembled by the design factory server 103 each time a change is made. The product is never in a final form until the user indicates that it should be.
  • the elements or components of the product are also preferably able to be sized and/or rotated as desired.
  • text and graphics/logos can be oriented and enlarged or reduced in accordance with the user's preferences.
  • a user preferably clicks on the desired text or component and can make a selection of larger or smaller from the pull down menu in the lower left corner of the window in Figure 9a, for example.
  • the aforementioned pull down menu shows "Best fit" which is a default setting that automatically sizes the text, etc. to the most appropriate size based on the present layout.
  • DFServer (described in more detail below) generates new PDF and XML files and displays the modified design for the user.
  • design factory server 103 Each time a change to the product is made by the user the, constituent parts of the product are reassembled by design factory server 103.
  • This same process enables the present invention to display thumbnail renderings of different layouts using the elements of the user's own actual product, as opposed to "canned" versions of a layouts. That is, the design factory server 103 assembles not only the selected layout using the user's data/preferences, but also assembles a plurality of other layouts using the user's data/preferences that can be chosen by the user.
  • "review and save” button 940 is clicked which takes the user to the exemplary screen display of Figure 10.
  • the user is given an opportunity to review the text information supplied in the fields of Figure 8 and to edit that information by clicking button 1020.
  • the completed design is shown to the user for final inspection.
  • the product image can be enlarged by clicking on icon 710 and a cost estimate for this particular product can be obtained by clicking on icon 720.
  • the design is in accordance with the user's intentions, then he preferably continues by clicking on "save to briefcase” button 1050, which causes the design or product to be saved in the user's account.
  • the product preferably is saved on web server 101 and may be accessed after, preferably, a one-time registration process, illustrated by Figure 11, is completed. More specifically, an e-mail address preferably is provided in text box 1110. A first and last name is provided in text boxes 1120 and 1130, respectively, and a password and a password confirmation are preferably provided in text boxes 1140 and 1150, respectively.
  • This page may also include promotional devices such as asking the user if he is interested in learning about sales, products, or upcoming events (via checkmark 1160 and/or whether the user would like to receive a newsletter, via checkmark 1170).
  • "sign up now" button 1080 is clicked and an account for the user is set up on web server 101 (assuming one had not previously been set up). Via this account, the user can subsequently access the product that was just created as well as previously-created products.
  • Figure 12 depicts an exemplary screen presented to a user via a browser-enabled PC 104.
  • This screen summarizes the items that are in the user's "briefcase” and the user is given the opportunity to download a copy of the design/product, buy paper or have the product printed professionally.
  • the process then proceeds to Figure 12a which is an exemplary screen which lists the desired products and prices.
  • the user By clicking on "proceed to checkout” button 1210, the user preferably charges any fees to a credit card or to an account in accordance with well-known e-commerce techniques.
  • Figures 13 and 14 illustrate by way of top-level functional block diagrams how automated product designer system 100 operates. Specifically, a graphic, font type, layout description and text field values are combined via a program called DFParse, which produces a product description. This product description is then combined with a paper type and layout PDF in a program called DFShuffle. DFShuffle outputs a product PDF, which is converted to a display quality file format, such as a JPEG, via a program called DFSnap.
  • the starting point for creating a product is the product type 1501.
  • Product type information is stored in an XML template file 1505 according to a product type definition (Appendix A). These files contain a list of the fields that can be edited and displayed for a particular product.
  • Automated product designer system 100 provides a mechanism for reading and manipulating these files based upon user- supplied field values, e.g., 1510a-c, via the information provided via screens shown in Figures 5 and 8 .
  • a given layout consists of two files: a product XML definition 1505 (Appendix B) and a PDF 1525 (Appendix C).
  • the product definition file contains placement information for text fields, images, and other canvas/layout specifics that are particular to the PDF needed for a given layout.
  • Automated product designer system 100 uses product type and product definition files to create a product file 1520 (Appendix D) using a parser 1515 (or, "DFParse”). Given a completed product file 1520 and the corresponding PDF 1525, automated product designer system 100 then creates a product PDF 1535 (Appendix E).
  • the component used for this operation is the shuffler 1530 (or, "DFShuffle”).
  • Shuffler 1530 is responsible for a range of edits to the layout PDF 1525 (e.g., saving to a new product PDF 1535 These edits include placement of text and images 1531.
  • a background color or image may be specified in order to simulate a particular paper type 1532.
  • DFSnap another component
  • Snap 1545 creates a simple image of the PDF content.
  • Snap 1545 given a zoom or widthheight, opens a PDF and produces a JPEG image file 1550, for example, of the correct dimensions (Appendix F).
  • This file 1550 can then be displayed via web pages or used in an applet.
  • a smaller zoom or dimensions can be specified to create a thumbnail of the product PDF as mentioned earlier with respect to Figures 9a-9d.
  • information is preferably kept in different formats.
  • CF Cold FusionTM
  • Information about people and orders is kept in a database, while information about designs is kept in XML files.
  • Cold FusionTM CF
  • CF is used as the application server, where information is translated on the fly into HTML.
  • CF integrates easily with databases and the present invention provides tags such as DFParse to function with the XML files.
  • DFParse actually performs two related functions.
  • One function is to translate ProductType XML files into HTML form fields.
  • DFParse preferably does not create the form fields directly; rather it prepares the information into a form in which it is easy to create those form fields.
  • DFParse The other function of DFParse is to create a Product XML file from form field values entered by the customer.
  • the two functions of DFParse bracket the entry of values in the form fields. That is, DFParse first determines what fields should exist, the customer then fills values in those fields, then DFParse creates a new customer-defined product from those values.
  • Cold FusionTM uses a query datatype to communicate SQL from CFM files to the database, and to communicate results of SQL calls back to CFM.
  • DFParse connects to XML instead of a database, it also uses a query datatype. Queries are convenient to use for this kind of communication, because they can hold a whole table, and because Cold FusionTM has substantial support for integrating the results of queries into HTML.
  • DFParse is used to create HTML form fields ("ReadType" mode)
  • ReadType When DFParse is used to create HTML form fields (“ReadType" mode), it puts the result in a query. This query can then be unfolded directly into HTML form fields.
  • DFParse is used to create a Product file (CreateProduct mode), it expects the form-fields to be in a query passed to it.
  • DFParse is preferably developed as a DLL in C++ program and is accessible from ColdFusionTM scripts. DFParse accepts the necessary parameters to allow manipulation of ProductType and product definition files.
  • the syntax for DFParse is as follows:
  • CMD CMD
  • DFParse When "ReadType” is specified, DFParse will read the ProductType XML file specified by the "XML_IN” parameter and build the query specified by the "QUERY” parameter.
  • the "INDEX” should correspond to the count of the current product type being integrated into the query.
  • a command parameter of "CreateProduct” instructs DFParse to create a product file from the query.
  • the "XML_IN” parameter should contain the path to the Product XML file.
  • "XML_OUT” should specify where DFParse should output the new Product which will contain the values from the QUERY.
  • all fields contained within the new Product file preferably have a font name set to the value of the parameter "FONT”.
  • the "COLOR1" parameter value is used to replace all instances of the primary color with the color specified. This affects the color of layout PDF components, text fields, and corresponding primary colours in images.
  • the "COLOR2" parameter has the same effect on secondary color components. Each product can also contain one image.
  • the first use of DFParse is to generate a CF query containing the fields associated with a product type or group of product types.
  • Product types are stored as XML files corresponding to the Product Type DTD.
  • DFParse expects the query parameter to contain a very specific query.
  • the query preferably contains the following fields in their presented order: FieldName, Value, IsMandatory, DisplayName, Width, DisplayLocked, and Enabled. Following is an example of creating such a query from within a ColdFusionTM script:
  • ⁇ CFSET Query QueryNew("FieldName, Value, IsMandatory, DisplayName, Width, Enabled, DisplayLocked")>
  • FieldName "Fieldl”
  • Value "liveprint.com”
  • IsMandatory "Y”
  • DisplayName Enter a Value
  • Width 40
  • Enabled- '+' The following table shows the relationship of query names to XML elements:
  • the values assigned to ismandatory, displayname and width are all kept to what was specified in the first product type file in which the field first occurred.
  • the enabled string is appended with each call to DFParse and represents the existence of fields within each product type added.
  • the purpose of the index parameter is to match the first product type added, i.e. index 1, with the first character in the enabled string to determine if that product type contained the current field.
  • DFParse A further use of DFParse is to create product definition files by using the values contained in the query and a few parameters and merging them into an existing product definition file, or "template" which is part of a layout used by automated graphics designer system 100. Following is an example of a product file that can be processed by DFParse: (simprod.xml)
  • Automated graphics designer system 100 includes a particular data type definition as described in Appendix G attached hereto.
  • a call to the DFParse tag as shown below may be used.
  • DFParse will first open and validate the XML Product file. Assuming the example file shown earlier, the file will be valid and processing will continue. Next, DFParse looks through each of the fields contained within the Product. In the example there is only a single field: "Fieldl”. This field is then looked up in the CF query. If the field is found, the Product field is updated with the correct value from the query and font from the "FONT" parameter. However, if the corresponding "Enabled" field within the query contains a "-" or "0", the value is set to blank to prevent the field from appearing when the product is rendered. Once the field scanning is complete, the new XML file is then saved to the file name specified by the "XML_OUT" parameter. The new customer product XML file is now ready to be used by shuffler 1530.
  • DFShuffle produces a product PDF 1550 that requires the XML product 1520 that was created by DFParse, a "master" layout PDF 1525, and a desired destination file for the newly created product PDF file 1535.
  • DFShuffle can place a colored background or a PDF to simulate the look of paper.
  • a new XML file can also be written which contains accurate information about the locations of text as it was rendered on the product PDF.
  • DFShuffle The operation of DFShuffle is as follows.
  • the "XMLJN" parameter contains the full path to the file that was produced by DFParse.
  • the file contains all the necessary information for creating a product PDF — minus the PDF itself.
  • XML_OUT instructs DFShuffle to output the same XML file as input, but with extra information concerning the exact layout as determined by aligning text, scaling images, etc.
  • PDF JN references a master layout PDF file. This file is normally a blank file of the appropriate page dimensions but some layouts may have static graphic elements which are contained within the file.
  • PDF_OUT contains a valid path to which DFShuffle will write the newly created product PDF 1535.
  • the product PDF 1535 will need to have alterations that simulate different types of paper.
  • the "BACKGROUND" parameter can contain a CMYK color or the path to a PDF used as a background. All CMYK colors are specified as a string with 4 components in the range 0 through 100 separated by spaces. If a PDF background is being specified, it includes the complete path.
  • DFShuffle supports a "BLEED" parameter which, if specified without a value, defaults to expecting a master layout PDF which has a 0.25" bleed. If the bleed should be different for this action, the value (in inches) is specified as with any other parameter.
  • Snap 1545 produces an image in the form of a GIF or JPEG, or other comparable file format, from a PDF.
  • DFSnap requires the input PDF 1535, a destination GIF or JPEG 1550, and a size.
  • the size can be specified using a scaling factor, a specific width, or height in pixels. Only one of these parameters is used per call to DFSnap.
  • the output quality can also be provided. The quality parameter expects a value in the range of 5 to 100.
  • DFSnap can crop the image before saving to the requested file. This produces smaller images that download much more quickly and result in a more responsive applet. To crop, all five parameters must be specified: "CROP_OUT”, “CROP_LEFT” "CROP JOP”, “CROP JUGHT”, and "CROP_BOTTOM”.
  • automated product designer system 100 interacts with a user through a web browser-enabled PC 104 (reference Figure 1) in a similar manner as that contemporaneously referred to as a "wizard," or step-by-step interactive process for achieving a computational result.
  • automated product designer system 100 solicits information from the user in order to determine a preferred set of graphics designs from database server 102 corresponding to the users input parameters, as described with reference to Figures 2-12.
  • automated product designer system 100 uses this user input to generate, as described herein, a plurality of potential graphics designs (with associated prices) likely to be satisfactory to the user based upon this input.
  • automated product designer system 100 produces several (e.g., 10) graphics designs ranked in order of conformance to user input parameters, and with such ranking determined through an error analysis determination of the best fit graphics designs using metrics that measure the difference between the user input parameters values and the corresponding parameter values of the best fit graphics designs maintained in database server 102.
  • the user is then able to alter his input parameters, or select certain of the presented graphics designs, in order to refine the selection and generation of potential graphics designs in successive iterations using automated product designer system 100.
  • Product image file 1550 can be provided to a user, alternatively, in the form of a free PDF file, or automated product designer system 100 can print such PDF file onto client-provided paper, or automated product designer system 100 can provide a list of preferred printers to whom client can go to print PDF file onto items at a preferred pricing level.
  • the PDF file is automatically sent to a printer and the finished product is mailed or otherwise delivered to the user.
  • Automated product designer system 100 affords a user the opportunity to review her graphics design selection as it will appear on stationery products including, but not limited to, business cards, letterheads, subsequent pages after the first page of a business letter, and envelopes as shown in Appendix C attached hereto.
  • Appendix D provides a presently preferred XML implementation used by automated product designer system 100 to produce business card definitions and samples.
  • automated product designer system 100 further implements, for the "live designer' feature of Figures 9a-9d, for example, a lightweight applet mechanism that uses less system resources and is downloaded relatively faster than existing JavaTM applets.
  • This lightweight applet is able to communicate through firewalls that would stop conventional applets by using HTTP rather than a custom protocol that would normally be blocked.
  • the present invention contemplates on-demand printing and fulfillment services for the products that are designed by the automated product designer system. That is, once a user completes the design process, he may choose to have the product professionally printed.
  • the present invention manages this entire process including placing the products in the proper file format (e.g., tiled for multiple business cards on a single sheet), notifying one of several printers or fulfillment centers that a job is ready for downloading, and ensuring that the final product is properly and timely delivered to the intended recipient.
  • Appendix A is an exemplary product type XML file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
  • Appendix B is an exemplary product layout XML file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
  • Appendix C is an exemplary product layout PDF file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
  • Appendix D is an exemplary product XML file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
  • Appendix E is an exemplary product PDF file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
  • Appendix F is an exemplary representation of a product PDF file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
  • Appendix G is an exemplary XML data type definition for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
  • an automated product designer system and method that allows a user to efficiently and quickly specify and select a preferred graphics design from a plurality of automatically-assembled graphics designs, using an iterative process, and providing high-quality graphics images to a user.

Abstract

A system and method for designing a graphics product on-line. When a request to design a product is received, user personal information and preference are recorded (125), a template and a graphic design in accordance with the user personal information and preferences are retrieved and the templates (130), graphic design and at least a portion of the user personal information are combined to form a graphic product (135), which is thereafter made available to the user on-line (150). In the preferred embodiment, front end webservers communicate with on-line users while design activities and data storage functions are distributed to different servers, whereby the overall system is more stable and easily scalable.

Description

AUTOMATED PRODUCT DESIGNER SYSTEM AND METHOD
This disclosure contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to automated systems and methods for generating products having graphics images or artistic layouts thereon through the use of a web based system and method that models the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer. More specifically, the present invention relates to automated systems and methods in which graphics designs and layouts and various components thereof are iteratively assembled in accordance with specific user preferences for use in products such as stationery, business cards, corporate merchandise, and the like. The present invention also provides systems and methods for facilitating the printing/manufacture of the products on which the graphics designs/layouts may be applied. Still further, the present invention provides systems and methods for effecting prompt delivery of the completed product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Graphics designs are used in many applications, including corporate and organizational logos and marks that serve to identify or associate a product, service, or event with a particular organization or sponsor. Such logos and marks frequently use creative or artistic graphics designs to aid in their visual impact and effectiveness. Specific uses of graphic designs include organizational or personal artifacts including stationery such as letterheads, business cards, envelopes, presentation materials, product literature, and sales collateral; as well as clothing, apparel, banners, and broadcast media, to name but a few.
In selecting and acquiring a suitable graphics design, a would-be user of the graphics design has had limited choices, prior to the advent of the present invention. Historically, these existing choices fell into two general categories, namely: 1) obtaining professional assistance and 2) "do it yourself." With rare exceptions, the final product was dramatically different, i.e., a professionally created graphic design was easily distinguishable from a "home made" design. Conversely, obtaining professional assistance in connection with graphic design has, in the past, been comparatively time-consuming and costly. One seeking professional assistance in connection with graphic design would ordinarily hire a commercial artist to develop a custom design and then hire out printing services to create the product(s).
