Systems and methods for producing digital content

• US 20020165937A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nitta, Takashi, Ohashi, Hirotaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739

Abstract

The present invention provides a digital content production system which appropriately arranges information in a blank region present in a layout area in an easy-to-read layout without destroying layout consistency. The present invention can include a content delivery terminal that lays out a digital content by selecting the digital contents in a content registration DB based on user information, and by arranging a variety of pieces of information forming the selected digital contents into a predetermined frame in a layout area. When a blank region is present in the layout area after the variety of pieces of information forming the digital contents is arranged in the layout area, one of a first through third information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is searched for and retrieved based on the size of the blank region, and the information is arranged into the blank region by using the retrieved information arrangement process.

Claims

1. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device,

the content production device producing the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

wherein, when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, the content selection device and the content production device arranging a text information storage frame that stores text information into the blank region, selecting a digital content for the blank region in the content storage device in accordance with a predetermined priority order, storing text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region into the text information storage frame if the number of characters of the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region does not exceed the number of characters storable in the text information storage frame, and performing again selection of a digital content for the blank region if the number of characters of the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region exceeds the number of characters storable in the text information storage frame.

16. A digital content production system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user information storage device that stores user information relating to a user,

the content selection device selects the digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device in accordance with the user information in the user information storage device.

17. A digital content production system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user information storage device that stores user information relating to a user,

the content production device determines an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement, selected by the content selection device, in accordance with the user information in the user information storage device.

18. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 1, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, the content selection device and the content production device arrange a text information storage frame for storing text information into the blank region, select a digital content for the blank region in the content storage device in accordance with a predetermined priority order, store text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region into the text information storage frame if a number of characters of the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region does not exceed a number of characters storable in the text information storage frame, and perform again selection of a digital content for the blank region if the number of characters of the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region exceeds the number of characters storable in the text information storage frame.

2. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device, and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device,

the content production device produces the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, the content selection device and the content production device arranging a text information storage frame for storing text information into the blank region, selecting, in the content storage device, a digital content for the blank region containing text information having the number of characters matching the number of characters storable in the text information storage frame, and storing the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region into the text information storage frame.

19. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 2, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, the content selection device and the content production device arrange a text information storage frame for storing text information into the blank region, select, in the content storage device, a digital content for the blank region containing text information having the number of characters matching the number of characters storable in the text information storage frame, and store the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region into the text information storage frame.

3. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device producing the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, the content selection device and the content production device arranging a text information storage frame for storing text information into the blank region, selecting, in the content storage device, a digital content for the blank region containing text information that forms sentences with a minimum number of characters, and storing the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region into the text information storage frame.

20. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 3, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, the content selection device and the content production device arrange a text information storage frame for storing text information into the blank region, select, in the content storage device, a digital content for the blank region containing text information that forms sentences with a minimum number of characters, and store the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region into the text information storage frame.

4. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device produces the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on a size of the blank region, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

12. A digital content production system according to claim 4, the content selection device and the content production device performing one of the plurality of information arrangement processes by arranging a text information storage frame for storing text information into the blank region, by selecting the digital content for the blank region in the content storage device in accordance with a predetermined priority order, by storing the text information into the text information storage frame if the number of characters of the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region does not exceed the number of characters storable in the text information storage frame, and by performing again selection of a digital content for the blank region if a number of characters of the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region exceeds a number of characters storable in the text information storage frame.

13. A digital content production system according to claim 4, the content selection device and the content production device performing one of the plurality of information arrangement processes by arranging a text information storage frame for storing text information into the blank region, by selecting, in the content storage device, a digital content for the blank region containing text information having the number of characters matching a number of characters storable in the text information storage frame, and by storing the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region into the text information storage frame.

14. A digital content production system according to claim 4, the content selection device and the content production device performing one of the plurality of information arrangement processes by arranging a text information storage frame for storing text information into the blank region, by selecting, in the content storage device, a digital content for the blank region containing the text information that forms sentences with a minimum number of characters, and by storing the text information contained in the selected digital content for the blank region into the text information storage frame.

15. A digital content production system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a bonus information device that stores bonus information considered beneficial to a user who is supplied with the digital content for output,

the content selection device and the content production device performing one of the plurality of information arrangement processes by arranging a bonus information storage frame for storing the bonus information into the blank area, by selecting the bonus information in the bonus information storage device, and by storing the selected bonus information into the bonus information storage frame.

21. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 4, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on the size of the blank region, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

5. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device produces the digital content for output, including one or a plurality of layout areas per page-by-page basis, by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on page information relating to the page of the layout area, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

22. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 5, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on page information relating to the page of the layout area, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

6. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device, and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device produces the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on the location of the blank region in the layout area, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

23. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 6, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on the location of the blank region in the layout area, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

7. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device producing the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on the shape of the blank region, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

24. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 7, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on the shape of the blank region, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

8. A digital content production system, comprising;

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device producing the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on a designated upper limit of a number of pages, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information, arrangement process.

25. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 8, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on a designated upper limit of the number of pages, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

9. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device produces the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on a number of digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

26. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 9, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on the number of digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection means, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

10. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device producing the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on a time of delivery or the date and time of delivery for delivering the digital content for output produced by the content production device, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

27. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 10, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on the time of delivery or the date and time of delivery for delivering the digital content for output produced by the content production means, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

11. A digital content production system, comprising:

a content storage device that stores registered digital contents;

a content selection device that selects digital contents for arrangement in the content storage device; and

a content production device that produces the digital content for output by determining an output layout of the digital contents for arrangement selected by the content selection device, the content production device produces the digital content for output by arranging information forming the digital contents for arrangement into a predetermined frame in a layout area, and

when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on a location of a user who is supplied with the digital content for output, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.

28. A digital content production program that enables the digital content production system according to claim 11, including a computer system to perform a process to be achieved by the content selection device and the content production device,

wherein when a blank region containing no information arranged therewithin is present in the layout area after the information forming the digital contents for arrangement is arranged in the layout area, one of a plurality of information arrangement processes for arranging information into the blank region through respective different methods is selected based on the location of a user who is supplied with the digital content for output, and information is arranged into the blank region through the selected information arrangement process.