Express Card Systems LLC v. Apple Inc.
Filing
1
COMPLAINT against Apple Inc. ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-3993972.), filed by Express Card Systems LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet)(Tadlock, Charles)
EXHIBIT 1
IIII~
United States Patent
[19]
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~ IIIIII~IIIIIIIIIIII
US005748484A
[11]
Cannon et al.
[45]
[54]
SYSTEM FOR PRINTING SOCIAL
EXPRESSION CARDS IN RESPONSE TO
ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED
ORDERS
[75]
Inventors: Thomas G. Cannon. Encampment.
Wyo.; Daniel L. DeHart. Loveland.
Colo.
[73]
Assignee: Onkor, Ltd., Eastsound. Wash.
[*]
Notice:
[21]
Appl. No.: 598,208
[22]
Filed:
Patent Number:
Date of Patent:
[51]
[52]
[58]
The term of this patent shall not extend
beyond the expiration date of Pat. No.
5.552.994.
Feb. 7,1996
Int. CL ...................................................... G06F 19/00
U.S. Ct.......................................................... 3641479.03
Field of Search ......................... 364/468.01,479.02.
364/479.03. 479.05. 468.24; 2351379. 381.
383.385.375; 345/326-335
References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
6/1988
6/1989
10/1989
8/1990
611991
7/1991
10/1991
12/1991
311992
611992
1211992
9/1993
7/1994
4/1996
"CreataCard" system introduced by Custom Expressions.
Inc.. Glendale CA. May. 1990.
"TV Answer" (Is rrv Here to Stay?) system from TV
Answer. Inc. (1941 Roland Clarke Place. Reston. VA 22091)
to begin operations in 1993.
6
4,750,036
4,839,829
4,876,592
4,947,028
5,027,400
5,036,427
5,056,029
5,077,607
5,093,718
5,124,980
5,172,413
5,243,174
5,327,265
5,513,116
Small ...................................... 3641479
Buckley et al. ................... 364/479.03
Tal ..................................... 364/468.01
Tackbary et aI ................... 364/479.03
Banks et aI ........................ 364/479.03
Buckley et aI .................... 364/479.05
Cannon et aI. .................... 364/468.24
Davidson et aI .................. 364/479.03
Taggart .............................. 364/479.03
5,513,117 411996
5,546,316 8119%
5,552,994 9/1996
5,555,496 911996
5,559,714 911996
5,561,604 1011996
5,600,563 211997
5,615,123 311997
5,687,087 1111997
"Newsmaker of the Month: Indra Turnbull. President. Innovative Icons Creator 'Isabella'" Gift and Stationery Business
Nov.• 1993. p. 56.
Continuation-in-part of Sec. No. 90,803, Jul. 12, 1993, Pat.
No. 5,552,994, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.
949,715, Sep. 23, 1992, Pat. No. 5,600,563.
[56]
*May 5, 1998
OTHER PUBUCATIONS
Related U.S. App6cation Data
[63]
5,748,484
Martinez.
Freedman.
Von Kohom .
Gorog.
Baji et aI ..
Buckley et aI ..
Cannon.
Johnson et aI..
Hoarty et aI ..
Maki.
Bradley et aI ..
Veeneman et al ...................... 3641479
McDonald.
Buckley et aI. ..•...........•....•••.. 3641479
Primary Examiner-James P. Trammell
Attome)\ Agent, or Fimr-Dorr. Carson. Sloan & Birney,
P.C.
A system for viewing. ordering, and printing social expression cards includes a database preparation system. a number
of card display/order systems. and a number of card printing
systems. The database preparation system uses a scanner to
input images from a plurality of cards. or a computer
software program to create images for use in card designs.
A card description database defines the layout of each card
in terms of its component images and text, and their locations on the card. The database preparation system can also
build a card parameter database to enable a user to select a
desired category of cards. Each card display/order system
accesses these databases and image files by computer
network. modem. cable television, or by transfer of removable data storage media. The card display/order system
allows the user to input parameters to pick the category of
cards to be displayed.
39 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
Card Display/Order Systems
~-------____
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ABSTRACT
[57]
50
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u.s. Patent
5,748,484
Sheet 1 of 22
May 5, 1998
Fig. 1
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10
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Original Card
or Artwork
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Color Monitor
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u.s. Patent
May 5, 1998
Sheet 2 of 22
5,748,484
Fig. 2
Nam e Fonts
Name Card
•
Name Card Images
Create Print Fonts
t
Scan or Create Card Images
Create Display Fonts
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Run Fon t Placement
Pr
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Convert Images to
Indexed Color
Modify Images
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Image Files
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Save Standard
Image Display Files
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Run Image File
Placement Program
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Save to Card
Image Directory
1-
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To Fig. 2 (Contd.)
u.s. Patent
Sheet 3 of 22
May 5, 1998
Fig. 2 (Contd)
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Run Card Layout Program
+
Position Images
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Enter and Position Text
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Save Card Format to
Card Description Database
+
Run Menu Layout Program
+
Create Menu Screens
Create Menu Path
+
Create Card List Screens
t
Save to Menu Database
5,748,484
u.s. Patent
5,748,484
Sheet 4 of 22
May 5,1998
Fig. 3
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u.s. Patent
May 5, 1998
Sbeet 5 of 22
Fig.3a
Hard Drive
Operating System Program
CD-ROM Driver Program
Printer Driver Program
Card Printing System
Control Program
Card Description Database
Good Images File
Good Fonts File
Good Cards File
Bar Code Printing Program
Fax/Communications Program
Order Processing Program
Fax analysis Program
Order Information Database
Mail Management Program
Print List Creation Program
Print List Files
Order Information Retrieval Program
Card/Envelope Registration Program
Available Cards File
5,748,484
u.s. Patent
Sheet 6 of 22
May 5,1998
Fig. 4
Turn on Card Printing System
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Insert CD-ROM in CD-ROM Drive
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Automatic Copying of Selected
Files to Hard Drive
Good Images File Created
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Card Printing System Operational
5,748,484
u.s. Patent
May 5, 1998
Sheet 7 of 22
Tag Section
photometricinterpretation
5,748,484
= RGB
Fig. 5
Image Data eRGB).
3 bytes 1 pixel
=
Tag Section
Photometricinterpretation Palette Color
ImageWidth = 300 dots per inch resolution
ImageLength = 300 dots per inch resolution
=
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Color Palette
256 entries of 24 bit colors
Image Data (Palette index values)
1 byte 1 pixel
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ImageWidth 85 dots per inch resolution
ImageLength 85 dots per inch resolution
=
=
Fig. 7
Color Patette
256 entries of 24 bit colors
Image Data (Palette index values)
1 byte 1 pixel
=
u.s. Patent
May 5, 1998
5,748,484
Sheet 8 of 22
Signature
Image length (at 85 dots per inch resolution)
Image Width (at 85 dots per inch resolution)
Compression Block Size
Normalized Color Palette
Fig. 8
Data Block # 1 Compressed Size
Compressed Data Block # 1
Data Block #2 Compressed Size
Compressed Data Block #2
•
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Da ta Block #N Compressed Size
Compressed Data Block #N
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Image Length (at 300 dots per inch resolution)
Image Width (at 300 dots per inch resolution)
Data Block #1 Compressed Size
Fig. 9
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Data Block #2 Compressed Size
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u.s. Patent
May 5, 1998
5,748,484
Sheet 10 of 22
Fig. 11
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III
115
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Card list 1
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Card name 1
Show cards ~
Card parameter 1
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Card name 2
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Card name 3
Card parameter N
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Secondary menu 1
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Card parameter 1
Card parameter 2
Card name 4
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Card parameter N
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Card list N
Card name 7
Card parameter 1
Card parameter 2
Card parameter N
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Card name N
u.s. Patent
Sbeet 11 of 22
May 5, 1998
Fig. 12(a)
5,748,484
Fig. 12{d)
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5,748,484
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May 5, 1998
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u.s. Patent
5,748,484
Sheet 16 of 22
May 5, 1998
Fig. 17
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May 5, 1998
Sheet 17 of 22
5,748,484
Fig. 18
65
Card Order Site 1
Card Display System Site 1
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Sheet 18 of 22
May 5, 1998
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May 5,1998
5,748,484
Sheet 19 of 22
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Sheet 20 of 22
May 5, 1998
Fig. 21
Card Order Received
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5,748,484
U.S. Patent
May 5, 1998
5,748,484
Sheet 21 of 22
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May 5, 1998
5,748,484
Sheet 22 of 22
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5,748,484
1
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SYSTEM FOR PRINTING SOCIAL
EXPRESSION CARDS IN RESPONSE TO
ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED
ORDERS
unit that guides customers through a series of card selections
on a touch-sensitive display screen. After choosing the
desired style of card. the customer enters information to
personalize the card. such as names. dates, ages. messages,
etc. It is believed that the card information is stored in vector
graphic format since the card is drawn line-by-line using an
eight-color pen plotter.
The "Isabella" system described in Gift and Stationery
Business (November 1993, p.56) allows the user to select a
desired card or invitation from a book of samples. The user
enters an identification code into a computer system to
display an image of the specified card. The user can also
specify the color. type style, and a personalized message for
the card. Order information is then transmitted by modem
from each remote computer system to a central printing
facility, where the orders are filled by overprinting preprinted cards using conventional, manually-operated offset
printing presses. Nothing in the Isabella system teaches or
suggests a menu system for assisting the user in selecting
cards, or a computerized system for automatically printing
cards in response to electronically transmitted orders.
Buckley, et al., disclose a computer controlled machine
for vending personalized greeting cards and the like. The
unit provides audio and video presentations of the products
and options available to the customer. Base products such as
pre-printed forms are stored within the unit for transfer by a
robotic arm to a printer for customization.
There are also a number of commercially available software programs that allow personal computer systems to
print greeting cards. For example, "Card Shop" by Artsci.
Inc. allows Macintosh computer users to select from a menu
of fifty greeting cards covering a variety of occasions.
"Greeting Card Maker" by Artivision. Inc. allows Apple
computer users to print cards, invitations, and announcements. Also, "The Print Shop" by Broderbund. Inc .•
"Announcements for Windows" by Parsons Technology.
Inc. and "Studio of Greetings!" by Eqyx, Inc. allow mM-pc
users to create and print greeting cards.
A major limitation of all systems which provide on-site
manufacture and/or personalization of social expression
cards is the cost of the apparatus which must be placed at
each site, whether a retail site or other site, such as a
residence. The number of retail sites which can achieve sales
levels which justify the placement of such apparatus is
limited to a small percentage of all retail sites. Further. such
apparatus does not address other problems faced by retail
sites having such apparatus and greeting card purchasers
using such apparatus at retail sites. For example, because
users of such apparatus typically do not know in advance the
personalized text they wish to input. a considerable period of
time is required for each customer to compose and enter
their personalized text. Since the apparatus can be used by
only one person at a time or in the case of a multi-user
system. only a few people at a time. many potential users do
not wait to use the system if it is already in use. This limits
the average daily revenue generated by the apparatus.
Also. greeting card purchasers must normally remember
to purchase cards and mail or otherwise deliver them before
specific dates. It is not unusual that someone forgets to
purchase a card before a particular date or having purchased
a card forgets to mail or deliver it on time. Another problem
which card purchasers face is not remembering what card
designs they have previously sent to someone and, therefore,
being concerned about sending duplicates of cards previously sent.
Desktop Publishing and Automated Printing Systems. A
wide variety desktop publishing software. e.g. Aldus Page-
RELATED APPLICATION
5
The present application is a continuation-in-part of the
applicants' U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/090,803
entitled "System For Printing Social Expression Cards in
Response to Electronically Transmitted Orders", filed on 10
luI. 12, 1993 U.S. Pat. No. 5.552.994. which is a
continuation-in-part of U.s. patent application Ser. No.
07/949.715, entitled "System for Printing Social Expression
Cards", filed on Sep. 23, 1992 U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,563.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
15
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of
greeting cards. More specifically, the present invention
discloses a system for creating a database of greeting card 20
designs that then can be customized or personalized and
manufactured through printing systems in response to electronically transmitted orders.
2. Statement of the Problem
Greeting cards or social expression cards have tradition- 25
ally been manufactured in large quantities by various manufacturers at locations remote from the point of purchase or
retail outlet. Social expression cards include greeting cards,
invitations, announcements, and the like and are referred to
herein as "greeting cards" or "social expression" cards. After 30
manufacture, the cards are shipped, either directly or
through wholesale distributors, to a variety of retail outlets.
such as specialty card shops, drug stores, grocery stores, and
the like where they are displayed and sold to retail custom35
ers.
One of the most significant problems associated with
current methods of manufacturing greeting cards is the very
large amount of inventory needed at the point of sale, and the
space required to properly display the inventory of greeting
cards. For example, most greeting cards are displayed on 40
card racks that group the cards into a number of categories,
or fields, to assist a customer in locating the type of card
desired. Typically. a large display rack is needed to expose
a sufficient portion of the face of each card to allow easy
visual scanning by the customer of the various cards avail- 45
able in a particular category or field.
Social Expression Cards. A number of systems have been
invented in the past to provide customization of social
expression cards, including the following:
50
Inventor
Patent No.
Issue Date
Canmn
5,056,029
Oct. 8, 1991
y
___
B_UC_k1e_,_c_t_al_._ _ _
5,_03_6_,4_72 _ _ _ y
_
Jul__30_,_199_1_ _ _ 55
"CreataCard" system introduced by Custom Expressions,
Inc., Glendale, Calif., in May, 1990.
"Newsmaker of the Month: Indra Turnbull, President, Innovative Icons Creator 'Isabella'''. Gift and Stationery Busi- 60
ness (November 1993, p. 56)
Cannon discloses an on-site system for manufacturing and
vending social expression cards that queries the customer to
input a series of special occasion parameters to select a card
from a database of available card designs.
65
The "CreataCard" system was introduced by Custom
Expressions, Inc. in May. 1990. This system is an on-site
5~748,484
4
3
Hoarty, et al., disclose an interactive cable television
maker and QuarkXPress, has long been commerciallyavailable for conventional personal computers. Desktop publishsystem which is able to rapidly display photographic quality
ing systems allow a trained user to create virtually any type
images on a home TV set in response to commands transof custom publications, primarily such as newsletters and
mitted by a home user using a remote control input device.
brochures. However, it is possible to create custom greeting 5
Johnson. et al., disclose a interactive cable television
cards, invitations, business cards and the like using a desktransaction tenninal comprising a keyboard used for entry of
top publishing system.
information and a screen generator for creating visual disIn addition to this general prior art in the field of desktop
plays of selection items or completion fields.
publishing, a number of systems have been created in the
Baji, et at .. disclose a multimedia bi-directional television
past for automated printing and "electronic mirror editing" 10
broadcast system which allows users to select and display
(EME), including the following:
product information and then order a product.
Gorog discloses an automated order and payment system
which allows users to enter product order information by
Inventor
Patent No.
Issue Date
optically scanning codes in printed media or displayed on a
4,839,829
J1lIle 13, 1989
Freedman
15 television set. Also disclosed is the entry of voice orders via
July 5, 1994
5,327,265
McDonald
a voice recognition means.
Von Kohom discloses a system which allows TV program
Freedman discloses an automated printing control system
viewers to respond to information in such programs by
for initiating and completing a "job order" for printing
making an entry on a keyboard.
services and preparing a printing cost analysis. The infor- 20
Martinez discloses an interactive television and data
mation communicated between the tenninals in Freedman is
transmission system.
used only for cost estimating, scheduling, and tracking the
3. Solution to the Problem
status of jobs.
None of the prior art references uncovered in the search
McDonald discloses a system for remotely accessing a
show a system, as in the present invention. for displaying,
database of images to facilitate editing high-quality color 25 ordering, and printing social expression cards in which card
brochures and other color documents containing color
images are stored as a set of display images in a format to
images and related text material. The print center U mainfacilitate rapid display on a color monitor or television set.
tains a database of available images in both a low-resolution,
and as a corresponding set of print images in a format to
compressed format that can be quickly transmitted by
rapidly produce high resolution printed cards. In addition,
modem to the customer's computer, and a high-resolution 30 the system includes a card description database that defines
format for printing. The customer can request that individual
each card in terms of its component images. text, and fields
images be transmitted by modem from the print center (col.
for personalization. Also, none of the prior art references
4, lines 26-33) for use in creating a page layout. The
show: (1) a system for printing social expression cards in
customer can position, crop, stretch, and otherwise modify
which cards are printed at one or more sites in response to
the image while on-line (col. 4, lines 34-35). The final page 35 orders for individual cards placed by consumers at a number
layout with an image frame, but without the image, is
of remote sites. including retail and residential locations,
transmitted by modem from the customer's computer to the
where order information is transmitted to the card printing
print center (col. 4, lines 38-39). This process is referred to
site through fax modems, other modems, or other telecomas "electronic mirror editing" (EME) because page layout
munications means and after processing is stored in an order
editing performed by the customer is mirrored by the print 40 information database with a unique card order code identicenter (col. 3, lines 47-57, and col. 4, lines 47-52).
fying each order received; (2) a system for printing card
A number of broadcast and cable television systems have
sender and receiver names and addresses on card mailing
also been invented in the past which allow consumers to
envelopes where addresses are retrieved from an order
view products, such as greeting cards, on a television set and
information database created from data received through a
place orders for products, including the following:
45 fax modem or other modem or other telecommunication
means; and (3) a system where card order information is
transmitted by telecommunication or other means to a card
Inventor
Patent No.
Issue Date
printing facility where individual personalized cards are
5,172,413
Dec. 15, 1992
printed in response to this order information.
Bradley, et aI.
Maki
Hearty, et aI.
Johnson, et aI.
Baji, et aI.
Gorog
vonKobom
Martinez
5,124,980
5,093,718
5,fJ77,(IJ7
5,027,400
4,947,028
4,876,592
4,750,036
Jun. 23, 1992
3, 1992
Dec. 31, 1991
Jun. 25, 1991
Aua. 7, 1990
Oct. 24, 1989
Jun. 7,1988
Mar.
"IV Answer" system from TV Answer, Inc., (1941 Roland
Clarke Place, Reston, Va. 22091) to begin operations in
1993.
Bradley, et al., disclose a pay TV system which allows a
user to authorize the purchase of advertised goods by
entering personal identification numbers.
Maki discloses a network or cable television system
which allows two-way data and voice telephone communication services between a central head end facility linked to
an off-site switched telephone network and a plurality of
remote subscriber stations.
50
55
60
65
SUMMARY OF THE 1NVENI10N
This invention provides a system for ordering and printing
social expression cards that includes a database preparation
system, a number of card printing facilities, and a plurality
of card display/order facilities. The database preparation
system uses a scanner to input graphic images from a
plurality of cards, or a computer software program to create
a plurality of images for use in card designs. A high
resolution print image and a lower resolution display image
are created from each of these images. The card description
database defines the layout of each card in terms of its
component images and text, and their locations on the card.
The database preparation computer system can also build a
card parameter database to associate cards into different
categories. For example. the card parameter database can
define a structure of menu screens to query the user to input
or select one or more desired card parameters (e.g. the
5,748,484
5
6
intended card recipient, for example, "GIRL FRIEND"; the
card graphic design subject matter, for example, "FLOWERS"; the card graphic design style, for example "REALISTIC"; the original artwork media, for example, "WATERCOLOR"; the sending occasion, for example.
"BIRfHDAY"; interests of the intended card recipient, for
example. "GARDENING"; characteristics of the intended
card recipient relating to physical appearance, age, sex. etc..
for example, ''TEENAGE GIRL"; the publisher of the card,
for example, "LOONARf DESIGNS"; the artist who created the original artwork for the card, for example, "JAN
JOHNSON HAMBURG"; the name of the recipient, for
example "BEVERLY"). The listed card parameters are by
way of example only and are not intended to be inclusive of
all possible card parameters. A list of card designs is
associated with parameters in the card parameter database.
In one embodiment, selected databases and image files are
then copied onto removable data storage media for distribution to the card display/order systems and the card printing systems. Alternatively, the databases and image files
may be stored in a central data storage unit which may be
accessed by the card display/order facilities and the card
printing facilities. In yet another alternative embodiment, the
databases and image files are stored in a data storage unit
associated with a server that is located remotely from the
card display/order systems and the card printing system, but
is accessible to the card display/order systems and card
printing system through a network or telecommunications
link.
Each card display/order facility accesses these databases
and image files by computer network., modem, cable
television. or by transfer of removable data storage media.
The card display/order facility allows the user to input
parameters to pick the category of cards to be displayed. The
user can order a selected card to be printed and input
information to personalize the card. The order is then
electronically transmitted to a card printing facility for
printing.
A typical card printing system has a display, a color
printer, input means, data storage unit, a computer processor,
and optionally. a network access means. The computer
processor may be identical to that used for database preparation or it may be a separate processor. ~e card printing
syste~ process.or accesse~ the car~ de~cnption database to
selectively retrieve and pnnt the prmt nnages for a selected
card by means of a color printer. Cards are selected for
printing as determined by a list of cards generated by
reference to a database of card order information created, in
turn, from data received through a fax modem, other
modem, or other telecommunication means from a card
display/order facility where the order information was
selected or input. Here again. the order information can
either be transmitted directly from each card display/order
system to the card printing system, or via a server that is
accessible by both the card display/order systems and the
card printing system.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
card display, ordering, and printing system which can (1)
receive and process electronically transmitted orders for
card designs, optionally including personalized text and
images, such as a handwritten signature, and (2) print
high-resolution printed cards at a time determined by reference to a delivery date designated by the card purchaser.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
card printing system that includes means whereby a person
can, at a location remote from the location at which cards are
printed, select or input desired characteristics of card
designs, view cards or images of cards which have the
desired characteristics. select a desired card to be printed at
a time determined by a specified delivery date. and enter
other order information.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
card printing system which prints mailing addresses (entered
as order information by a customer) on card mailing envelopes in response to a unique printed code read from a
greeting card printed by the card printing system.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
card printing system for creating a card description database
in which each card is defined in terms of its component
images. text. and fields for personalization.
These and other advantages. features. and objects of the
present invention will be more readily understood in view of
the following detailed description and the drawings.
5
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15
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
20
25
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35
40
45
50
55
60
65
The present invention can be more readily understood in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
AG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a computer system used
in preparing social expression card designs by the process of
this invention.
AG. 2 is a flow chart of the overall method used in
preparing databases of social expression card designs by the
process of this invention.
AGS. 3 and 3a are diagrammatic views of a card printing
system used for printing personalized and non-personalized
social expression cards.
AG. 4 is a flow chart of the method used by this invention
to configure a card printing system.
AG. 5 is a diagram of the structure of the RGB color TIFF
file produced from the images scanned by the color scanner.
AG. 6 is a diagram of the structure of the print palette
color TIFF file generated from the image file shown in AG.
5.
AG. 7 is a diagram of the structure of the display palette
color TIFF file generated from the image file shown in AG.
5.
AG. 8 is a diagram of the structure of the compressed
display image file generated from the display image file
shown in AG. 7.
AG. 9 is a diagram of the structure of the compressed
print image file generated from the print image file shown in
AG 6
. .
AG. 10 is diagram of the structure of the card description
database.
AG. 11 is a diagram of the structure of the card parameter
database.
AGS. lZ(a) through 12(f) are diagrams of the various
possible components of the card description database.
AG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a card printing system
with networked card printing systems used for printing
personalized and non-personalized social expression cards.
AG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of a card display/order
system where the card display means is a TV information
system which is separate from the order entry and transmission means.
AG. 15 is a diagrammatic view of a card display/order
system where the card display means is a TV information
system which is integrated with the order entry and transmission means.
AG. 16 is a diagrammatic view of a card display/order
system where the card display means and the order entry and
transmission means are accomplished using a personal computer system.
5,748,484
7
8
FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view of a card display/order
with the publisher code followed by a four letter code and a
single numeral indicating the order in which the repeated
system where the card display means and the order entry and
image appears on the card relative to other repeated images
transmission means are accomplished using a digital cable
on the same card (''repeated image name"). For example,
television converter containing an integrated computer.
FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic view of the overall system of 5 DMFLOGOI is the repeated image name for the first
repeated image to appear on card number 150 published by
this invention.
David Mekelburg and Friends.
FIGS. 19. 2O(a). and 2O(b) are diagrams of the various
Except for original art images created using computer
components of the card order database and an individual
paint programs ("computer art images") all images on
order.
10 original cards 10 are scanned using a color scanner 12. such
FIG. 21 is a diagram of how a card order is processed.
as the Microtek 600Z ScanMaker (Microtek International.
FIG. 22 is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of a
Inc. No.6, Industry East Road 3. Science-based Industrial
card display/order system.
Park. Hsinchu, Taiwan 30077, R.O.C.) connected to a computer 15 such as an IDM PC compatible having eight
FIG. 23 is a diagram of another alternative embodiment in
which the card printing system and card display/order sys- 15 megabytes of random access memory (RAM) which in turn
is connected to one or more large capacity memory devices
tems communicate via the Internet.
16, such as a 1.2 gigabyte Micropolis Model 1598-15 hard
DErAILED DESCRIPflON OF THE
drive (Micropolis, Inc.. Chatsworth, Calif.). The computer
INVENTION
also includes input means 17, such as a keyboard. mouse, or
FIG. 18 shows the relationship of the various system 20 track ball. Optionally, a color printer 19 can also be
included.
elements of this invention. Details of each system element
are shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 17.