With the advent of ubiquitous high power computers and printers, various new tools have been created to assist both amateur and professional graphic designers and to provide printing options. Most computer users have some access to at least a simple graphic design program, a clip art library and a color ink jet or laser printer. As a result, the quality of "home made" graphic designs has improved. Even with these tools, however, the quality of a graphic design depends, to a large extent, on the creativity and skill of the designer, whether professional or amateur. Amateurs are typically required to choose from among a limited selection of commercially-available pre-formatted and unchangeable graphics images which, even when available online, are not easily modifiable (if at all) nor available for printing with high-resolution.
Thus, there remains a need for a system and method that models the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer to achieve better results at less cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a system and method that allows a user to efficiently and quickly specify and select preferred elements for a graphics design which are thereafter automatically assembled to create an overall design or product.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for an iterative process that allows a user to quickly converge to a preferred selection of a graphics design.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method that provides high-quality graphics images to a user.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system and method that provides to a user the ability to save one or several graphics designs for use as a starting platform for subsequent graphics designs or for use on other products.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system and method that permits a user to combine first graphics/images components or elements saved on a computer system that is local to the user and second graphics/images components or elements saved at a remote computer system and to use the first and second graphics/images components or elements in a single product or graphics design.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system and method that permits a user to create a new logo that can be used as an element in an overall graphics design or product.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method that permits a user to define and implement graphics/images that represent the nature or character of the impression (look and feel) that he/she would like to portray to people viewing a completed graphics design or product.
The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a web based system and method that models the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer. As will be described in more detail later herein, the present invention is directed to an automated system and method for generating products that incorporate graphics images and other elements or components such as fonts, colors and layout. The products are items such as stationery, business cards, announcements, notepads and folders as well as corporate merchandise incorporating the graphics images such as corporate t-shirts, mugs, pens and other items that might include a company's emblem, for example. The aforementioned items are hereinafter referred to as a "product" or "products".
The system of the present invention includes networked general purpose computers that are programmed to allow a remote user to interact with a computer or computers that perform the steps of the method of the present invention. The system further comprises electronic storage devices for storing data, including graphic design images and components thereof.
The steps involved in the method of the present invention are intended to mimic the interaction of a graphic designer and a customer. These steps may be may be summarized as follows. To begin with, the system may query the customer as to its needs from among a suite of available products including: letterhead, business cards, presentation materials and the like. The system also queries the customer with regard to certain subjective criteria (preferences as to style, look and feel) that influence design. In response, the customer provides general subjective preferences with regard to a plurality of subjective criteria that influence the design, e.g., the customer indicates a preference for a contemporary, somewhat reserved, but highly structured design. These steps mimic the initial meeting between a graphic design specialist and a customer.
The system then receives and processes the customer input and makes a proposal to the customer. More specifically, the system selects one or more product design templates from a stored library of design templates based on the customer's input. The system then presents the customer with a reconfigurable design template selected based on the customer's specified preferences. These steps mimic the initial concept stage of the interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer. The system next solicits the customer reaction to the suggestion. In response, the customer will either select a suggested design or provide additional feedback to the system. If the customer provides additional feedback, the system receives the feedback and based on the feedback revises the product based on the feedback and presents revised suggestions until the customer accepts a suggestion. These steps mimic the iterative interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer that leads to a final design concept.
In the context of an interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer, the next step would typically involve creating a "mock-up" for the customer's approval. In the context of the present invention, the system applies selected design features to a suite of products (or representations thereof) including letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials. As suggested above, the customer may have already expressed an interest in all or some of the products available. In this way, the system preferably shows the customer what the desired product will look like on paper.
The system next allows the customer to selectively revise any or all of the range of products. In particular, the graphic images created by the system can be altered by the customer with regard to features such as scale, color, rotation and the like. The products presented for the customer's approval can include a logo component, a font specification (1 or more fonts), a layout component, a paper-type preference record, a colors record, a data record and/or other records associated therewith. The customer may alter all of these aspects of the product. All of these components can be automatically combined based on customer preferences and the system can integrate these various components to produce a product on demand.
Through this iterative process, customers are assisted in creating an identity hub or image. This customer-specific identity hub or image is then stored and can thereafter be applied to an entire suite of products automatically. The final graphic design and product specification is one aspect of the present invention. The present invention further contemplates a system for improved production and delivery of a suite of products such as, for example, letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials. In particular, the system contemplates on-demand remote production and delivery of printed products. More specifically, a customer or user preferably uploads a document from their personal computer, PDA or any device connected to an electronic network (e.g., a wireless device), selects printing and binding options (in the case of a printed product), previews the final product, and receives the printed version via courier.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a customer (hereinafter a "user") interested in acquiring a product accesses a remote web server via a web- browser enabled device such as a personal computer, PDA or WAP-enabled wireless device. The webserver is preferably in communication, via a network, with one or more database servers and one or more "design factory" servers where product/design assembly preferably occurs. While the present invention is described herein in the context of a world wide web-based system with several interconnected computers, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that all of the functionality described herein can be implemented on a single, stand-alone computer. Moreover, the present invention can be implemented within an intra-net environment, thereby avoiding complexities that are sometimes associated with public electronic networks such as the Internet.
In the preferred embodiment (which is understood to be exemplary only), the webserver stores user information including user name, address, password and user account information. The webserver preferably also stores past user product designs which can be used for reordering purposes and/or as starting points for new or updated product. Via this data, the present invention assembles an "identity hub" for each user whereby that user's preferences are stored for future use and can be easily and quickly accessed if the user decides to apply a previously-designed graphics design to a new product.
The database servers preferably store a plurality of graphical images, fundamental layout schemes, fonts and colors. The design factory servers preferably operate under the control of instructions received from the user (via a webserver) to combine selected graphical images with the fundamental layout schemes, paper type, background color and preliminary placement of graphical images on the product. The graphical images themselves are preferably artistic renderings that are saved as "shells" that can be easily colored, sized and oriented on the product being designed.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the design factory server creates or assembles, in real-time, based on selected layout, graphics, fonts, papers, etc., and personal information in text form, portable data format (PDF) files (or any other suitable content-rich data format such as POSTSCRIPT, SVG, LATEX), and renders the created PDF files into easily-displayable file formats such as GIF, TIFF, PNG or JPEG files that can be accessed for image proofing by, e.g., a web-browser enabled computer. That is, the design factory server preferably renders several possible preliminary product designs from which a user may select.
Preferably, the preliminary product designs are chosen based on input from the user through the use of a novel "smart design" feature including slidable bars that are framed by pairs of image- or impression-related terms. In accordance with the present invention, the user moves the slidable bars towards or away from a term to thereby eliminate or indirectly select particular graphics, designs, fonts and colors. For example, the image- or impression-related terms "contemporary/traditional" might frame a sliding bar. Thus, by moving the appropriate slidable bar, the user indirectly eliminates or selects graphical designs, layouts, etc., that might be categorized by such criterion.
The slidable bars of the present invention are used to take the place of the conventional interaction that a customer would typically have with a graphics designer. Instead of instructing a graphics designer to incrementally change the "look and feel" or "image" of a graphics design, a user of the present invention can simply adjust the slidable bars to any given position and corresponding layouts, logos, fonts and colors, most associated with the slidable bar positions are selected from the database servers, assembled by a design factory server and offered as preliminary designs for the product.
Once several possible preliminary designs are rendered by the design factory, they are displayed for the user. The user then selects one of these product designs as a final design or as a starting point or platform for further modification, as the user sees fit. If the user decides to modify the selected product design, the webserver controls the database servers and design factory servers to offer up new graphical images and/or layout possibilities, etc. This process iterates until the user is satisfied with the overall product design. At this point, a final PDF file preferably is created and downloaded to the user and/or transmitted (e.g., downloaded) to a professional printing house where the product is printed. The product may then be delivered by known means to the user. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a person interested in acquiring products that include personalized or unique graphics and layouts can now avoid having to find and hire a commercial artist to develop such products, or choose from a limited selection of commercially-available, mass-produced, pre-formatted and unchangeable graphics images, which may not even be reproducible or printable in high-resolution.
The forgoing and other objects and features of the invention will be understood with reference to the following specification, drawings and appendices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating the method of graphics/product design in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure la is a block diagram description of a presently preferred embodiment of the automated graphics designer system;
Figures 2- 12a illustrate exemplary browser pages that are displayed on a user's web browser-enabled computer, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 13 and 14 are high level overview flow diagrams describing the operation of the automated graphics designer system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 15 is a detailed control and data flow diagram describing operation of a preferred embodiment of the automated graphics designer system of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a networked-based system and method that models the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer. The present invention simplifies and accelerates the design of products incorporating graphics elements or components through the use of an iterative process that helps customers create an identity hub or image. This customer specific identity hub or image can be stored and automatically applied to a range of products on demand. Through the use of networked computers, such products may be produced at a remote location and delivered on demand.
