Interactive print job display system and method

• US 6,529,214 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cerinet USA Inc. (Fred DuFresne)
• Original Assignee: Checkerboard Ltd.
• Inventors: Chase, Micah, Markey, Brian D., Mason, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/311,918
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 345/334, 345/335, 345/744, 345/733, 345/765, 345/700, 700/233, 707/506, 707/517, 707/542, 707/505, 358/1.1, 358/1.15, 358/1.18
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An interactive image display system for displaying a printed article as it will appear when printed. It includes a user interface component, to accept information from a user for producing the printed article, and to provide a graphic image representing the printed article for display to the user; a graphic layout component, to process the information and produce a graphic description file, which is usable for a batch printing process; and an image producing component, to process the graphic description file and produce the graphic image. The user interface component maintains the information from the user, allowing the user to modify a part of the information in order to view changes in the displayed printed article. This maintained information is also used for producing and displaying a different printed article, and also for ultimately preparing and running the print job for the user. The graphic layout component processes both the images for display to the user and the graphic description file for the print job, thereby guaranteeing that the user views exactly what the printed item will look like. A background image resembling the material to be printed on provides a complete picture. The present invention is well suited for use at an interactive web site allowing users to access it over the Internet, and design and order printed materials such as business cards, wedding invitations, and bar mitzvah invitations.

Claims

1. An interactive image display system for displaying a printed article as it will appear when printed, comprising:

a user interface component, to accept information from a user for producing said printed article, and to display a graphic image representing said printed article to said user;

a graphic layout component, to process said information and to produce a graphic description file based on said information, said graphic description file being the only file needed for a batch printing process for printing said printed article; and

an image producing component, to process said graphic description file and produce said graphic image based on said graphic description file, said graphic image for display to said user by said user interface component.

2. The interactive image display system of claim 1, wherein said user interface component maintains said information from said user, allowing said user to modify a part of said information in order to view changes in said displayed printed article.

3. The interactive image display system of claim 2, wherein said user interface component maintains said information from said user, allowing said graphic layout component to produce a graphic description file, and said image producing component to produce a graphic image for a different printed article.

4. The interactive image display system of claim 3 wherein said information maintained by said user interface component is used for preparing a print job for said user.

5. The interactive image display system of claim 1 wherein said graphic image is displayed with a background image representing an article to be printed on.

6. The interactive image display system of claim 5 wherein said background image is an image of paper stock to be printed on.

7. The interactive image display system of claim 5 wherein said background image is sized to be a same size as said graphic image.

8. The interactive image display system of claim 1, the user can modify font sizes by specifying a percentage increase or decrease.

9. The interactive image display system of claim 1 wherein said graphic description file is a Postscript file.

10. The interactive image display system of claim 1 wherein said information from said user includes an indication of a predefined template, said predefined template including layout information for a printed article;

and

said graphic layout component, uses said predefined template to produce said graphic description file.

11. The interactive image display system of claim 10 wherein said predefined template includes at least one area for printing.

12. The interactive image display system of claim 1 wherein said interactive image display system provides graphic images representing a plurality of related printed articles from said information from said user.

13. The interactive image display system of claim 1 wherein said user interface component interacts with said user over the Internet.

14. On a computer system, a method of displaying a printed article as it will appear when printed, comprising:

obtaining text information to be printed on said printed article;

selecting a predefined template, said predefined template including at least one area for printing;

producing a graphic description file based on said text information and predefined template, said graphic description file to be used in a printing process to produce said printed article, wherein only said graphic description file needed in said printing process;

processing said graphic description file into a graphic image for display on a display device, said processing including providing a background image for said graphic image, wherein said background image representing an article to be printed on.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said provided background image is an image of paper stock to be printed on.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of providing a background image for said graphic image, includes providing said background image which is a same size as said graphic image for display.

17. The method of claim 14 further including the steps of:

upon receiving an indication that said printed article is to be printed, storing said text information and an indication of said selected predefined template along with an order indication number; and

upon receiving an indication that said printed article is ready to be printed, producing a graphic description file based on said text information and predefined template, said graphic description file to be used for said printing process.

18. An interactive image display system for displaying a printed article as it will appear when printed, comprising:

means for interacting with a user for obtaining and modifying information for producing said printed article;

processing means for processing said information and producing a graphic description file based on said information, said graphic description file being the only file needed for printing said printed article;

display means for reading said graphic description file and displaying an image corresponding to said graphic description file of said printed article to said user for viewing; and

storage means for storing said graphic description file for printing said printed article.

19. The interactive image display system of claim 18 wherein said printed article includes a plurality of related printed articles, said plurality of related printed articles each using at least a part of said information from said user.

20. The interactive image display system of claim 18 wherein said means for interacting with a user includes an interactive web site remotely accessible users.