Scanning is typically done at 300 dots per inch (dpi) and
FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic view of the computer
24 bits per pixel. Scanned image files resulting from the
scanning process and computer art image files are stored in
system 68 used to prepare databases of social expression
card designs ("database preparation computer system"). The 25 directories identified by a publisher code. For example, the
steps in this process are outlined in the flowchart provided
directory for the publisher David Mekelburg and Friends is
in FIG. 2. Copies of certain of these databases may then be
named DMF. Individual image files are saved in the appropriate publisher directory under the image name previously
transferred to a memory storage means which may be
assigned.
accessed directly by a single card printing system 40 shown
in FIG. 3 or by one or more card printing systems, for 30
Each scanned image file or computer art image file is then
example, through a network shown in FIG. 13. The card
opened in a digital image processing program, such as Aldus
printing systems print cards in response to card
Photostyler (Aldus Corporation. 411 First Avenue South.
identification. personalization. and other order information
Seattle. Wash. 98104-2871). Scanned images are displayed
received through one or more fax modems or other modems
on a color monitor 18, such as a Goldstar Model 1460 Plus
or other telecommunication means. Alternatively, copies of 35 (Goldstar Co .• Ltd., Lucky-Goldstar Twin-Tower, 20
these databases may be distributed via CD-ROM or other
Yeouido-dong, Yeongdungpo-gu. Seoul. 150-606, Korea)
removable storage media to a number of networked card
capable of displaying images in at least 256 colors.
printing systems either at a single card printing system site
The scanned image or computer art image is saved in a file
or at a number of card printing system sites, as shown in
in RGB (red. green. blue) true color format as shown in FIG.
FIG. 18. that print cards in response to card identification 40 5. which may contain up to 16.7 million colors. Each pixel
and personalization information received through one or
in the image requires three bytes of storage. The capability
more fax modems or other modems or other telecommuniof the monitor and video card used in the system will
cation means.
determine how many of the colors in an RGB true color file
Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2. in preparing the card descripwill be displayed. For example, the Goldstar Model 1460
tion database each original social expression card is viewed 45 Plus monitor used with a VGA Integra card (ATI
and the publisher name and publisher's card number on the
Technologies, Inc., 3761 Victoria park Avenue,
card is noted. For example. card number 150 published by
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada MIW 3S2) will display 256
David Mekelburg and Friends. If original art images (Le.
of the 16.7 million colors possible in the RGB true color file.
images created using artistic media including computer paint
The displayed scanned image or displayed computer art
programs) are being used, card numbers are assigned serially 50 image is then converted to a format with a limited palette of
to each submission from an artist or other source. A three
colors (''indexed color image"). This is accomplished in
letter publisher code is assigned to the publisher ("publisher
Aldus Photostyler by selecting "Indexed 256-color" from
code"). For example "DMF' for David Mekelburg and
the image menu which creates an indexed color image with
Friends.
a palette of 256 colors. Before completing the conversion
The card is then narned using the publisher code followed 55 when Aldus Photostyler is used, the type of color palette to
by no more than four numerals ("card name"). For example,
be created is speci1ied as "Adaptive" to best simulate the
the card name for card number 150 published by David
colors in the original image.
Mekelburg and Friends is DMF0150. Each image on the
If necessary, the indexed color image is cropped. This is
original card ("original card image") including the front
accomplished in Aldus Photostyler using a cropping tool to
panel (or page), inside panel (or page) and back panel (or 60 select an area to be saved. The indexed color image size is
page) images, is named with the card name followed by a
checked to determine if it will fit within a defined area. For
number indicating the order in which the image appears on
example the area could be defined as a four inch by six inch
the card ("image name"). For example. DMF01501 would
rectangle. If the image is larger than the defined area. it
be the image name for the first image on card number 150
should be reduced to four inches by six inches. This is
published by David Mekelburg and Friends.
65 accomplished in Aldus Photostyler by selecting the area to
Any image that appears in the same location on more than
be resized and then choosing "Resize" from the Transform
menu and entering the appropriate dimensions.
one card ("repeated image"), such as a logotype. is named
5,748,484
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Typically. when an original card image or original art
image on a white background is scanned. the white background of the displayed indexed color image contains a
number of random colored pixels. These colored pixels must
be removed. This can be accomplished in Aldus Photostyler
by selecting the white background area using the magic
wand tool and then choosing the "Clear" command from the
Edit menu.
When an original card image or original art image having
areas of a single color is scanned. the corresponding areas of
the displayed indexed color image will contain a large
number of pixels of varying colors. These pixels should be
changed to a single color which is the same as the single
color area on the original card image or original art image.
This can be accomplished in Aldus Photostyler by selecting
the dominant pixel color in a single color area of a displayed
image with the eyedropper tool. This color is identified as
the fill color. The color area to be made into a single color
is then selected using the magic wand tool. The "Fill"
command is then chosen from the Edit menu and the
selected area is automatically filled with the dominant pixel
color previously chosen with the eyedropper tool.
When modification of the indexed color image is
completed, the image is saved in two different formats. (1)
a print image file which will be processed to create files
which can be used by a color printer ("dithered print image
file") and (2) a display image file which can be displayed on
a color monitor or television set The print image file is
saved to the hard drive in a color image file format such as
Tag Image File Format (I1FF) as shown in FIG. 6. In
addition. if a minimum amount of memory space is to be
used. the file can be compressed using. for example. the
Lempel-Zev and Welch (LZW) compression algorithm. The
file is identified with the image name followed by the
extension .PCP (''Print image file name"). For example.
DMF01501.PCP is the print image file name for the first
print image on card number 150 published by David Mekelburg and Friends. The print image files are typically saved
to a separate directory.
The hue and saturation of palette colors associated with
each print image file must be adjusted to new values (i.e.•
color corrected) so the printed output will match the colors
of the original card image or original art image. This is
accomplished with a color correction program, such as
Colorcorrect (Onkor, Ltd., P.O. Box 240. Masonville. Colo.•
80541) which generates new palette colors by automatically
applying red, green, and blue color correction curves to each
color in the indexed color image palette. The details of color
correction are well known in the art and therefore need not
be explained here.
To allow rapid printing. print image files should be
modified with a dithering program, for example Ditherimage
(Onkor. Ltd.) before they are used by a color printer in a card
printing system. In an indexed color image. each pixel is
represented by an index number that corresponds to an entry
in a 24 bit color table containing 256 colors of a possible
16.7 million colors. The process of dithering reduces an
indexed color image to a 4 bit color image (dithered print
image). The dithered print image matches the subtractive
primary colors (i.e., cyan. magenta, and yellow) plus black
used by the printer. To compensate for this loss of color
resolution. a dithering algorithm is used. A dithered print
image uses an N by N matrix (for example 5 by 5), of cyan.
magenta, yellow or black pixels ("dither matrix") to represent the 24 bit color value of each indexed color image pixel.
Individual dither matrix color pixels have varying values so
the color of the matrix is perceived by the human eye as an
approximation of the original pixel color in the indexed
color image.
In addition to dither matrix creation. the dithering program overlaps adjoining dither matrices. This is necessary
because the indexed color image has a resolution of 300 dpi
which matches the printer resolution. If no overlapping of
dither matrices was done and. for example, a 5 by 5 dither
matrix was used, the resulting dithered image would have
one twenty-fifth the spatial resolution of the indexed color
image. By overlapping the dither matrices. the color value of
each 4 bit pixel is averaged between all overlapping pixels.
This overlapping gives the completed dithered print image a
blended appearance that is visually pleasing. The details of
image dithering are well documented (J. D. Foley & A. Van
Dam, Fundamentals of Interactive Computer Graphics.
Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.• 1984. pages 593-602). In
conventional systems. dithering is done by the color printer
after the image data has been downloaded from the computer to the printer and before the image is printed. In the
present system. the print image is pre-dithered before the
print image file is stored. This results in more rapid printing
and also reduces the size of the print image file.
Dithered print image files are identified with the image
name followed by the extension PCD ("dithered print image
file name"). For example DMFO 1051.PCD is the dithered
print image file name for the first dithered print image on
card number 1St published by David Mekelburg and
Friends. Dithered print image files are then compressed
using the I..:z:w compression algorithm and saved in a
proprietary format as shown in FIG. 9. To provide rapid
retrieval from a large number of dithered print image files.
dithered print image files are moved from the dithered
images directory to a number of nested directories using a
software program which automatically relocates the files
("image file placement program"). This can be accomplished by using a program such as Putimage (Onkor. Ltd.).
FIG. 7 is a diagram of the structure of the display palette
color TIFF file generated from the image file shown in FIG.
5. The display image file shown in FIG. 8 is created from this
display image. The displayed size of display images is
determined by their resolution, therefore. the display image
resolution must be adjusted to provide a displayed image
which may be easily viewed on a range of monitor and
television screen sizes. For example. the resolution available
on a typical television set is 512 lines by 768 pixels. At this
resolution on a thirteen inch television screen. for a display
image to appear at approximately the same size as a printed
image created with a dithered print image file. the display
image must have a resolution of 80 dpi. An 80 dpi display
image can be created from the 300 dpi print image in Aldus
Photostyler by selecting "Resample" from the Transform
menu and entering the resolution desired.