In accordance with the present invention, the graphics elements or components include all or various combinations of a logo component, a font specification file (1 or more fonts), a layout component, a paper-type preference record, a colors record, a data record and/or other records associated therewith. Where the product is a t-shirt or mug, for example, then the "paper" selection is, naturally, replaced by the appropriate underlying article (t-shirt, mug, etc.) on which the graphics design will be mounted. In other words, the present invention can be used to create designs that can be applied to any media such as clothing, posters, novelties and the like.
The architecture of the system of the present invention is highly scalable. In particular, the system of the present invention need only include networked general purpose computers and printers that are programmed to allow a remote user to interact with a computer or computers that perform the steps of the method of the present invention. On the other hand, the system can be scaled up to include thousands of user computers linked to multiple web server and design factory computers through a computer network (such as a private computer network or the global information network (GIN) or Internet) and one or more remote printing sites and a delivery or order processing infrastructure. The system further comprises electronic storage devices for storing data, including graphic design images and components thereof. The storage capacity of the system is also scalable to meet the needs of the system. The steps involved in the method of the present invention are intended to mimic the interaction of a graphic designer and a customer. These steps may be may be summarized as follows with reference to Figure 1. To begin with, at step 120, the system may query the customer as to his needs from among a suite of available products including: letterhead, business cards, presentation materials and the like. The system also queries the customer at step 125 with regard to certain subjective criteria (preferences as to style, look and feel) that influence design. In response, the customer provides general subjective preferences with regard to a plurality of subjective criteria that influence the design, e.g., the customer indicates a preference for a contemporary, somewhat reserved, but highly structured design. These steps mimic the initial meeting between a graphic design specialist and a customer.
The system then receives and processes the customer input (steps 120 and 125) and makes a proposal to the customer. More specifically, at step 130 the system selects one or more product design templates from a stored library of design templates based on the customer's input. The system then presents the customer with a reconfigurable design template selected based on the customer's specified preferences, step 135. These steps mimic the initial concept stage of the interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer.
The system, at step 140, next solicits the customer reaction to the suggestion. In response, the customer will either select a suggested design or provide additional feedback to the system. If customer provides additional feedback (step 145), the system receives the feedback at step 155 and based on the feedback revises the product at step 160 based on the feedback and presents revised suggestions until the customer accepts a suggestion at step 150. These steps mimic the iterative interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer that leads to a final design concept.
In the context of an interaction between a graphic design specialist and a customer, the next step would typically involve creating a "mock-up" for the customer's approval. In the context of the present invention, the system applies selected design feature to a suite of products (or representations thereof) including letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials. As suggested above, the customer may have already expressed an interest in all or some of the products available. In this way, the system preferably shows the customer what the desired product will look like on paper.
The system next allows the customer to selectively revise any or all of the range of products. In particular, the graphic images created by the system can be altered by the customer with regard to features such as scale, color, rotation and the like. The products presented for the customer's approval can include a logo component, a font specification file (one or more fonts), a layout component, a paper-type preference record, a colors record, a data record and/or other records associated therewith. The customer may alter all of these aspects of the product. All of these components can be automatically combined based on customer preferences and the system can integrate these various components to produce a product on demand.
Through this iterative process, customers are assisted in creating an identity hub or image. This customer specific identity hub or image is then stored and applied to an entire suite of products automatically. The final graphic design and product specification is one aspect of the present invention.
The present invention further contemplates a system for improved production and delivery of a suite of products such as, for example, letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials. In particular, the system contemplates on demand remote production and delivery of printed products. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention receives (using a printed product as an example) a document via upload, stores the document in a standard file format while checking for viruses and the like, and then presents the document back to the user for page-by-page proofing. The user is then asked to select finishing options and to specify recipients of the completed product. The present invention also manages the printing process by directing print jobs to particular printers or fulfillment centers based on, e.g., the complexity of the print job, the location of the printer or fulfillment centers vis-a-vis the recipient, how busy a printer may be and/or the pricing of the various printers or fulfillment centers. The presently preferred embodiment of the automated product designer system
100 of the invention produces PDF files in real-time from user-selected layouts, images (logos), font choices, text, and paper. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the present description discusses the use of PDF files, any file format that capable of "capturing" an image in within the scope of the present invention. Such other file formats could include POSTSCRIPT, LATEX, ILLUSTRATOR, PAGEMAKER, QUARKXPRESS or other file formats of this genre.
The PDF files produced by automated product designer system 100 can be downloaded by users and are compatible with the print procedures of a professional print foundry. In one implementation of the present invention (discussed herein) the automated product designer system 100 is preferably controllable from ColdFusion™ scripts and allows full control over the final graphics product. Those skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that any suitable web authoring tool or application software can be used in place of ColdFusionTM such as Weblogic, MS IIS, APACHE, NETSCAPE ENTERPRISE or IBM WEBSHARE. The automated product designer system 100 allows for a set of "product types" each of which have a specific list of available fields that have customizable text and font, an optional image which may be one, two or many colored, and the selection of a "template" PDF which is used as the canvas for the product. Should a user be working with multiple product types, automated product designer system 100 allows for "copying" information from one product to another. That is, an "identity hub" is created for a user after at least one product is completed. The system of the present invention thereafter knows color combinations, layout schemes, font types, etc. that are preferable from a user's point of view. Thus, if a user decides to create a new product, the information from the identity hub can be easily retrieved and applied to the new product or easily modified as will be explained later herein.
Additionally, automated product designer system 100 is capable of producing a preview image of the PDF at a specified zoom or width/height. This image can then be displayed via web pages or used in a design applet. By controlling the zoom, automated product designer system 100 is also be able to produce smaller, "thumbnaillike" previews of the product PDF.
Referring now to Figure la, the presently preferred embodiment of the automated product designer system 100 comprises a plurality of webservers 101, each webserver 101 being operably coupled, as demand warrants, to at least one web browser-enabled personal computer (PC) 104, a plurality of database servers 102, and a plurality of design factory servers 103. As mentioned previously, all of the functionality described herein could be implemented on a single stand-alone computer, or over an intra-net, as opposed to the internet/world wide web. For a commercial (e- commerce type) enterprise, a world wide web implementation may be desirable in view of the market penetration achievable via this medium. On the other hand, a stand-alone system that can be used by a graphics artist is also considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the present invention contemplates the use of wireless devices that communicate with automated product designer system 100 via wireless protocols such as the Wireless Applications Protocol (WAP).
Performing operations such as building PDFs and capturing pages of PDFs as images typically requires large amounts of processing time. Thus, an application such as ColdFusion™ is preferably implemented to achieve scaling where desired. Specifically, in the preferred embodiment process-intensive operations are migrated into separate programs that run on different servers. For example, a program called DFServer (design factory server) preferably resides on design factory server 103, not webserver 101. Using separate servers for web and backend processes in this fashion also makes scaling easier for automated product designer system 100.
A program, called DF Access, preferably is installed at each client webserver 101 and communicates with design factory servers 103, which performs PDF and image-related operations, such as sizing, orientation and coloring. In the presently preferred embodiment DFAccess is written in C++ and installs into a ColdFusion™ server as a CFX tag with multiple entry points depending on the operation. The program DFServer has relatively large system requirements in that it is designed to handle PDF editing and PDF imaging requests from DFAccess clients. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, DFServer preferably is written in a high level language such as MFC/C++ and runs in a Windows NT™ environment. Adobe's PDF Library 1.0 or any custom PDF library is used in conjunction with DFServer as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
When DFAccess is initialized on a webserver 101 it begins sending broadcast (UDP) messages requesting statistics from all running design factory servers 103.
Periodically, DFAccess sends another request in an attempt to keep an internal list of available servers 103 and their processing capabilities. In the preferred embodiment, the requests are sent every minute but this frequency can be easily adjusted by setting a registry entry, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. DFAccess processes the responses and keeps an internal sorted list of servers and capabilities. In view of the foregoing, user sessions with automated product designer system 100 can be allocated by webserver 101 to the least-busy design factory server 103 to achieve load balancing throughout the system. Further to this capability, immediately upon starting up, DFServer listens for broadcasts from DFAccess. Upon receiving such a broadcast DFServer replies directly to the client (using UDP) with its own information concerning past requests, capabilities, and current load. Upon being activated from a ColdFusion™ script (or any other suitable script), DFAccess checks the existing internal list to find the design factory server 103 best suited to perform the requested operation. A TCP (or other suitable protocol) connection is then initiated to the "best" design factory server 103. If the connection fails, the next available design factory server 103 in the list is used. When no design factory servers 103 are available, broadcasting continues for a predetermined amount of time before an error is returned to the calling application. Further, automated product designer system 100 preferably supports partitioning of design factory servers 103 to provide dedicated support to specific client webservers 101.
