Automatic Creation of E-Books

• US 20080243805A1
• Filed: 01/17/2005
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Verhaegh, Wilhelmus Franciscus Johannes, Meuleman, Petrus Gerardus, Gutta, Srinivas
• Application Number:
  US10/586,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243805A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A system searches for segments among multiple publications dealing with a given topic or set of topics, and compiles these segments into a custom-created electronic-book. In a commercial environment, such custom-created e-books are offered for sale to a user or set of users who have expressed interest in the given topic or set of topics. Optionally, the system is aware of the publications that are in a user'"'"'s existing library, and avoids the inclusion of redundant material in the custom-created e-book for that user.

Claims

1. An e-book system comprising:

a searcher that is configured to locate segments of a plurality of publications based on a user profile,

a compiler, operably coupled to the searcher, that is configured to create an e-book from the segments.

2. The e-book system of claim 1, further including:

a manager that is configured to create the user profile, based on interactions with a user.

3. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the system is further configured to notify a user of the e-book that is created by the compiler.

4. The e-book system of claim 3, wherein

the system is further configured to effect a transfer of the e-book to the user.

5. The e-book system of claim 4, wherein

the transfer is effected in exchange for payment by the user.

6. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the system is configured to modify the user profile based on subsequent activities of a user.

7. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the system is further configured to modify the e-book, based on selections by a user.

8. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the searcher is configured to search Internet sites to locate the segments.

9. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the compiler is configured to format the e-book based on preferences of a user.

10. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the user profile corresponds to a profile of a generic user.

11. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the searcher is further configured to locate the segments of publications based on a hierarchy of user profiles.

12. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the user profile includes at least one of:

a topic of interest,

a keyword,

an author, and

a publisher.

13. The e-book system of claim 11, wherein

the user profile further includes at least one of:

a maximum segment length,

a maximum complexity level, and

a maximum text-to-figure ratio.

14. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the user profile includes an identification of segments that are already possessed by a user.

15. The e-book system of claim 1, wherein

the compiler is further configured to filter the segments to provide select segments corresponding to the user profile in the e-book.

16. A method of creating an e-book comprising:

searching among a plurality of publications for segments corresponding to a user profile,

compiling some or all of the segments to create the e-book.

17. The method of claim 16, further including

creating the user profile based on interactions with a user.

18. The method of claim 16, further including

creating the user profile based on determined preferences of a class of users.

19. The method of claim 16, further including

offering the e-book for sale.

20. The method of claim 16, further including

modifying the e-book, based on interactions with a user.

21. The method of claim 16, further including

modifying the user profile, based on activities of one or more users.