When the display image is saved it is processed by a
palette normalization program, such as Fiximage (Onkor.
Ltd.). which analyzes the color palette associated with each
display image and transforms it, as shown in FIG. 8. into a
palette having certain colors in specific palette locations
("standard color palette"). For example. red. green, blue.
cyan, magenta, yellow. black and white are located in the
first through eighth palette locations. The resulting file is
then compressed using the I..:z:w compression algorithm and
saved in a proprietary format ("standard display image file")
as shown in FIG. 8. The file is identified with the image
name followed by the extension .DSC ("standard display
image file name"). For example DMF01501.DSC is the
standard display image file name for the first display image
on card number 1St published by David Mekelburg and
Friends. To provide rapid retrieval from a large number of
display image files. display image files are moved from the
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display images directory to a number of separate directories
using a software program which automatically relocates the
files ("image file placement program"). This can be accomplished by using a program such as Putimage (Onkor. Ud.).
Two additional types of files which are created are print
font files and display font files. A font is defined as a set size
bitmap of a particular typeface. The resolution of print fonts
must match the resolution of a particular printer (e.g. 300 dpi
for the Tektronix Phaser ill color printer). The displayed size
of display fonts is determined by their resolution. therefore.
the display font resolution must be adjusted to provide a
displayed font which may be easily viewed on a range of
monitor and television screen sizes. For example. the resolution of a typical television set is 512 lines by 768 pixels.
At this resolution on a thirteen inch television screen. for a
display font to appear at approximately the same size as a
print font. the display font must have a resolution of 80 dpi.
A six letter code is assigned the font ("font code"). For
example. the font code for Howard Thin is HOWLSS. Each
point size of the font is named by the font code followed by
two numerals ("font name"). For example. the font name for
14 point Howard Thin is HOWLSS14. Print font files are
identified with the font name followed by the extension
0.300 ("print font file name"). For example.
HOWLSSI4.300 is the print font file name for 14 point
Howard Thin. Display font files are identified with the font
name followed by the extension 0.085 ("display font file
name"). For example. HOWLSS14.085 is the display font
file name for 14 point Howard Thin.
Print fonts and display fonts can be created using a
scaleable font library. such as the Digi-Fonts. Inc. Typeface
Ubrary and a font conversion program. such as Digi-Duit!
(Digi-Fonts. Inc.. 528 Commons Drive, Golden. Colo.
80401). Both print font files and display font files are saved
to a directory named "Fonts" on the hard disk.
To provide rapid retrieval from a large number of font
files. both display and print font files are moved from the
fonts directory to a number of nested directories using a
software program which automatically relocates the files
(''font file placement program"). This can be accomplished
by using a program such as PutFonts (Onkor, Ltd.) For
example. when the font file placement program is run. the
print font HIe HOWLSSI4.300 and the display font file
HOWLSS14.085 are automatically transferred from the
fonts directory to a separate subdirectory.
Print images, display images and text used in a social
expression card format must be positioned on the front.
inside. or back panels (or pages) of the social expression
card using a software program with this capability ("card
layout program"). This can be accomplished with a program
such as Cardmaker (Onkor. Ltd.). For example, card number
ISO published by David Mekelburg and Friends would be
formatted using the Cardmaker software program by (I)
selecting "image" from a menu. (2) The card name
DMF0150 is entered. (3) The Cardmaker program assumes
the social expression card is rectangular, for example four
and one-half inches by six and one-half inches. so the card
format must be designated as horizontal or vertical. (4) The
desired panel (or page) for image placement is selected (,'P'
for front panel. 'T' for inside panel or "B" for back panel).
(5) The image name DMF0150lis entered (the first image on
the front panel). (6) The image position is entered ("C" for
center of panel. 'T" for top of panel. "B" for bottom of
panel. "L" for left side of panel. ''R" for right side of panel.
or specific x and y coordinates are entered). Positioning of
the first image would be completed at this point. Additional
images are positioned by repeating steps four through six.
Text is entered and positioned on the social expression
card format by (1) selecting "rext" from a menu. (2)
Selecting the panel (or page) on which the text is to be
placed. (3) Entering the text position by selecting "C" for
center of panel. 'T" top of panel. ''B'' bottom of panel. "L"
left side of panel. "Rn right side of panel. or by entering
specific x and y coordinates. (4) Selecting the text font and
point size from a list of fonts and point sizes. For example.
1035 Avon Book. 16 point. (5) Selecting the text color from
a list of available colors. For example. black. white. red,
blue. magenta, green. or cyan. (6) Entering the text. for
example "Happy Birthday". using the keyboard 17.
If an area for personalized text 72 to be retrieved from an
order information database constructed from data received
through a fax or other modem or other telecommunications
means, is to be specified. this is accomplished by (1)
choosing "Personalized Text" from a menu. (2) Selecting the
panel where personalized text is to be placed. (3) Entering
the text position by selecting "C" for center of panel. "T" for
top of panel. "B" for bottom of panel. "L" for left side of
panel. ''R" for right side of panel. or by entering specific x
and y coordinates. (4) Selecting the text font and point size
from a list of fonts and point sizes (e.g. 1318 Howard Thin.
14 point). (5) Selecting the text color from a list of available
colors (e.g. black. white. red. blue, magenta, green. or cyan).
(6) Entering the number of lines of personalized text to be
allowed (e.g. six lines). The card printing system control
program determines, at the time user text is retrieved from
the order information database. how many characters can be
placed on each line given the font specified in the card
description database.
An area or field for a personalized image 73. such as a
signature or a picture of the card purchaser. retrieved from
an order information database constructed from data
received through a fax or other modem or other telecommunications means. may be automatically positioned in a
specified relationship to other card components. for
example. a personalized image 73 may be positioned onequarter of an inch below a text area or personalized text area
on the inside panel (or page) of all cards.
The front, inside. and back card panels (or pages) are
individually viewed on the monitor display 18 to assure that
images and text are properly positioned. If modifications are
required. the appropriate steps are repeated. Card formats
created by the card layout program are automatically saved
under the card name to a database ("card description
database") as shown in FIG. 10. Each card in the card
description database is defined in terms of its components.
such as images. text. and personalization fields for either text
or images. FIGS. 12(a) through l2(f) show how each type of
component is defined within the card description database.
One preferred method of retrieving card images for display and selection by prospective card purchasers is through
a series of card parameter screen displays that allow the
prospective card purchaser. in response to a displayed or
otherwise presented question or prompt. to describe in a
progressive manner. through selection or input of a series of
words, phrases or icons ("card parameters"), the type of
social expression card desired. For example. the prospective
card purchaser may first be asked to select or input a general
class of cards, such as "Birthday", "Anniversary", "Get
Well". etc. If "Birthday" is selected or input, the prospective
card purchaser is then prompted to select or input a subclassification of birthday cards. such as "Relative".
"Children". or "Humorous". This process continues to
prompt the prospective card purchaser to select or input card
parameters until the last sub-classification of cards is
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reached. Upon selection of a general class of cards or an
associated sub-classification, one or more card images associated with the general class of cards or an associated
sub-classification are retrieved and displayed on the display
device. Such card displays may take a variety of formats. for
example. card images may be displayed sequentially or in
sequential groups of two or more card images. These card
image displays may optionally include card identification
names (or codes) associated with individual card images.
In one embodiment. a menu is created that allows rapid
retrieval of social expression card images using a software
program (''menu layout program") capable of constructing a
multilevel menu display (''menu screen"). One or more card
parameters displayed on the menu screen may each be
linked to other subordinate or secondary card parameters
that are also displayed on the menu screen. These secondary
card parameters can. in turn. be linked to other levels of
additional parameters. Every card parameter may be linked
to one or more groups of card names that can be used to
retrieve card designs to be displayed to the prospective card
purchaser. The structure of a typical card parameter database
is shown in FIG. 11. GGEdit is such a program (SuperVend,
Inc.). In the GGEdit program. a menu screen is created in a
menu creation mode, in which a card parameter's text is
entered and then displayed in one of several menus. The
menus containing card parameter text are displayed next to
each other. Card parameters may be displayed on a menu
screen in a variety of formats. For example. each card
parameter may be displayed in one of several adjacent
menus within the menu screen.
After the first menu (primary menu) 111 has been
completed. a number of secondary menus 112, 113 can be
created in the menu creation mode by selecting a card
parameter which appears on the primary menu 111 and
inputting one or more subordinate card parameters. A secondary menu is always linked to a card parameter displayed
in a higher level menu.
After one or more secondary menu linked to higher level
card parameters have been created, card lists 115 are created.
This may be accomplished in the GGEdit program when a
menu parameter is selected. A card list window is displayed
next to the primary and secondary menus. Card names of
cards to be displayed in association with a selected card
parameter are entered in the order in which they are to be
displayed (card list window). Any time after card names are
entered, the order in which they will be displayed can be
changed.