The DFServer applications running on the several design factory servers 103 constantly watch for connection requests from DFAccess. When a connection is made, a new thread is created to handle the request and listening continues. After the request has been processed, the results are sent back to DFAccess (webserver 101) via the TCP connection established to initiate the process. This connection is then closed. In addition to the processing results, DFAccess also preferably receives updated statistics concerning design factory servers 103 in order to update its internal list. A more detailed description and example of the foregoing discussion is provided later herein. Immediately below is a description of the present invention from a user's point of view.
Figures 2-12 illustrate exemplary display screens (e.g., HTML browser screens or pages) that a user would be presented with when using the automatic graphics designer system 100 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the user is presented with choices as to what general type of personalized product he wishes to design. There are choices for, e.g., business stationery 210, announcements and invitations 220, and notepads and/or folders 230. As is conventional, the icons shown in the screen of Figure 2 are associated with links to other HTML pages such that, when a user clicks on one of the icons, web browser-enabled PC 104 displays a screen having the address corresponding to the link.
Assuming, for purposes of example only, that a user clicks on the icon for business stationery 210, the next screen the user would see is that shown in Figure 3. The user is presented with, e.g., four types of business stationery (products), namely, business cards 310, envelopes 320, letterhead 330 and "second sheet" paper 340. After one or more of the checkboxes 350a - 350d are checked, "let's go" button 360 is clicked to proceed to the next screen, shown in Figure 4.
In this screen, the user is presented with a choice of (i) designing an entirely new product by clicking the icon or "go" button in upper region 410, or (ii) accessing previously-saved designs/products by clicking on the icon or "go" button in lower region 420 and modifying those designs to create new products.
Assuming the user chooses to create an entirely new design product, the user's web browser next displays the exemplary screen shown in Figure 5. Here, the user is first requested to choose a category that best represents his business. A dropdown menu 510 is preferably provided which lists several different business categories including, for purposes of example only, those listed below. Accountant caterer florist medical services publisher singer web designer
After a business category is chosen from dropdown menu 510, the user is asked whether he would like to include a business logo or graphic. If no, the appropriate checkmark is denoted and "next" button 520 is clicked to pass the browser to the next screen. If the user already has a logo that he would like to employ in the product that he is designing, then after denoting the appropriate checkbox and entering a path to the logo or graphic in text box 530, the user preferably clicks on "next" button 520 to continue with the designer system in accordance with the present invention, albeit, using his own graphic or logo. Preferably, the logo available form the user is in one of the following formats: PDF, GIF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, PS or EPS.
If no graphic or logo is available or the user simply desires a new logo, then checkbox 560 preferably is clicked. At this point, the user has the option of choosing one or more criteria upon which the logo will be created. Specifically, the logo can be created based on business category 560a (previously identified via pull down menu 510), business description 560b, business name 560c, and/or some other criteria denoted by 560d. Corresponding text boxes 570b - 570d are provided for criteria 560b - 560d. Again, after determining if a business logo or graphic will be used in the design that is being created or whether a logo is already available, or whether one should be created, the user preferably clicks on "next" button 520 to proceed with further product design.
In an alternative embodiment, the functionality represented by Figure 5 is replaced by an on-line logo/graphic development application which allows users to modify an existing logo or have one created for them. In a preferred implementation, a user can access this application from the "live designer" process (Figures 9a-9d) or independently. To modify an existing logo, a user may choose to access a logo from their account or upload a graphic from their computer. Uploaded graphics are preferably analyzed for resolution, color depth and transparency. The uploaded image is then preferably converted to vector art to facilitate subsequent editing. Editing tools made available to the user permit the user to modify the logo's hue, color saturation, brightness, color depth, transparency and rotation. Alternatively, a new logo can be created for a user based on keywords, company name, industry or other specific categories. Advanced editing capabilities such as colorization are also preferably made available to the user through this application.
Figure 6 depicts a novel "smart designer" feature of the present invention. The smart designer feature is meant to mimic the process of working with a real-life graphic designer. In accordance with this feature, the user is preferably presented with a set of look and feel options which enable him to define a "look" or "image" for the product that is being designed via automatic product designer system 100. Based on the user's input, and particularly user input with respect to the smart designer feature, the present invention creates several different preliminary product designs from which a user may select. The smart designer selects the product components (layout, graphic/logo (assuming one is not provided by the user), font and paper) that best match the user's look and feel preferences. The smart designer feature of the present invention, shown in Figure 6, comprises a series of look and feel properties which are associated with respective sliders 610a - 610c. Sliders 610a - 610c are used to define how much of a particular property the user wants in his product. Thus, in the exemplary screen shown in Figure 6, the properties are "contemporary/traditional," "energetic/reserved" and "artistic/structured." By sliding the appropriate slider 610a - 610c towards the left or right, the user can control the type of "image" or "feeling" that will be projected by the design that is being created. In the preferred embodiment, database servers 102 store a plurality of different types of fonts, color pairs, layouts, etc. and each is assigned a predetermined value, e.g. in the range of 1-100. The slidable bars 610a-610c can be viewed as selectors on a number line that ranges from 1-100. Thus, when a user has set the slidable bars in their final positions, the automated product designer system of the present invention attempts to match, as closely as possible, the values of the different types of fonts, color pairs, etc. with the values indicated by slidable bars 610a-610c. For each component of the product a "three-dimensional" search will be conducted, the three dimensions corresponding to the three property pairs.
After positioning sliders 610a - 610c as desired and clicking on "next" button 620, the screen (or page) of Figure 7 appears. This page depicts a series of preliminary possible designs 705a, 705b, 705c.., preferably thirty different combinations or permutations of graphic elements, that have been selected based on the input provided via the screens of Figures 5 and 6. That is, the preliminary designs capture the information that was previously input by the user and are formatted in a way consistent with the user's look and feel intentions, indicated by the positioning of slidable bars 610a-610c.
The user preferably can magnify any one of the preliminary designs by clicking on icon 710. The user may preferably also obtain a preliminary cost estimate for any of the preliminary designs (i.e., products) by clicking on icon 720. When the user has chosen a particular preliminary design, he then clicks on the associated "start with this" button 730 which causes the browser of web browser-enabled PC 104 to display the screen shown in Figure 8.
The several fields shown in Figure 8 provide information necessary to personalize the product (in this case, a business card) for the user. Accordingly, fields are provided for the user's name (or someone else's name if the user is designing the product for someone else), a title, a company name, a separate message, an address, telephone and fax numbers, an e-mail address and a web address. When "next" button 840 is clicked, the information provided in these various fields is incorporated into the selected design from Figure 7 and shown singly on one of the exemplary screens of Figures 9a-9c. In these figures, product 930 is depicted in the widow on the right and area 910 lists the six major components of product 930. Figure 9a, for example, illustrates that the font on product 930 can be chosen from one of the fonts in area 920. The user can preferably change any of the six major components by clicking on the appropriate item in area 910 and then clicking on the selection in areas 920. Product 930 is then immediately refreshed and displayed to the user. Figures, 9b-9d shown exemplary selection for different layouts, paper and color. Though not shown, if the "text" component is selected then a window including the text information like that shown in Figure 8 is displayed and the user is given the opportunity to modify of this information. If the "graphic" component is clicked, then a plurality of graphics/logos are displayed in area 920.
From the foregoing, it is evident that the present invention provides an iterative process whereby a user can select one of many preliminary designs, and thereafter modify that preliminary design in almost any imaginable. Each component of the designed product can be changed such that none of the preliminary design even exists by the end of the session. This is possible since the product is re-assembled by the design factory server 103 each time a change is made. The product is never in a final form until the user indicates that it should be.
