System and method for self-publication

• US 8,755,058 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2012
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Selfpublish Corporation
• Original Assignee: Selfpublish Corporation
• Inventors: Jackson, Steven Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, DOUGLAS Q
• Application Number:
  US13/366,242
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A system and method for self-publishing includes components reflecting an author'"'"'s intent with respect to other contributors and readers. Embodiments may include an object model which manages permissions to permit contributors to contribute content and services to the book to replace aspects of the traditional publishing process, and to offer new opportunities for republishing a book. A book may be an electronic book comprising context associated with a focus in the book which is reflected in schema underlying the book. Content may be added by contributors, and different versions of the book may be published with the new content. Ratings and other business intelligence may be provided to the original author to aid selection of contributors and content. A resulting book may be published electronically or as a hard copy.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for creating an electronic book, the method comprising:

providing a genre from a plurality of genres on a display device, each genre being associated with at least one template;

providing a template for the genre, the template including an object policy configured to protect portions of the book that are selected by a first user;

providing an intent element which reflects the first user'"'"'s intent with respect to a first portion of the book;

receiving a genre selection, an intent element selection, and the protected portions selection from the first user;

applying a first permission associated with the intent element to a first portion of the book;

binding a first content to the first portion of the book;

causing the book including the genre and the template to be published; and

providing a second content based on contextual data that is specific to a reader.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the book is a set of objects sharing a common predicate from among a plurality of predicates, and is selected based on the common predicate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the common predicate is the intent element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contextual data that is specific to a reader is reader location data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a second permission to a second portion of the book which is not included in the first portion of the book.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing business intelligence including a rating of a second user and sales information for other books in the genre.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of publishing the book includes sending book printing information to a printer to print at least one hard copy of the book.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the intent element includes a request for a bid to add content to the first portion of the book.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first permission is a permission for a second user to contribute content to a portion of the book, the method further including:

applying a second permission to a second portion of the book which is not included in the first portion;

distributing a copy of the book to the second user;

incorporating content created by the second user into the first portion of the book to create a second book; and

publishing the second book.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of publishing the book and publishing the second book include applying a copyright to the book and the second book.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first permission is a permission to add content to the first portion of the book, and the second permission is a restriction that does not permit adding content to the second portion of the book.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer executable program thereon, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:

code for providing a genre from a plurality of genres on a display device, each genre being associated with at least one template;

code for providing a template for the genre, the template including an object policy configured to protect portions of the book that are determined by a first user;

code for providing an intent element which reflects the first user'"'"'s intent with respect to a first portion of the book;

code for applying a first permission associated with the intent element to a first portion of the book;

code for receiving a genre selection, an intent element selection, and the protected portions selection from the first user;

code for binding a content to the first portion of the book; and

code for causing the book including the genre and the template to be published.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method performed by the processor further comprises:

applying a second permission to a second portion of the book which is not included in the first portion of the book.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further includes code for providing business intelligence including a rating of a second user and sales information for other books in the genre.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein publishing the book includes sending book printing information to a printer to print at least one hard copy of the book.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the intent element includes a request for a bid to add content to the first portion of the book.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first permission is a permission for a second user to contribute content to a portion of the book, and wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further includes:

code for applying a second permission to a second portion of the book which is not included in the first portion;

code for distributing a copy of the book to the second user;

code for incorporating content created by the second user into the first portion of the book to create a second book; and

code for causing the second book including the content created by the second user to be published.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the steps of publishing the book and publishing the second book include applying a copyright to the book and the second book.

19. An electronic book system including:

a processor;

a display device; and

a computer readable medium including a computer executable program thereon, the computer readable medium comprising;

code for providing a genre from a plurality of genres on a display device, each genre being associated with at least one template,

code for providing a template for the genre, the template including an object policy configured to protect portions of the book that are determined by a first user,

code for providing an intent element which reflects the first user'"'"'s intent with respect to a first portion of the book,

code for applying a first permission associated with the intent element to a first portion of the book,

code for receiving a genre selection, an intent element selection, and the protected portions selection from the first user,

code for binding a content to the first portion of the book, and

code for causing the book including the genre and the template to be published.

20. The electronic book system of claim 19, wherein the intent element includes a request for a bid to add content to the first portion of the book.

21. The electronic book system of claim 19, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises:

code for providing business intelligence including a rating of a second user and sales information for other books in the genre.

22. The electronic book system of claim 19, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises:

code for providing a second permission associated with a second portion of the book which is separate from the first portion of the book.

23. The electronic book system of claim 22, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises:

code for providing a second book including content which has been added by the a second user based on the first permission.