Card parameters can be deleted from menu creation
screens and card names from the card list by: (1) selecting
the card parameter or card name; and (2) pressing the
"Delete" key on the keyboard. The file created using the
menu layout program (card parameter database) is automatically saved to the hard disk.
After these databases have been prepared by the computer
system. this data (possibly excluding the card parameter
database) must be transferred to either a memory storage
means which may be accessed directly. for example, through
a network as shown in FIG. 13. by one or more card printing
systems or to a large capacity removable memory means.
such as a CD-ROM, which can be distributed to an individual card printing system as shown in FIG. 3. Certain of
the databases (the standard display image files, display font
files, card description database, and card parameter
database) may also be distributed through a network. telecommunications line. or on removable memory means, for
example, a CD-ROM, directly to potential card purchasers,
retail stores. cable television control centers. or other sites
for use with a variety of card image display means. such as
personal computers. interactive video systems. for example.
a Memorex MD-2500 Video Information System (Tandy
Corporation, 700 One Tandy Center. Fort Worth. Tex.),
video game systems, interactive cable television systems.
and other systems and devices capable of allowing users to
interact with displayed information. While a variety of
removable media might be used. an optical compact disc
read only memory (CD-ROM) is the preferred means
because (1) it will store approximately 640 megabytes of
data, (2) can be produced in quantity at a low cost, (3) the
data on the compact disc cannot be altered, (4) compact
discs can be easily replaced and (5) CD-ROM drive devices
are relatively inexpensive compared to other drive devices.
Techniques for producing a CD-ROM are well known and
need not be explained here. Alternatively. other types of
optical or magnetic disks or similar media can be used.
In one preferred embodiment. shown in FIG. 3, each card
printing system oW comprises a computer system which, for
example. includes (1) an mM PC or compatible computer
35 (CPU) with a large quantity of RAM. for example. eight
megabytes. (2) a hard disk 36. for example a Seagate Model
ST1239A 211 megabyte hard drive (Seagate, 920 Disc
Drive. Scotts Valley. Calif. 95066), (3) a CD-ROM drive 34
and a CD-ROM drive controller card. for example a Sony
CD-ROM Drive, Model CDU-53501 (Sony Corporation of
America, P.O. Box 60590, Los Angeles. Calif. 90060). (4) a
graphics adapter card, for example. a VGA Integra graphics
adapter (ATITechnologies, Inc.), (5) a color monitor 38. for
example. a Goldstar Model 1460 Plus (Goldstar Co .• Ltd.).
(6) an input means 37, for example. a Maxitouch Keyboard
(Maxi Switch, Tucson, Ariz.) and/or other input means such
as a mouse, for example. a Logitech Pilot Mouse (Logitech
Inc.• 6505 Kaiser Drive, Fremont, Calif. 94555), (7) a color
printer 39, for example a Tektronix Phaser m Color Printer.
Model 4698RX (Tektronix. Graphics Printing and Imaging
Division, 26600 S.W. Parkway. Wilsonville. Oreg. 97070).
(8) a direct memory access printer interface card, for
example. a DMA card (Pecan, Inc .• 148 East 29th Street.
Loveland. Colo. 80538) (9) one or more modems 41, for
example. a SupraFAXModem V.32bis (Supra Corporation.
7101 Supra Drive S.W., Albany. Oreg. 97321), (10) an
envelope printer 46. for example, a CoStar Address Express
printer (CoStar Corporation. 22 Bridge St.. Greenwich,
Conn., 06830-5238) and (11) a bar code reader 42, for
example. a ScanWedge bar code reader (Barcode Industries.
Ammendale Technology Park. 12240 Indian Creek Court,
Beltsville. Md. 20705). A floppy disk controller, IDE drive
interface adapter card, and a floppy disk drive may also be
included. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3. the
computer system hard drive 36 in the card printing system
contains (1) an operating system program. for example.
DOS 5.0 (Microsoft Corporation. One Microsoft Way,
Redmond, Wash. 98052), (2) a CD-ROM driver program.
(3) a printer driver program. (4) a card printing system
control program. for example, Cardfinder (Onkor. Ltd.), (5)
a fax/communication program to transmit and receive
orders, for example, FaxTalk (Thought Communications.
Inc., 275 Saratoga Avenue. Santa Clara. Calif. 95050). (6) an
order information database, (7) an order processing
program. for example. CFXorder (Onkor, Ltd.). (8) a print
list creation program, for example. CF'Xlist (Onkor. Ltd.) (9)
one or more print list files, (10) an order information
retrieval program. for example. CFXprint (Onkor. Ltd.). (11)
a card/envelope registration program which registers successfully printed cards and the date on which the cards were
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mailed, for example, CFXship (Onkor, Ltd.), (12) a mail
management program, for example. Postware Address Correction and Encoding software (postalsoft, 4439 Mormon
Coulee Road. La Crosse, Wis. 54601-8231), (13) a bar code
printing program, for example, CardFinder (Onkor, Ltd.).
(14) a card description database, (15) a good images file.
(16) a good fonts file, (17) a good cards file. and (18) an
available cards file.
16
capability (General Instrument Corporation, Jerrold Communications Division, 2200 Byberry Road. Hatboro, Pa.
19040) and a modem 41 as shown in FIG. 17. In one such
system, compressed card display image files are transmitted
5 from a control computer 63 at the cable TV control center 64)
over conventional cable TV line 59 to the CATV card
display/order system 67, where they are decompressed by
the smart CATV converter 58 and displayed on the television
set 55. Card image files to be displayed are. for example.
FIG. 13 shows. alternatively, a number of card printing 10 transmitted to a specific CATV card display/order system
systems in a networked coniiguration. The card printing
over a cable TV channel dedicated to transmitting digital
systems in this configuration need not have CD-ROM drives
information which has been encoded for reception.
as part of each system, but each system does require a
decompression. and display by a specific smart CATV
network card, for example. a Novell NEl000 Interlace
converter with decompression means. Transmissions are
Board (Novell. Inc.. 122 East 1700 South, Provo, Utah 15 made in response to commands input by the consumer, using
84606) attached over a network m'terconnection means 64
an input means 37. for example, a wireless handheld conand through a second network card, for example, a Novell
troller. The input commands are transmitted from CATV
NE2000 Interface Board (Novell, Inc.) to a network server
card display/order systems 67 to the cable TV control center
system 61, consisting of a computer 49 which is attached to
60. for example, through modems 41 and telecommunicaone or more large capacity memory devices 36. such as a 20 tion lines 52 linking the smart CATV converter 58, which is
Micropolis 668 megabyte model 1624 hard drive
part of the CATV card display/order system 67, to the
(Micropolis. Chatsworth. Calif.). Optionally, one or more
control computer 63 in the cable TV control center 60. When
CD-ROM drives 34 or other large capacity read only
a displayed card is selected by the consumer for purchase,
memory devices may also be attached to the server cominformation necessary to complete an order ("order
puter. Modems in each card printing system 40 receive order 25 information") may be requested from the consumer by the
information for processing from card order systems 50 over
control computer 63 or by the computer contained in the
telecommunications means 52, for example. telephone lines.
smart CATV converter 58. Such requests can take a variety
of forms, for example. an order form can be displayed on a
Other networked configurations are possible. for example,
television set 55 and the consumer then enters order infora configuration which contains one or more card printing
systems each with a CD-ROM drive and a network card. The 30 mation using an input means 37, such as a wireless handheld
controller. Order information entered by the consumer may
card printing systems in this configuration are in tum
attached to a server computer system which includes one or
be transmitted through a modem 41 to the control computer
more large capacity memory devices, such as a hard drive.
63 and from the control computer 63 at the cable TV control
As shown in FIG. 4, when a CD-ROM 33 is installed in
center 60 to a card printing system site 54 over telecommua card printing system's CD-ROM drive 34. or a CD-ROM 35 nications lines 52, or order information entered by the
drive attached to a network server, the card printing system
consumer may be transmitted through the modem 41, after
control program on the card printing system's hard disk
disconnecting from the control computer 63. directly to a
drive 36 or a hard drive which is part of a network server
card printing system site 54 over telecommunications lines
system 61. analyzes the card descriptions contained in the
52.
card description database and the dithered print image files 40
Card images may be selected for display by customers
and print font files present on the CD-ROM or on a hard
using, for example, a displayed menu which allows the
prospective card purchaser to describe the type of social
drive and creates three files: (1) a file indicating which
dithered print images are present ("good images file"), (2) a
expression card desired. Methods other than the use of a
file indicating which print font files are present ("good font
menu to select a desired type of card from available card
files"), (3) a file indicating which card formats in the card 45 images, may also be used.
description database have all the files present that are
Order information, to be transmitted to a card printing
necessary to print cards ("good card file"). The card printing
location. may be entered by customers in a variety of ways.
Using one preferred method, a card identification name (or
system is then operational.
Card purchasers may originate card orders at card display!
code) is entered by a customer on a printed order form 51
order sites 66 using card display/order systems SO. In one 50 along with personalization information, mailing addresses.
preferred card delivery date, and other order information.
preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the card display/
The order information is then transmitted by use of a fax
order system 50 requires a customer to select a card design
from a card display 69, enter order information on an order
machine 53, for example, a Brother IntelliFAX model 600
form SI and then transmit the order information over a
(Brother International Corporation. 200 Cottontail Lane,
telecommunication line 52 to a card printing system site 54, 55 Somerset, N.J. 08875-6714). over telecommunication lines
52 to a card printing system site 54.
shown in FIG. 13. from a card display/order site 65 using.
for example. a fax machine 53.
Alternatively, a card display/order system may include a
Customers may view card images using, for example, a
modem 41 which allows a customer to place an order by
TV information system 56 attached to a television set 55,
using a keyboard or other input means connected to a
shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a personal computer system 62, 60 computing means to enter order information by, for
shown in FIG. 16, or other interactive information display
example. responding to displayed prompts which request
systems. for example a cable television card display/order
that various items of order information be entered by the
system (''CATV card display/order system") 67 consisting of
customer. The computing means may include, for example.
a television set 55 connected to a digital cable television
a TV information system 56, as shown in FIG. 15 or a
converter which includes an integrated computer with 65 personal computer 57, as shown in FIG. 16. After order
decompression means ("smart CATV converter") 58, for
information is entered by a customer. the customer initiates
example, a Jerrold DigiCable converter with interactive TV
the order transmission process by, for example. responding
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to a displayed prompt Once the order transmission process
is initiated, the computing means determines if a dial tone is
present on the telecommunication line connected to the
computing means modem. If a dial tone is present. the
computing means dials a pre-programmed telephone number associated with a card printing system site and upon
receiving a standard confirming transmission code from the
called site the computing means transmits the order information in a standard data communication format. for
example AScn code. through the modem 41 over telecommunication lines 52 to the card printing facility 54. If the
calling computing means receives a busy signal, it disconnects from the telecommunication line. waits a preprogrammed interval, for example two minutes, and then
repeats the calling sequence. The computing means will
continue such calling attempts until the order information
has been successfully transmitted.
F1G. 22 shows one alternative embodiment in which the
card display/order facility is separated into a card order
transmission system 65 and a number of satellite card
display systems 76. This embodiment is intended for use, for
example. in a greeting card store located in an airport. The
card order transmission system 65 is centrally located in the
store and a number of the card display system 76 can be
located within the store as well as elsewhere within the
airport. such as in various concourses. Each card display
system 76 includes a local CD-ROM 33 that contains copies
of the card description database, card parameter database,
and other files necessary to prompt a customer to input or
select card parameters, view card images, and enter order
information. The specific embodiment of the card display
system 76 depicted in F1G. 22 uses a television set 55 and
a TV information system 56 to display the card images. The
customer's order information is temporarily recorded on
removable memory means 88, such as a floppy diskette or a
PCMClA memory card. At the end of each day (or on some
other period basis) the removable memory means 88 is
manually transferred to the card order transmission system
65 where the order information can be reviewed and is then
forwarded by modem 41 to a card printing facility.
At the card printing facility, order information is received
through a fax or other modem 41 connected to a card
printing system computer processor 35 running a faxl
communications software program. for example, FaxTalk
(Thought Communications, Inc., 275 Saratoga Avenue,
Suite 200C, Santa Clara, Calif. 95050). In the case of an
order transmitted by means of a fax machine, the faxl
communications software program receives the orders in a
standard facsimile transmission format and converts them
into PCX image format files. The PCX image of the order
form ("PCX order image") is stored in an order image file
and is used by an order processing program such as CFXorder (Onkor. Ud., P.O. Box 240, Masonville, Colo. 80541)
or TELEform for Windows (Cardiff Software. Inc., 531
Stevens Avenue, Solana Beach, Calif. 92075), to (1) analyze
the order information contained in the PCX order image.
such as card identification information, personalized text,
mailing addresses. and personalized images, and (2) store
the order information in the order information database. The
CFXorder program displays a split screen with a fax image
on one side of the screen and order information fields on the
other side. The CFXorder program (1) automatically compares card identification information ("card name") entered
in the card name order information field with a database of
card names (,'printable card file" 77), representing cards
available for printing. to confirm that an available card name
78 has been ordered. CFXorder also checks and corrects
address information entered in order information fields by
reference to a mail management program. for example.
Postware Address Correction and Encoding software
(Postalsoft. 4439 Mormon Coulee Road. La Crosse. Wis.
54601-8231). The processed order information for each
order 71 is then automatically stored in the order information database 70 in the format shown in FlGS. 19. 20(a). and
lO(b).
Alternatively, a program, such as TELEform for Windows
(Cardiff Software, Inc.). which includes a hand print and
machine print character recognition program. may be used to
analyze the PCX order image. The resulting order information is automatically stored in the order information database
70.
When order information is transmitted in the form of
AScn or other data communication formats from, for
example. a card display/order system 50 to the card printing
system site 54. the information received is processed by an
order processing program. such as CFXorder (Onkor, Ltd.).
Each processed order is stored by the order processing
program in the order information database 70 for subsequent
processing as generally outlined in FlG. 21.
Methods of processing orders may vary depending on the
order processing program used, for example. the program
CFXorder, processes orders received as PCX files from fax
machines by displaying a bit-mapped image of the fax on a
monitor along with blank data entry fields. The user visually
examines the fax image and enters the displayed order
information in appropriate data entry fields. After all order
information is entered. the user selects the "save" function
which causes the program to save the order information
entered in the data entry fields to the order information
database. In addition, a properly sized and formatted personalized image ("signature image") is also saved from the
original fax and is logically connected to the correct card
order number 74 in the order information database 70. The
saved signature image may be saved in any number of
standard image file formats, such as PCX or TIFF, as well as
proprietary image file formats. such as PCD used by the
program CFXorder (Onkor, Ltd.) Optionally, if the card
destination address 75 zip code stored in the order information database 70 matches a zip code stored on a hard drive
36 in a file which lists zip codes in association with remote
card printing system sites (''printing site zip code list"). the
order information may be automatically transmitted by the
card printing system computer 35 at the site which received
the original card order, using a modem 41 attached to
telecommunications means 52, to a card printing system site
listed on the printing site zip code list
Order information indicating when an ordered card is to
be delivered 82 is retrieved from the order information
database 70 and list~ of cards (or orders) to be printed on
specific dates ("print list files") 79 are automatically created
by a program such as CFXlist (Onkor, Ud.). The CFXlist
program determines a printing date based on a card delivery
date specified by a customer in an order. If no date is
specified. the current date is used. The card order code (or
number) of any card order that has not been printed and has
a customer specified delivery date which is on or before the
current date is automatically listed by CFXlist in a daily
print file named CFXLIST.Our (''print list file"). At a
specified time each day, active card printing systems run a
program. such as CFXprint (Onkor. Ltd.), which retrieves
order information 71 from the order information database 70
for those card orders 80 listed in the current date print list file
79. CFXprint then calls a program such as CardFinder
(Onkor. Ltd.) which prints each ordered card on blank card
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paper 47. as shown in FIG. 3. including a bar code 44 on the
back card panel ( or page). The bar code. which is generated
by a bar code program such as Quick Bar (American
Microsystems. 23190 Regal Parkway. Euless. Tex. 76040).
represents the unique card order number (or code) for the
card printed.
When a card is successfully printed this is recorded in the
card's order information in the order information database
("registered"). Registration can be accomplished several
ways. One method is to run a program such as CFXship
(Onkor. Ltd.) on a computer 35 with a bar code reader 42,
for example. a ScanWedge bar code reader (Barcode
Industries. Ammendaie Technology Park. 12240 Indian
Creek Court. Beltsville. Md. 20705) attached to the computer's input means 37. for example a keyboard. The bar
code reader 42 may be used to read the bar code 44 on the
back panel (or page) of a printed card 43, the card's order
information 81 in the order information database 70 is
updated to indicate the ordered card corresponding to the
card order code has been successfully printed. Successful
registration automatically causes CFXship to query the
portion of the card's order information 71 in the order
information database 70 for envelope color 87 and envelope
addressing information 75. 83. 84. Address information
retrieved is printed on a blank envelope 45 of the specified
color 87. along with a code 44. for example a bar code.
representing the card order code, using a printer 46. for
example. a CoStar Address Express printer (CoStar
Corporation. 22 Bridge St., Greenwich, Conn.. 068305238). A printed card 43 may then be matched with the
correct printed envelope 48 by using. for example. either a
single bar code reader 42 to sequentially read the bar code
on the rear card panel and the bar code on the envelope or
by using two bar code readers to simultaneously read both
bar codes. If the bar codes on the printed card and printed
envelope are identical. a signal. for example a distinctive
audible tone. is output by the computer 35 indicating that the
card should be inserted in the envelope and the card's order
information 71 in the order information database 70 is
updated to indicate the card order has been successfully
processed 85 and the date the processing was completed 86.
FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of an alternative
embodiment of the present invention in which the card
description database, display image files. display font files.
card parameter database. and order program are stored at a
server 22 that may be separate from the card display/order
system 50 and the card printing system 54. For example. the
server 22 can be a node on a local area network (LAN), wide
area network (WAN). cable television (CMV') network. or
the Internet that is accessible by card display/order system
SO and card printing system 54.
The specific implementation shown in FIG. 23 is based on
access via the Internet The card display/order system 50 has
the same general configuration as previously discussed.
However. the memory 23 for the card display/order system
50 does not include a card description database, display
image file. display font file, card parameter database. or
order program. Instead. an Internet browser program, such
as Netscape Navigator (Netscape Communications Corp..
Mountain View. Calif.) or Internet Explorer (Microsoft
Corp.. Redmond. Wash.) is installed to access such software
over the Internet Because of the small size of the programs
required at the card display/order system SO, the memory 23
need not be a hard disk. but may be any of the many forms
of solid state random access memory that are currently
available.
Using the Internet browser software, the card display!
order system SO accesses the Internet server 22 through an
Internet service provider 20. At the Internet server 22. there
is a large capacity memory device 36 that contains all the
software necessary to display cards and accept orders. in
addition to programs normal1y found on such sites. Included
in this software are, for example. a card description
database, display image file, display font file. card parameter
database. order program. and order information database.
These programs enable the user of the card display/order
system 50 to select. view. and order social expression cards
using the Internet browser software.
Orders transmitted to an Internet server 22 may be automatically transferred to a card printing system site 54 or
stored for later retrieval from the Internet server 22 by the
card printing system 54. A number of possible telecommunications links can be used between the card printing system
site 54 and the Internet server 22. For example. a broadband
telecommunications link 24. such as a T1. T3. or ISDN line
can be used to connect the Internet server 22 to a network
access point 21. Alternatively, a direct telecommunications
line 52 (e.g., a standard telephone line) can be used to
connect the card printing system 54 to an Internet server 22.
Another possible embodiment is based on a cable television (C;\J'V) network. A server at the headend of the CKfV
network stores the card description database. image files.
font files, card parameter database, and order program. Each
subscriber unit includes a cable modem or a cable television
converter that allows upstream communications from the
subscriber unit to the headend. The subscriber unit acts as
the card display/order system discussed in the previous
embodiments, and has the same general configuration as
previously discussed. Here again, the memory for the card
display/order system SO does not include a card description
database, display image file, display font file, card parameter
database, or order program. Instead. a communications
program is installed to access the server over the CMV'
network.
The server includes a large capacity memory device 36
that contains all the software necessary to display cards and
accept orders. such as the card description database. display
image file, display font file. card parameter database, order
program, and order information database. These programs
enable the user of the card display/order system to select and
view social expression cards via downstream communications from the server over the CKfV network. Orders are
transmitted upstream from the card display/order system to
the headend server. Order information may be automatically
transferred to a card printing system site or stored by the
server for later retrieval by the card printing system.
The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments
of the present invention. Other arrangements or
embodiments. not precisely set forth, could be practiced
under the teachings of the present invention and as set forth
in the following claims.
We claim:
1. A system for printing social expression cards comprising:
a server having:
(a) means for electronically receiving order information for a selected card; and
(b) data storage means for storing a database describing
each social expression card;
a card printing facility having:
(a) means for electronically retrieving said order information from said server;
(b) a printer; and
(c) processor means for selectively retrieving card
description data for said selected card specified in
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said order information. and printing said database
information for said selected card using said printer;
and
at least one card display/order facility separate and remote
from said card printing facility and said server having:
(a) means for accessing said card description database
at said server;
(b) means for inputting card parameters;
(c) means for retrieving and visually displaying cards
associated with said card parameters from said card
description database at said server;
(d) means for inputting order information; and
(e) means for electronically transmitting said order
information to said server.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said data storage means
of said server further comprises a card parameter database
for prompting a customer to select a series of card parameters for displaying cards associated with said card parameters in said card description database.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said server and said card
display/order facility comprise computers communicating
over a network. and said card description database is
accessed by said card display/order facility over said
network. and said orders are transmitted over said network
from said card display/order facility to said server.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said display means at
said card display/order facility comprise a television set. and
said access means comprise a cable television converter
communicating with said server over a cable television
system.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said order information
comprises the name and address of the intended recipient of
the card.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said order information
comprises a card identifier.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said order information
comprises a card delivery date.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said order information
comprises the name and address of the card purchaser.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said order information
comprises information for personalization of the card, and
wherein said card printing facility further comprises means
to incorporate said personalization information into the card
printed by said printer.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein said personalization
information comprises text
11. The system of claim 9 wherein said personalization
information comprises handwriting.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein said personalization
information comprises images.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein said orders are
transmitted by means of a modem over telephone lines.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein said card description
database comprises text to be printed for each card.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein said card description
database comprises images to be printed for each card.
16. A system for vending and printing social expression
cards comprising:
a database preparation system having:
(a) means for inputting text for each of said cards;
(b) means for creating a high-resolution print font for
each text;
(c) means for creating a lower-resolution display font
for each text; and
(d) means for creating a card description database
defining the layout of each card in terms of its text
and other components and their locations on the
card;
at least one card printing facility having:
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(a) means for electronically receiving orders for a
selected card;
(b) a printer; and
(c) means for retrieving said high-resolution print fonts
for said selected card using said card description
database, and printing said text using said printer;
and
at least one card display/order facility separate and remote
from said card printing facility having:
(a) means for accessing said card description database;
(b) means for inputting card parameters;
(c) means for retrieving and visually displaying said
display fonts for cards associated with said card
parameters;
(d) means for selecting one of said displayed cards;
(e) means for inputting order information; and
(f) means for electronically transmitting an order for a
selected card to said card printing facility.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein said card description
database further comprises information for each card concerning the location, size, font and color of text on the card.
18. The system of claim 16 wherein said card description
database further comprises information on fields that can be
personalized for each card.
19. The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the intended recipient of the card.
20. The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises a card identifier.
21. The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises a card delivery date.
22. The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the card purchaser.
23. The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises information for personalization of the card.
and wherein said card printing facility further comprises
means to incorporate said personalization information into
the card printed by said printer.
24. The system of claim 23 wherein said personalization
information comprises text.
25. The system of claim 23 wherein said personalization
information comprises handwriting.
26. The system of claim 23 wherein said personalization
information comprises images.
27. The system of claim 16 wherein said orders are
transmitted by means of a modem over telephone lines.
28. The system of claim 16 wherein said card printing
facility and said card display/order facility comprise computers communicating over a network, and said card
description database and card parameter database are
accessed by said card display/order facility over said
network. and said orders are transmitted over said network
from said card display/order facility to said card printing
facility.
29. The system of claim 16, wherein said card display/
order facility display means comprise a television set, and
said access means comprise a cable television converter
communicating with said card printing facility over a cable
television system.
30. A system for printing social expression cards comprising:
a server having:
(a) means for electronically receiving order information for a selected card; and
(b) data storage means for storing a database describing
each social expression card;
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a card printing facility having:
(a) means for electronically retrieving said order information from said server;
(b) a printer; and
(c) processor means for selectively retrieving card
description data for said selected card specified by
said order information, and printing said database
information for said selected card using said printer;
and
at least one card display/order facility separate and remote
from said card printing facility and said server having:
(a) means for electronically retrieving and visually
displaying cards described in said card description
database of said server;
(c) means for inputting order information; and
(d) means for electronically transmitting said order
information to said server.
31. The system of claim 30 wherein said data storage
means of said server further comprises a card parameter
database for prompting a customer at said card display/order
facility to input a series of card parameters for displaying
cards associated with said card parameters in said card
description database.
32. The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the intended recipient of the card.
33. The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises a card identifier.
34. The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises a card delivery date.
35. The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the card purchaser.
36. The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises information for personalization of the card,
and wherein said card printing facility further comprises
means to incorporate said personalization information into
the card printed by said printer.
37. The system of claim 36 wherein said personalization
information comprises text.
38. The system of claim 36 wherein said personalization
information comprises handwriting.
39. The system of claim 36 wherein said personalization
information comprises images.
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