Incidentally, the elements or components of the product are also preferably able to be sized and/or rotated as desired. Thus, text and graphics/logos can be oriented and enlarged or reduced in accordance with the user's preferences. Specifically, a user preferably clicks on the desired text or component and can make a selection of larger or smaller from the pull down menu in the lower left corner of the window in Figure 9a, for example. In the figure, the aforementioned pull down menu shows "Best fit" which is a default setting that automatically sizes the text, etc. to the most appropriate size based on the present layout. When the selection is made, DFServer (described in more detail below) generates new PDF and XML files and displays the modified design for the user. Each time a change to the product is made by the user the, constituent parts of the product are reassembled by design factory server 103. This same process enables the present invention to display thumbnail renderings of different layouts using the elements of the user's own actual product, as opposed to "canned" versions of a layouts. That is, the design factory server 103 assembles not only the selected layout using the user's data/preferences, but also assembles a plurality of other layouts using the user's data/preferences that can be chosen by the user.
Once the user is satisfied with the assembled product, "review and save" button 940 is clicked which takes the user to the exemplary screen display of Figure 10. In the top portion 1010 of this screen, the user is given an opportunity to review the text information supplied in the fields of Figure 8 and to edit that information by clicking button 1020. In the lower part 1030 of the screen, the completed design is shown to the user for final inspection. Again, the product image can be enlarged by clicking on icon 710 and a cost estimate for this particular product can be obtained by clicking on icon 720. If the design is in accordance with the user's intentions, then he preferably continues by clicking on "save to briefcase" button 1050, which causes the design or product to be saved in the user's account.
The product preferably is saved on web server 101 and may be accessed after, preferably, a one-time registration process, illustrated by Figure 11, is completed. More specifically, an e-mail address preferably is provided in text box 1110. A first and last name is provided in text boxes 1120 and 1130, respectively, and a password and a password confirmation are preferably provided in text boxes 1140 and 1150, respectively. This page may also include promotional devices such as asking the user if he is interested in learning about sales, products, or upcoming events (via checkmark 1160 and/or whether the user would like to receive a newsletter, via checkmark 1170). Once all of the information is entered, "sign up now" button 1080 is clicked and an account for the user is set up on web server 101 (assuming one had not previously been set up). Via this account, the user can subsequently access the product that was just created as well as previously-created products.
Figure 12 depicts an exemplary screen presented to a user via a browser-enabled PC 104. This screen summarizes the items that are in the user's "briefcase" and the user is given the opportunity to download a copy of the design/product, buy paper or have the product printed professionally. The process then proceeds to Figure 12a which is an exemplary screen which lists the desired products and prices. By clicking on "proceed to checkout" button 1210, the user preferably charges any fees to a credit card or to an account in accordance with well-known e-commerce techniques.
Figures 13 and 14 illustrate by way of top-level functional block diagrams how automated product designer system 100 operates. Specifically, a graphic, font type, layout description and text field values are combined via a program called DFParse, which produces a product description. This product description is then combined with a paper type and layout PDF in a program called DFShuffle. DFShuffle outputs a product PDF, which is converted to a display quality file format, such as a JPEG, via a program called DFSnap.
Operation of the several programs of automated product designer system 100 will now be described in greater detail. Referring to Figure 15, and the appendices attached hereto, the starting point for creating a product is the product type 1501. Product type information is stored in an XML template file 1505 according to a product type definition (Appendix A). These files contain a list of the fields that can be edited and displayed for a particular product. Automated product designer system 100 provides a mechanism for reading and manipulating these files based upon user- supplied field values, e.g., 1510a-c, via the information provided via screens shown in Figures 5 and 8 . Next, a given layout consists of two files: a product XML definition 1505 (Appendix B) and a PDF 1525 (Appendix C). The product definition file contains placement information for text fields, images, and other canvas/layout specifics that are particular to the PDF needed for a given layout. Automated product designer system 100 uses product type and product definition files to create a product file 1520 (Appendix D) using a parser 1515 (or, "DFParse"). Given a completed product file 1520 and the corresponding PDF 1525, automated product designer system 100 then creates a product PDF 1535 (Appendix E). The component used for this operation is the shuffler 1530 (or, "DFShuffle"). Shuffler 1530 is responsible for a range of edits to the layout PDF 1525 (e.g., saving to a new product PDF 1535 These edits include placement of text and images 1531. In addition, a background color or image may be specified in order to simulate a particular paper type 1532. Once the PDF product 1535 has been created, another component, snap 1545 ("DFSnap") creates a simple image of the PDF content. Snap 1545, given a zoom or widthheight, opens a PDF and produces a JPEG image file 1550, for example, of the correct dimensions (Appendix F). This file 1550 can then be displayed via web pages or used in an applet. A smaller zoom or dimensions can be specified to create a thumbnail of the product PDF as mentioned earlier with respect to Figures 9a-9d. In a preferred implementation of automated product designer system 100, information is preferably kept in different formats. Information about people and orders is kept in a database, while information about designs is kept in XML files. In a presently preferred embodiment, Cold Fusion™ (CF) is used as the application server, where information is translated on the fly into HTML. CF integrates easily with databases and the present invention provides tags such as DFParse to function with the XML files. DFParse actually performs two related functions. One function is to translate ProductType XML files into HTML form fields. DFParse preferably does not create the form fields directly; rather it prepares the information into a form in which it is easy to create those form fields.
The other function of DFParse is to create a Product XML file from form field values entered by the customer. The two functions of DFParse bracket the entry of values in the form fields. That is, DFParse first determines what fields should exist, the customer then fills values in those fields, then DFParse creates a new customer-defined product from those values.
Cold Fusion™ uses a query datatype to communicate SQL from CFM files to the database, and to communicate results of SQL calls back to CFM. Although DFParse connects to XML instead of a database, it also uses a query datatype. Queries are convenient to use for this kind of communication, because they can hold a whole table, and because Cold Fusion™ has substantial support for integrating the results of queries into HTML. When DFParse is used to create HTML form fields ("ReadType" mode), it puts the result in a query. This query can then be unfolded directly into HTML form fields. When DFParse is used to create a Product file (CreateProduct mode), it expects the form-fields to be in a query passed to it.
DFParse is preferably developed as a DLL in C++ program and is accessible from ColdFusion™ scripts. DFParse accepts the necessary parameters to allow manipulation of ProductType and product definition files. The syntax for DFParse is as follows:
<CFX_DFPARSE
CMD="ReadType" / "CreateProduct"
IXM_IN="filename" XML_OUT="filename"
QUERY="myQueryCreatedlnCF" lNDEX="n"
IMAGE="filename"
COLOR1="0 000" COLOR2="0 0 0 0"
FONT="fontname"
>
Here, the "CMD" parameter specifies the action DFParse is to perform. When "ReadType" is specified, DFParse will read the ProductType XML file specified by the "XML_IN" parameter and build the query specified by the "QUERY" parameter.
"INDEX" should correspond to the count of the current product type being integrated into the query. A command parameter of "CreateProduct" instructs DFParse to create a product file from the query. The "XML_IN" parameter should contain the path to the Product XML file. "XML_OUT" should specify where DFParse should output the new Product which will contain the values from the QUERY. In addition, all fields contained within the new Product file preferably have a font name set to the value of the parameter "FONT". The "COLOR1" parameter value is used to replace all instances of the primary color with the color specified. This affects the color of layout PDF components, text fields, and corresponding primary colours in images. The "COLOR2" parameter has the same effect on secondary color components. Each product can also contain one image. The complete path to the image PDF should be specified using the "IMAGE" parameter. Parameter usage for CMD="ReadType" is as follows:
Figure imgf000031_0001
Parameter usage for CMD="CreateProduct" is as follows:
Figure imgf000031_0002
Figure imgf000032_0001
The first use of DFParse is to generate a CF query containing the fields associated with a product type or group of product types. Product types are stored as XML files corresponding to the Product Type DTD.
