System for printing social expression cards in response to electronically transmitted orders
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for printing social expression cards comprising:
- a card printing facility having;
(a) means for electronically receiving order data for a selected card;
(b) data storage means for storing said order data and a database describing each card, including images and text for each card;
(c) a printer; and
(d) processor means for selectively retrieving order data and card description data for said selected card from said database stored in said data storage means, and printing said images and text for said selected card on said printer; and
at least one card display/order facility separate and remote from said card printing facility having;
(a) means for accessing said card description database at said card printing facility;
(b) means for inputting card parameters;
(c) means for retrieving and visually displaying cards associated with said card parameters from said card description database;
(d) means for selecting one of said displayed cards;
(e) means for inputting order information; and
(f) means for electronically transmitting an order for said selected card and said order information to said card printing facility.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for viewing, ordering, and printing social expression cards includes a database preparation system, a number of card display/order systems, and a number of card printing systems. The database preparation system uses a scanner to input images from a plurality of cards, or a computer software program to create images for use in card designs. A card description database defines the layout of each card in terms of its component images and text, and their locations on the card. The database preparation system can also build a card parameter database to enable a user to select a desired category of cards. Each card display/order system accesses these databases and image files by computer network, modem, cable television, or by transfer of removable data storage media. The card display/order system allows the user to input parameters to pick the category of cards to be displayed. The user can order a selected card to be printed and input information to personalize the card. The order is electronically transmitted to a card printing- system which retrieves the data for the selected card and prints the card by means of a color printer.
170 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for printing social expression cards comprising:
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a card printing facility having; (a) means for electronically receiving order data for a selected card; (b) data storage means for storing said order data and a database describing each card, including images and text for each card; (c) a printer; and (d) processor means for selectively retrieving order data and card description data for said selected card from said database stored in said data storage means, and printing said images and text for said selected card on said printer; and at least one card display/order facility separate and remote from said card printing facility having; (a) means for accessing said card description database at said card printing facility; (b) means for inputting card parameters; (c) means for retrieving and visually displaying cards associated with said card parameters from said card description database; (d) means for selecting one of said displayed cards; (e) means for inputting order information; and (f) means for electronically transmitting an order for said selected card and said order information to said card printing facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for vending and printing social expression cards comprising:
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a database preparation system having; (a) means for inputting images and text for each of said cards; (b) means for creating a high-resolution print image for each of said images; (c) means for creating a lower-resolution display image for each of said images; (d) means for creating a card description database defining the layout of each card in terms of its images, text, and other components and their locations on the card; and (e) means for creating a card parameter database for enabling input of a series of card parameters associated with certain of said cards in said card description database; at least one card printing facility having; (a) means for electronically receiving orders for a selected card; (b) a printer; and (c) means for retrieving said high-resolution print images for said selected card using said card description database, and printing said print images and text on said printer; and at least one card display/order facility separate and remote from said card printing facility having; (a) means for accessing said card description database and card parameter database; (b) means for enabling input of card parameters prompted by said card parameter database; (c) means for retrieving and visually displaying said display images and text for cards associated with said card parameters; (d) means for selecting one of said displayed cards; (e) means for inputting order information; and (f) means for electronically transmitting an order for a selected card to said card printing facility. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification