System and method for computer-created advertisements

• US 7,707,081 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eComSystems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: eComSystems Incorporated
• Inventors: Gould, Jon K., Evans, James M., Evans, Jon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US11/779,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20070266326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/27, 705/14.49, 705/14.72, 705/14.73, 715/747, 715/854, 283/56, 707/1, 707/9, 707/10, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/200, 725/32, 725/34
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The invention relates to a computerized method for a user to create an advertisement by displaying a plurality of advertising formats for selection by a user; displaying a template corresponding to a selected advertising format; displaying a plurality of product references for selection by the user; displaying on the template a selected product reference to create a proposed advertisement; and creating a preview of the proposed advertisement, all of which may be implemented using the Internet. The invention further relates to a computerized system for creating an advertisement that comprises a template database for storing advertising formats; a product database for storing product references; and a computer to access the databases. Preferably, the user has a network interface such as Internet access that permits access via a remote location, software to permit a user to specify specifications such as quantity, printing information, ship date, paper type, pricing information, and payment information, and may be configured to receive images and text for new products.

Claims

1. A computerized system for creating an advertisement, comprising:

a template database storing a plurality of advertising formats;

a product database storing a plurality of product references;

a processor coupled to the template database and the product database, the processor further adapted to;

obtain a selection of at least one advertising format from the template database;

obtain a selection of at least one product reference from the product database; and

control the placement of the at least one selected product reference on the at least one selected template to create the advertisement.

2. The computerized system of claim 1, further comprising an Internet interface, and a printer to print the advertisement, said printer being connected to the system via the Internet interface.

3. The computerized system of claim 1, further comprising a display device, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

display on the display device a menu of a plurality of product categories for selection; and

display on the display device a plurality of product references for at least one of the plurality of product categories.

4. The computerized system of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver for receiving a preview of the advertisement;

a transmitter for transmitting an approval for the preview, electronic files of the advertisement, specifications, and an authorization to transfer or display the advertisement.

5. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to create:

a specifications input interface, said specifications including at least one of a quantity, printing information, a ship date, shipping destinations, delivery instructions, a paper type, pricing information, and a payment method.

6. The computerized system of claim 1, further comprising a display device, wherein the the processor is further adapted to:

display on the display device a menu of a plurality of advertising formats, said menu permitting a selection from the group consisting of a circular, a newspaper advertisement, a hard-copy banner, an electronic banner, a flyer, signage, direct-mail advertisements, electronic-mail advertisements, a store newsletter and combinations thereof.

7. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein the template comprises:

at least one advertisement area whereupon a product reference may be placed;

said at least one advertisement area also being capable of displaying pricing information for at least one product reference.

8. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein the product reference comprises at least one of an image of a product for sale and text.

9. A computerized system for creating an advertisement, comprising:

a template database storing a plurality of advertising formats;

a product database storing a plurality of product references;

a processor coupled to the template database and the product database;

a product input device coupled to the processor, the processor further adapted to;

obtain a selection of at least one template from the template database;

obtain a selection of at least one product reference from the product database; and

control the placement of the at least one selected product reference on the at least one selected template to create the advertisement.

10. The computerized system of claim 9, wherein the product input device comprises:

an input for receiving digital data from an image capture device, wherein the image capture device generates an image of a new product;

an input receiving textual information about the new product; and

a data marker linking the digital data and the image.

11. The computerized system of claim 9, wherein the image capture device is selected from the group consisting of a digital camera and a scanner.

12. The computerized system of claim 9 wherein the processor is further adapted to edit a product reference.

13. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to edit graphics and text associated with a product reference.

14. A computerized system for creating an advertisement, comprising:

a template database storing a plurality of advertising formats;

a product database storing a plurality of product references;

a processor coupled to the template database and the product database, the processor further adapted to;

obtain a selection of at least one template from the template database, each of said at least one templates having at least one advertisement area;

obtain a selection of at least one product reference from the product database; and

control the placement of the at least one selected product reference onto an advertisement area of the at least one selected template to create the advertisement, wherein said processor automatically formats the at least one selected product reference to fit within physical dimensions of the at least one advertisement area.

15. A computerized system for creating an advertisement, comprising:

a template database storing a plurality of advertising formats;

a product database storing a plurality of product references;

a processor coupled to the template database and the product database, the processor further adapted to;

obtain a selection of at least one template from the template database, each of said at least one templates having a plurality of advertisement areas; and

obtain a selection of a plurality of product references from the product database;

a design interface coupled to the processor that permits a user to specify at least one rule of priority for laying out the plurality of product references onto the plurality of advertisement areas; and

an advertisement generator that generates the advertisement wherein the plurality of product references has been laid out on the plurality of advertisement areas, all in accordance with the at least one rule of priority.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a network interface selected from the group consisting of an Internet connection, a broad-band based connection, a modem connection, connection through storage media, and combinations thereof.