Vendor Website GUI For Marketing Greeting Cards And Envelopes

• US 20160162966A1
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minted LLC
• Original Assignee: Minted LLC
• Inventors: Naficy, Mariam B., Misvaer, Tonia, McLucas, Sean, Glynn, Nathan, Meade, Erica, Patel, Namrata
• Granted Patent: US 10,007,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A processor-based system stores different card templates in a database. Each card template has a card feature that can have any color from among a first set of colors. The system also stores, in the database, for each stored card templates, a corresponding envelope template. Each envelope template has an envelope feature that can have any color from among a second set of colors. The system receives a user selection of a card template from among the card templates and a user selection of a color to be applied to the card feature. The system displays the card template, with the card feature having the user-selected color. The system also displays the corresponding envelope template that corresponds, in the database, to the selected card template. The envelope feature is displayed with the user-selected color based on the user-selected color having been selected for the card feature.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing envelopes, the method comprising:

storing, in a database, different card templates, wherein each of the card templates has a card feature that can have any color from among a first set of colors;

storing, in the database, for each stored card template, a corresponding envelope template, wherein each stored envelope template has an envelope feature that can have any color from among a second set of colors;

providing, by a hardware server, a graphical user interface (GUI) on a user computing device;

receiving, by the server through the GUI on the user computing device, a user selection of a card template from among the stored card templates;

displaying, by the GUI on the user computing device, a color selector icon for user selection of a color to be applied to the card feature of the selected card template;

receiving, by the server through the GUI on the user computing device, a user selection of a color to be applied to the card feature of the selected card template;

displaying, by the GUI on the user computing device, the user-selected card template;

rendering, by the server through the GUI on the user computing device, the card feature of the displayed card template with the user-selected color;

selecting, by the server, the envelope template that corresponds, in the database, to the user-selected card template;

receiving, by the GUI on the user computing device, a user-provided recipient name and a corresponding user-provided recipient address, wherein the selected envelope template includes non-text ornamentation configured to be visible to a recipient identified by the recipient name;

displaying, by the GUI on the user computing device, the envelope template selected by the server as corresponding, in the database, to the user-selected card template;

rendering, by the server through the GUI on the user computing device, on the displayed envelope template, an address block that includes the user-provided recipient name and the user-provided recipient address, wherein the rendering of the address block includes;

determining a potential overlap between the address block and the non-text ornamentation,

in response to determining the potential overlap, (i) providing a user-notification regarding the overlap, and (ii) avoiding the overlap by reducing a size of the address block on the displayed envelope template by using a smaller font size or a condensed version of the same font size;

rendering, by the server through the GUI on the user computing device, the envelope feature of the displayed envelope template with the color that was user-selected for the card feature; and

receiving, by the server through the GUI on the user computing device, a user selection of a card and an envelope that respectively match the selected card template and the corresponding envelope template;

generating, by the server, print file data, comprising one or more print files, for printing the envelope (i) with the envelope template that corresponds in the database to the user-selected card template and (ii) with the envelope feature having the color that was user-selected for the card feature and (iii) with the address block as displayed through the GUI; and

sending the print file data to a print facility, for the print facility to print the print file data onto paper stock to generate the envelope, by printing (i) the envelope with the envelope template that corresponds to the user-selected card template and (ii) the envelope feature on the envelope with the color that was user-selected for the card and (iii) the address block as displayed through the GUI;

wherein the receiving steps are performed after the storing steps.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the envelope feature is the displayed recipient name.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the recipient address is displayed on the envelope template and included in the print file data for printing on the envelope with a color that is different than the user-selected color applied to the recipient name displayed on the envelope template and to be printed on the envelope.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the card feature is a background color, and wherein the envelope feature is an address preface which is text that prefaces the address block.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the recipient name is displayed and included in the print file data for printing on the envelope with a font style that is different than a font style with which the recipient address is displayed and to be printed on the envelope.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, in both the displayed envelope template and the print file data for printing on the envelope, a calligraphic flourish projects from one letter of the recipient name and extends under another letter of the recipient name.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

printing, by the print facility, on the envelope, both the address block and the non-text ornamentation in one printing step.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the user-provided recipient name includes receiving a longer user-provided recipient name and a shorter user-provided recipient name, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the address block will overlap the non-text ornamentation if printed with the longer user-provided recipient name; and

in response to determining that the address block will overlap the non-text ornamentation if printed with the longer user-provided recipient name, avoiding the overlap by selecting the shorter user-provided recipient name for printing the address block on the envelope.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the database, prior to the user selection of the card template, for each envelope template, a stamp identifier that specifies a postage stamp that corresponds to the respective envelope template; and

affixing, by the print facility, the corresponding postage stamp to the envelope.

18. The method of claim 1,

wherein the displaying of the corresponding envelope template includes rendering the recipient name with a first color;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

receiving a user-selection of a second color to be applied to the recipient name; and

rendering the recipient name, in the displayed corresponding envelope template, with the second color in place of the first color.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the corresponding envelope template includes:

selecting envelope templates, from among the stored envelope templates, based on the recipient name; and

displaying the selected envelope templates along with the displayed corresponding envelope template.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the corresponding envelope template includes:

selecting, by the server, envelope templates, from among the stored envelope templates, based on the recipient address; and

displaying, by the GUI, the selected envelope templates along with the displayed corresponding envelope template.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising, prior to the storing steps:

designing, by a human designer, the user-selected card template;

designing, by the human designer, the user-selected envelope template;

designating, by the human designer, the user-selected envelope template to correspond to the user-selected card template; and

designating, by the human designer of the user-selected envelope template, the specified postage stamp to correspond to the user-selected envelope template.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, in the hardware database, for each of the card templates, two or more corresponding envelope templates, and

storing, in the hardware database, for each stored card template and each stored envelope template, a historical statistical popularity metric regarding how often or how many times the respective template was user-selected by users of the graphical user interface, and

selecting, by the server, for the selected one of the card templates, which of the envelope templates to display based on the historical statistical popularity metrics of the envelope templates that correspond to the selected card template.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the print facility, the print file data from the server;

printing, by the print facility, the print file data onto paper stock to generate the envelope, wherein the printing includes;

printing the envelope with the envelope template that corresponds to the user-selected card template, and

printing the envelope feature on the envelope with the color that was user-selected for the card feature.

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11-15. -15. (canceled)

24. A system for manufacturing envelopes, the system comprising:

a hardware database that stores;

different card templates, wherein each of the card templates has a card feature that can have any color from among a first set of colors, and

for each stored card template, a corresponding envelope template, wherein each stored envelope template has an envelope feature that can have any color from among a second set of colors;

a hardware server that;

provides a graphical user interface, on a user computing device, that is configured to;

receive a user selection of a card template from among the stored card templates;

display a color selector icon for user selection of a color to be applied to the card feature of the selected card template;

display the selected card template;

render the card feature of the displayed card template with the user-selected color;

receive a user-provided recipient name and a corresponding user-provided recipient address, wherein the selected envelope template includes non-text ornamentation configured to be visible to a recipient identified by the recipient name;

display the envelope template that corresponds, in the database, to the selected card template;

render, on the displayed envelope template, an address block that includes the user-provided recipient name and the user-provided recipient address, wherein the rendering of the address block includes;

determining a potential overlap between the address block and the non-text ornamentation,

in response to determining the potential overlap, (i) providing a user-notification regarding the overlap, and (ii) avoiding the overlap by reducing a size of the address block on the displayed envelope template by using a smaller font size or a condensed version of the same font size;

render the envelope feature of the displayed envelope template with the color that was user-selected for the card feature; and

generates print file data, comprising one or more print files, for printing the envelope with the envelope template that corresponds in the database to the user-selected card template and with the envelope feature having the color that was user-selected for the card feature;

for the print file data to be sent to a hardware print facility that will print the print file data onto paper stock to generate the envelope, (i) with the envelope printed with the envelope template that corresponds to the user-selected card and (ii) with the envelope feature printed on the envelope with the color that was user-selected for the card.

25. A method of manufacturing cards and envelopes, the method comprising:

printing, by a print facility, for each customer of multiple customers, (i) a card that was selected by the respective customer and (ii) an envelope that corresponds, in a database, to a card template that was selected by the customer; and

affixing, by the print facility, to the envelope a postage stamp that corresponds, in the database, to the envelope;

wherein the printing includes;

printing, on the respective card, a card feature with a color selected by the respective customer for the card feature, and

printing, on the respective envelope, in a single printing step, (i) an envelope feature with the color selected by the respective customer for the card feature, (ii) an address block that includes a recipient name printed in a first font style and a recipient address printed in a different second font style, (iii) a non-text ornamentation that is configured to be visible to a recipient identified by the recipient name, and (iv) a calligraphic flourish that projects from one letter of the recipient name and extends under another letter of the recipient name; and

wherein the card feature is a background color, and the envelope feature is an address preface which is text that prefaces the address block.