Methods and apparatus for fulfilling electronic book orders on demand
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of fulfilling book orders, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving first book order data from a first website server, the first book order data including a first website identifier, a first book identifier, and a first destination address;
retrieving first book content from a first database based on the first book identifier;
printing a first book using the first book content;
packaging the first book in a first mailer instead of a second mailer based on the first website identifier, the first mailer including a first source identifier;
addressing the first mailer using the first destination address;
receiving second book order data from a second website server, the second book order data including a second website identifier, a second book identifier, and a second destination address;
retrieving second book content from a second database based on the second book identifier;
printing a second book using the second book content;
packaging the second book in the second mailer instead of the first mailer based on the second website identifier, the second mailer including a second source identifier, the second source identifier being visibly different than the first source identifier; and
addressing the second mailer using the second destination address.
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Abstract
The methods and apparatus described herein facilitate the production of “built when ordered” and “direct to reader” books via the Internet or some other wide area network. In operation, book publishers supply electronic book content to printing facilities. In turn, the printing facilities receive book orders from order sources such as retail websites and/or retail stores. Once the book order is received, the book(s) are printed, bound, and packaged using material unique to the order source, and shipped directly to the reader who initiated the book order.
27 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of fulfilling book orders, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving first book order data from a first website server, the first book order data including a first website identifier, a first book identifier, and a first destination address;
retrieving first book content from a first database based on the first book identifier;
printing a first book using the first book content;
packaging the first book in a first mailer instead of a second mailer based on the first website identifier, the first mailer including a first source identifier;
addressing the first mailer using the first destination address;
receiving second book order data from a second website server, the second book order data including a second website identifier, a second book identifier, and a second destination address;
retrieving second book content from a second database based on the second book identifier;
printing a second book using the second book content;
packaging the second book in the second mailer instead of the first mailer based on the second website identifier, the second mailer including a second source identifier, the second source identifier being visibly different than the first source identifier; and
addressing the second mailer using the second destination address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of fulfilling book orders, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a book identifier at a book order fulfillment server via a wide area network;
receiving a destination address at the book order fulfillment server via the wide area network;
receiving payment information at the book order fulfillment server via the wide area network;
printing a first book identified by the book identifier at a printing press after the steps of receiving the book identifier, receiving the destination address, and receiving the payment information, the printing press being located at a print facility;
charging a predetermined monetary amount associated with the book identifier to an account identified by the payment information; and
addressing the first book at the print facility for direct shipment from the print facility to the destination address. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A printing facility comprising:
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a network receiver;
a plurality of printers;
a database; and
a book order server operatively coupled to the network receiver, the plurality of printers, and the database, the book order server including a processor and a digital memory operatively coupled to the processor, the digital memory being structured to cause the processor to;
(i) receive and decode book order data via the network receiver, the book order data including a website identifier, a book identifier, and a destination address;
(ii) retrieve book content from the database based on the book identifier;
(iii) print a book using the book content on at least one of the plurality of printers;
(iv) select logo data indicative of a website logo, the logo data being selected based on the website identifier;
(v) print the website logo on at least one of an invoice, a mailing label, and a mailing package; and
(vi) print the destination address on at least one of the invoice, the mailing label, and the mailing package. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A book order server comprising:
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a network receiver;
a message decoder operatively coupled to the receiver, the message decoder being structured to interpret book order data received via the network receiver, the book order data uniquely identifying an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and a destination address;
a database interface module operatively coupled to the message decoder;
a database operatively coupled to the database interface module, the database interface module being structured to retrieve book content from the database based on the International Standard Book Number (ISBN); and
a printer interface module operatively coupled to the database interface module, the printer interface module being structured to transmit the book content to a first digital printing press to print a book, the printer interface module being structured to transmit the destination address to a second printer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification