Method of accelerating delivery of magazines to a new subscriber

• US 6,711,549 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synapse Group, Inc. (IAC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Synapse Group, Inc. (IAC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Loeb, Michael, Larsen, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): TARAE, CATHERINE MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/528,643
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A system and method have been developed to accelerate the delivery of the first issue(s) of a publication as required to fill a new subscription order. The system and method collect the information on a new subscription order and based on the date when an order is received, determine the availability at the printing houses of a current issue of the magazine subscribed to and instructs the printing house with an available current issue to accelerate the delivery of the current issue to the subscriber. The system and method further tracks the delivery of issues in response to a new subscription order to ensure that delivery of currently available issues is continued until the new subscription enters the regular fulfillment schedule. This ensures early and continuous delivery to fulfill the new subscription order. The system and method can also track the number of issues delivered under the accelerated delivery system and adjust the number of issues to be delivered for the full term of the subscription order.

Claims

1. A method operable on a computer of accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

receiving from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

selecting a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicating electronically to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

determining whether a fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber; and

effectuating delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said subsequent issue delivery is made from the printing house until the fulfillment center has completed said processing.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed the processing of said data.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

reconciling printing house delivery information with the fulfillment center.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the delivery information is revenue data.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the delivery information is circulation data.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

reconciling printing house delivery information with a third party.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the third party is an circulation auditing organization.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the delivery information is circulation data.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing house is selected based on publication information and subscriber geographic location.

11. A method operable on a computer of accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

receiving from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

selecting a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicating electronically to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

determining whether a fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

comparing a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date for the determining of whether the fulfillment center has completed processing of said data;

effectuating delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data; and

reconciling printing house information.

12. A system for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

means for receiving from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

means for selecting a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

means for communicating to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

means for communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

means for determining whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber; and

means for effectuating delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said subsequent issue delivery is made from the printing house until the fulfillment center has completed said processing.

14. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for comparing a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed the processing of said data.

15. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for reconciling printing house delivery information with the fulfillment center.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the delivery information is revenue data.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the delivery information is circulation data.

18. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for reconciling printing house delivery information with a third party.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the third party is an circulation auditing organization.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the delivery information is circulation data.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the printing house is selected based on publication information and subscriber geographic location.

22. A system of accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

means for receiving from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

means for selecting a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

means for communicating to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

means for communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

means for determining whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription;

means for comparing a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date for the determining of whether the fulfillment center has completed processing of said data;

means for effectuating delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data; and

means for reconciling printing house information.

23. A system for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

at least one storage device for storing subscriber and magazine data; and

a central processing unit configured to receive from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication, select a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicate to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber, communicate the subscription information to a fulfillment center, determine whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription, and effectuate delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said subsequent issue delivery is made from the printing house until the fulfillment center has completed said processing.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to compare a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed the processing of said data.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to reconcile printing house delivery information with the fulfillment center.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the delivery information is revenue data.

28. The system according to claim 26, wherein the delivery information is circulation data.

29. The system according to claim 23, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to reconcile printing house delivery information with a third party.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the third party is an circulation auditing organization.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the delivery information is circulation data.

32. A system of accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

a database storing magazine data, subscription data, fulfillment center data and printing house data; and

a central processing unit configured to receive from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication, select a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicate to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber, communicate the subscription information to a fulfillment center, determine whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription, compare a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date for the determining of whether the fulfillment center has completed processing of said data, effectuate delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data, and reconcile printing house information.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the printing house is selected based on publication information and subscriber geographic location.

34. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

code to receive from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

code to select a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

code to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber; and

code to effectuate delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data.

35. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

code to receive from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

code to select a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

code to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to compare a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date for the determining of whether the fulfillment center has completed processing of said data;

code to effectuate delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data; and

code to reconcile printing house information.

36. A computer readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

code to receive from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

code to select a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

code to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber; and

code to effectuate delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data.

37. A computer readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

code to receive from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

code to select a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

code to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to compare a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date for the determining of whether the fulfillment center has completed processing of said data;

code to effectuate delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data; and

code to reconcile printing house information.

38. A programmed computer for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

a memory for having at least one region for storing computer executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in memory, wherein the program code includes;

code to receive from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

code to select a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

code to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber; and

code to effectuate delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data.

39. A programmed computer for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

a memory for having at least one region for storing computer executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in memory, wherein the program code includes;

code to receive from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

code to select a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to communicate the subscription information to a fulfillment center;

code to determine whether the fulfillment center has completed processing data to deliver at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

code to compare a subsequent issue delivery date with a scheduled fulfillment center delivery date for the determining of whether the fulfillment center has completed processing of said data;

code to effectuate delivery of said at least one subsequent issue of the new subscription from the printing house to the subscriber when the fulfillment center has not completed processing said data; and

code to reconcile printing house information.

40. A method operable on a computer for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

receiving from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

selecting a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicating electronically to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment center for fulfillment of the remaining issues of the subscription;

effectuating delivery of one or more subsequent issues from the printing house to the subscriber until the fulfillment center is prepared to fulfill the subscription; and

effectuating delivery of the remaining issues of the subscription from the fulfillment house.

41. A system for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

a processor;

an input device connected to the processor;

an output device connected to the processor; and

a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions for operating the processor to perform the steps of

receiving on the input device subscription information for a new subscription by a subscriber to a publication;

selecting a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicating electronically on the output device to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment center for fulfillment of the remaining issues of the subscription;

communicating to the printing house information effectuating delivery of one or more subsequent issues from the printing house to the subscriber until the fulfillment center is prepared to fulfill the subscription; and

communicating to the fulfillment center information effectuating delivery of the remaining issues of the subscription from the fulfillment house.

42. A system for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:

means for receiving from a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a publication;

means for selecting a printing house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

means for communicating electronically to the printing house the subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;

means for communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment center for fulfillment of the remaining issues of the subscription; and

means for effectuating delivery of one or more subsequent issues from the printing house to the subscriber until the fulfillment center is prepared to fulfill the subscription; and

means for effectuating delivery of the remaining issues of the subscription from the fulfillment house.