Method and system for printing individualized calendars

• US 6,269,341 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Day-Timers, Inc. (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Day-Timers, Inc. (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Redcay, James Elias Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani M.
• Application Number:
  US09/108,247
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 705/5, 345/963, 401/07, 401/19
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/10 Text processing natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

A method and system for making an individualized calendar which includes personalized information. The personalized information includes a special event date with its description for an individual for whom the calendar is to be made. The personalized information is received and managed at a central location. The individualized calendar is electronically created by formatting the personalized information along with pre-formatted calendar layouts. The formatted individualized calendar is then printed.

Claims

1. A printing method of making an individualized calendar, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting personalized information for an individual for whom the calendar is to be made, said personalized information including;

(i) a special event date, and

(ii) a description of said special event;

(b) receiving said personalized information at a location remote from where said personalized information is selected;

(c) storing calendar layout information for formatting a print layout of a non-individualized calendar;

(d) simultaneously formatting and translating said personalized information along with said calendar layout information, thereby creating a formatted and translated individualized calendar; and

(e) printing said formatted and translated individualized calendar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said calendar layout file is prepared prior to said step of retrieving by:

(i) writing to said calendar layout file, at least one first format script which references a first command file, said first command file arranged to format said calendar page layout, and

(ii) writing to said calendar layout file, at least one second format script which references locations in which said personalized information is stored.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said calendar layout file is further prepared by:

writing to said calendar layout file, additional first format scripts, said additional first format scripts referencing a plurality of command files, each of said command files arranged to format a distinct calendar page layout.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said first command file is prepared by:

(a) writing to said first command file, at least one date-specific command which formats personalized information referenced by said second format script, and

(b) writing to said first command file, at least one non-date-specific command which formats said calendar page layout, wherein

said date-specific and non-date-specific commands are written in a print description language.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of formatting said personalized information along with said calendar layout file, includes the steps of:

(a) associating said date-specific command with a specific date within said predetermined calendar period; and

(b) formatting said description of said special event into a low level print language directly interpretable by a printer, only if said special event date matches said specific date.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising the additional step of:

writing an additional command for printing a print mark for an assembly line production of said calendar.

7. The method of claim 4, comprising the additional step of:

writing an additional command for drawing graphical objects in terms of a relative positional definition in formatting said calendar page layout.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selecting includes

(a) selecting birthdays and anniversaries of family members, and

(b) selecting a country whose national holidays are to be printed on the individualized calendar.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of viewing at least a portion of said individualized calendar, before it is printed.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said calendar page layout corresponds to a page of a daily planner.

11. A printing system for making an individualized calendar comprising a plurality of dates over a predetermined calendar period, comprising:

(a) a medium for inputting personalized information selected for an individual for whom the calendar is to be made, said personalized information including;

(i) a special event date, and

(ii) a description of said special event;

(b) a data entry processor arranged to receive said personalized information, said data entry processor situated at a location remote from where said personalized information is selected;

(c) a first memory connected to said data entry processor and configured to store said personalized information;

(d) a first processor arranged to receive personalized information from said first memory, and simultaneously format and translate a non-date-specific portion that includes a calendar pattern and a date-specific portion of the individualized calendar that includes at least one calendar date and a description of a special event occurring on that calendar date;

(e) a first printer arranged to print said date-specific portion on a print medium; and

(f) a second printer arranged to print the non-date-specific portion of said individualized calendar on said print medium.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first printer is a digital printer, and said second printer is distinct from said first printer, and spaced apart therefrom.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a camera arranged to detect a print mark on said print medium, said camera being positioned to perform said detection after one of said date-specific portion and said non-date specific portion has been printed on said print medium.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said first and second printers comprise a single digital printer.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising

a supply of said print medium arranged to automatically feed print medium toward said first and second printers; and

an apparatus arranged to assemble a plurality of individualized calendars after said first and second printers have printed said date-specific and non-date specific portions on said print medium.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said apparatus is arranged to cut and fold said print medium, and then package said individualized calendars.

17. A printing method of making at least one individualized calendar, said individualized calendar having a plurality of dates corresponding to a predetermined calendar period, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting personalized information at a first location for an individual for whom the calendar is to be made, said personalized information including;

(i) a special event date, and

(ii) a description of said special event;

(b) receiving said personalized information at a second location remote from said first location where said personalized information is selected;

(c) simultaneously formatting and translating a non-date-specific portion that includes a calendar pattern, and a date-specific portion of the individualized calendar that includes at least one calendar date and a description of a special event occurring on that calendar date;

(e) printing said date-specific portion on a print medium; and

(f) printing the non-date-specific portion of said individualized calendar on said print medium.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising the additional step of detecting a print mark on said print medium, before the step of printing said non-date-specific portion.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising the additional steps of:

continuously feeding print medium prior to printing on said print medium; and

automatically assembling a plurality of individualized calendars after said printing steps, to thereby make a plurality of individualized calendars, each of said plurality of individualized calendars being different from one another.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of automatically assembling, includes the steps of cutting and folding said print medium, and then packaging said plurality of individualized calendars.