Following is an example of a product type file that can be processed by
DFParse:
<?xml version" 1.0" encoding"UTF-8"?>
<ProductType>
<desc>Sample Product Type</desc> <textfield id="Field l">
<group> 1 <group>
<locked!>
<display>Enter a Value</display>
<size>40</size>
<default>liveprint.com</default> </textfield> <ProductType>
To parse this product type into a ColdFusion™ query, the following steps are performed:
1. Create a query in ColdFusion™
2. Determine the product type XML file
3. Invoke DFParse with the correct parameters
DFParse expects the query parameter to contain a very specific query. The query preferably contains the following fields in their presented order: FieldName, Value, IsMandatory, DisplayName, Width, DisplayLocked, and Enabled. Following is an example of creating such a query from within a ColdFusion™ script:
<CFSET Query = QueryNew("FieldName, Value, IsMandatory, DisplayName, Width, Enabled, DisplayLocked")>
Next, for purposes of example, assume the product type file path is "c:\work\ptype.xml." DFParse can now be invoked with the correct parameters:
<CFX_DFParse CMD="ReadType" XML_IN="c:\work\ptype.xml"
QUERY="pQuery" INDEX="1">
DFParse reads the product type XML file, validates the contents of the file, and builds the CF query. A single row will be added to the query (because the product type file had only one field). This row will have FieldName = "Fieldl", Value = "liveprint.com", IsMandatory="Y", DisplayName="Enter a Value", Width="40", and Enabled- '+'. The following table shows the relationship of query names to XML elements:
Figure imgf000034_0001
The ColdFusion™ query "pQuery" now looks like this:
Figure imgf000034_0002
Figure imgf000035_0001
To further explain the workings of DFParse it is necessary to explore merging an additional product type into the existing query by invoking DFParse a second time using a different product type. The second product type file given to DFParse is:
<?xml version" 1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <ProductType>
<desc>Sample Product Type 2</desc>
<textfield id="Field2"> <display>Enter another Value</display>
<size>20<size> <default>nonsuch</default> <textfield> </ProductType>
The ColdFusion™ query "pQuery" will now look like this:
Figure imgf000035_0002
Figure imgf000036_0001
If a field occurs in more than one product type file, the values assigned to ismandatory, displayname and width are all kept to what was specified in the first product type file in which the field first occurred. The enabled string is appended with each call to DFParse and represents the existence of fields within each product type added. The purpose of the index parameter is to match the first product type added, i.e. index 1, with the first character in the enabled string to determine if that product type contained the current field.
A further use of DFParse is to create product definition files by using the values contained in the query and a few parameters and merging them into an existing product definition file, or "template" which is part of a layout used by automated graphics designer system 100. Following is an example of a product file that can be processed by DFParse: (simprod.xml)
<?xml version=" 1.0" encoding"UTF-8"?> <Product>
<desc>Sample Product</desc> <page num=" 1"> <textfield id="Field l">
<value>XZZY</value> <font> <font.name>AvantGarde~Demi</font.name> <font.weight>2</font.weight> <font.slant>0</font.slant> <font.width>7.5</font.width> <font.height>7.5</font.height>
<color type="DeviceCMYK">97 66 20 41</color> </font>
<op>SmallCaps</op> <align>left</align> <valign>top</valign>
<bbox.draw>l 9.0 34.0 < bbox.draw> <size>40</size> <required!> <designer> <display>Enter a Value</display>
<bbox.update>18 104 101 8</bbox.update> <bbox.select>l 8 104 101 8</bbox.select> </designer> </textfield> </Product>
Automated graphics designer system 100 includes a particular data type definition as described in Appendix G attached hereto.
In order to create a product, a call to the DFParse tag as shown below may be used.
<CFX_DFParse CMD="CreateProduct" XML IN="c:\work\simprod.xml"
XML_OUT="c :\work\output.xml" QUERY="pQuery" INPEX="1" FONT="Helvetica">
Parameter usage explanation:
Figure imgf000038_0001
DFParse will first open and validate the XML Product file. Assuming the example file shown earlier, the file will be valid and processing will continue. Next, DFParse looks through each of the fields contained within the Product. In the example there is only a single field: "Fieldl". This field is then looked up in the CF query. If the field is found, the Product field is updated with the correct value from the query and font from the "FONT" parameter. However, if the corresponding "Enabled" field within the query contains a "-" or "0", the value is set to blank to prevent the field from appearing when the product is rendered. Once the field scanning is complete, the new XML file is then saved to the file name specified by the "XML_OUT" parameter. The new customer product XML file is now ready to be used by shuffler 1530.
Shuffler 1530 ("DFShuffle") produces a product PDF 1550 that requires the XML product 1520 that was created by DFParse, a "master" layout PDF 1525, and a desired destination file for the newly created product PDF file 1535. In addition, DFShuffle can place a colored background or a PDF to simulate the look of paper. In order to better communicate layout information, a new XML file can also be written which contains accurate information about the locations of text as it was rendered on the product PDF.
The syntax for DFShuffle is as follows:
<CFX_DFSHUFFLE
XML_IN="filename"
XML_OUT="filename" PDF IN="filename"
PDF_OUT="filename"
BACKGROUND="cmyk colour | pdf file"
BLEED (=x) >
The operation of DFShuffle is as follows. The "XMLJN" parameter contains the full path to the file that was produced by DFParse. The file contains all the necessary information for creating a product PDF — minus the PDF itself.
"XML_OUT", if specified, instructs DFShuffle to output the same XML file as input, but with extra information concerning the exact layout as determined by aligning text, scaling images, etc. "PDF JN" references a master layout PDF file. This file is normally a blank file of the appropriate page dimensions but some layouts may have static graphic elements which are contained within the file. The "PDF_OUT" parameter contains a valid path to which DFShuffle will write the newly created product PDF 1535.
In some instances, such as on-screen display, the product PDF 1535 will need to have alterations that simulate different types of paper. To accommodate this need, the "BACKGROUND" parameter, if specified, can contain a CMYK color or the path to a PDF used as a background. All CMYK colors are specified as a string with 4 components in the range 0 through 100 separated by spaces. If a PDF background is being specified, it includes the complete path.
To support layouts requiring a bleed to be printed professionally, DFShuffle supports a "BLEED" parameter which, if specified without a value, defaults to expecting a master layout PDF which has a 0.25" bleed. If the bleed should be different for this action, the value (in inches) is specified as with any other parameter.
Parameter usage for DFShuffle:
Figure imgf000040_0001
Figure imgf000041_0001
Snap 1545, or "DFSnap", produces an image in the form of a GIF or JPEG, or other comparable file format, from a PDF. Using DFSnap requires the input PDF 1535, a destination GIF or JPEG 1550, and a size. The size can be specified using a scaling factor, a specific width, or height in pixels. Only one of these parameters is used per call to DFSnap. When producing a JPEG, the output quality can also be provided. The quality parameter expects a value in the range of 5 to 100.
Additionally, DFSnap can crop the image before saving to the requested file. This produces smaller images that download much more quickly and result in a more responsive applet. To crop, all five parameters must be specified: "CROP_OUT", "CROP_LEFT" "CROP JOP", "CROP JUGHT", and "CROP_BOTTOM".
Parameter usage for DFSnap:
Figure imgf000041_0002
Figure imgf000042_0001
In a presently preferred embodiment, automated product designer system 100 interacts with a user through a web browser-enabled PC 104 (reference Figure 1) in a similar manner as that contemporaneously referred to as a "wizard," or step-by-step interactive process for achieving a computational result. In performance of the functions as described herein, automated product designer system 100 solicits information from the user in order to determine a preferred set of graphics designs from database server 102 corresponding to the users input parameters, as described with reference to Figures 2-12.
As explained, automated product designer system 100 uses this user input to generate, as described herein, a plurality of potential graphics designs (with associated prices) likely to be satisfactory to the user based upon this input. In the presently preferred embodiment, automated product designer system 100 produces several (e.g., 10) graphics designs ranked in order of conformance to user input parameters, and with such ranking determined through an error analysis determination of the best fit graphics designs using metrics that measure the difference between the user input parameters values and the corresponding parameter values of the best fit graphics designs maintained in database server 102. The user is then able to alter his input parameters, or select certain of the presented graphics designs, in order to refine the selection and generation of potential graphics designs in successive iterations using automated product designer system 100.
Product image file 1550 can be provided to a user, alternatively, in the form of a free PDF file, or automated product designer system 100 can print such PDF file onto client-provided paper, or automated product designer system 100 can provide a list of preferred printers to whom client can go to print PDF file onto items at a preferred pricing level. In yet another alternative, the PDF file is automatically sent to a printer and the finished product is mailed or otherwise delivered to the user. Automated product designer system 100 affords a user the opportunity to review her graphics design selection as it will appear on stationery products including, but not limited to, business cards, letterheads, subsequent pages after the first page of a business letter, and envelopes as shown in Appendix C attached hereto. Appendix D provides a presently preferred XML implementation used by automated product designer system 100 to produce business card definitions and samples.
Further, automated product designer system 100 further implements, for the "live designer' feature of Figures 9a-9d, for example, a lightweight applet mechanism that uses less system resources and is downloaded relatively faster than existing Java™ applets. This lightweight applet is able to communicate through firewalls that would stop conventional applets by using HTTP rather than a custom protocol that would normally be blocked.
