PRINTING VIA E-COMMERCE METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20080201236A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PrintingForLess.com Incorporated (PFL Tech, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PrintingForLess.com Incorporated (PFL Tech, Inc.)
• Inventors: Field, Andrew Scott, Badten, Boyd Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A method and system used to obtain and process orders for full color printing. A job configuration and price calculator is supplied to a customer. The calculator calculates automatically a price quote as the customer selects configuration options of a print job. The price quote is then displayed automatically. The customer may select configuration options repeatedly until the job configuration is final. A digital graphic layout or image file is then obtained from the customer. The digital graphic layout or image file is then prepared and a proof thereof is created. When the proof is satisfactory, the print job is printed and delivered to the customer.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A computerized method having a processing computer for processing orders for full color printing, comprising:

receiving from a customer a print order including a plurality of print configuration options, delivery options, and customer contact and billing information;

receiving from the customer a digital file of any file type/format for full color printing according to the print order, wherein the customer'"'"'s digital file can be of any type/format including a standard or non-standard type/format;

processing the digital file by converting the digital file into a press-ready file with a type/format compatible for full color printing; and

creating a proof of the processed digital file to be submitted to the customer for approval.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the proof is created in a format specified by the customer.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising submitting the digital file to a printing service provider for full color printing according to the print order.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the digital file of the standard type/format includes a file generated from a CMYK compatible graphic computer application, and the digital file of the non-standard type/format includes a file generated from an RGB-only compatible graphic computer application.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the customer provides the print order real-time on a Web page associated with the printing service provider via a Web browser.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the print configuration options include print dimension, color, paper and quantity options, and the delivery options include production speed and shipping information.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the Web page includes a pricing engine, the pricing engine automatically calculating a price quote.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising automatically and substantially instantaneously calculating a new price quote each time the customer changes one of the print configuration or delivery options, and displaying the new price quote to the customer before the change is submitted.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing access to the proof over an electronic communication medium.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising obtaining payment from the customer.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising printing the press-ready file and delivering printed material to the customer.