Variable data business system and method therefor
First Claim
1. A method of using different and variable business data for various and separate business uses comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one collection of business data for one business use of the various and separate business uses;
selecting at least one business item from said at least one collection of business data for the one business use; and
printing with a variable data digital press a plurality of documents wherein each of said documents includes information corresponding to said at least one business item selected for the one business use.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A variable data business system and method provide improved production of documents in support of business operations. The system includes a server that stores business data and provides a network interface for access via a client browser. The system provides for entry, maintenance, and reporting functions of business data such mailing recipients, customer information, and business inventory. Interfaces are provided to access business data for the efficient design and production of personalized variable data documents. Themed promotional Internet websites are generated to complement themed promotional variable data document mailers. Automated electronic data gathering from third-party Internet information providers enhances the efficiency of business data collection and supports business transactions.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of using different and variable business data for various and separate business uses comprising the steps of:
-
providing at least one collection of business data for one business use of the various and separate business uses;
selecting at least one business item from said at least one collection of business data for the one business use; and
printing with a variable data digital press a plurality of documents wherein each of said documents includes information corresponding to said at least one business item selected for the one business use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer network system for supporting various business operations, said computer network system comprising:
-
a variable data digital press system comprising a variable data digital press for generating variable data documents; and
at least one server coupled via said network system to said variable data digital press system, said at least one server comprising a server memory for storing both server program instructions and data and a server processor coupled to said server memory for executing said server program instructions, said server program instructions comprise;
program instructions for receiving information for generating variable data documents;
program instructions for locating data in said server memory in conformity with said information that is received;
program instructions for transforming said information that is received and said data that is located for use by said variable data digital press system; and
program instructions for transmitting said information that is transformed to said variable data digital press system for generation of said variable data documents. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A computer network system for supporting various business operations, said computer network system comprising:
-
a variable data digital press for generating variable data documents;
a print server coupled via said network system to said variable data digital press for controlling an operation of said variable data digital press;
a client computer system comprising;
a client computer memory for storing both data and client computer program instructions;
a client computer processor coupled to said client computer memory for executing said client program instructions;
a graphical display device coupled to said client computer processor for displaying a graphical user interface; and
an input device coupled to said client computer processor for providing user input, said client computer program instructions comprise program instructions for a browser program executing within said client computer system; and
a server coupled via said network system to said print server and further coupled via said network system to said client computer system, said server comprising a server memory for storing both server program instructions and data and a server processor coupled to said server memory for executing said server program instructions, wherein said server memory comprises inventory data, document layout data, and at least one database of mailing recipients, said server program instructions comprise;
program instructions for a web server program executing within said server for transmitting and receiving data from said client browser program;
program instructions for transmitting information to said client browser program corresponding to said document layout data;
program instructions for receiving information corresponding to a selection of at least one document layout;
program instructions for transmitting information to said client browser program corresponding to said mailing recipient databases in conformity with said at least one document layout that is selected;
program instructions for receiving information corresponding to a selection of at least one said database of mailing recipients;
program instructions for receiving information corresponding to a number of variable data documents to be generated;
program instructions for receiving information corresponding to a target mailing destination;
program instructions for transmitting information to said client browser program for graphically depicting said at least one document layout that is selected, said at least one document layout that is selected having at least one variable data region;
program instructions for transmitting information to said client browser program for populating said at least one variable data region, said information comprising at least one of mailing recipient data fields, inventory description data, and inventory images;
program instructions for receiving information corresponding to a selection of information for populating said variable data regions;
program instructions for generating at least one data file, said at least one data file comprising data corresponding to said at least one document layout that is selected and data corresponding to said selection of information for populating said variable data regions, wherein mailing recipients are selected from said selection of at least one mailing recipient database in conformity with a proximity to said target mailing destination and said number of variable data documents to be generated, said at least one data file further comprising data corresponding to said mailing recipients that are selected, said at least one data file having a format readable by said print server; and
program instructions for transmitting to said print server said at least one data file that is generated, for production of variable data documents by said variable data digital press.
-
Specification