As mentioned previously, the present invention contemplates on-demand printing and fulfillment services for the products that are designed by the automated product designer system. That is, once a user completes the design process, he may choose to have the product professionally printed. The present invention manages this entire process including placing the products in the proper file format (e.g., tiled for multiple business cards on a single sheet), notifying one of several printers or fulfillment centers that a job is ready for downloading, and ensuring that the final product is properly and timely delivered to the intended recipient.
The Appendices attached to this detailed description are incorporated in the present specification and form an integral part of the specification. Appendix A is an exemplary product type XML file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
Appendix B is an exemplary product layout XML file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
Appendix C is an exemplary product layout PDF file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
Appendix D is an exemplary product XML file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
Appendix E is an exemplary product PDF file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
Appendix F is an exemplary representation of a product PDF file for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
Appendix G is an exemplary XML data type definition for a business card in accordance with the present invention.
Thus, an automated product designer system and method has been described that allows a user to efficiently and quickly specify and select a preferred graphics design from a plurality of automatically-assembled graphics designs, using an iterative process, and providing high-quality graphics images to a user.
Changes and modifications to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is therefore not to be considered limited to the examples chosen for the purpose of illustration and includes all changes and modifications which do not constitute a departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method of designing a graphics product for an on-line user, comprising the steps of: receiving a request to design a product; obtaining and recording user personal information and preferences; retrieving a template and a graphic design in accordance with the user personal information and preferences; combining the template with at least a portion of the user personal information to form a graphics product; and making the graphics product available for display to the user on-line.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received over an electronic network.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic network is the Internet.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the preferences are obtained by identifying an intended look and feel for the graphics product.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of identifying comprises monitoring a position of a slide bar displayed on a user screen.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving includes establishing a communication link with a database.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the database resides on a server that is different front a server that communicates with the user.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising saving the graphics product.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic design is stored in a database remote from the user.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic design is stored in a database that is local to the user.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphics product is at least one of business stationery, announcements, invitations, notepads and folders.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a plurality of preliminary possible graphics products and making them available to a user on-line.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting one of the possible graphics products as a final graphics product.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting one of the possible graphics products and subsequently modifying at least one element thereof
15. A method of designing a graphics product on-line, comprising the steps of: providing a webserver, database server and at least two design factory servers all in communication with each other via an electronic network, the webserver being operable to (i) establish a communication link with an on-line user and (ii) poll the design factory servers to determine the capabilities thereof; obtaining and recording user personal information and design preferences; retrieving from the database server a layout description and a graphics design; combining, using at least one of the design factory servers, the layout description and graphics design and generating a graphics product; and making the graphics product available on-line.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising retrieving from the database a plurality of layout descriptions and graphics designs, generating a plurality of different graphics products and making the graphics products available on-line.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the graphics product is at least one of business stationery, announcements, invitations, notepads and folders.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the graphics product for subsequent retrieval.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising establishing the design preferences by monitoring a position of a sliding bar.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sliding bar is located between look and feel terms.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the look and feel terms comprise, contemporary/traditional, energetic/reserved and artistic/structured.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein the graphics product includes elements of at least font, layout, graphics, color and paper.
23. A system for on-line graphics product design, comprising: a webserver in communication with a publicly-accessible electronic network; a database server in communication with the webserver; and a design factory server in communication with the webserver and the database server, wherein the webserver is operable to receive a request for designing a graphics product, and when such a request is received, is operable to (i) cause the design factory server to combine layout and graphics elements in single file, the layout and graphics elements being obtained from the database server and (ii) cause the single file to be presented to a user on-line as a graphics product.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the single file is a PDF file.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein the publicly-accessible electronic network is the Internet.
26. The system of claim 23, wherein the webserver is operable to display on a browser-enabled computer, a sliding bar that, based on its position, indicates a user's design preference.
27. The system of claim 23, wherein the graphics product is at least one of business stationery, announcements, invitations, notepads and folders.
28. The system of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of design factory servers.
29. The system of claim 28, wherein the webserver polls each of the design factory servers to determine which, if any, is available for operation.
30. A web based computer assisted process for modeling the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer, comprising the steps of: querying the customer with regard to certain subjective criteria that influence design; receiving from the customer subjective preferences with regard to the subjective criteria that influence design; selecting at least one product design template from a stored library of design templates based on the customer's subjective preferences; presenting the customer with a reconfigurable design template selected based on the customer's specified preferences; querying the customer for a response to the design template presented; receiving from the customer one of a selection of a design template or customer feedback, whereby in response to customer feedback, at least one design template is revised based on the customer feedback and presented to the customer, this step being capable of repetition until the customer accepts a suggestion, and whereby in response to customer selection of a design template, the selected design template is applied to a suite of products and a representations is displayed to shows the customer what the desired product will look like; and allowing the customer to selectively revise any or all of the range of products to arrive at a final selection.
31. The web based computer assisted process for modeling the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer of claim 30, wherein the customer is allowed to alter any of the following characteristics of the finished product: scale, color, element rotation, font specification, and layout.
32. The web based computer assisted process for modeling the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer of claim 30, wherein the products include letterhead, business cards, and presentation materials.
33. The web based computer assisted process for modeling the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer of claim 30, wherein the final product includes: a logo component; a font specification file; a layout component; and a colors record.
34. The web based computer assisted process for modeling the iterative interaction between a graphic artist and a customer of claim 30, further comprising the step of querying the customer as to its needs from among a suite of available products including: letterhead, business cards, presentation materials and the like.
AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 04 December 2000 (04 12.00); new claims 36-56 added, other claims unchanged (3 pages)]
36. A method of designing a graphics product on-line, the graphics product having a user-defined look and feel, the method compπsing the steps of: receiving user personal information from a user computer and stoπng the personal information; receiving an indication of an intended look and feel for the graphics product from the user computer, the indication compπsing a plurality of indicia indicative of predetermined properties that the graphics product can embody; conducting a search of a plurality of stored product components, wherein each of the product components is associated with at least one numeπcal value, and matching the plurality of indicia to the numeπcal values such that a combination of product components is selected based on the intended look and feel for the graphics product, combining at least a portion of the personal information with a template based on the combination of product components to create at least one proposed graphics product; and making the proposed graphics product available to the user computer.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein the search is a multi-dimensional search.
38. The method of claim 36, wherein the indicia are obtained from the positions of slidable bars displayed on the user computer.
39 The method of claim 37, further compπsing creating multiple proposed graphics products.
40. The method of claim 36, further compπsing modifying the proposed graphics product.
41. The method of claim 36, further compπsing communicating with the user computer using the internet
42. The method of claim 36, wherein the graphics product is at least one of business stationery, announcements, invitations, notepads and folders.
43. A method of remotely designing a graphics product via an electronic network, comprising the steps of: selecting via the manipulation of a plurality of graphical elements displayed on a user computer look and feel properties that the graphics product can embody; sending the look and feel properties over the electronic network; receiving from the electronic network a proposed graphics product, the proposed graphics product having been generated by matching the look and feel properties to graphics product components and combining two or more of the graphics product components to achieve the proposed graphics product; and modifying the proposed graphics product to alter the look and feel properties of the proposed graphics product.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the electronic network comprises the internet.
45. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of matching comprises a multidimensional search.
46. The method of claim 43, wherein the graphics product components comprise at least one of graphics images, graphics arrangement, fonts and colors.
47. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of incorporating user personal information in the proposed graphics product.
48. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of modifying the proposed graphics product comprises replacing a first graphics product component with a second graphics product component.
49. The method of claim 43, wherein the graphics product is at least one of business stationery, announcements, invitations, notepads and folders.
50. A method of designing a graphics product, comprising the steps of: providing access to a remote server computer; presenting, via the remote server, a plurality of types of graphics products for selection; receiving an indication of a desired look and feel for a selected type of graphics product, the indication being in the form of a plurality of indicia; processing the plurality of indicia to select graphics product components that are then combined to achieve the desired look and feel of the selected type of graphics product; presenting, via the remote server, a proposed graphics product based on the combined graphics product components.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of receiving an indication of the desired look and feel comprises ascertaining the position of moveable elements displayed on a user computer.
52. The method of claim 50, further comprising combining user personal information in the proposed graphics product.
53. The method of claim 50, wherein the graphics product components comprise at least one of graphics images, graphics arrangement, fonts and colors.
54. The method of claim 50, further comprising modifying, via the server, the proposed graphics product.
55. The method of claim 54, further comprising replacing a first graphics product component with a second graphics product component.
56. The method of claim 50, wherein the graphics product is at least one of business stationery, announcements, invitations, notepads and folders.
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