Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Detail of image placement or content
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-20
2001-12-11
Coles, Edward (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Detail of image placement or content
C358S001160, C358S001170, C382S137000, C382S138000, C382S139000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330073
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a system and method for creating customized documents by merging documents created by disparate or otherwise incompatible computing platforms.
BACKGROUND ART
A wide variety of special-purpose and general-purpose computing platforms, including hardware and software, has been developed to address a myriad of diverse applications. Unfortunately, more often than not, a particular platform is incompatible with all other platforms. Considerable time and effort is required to automatically translate or convert data and applications from one platform to another to provide interoperability, which is typically marginal at best. Even after most automatic conversions, manual manipulation is invariably required to produce a similar or identical result. As such, the benefits of using a particular hardware or software platform or application are often lost when the application or data are converted to another platform or format. Thus, it is desirable to utilize a single platform when possible, or to provide a method of converting data which preserves its native properties and does not require significant manual manipulation.
Applications historically plagued by incompatibilities between operating platforms include, among others, direct mail marketing and/or focused or targeted advertising. Microcomputers in combination with high-speed printing machines can be used to generate customized documents which include variable data based on the recipient, or any of a number of other criteria. Typically, an advertising, marketing, or graphic design agency creates a letter, brochure, catalog, or other literature which is merged with an appropriate database to generate the customized documents. However, the computing platform used to generate the graphic or letter is often incompatible with the computing platform used for the variable information. This requires conversion between platforms resulting in significant manual manipulation and an additional approval cycle which adds cost and delays delivery of the final product. For example, a form document may be generated using a Macintosh computer which is preferred for its graphic design capabilities and associated application software while the variable data is collected using a mainframe computer and placed in a standard data interchange file. The preferred mail merging software runs only on a PC which requires conversion of the Macintosh graphic design document for merging with the variable data contained in the data interchange file. Once converted, the graphic design must be manually manipulated through a trial and error process. Typefaces, font sizes, graphic placement, etc. must be iteratively adjusted to recreate a similar looking document which must then be approved by the customer since there are almost always some differences from the originally designed document.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for merging documents created on different computing platforms while reducing or eliminating manual manipulation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for mail merging variable data generated using a first computer operating system with form data generated using a second computer operating system.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for merging a document created on a first computing platform with data generated on a second computing platform without converting the document to the second computing platform.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for generating customized documents based on multi-platform data which improves fidelity of the customized documents relative to the original form.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects and features of the present invention a method for generating a plurality of customized documents having at least one portion of common information and at least one portion of variable information is provided. The method is particularly useful where the common information is generated using a first computing platform and the variable information is generated using a second computing platform. In one embodiment, the method includes generating and storing data representing an electronic image of the common information and generating a mail merge file using the second computing platform to position variables representing the variable information within a page. The method also includes electronically combining the image of the common information with the mail merge file generated using the second computing platform by overlaying the common information and variable information based on position of the variables within the page for each of the plurality of customized documents, and finally printing each of the customized documents.
The present invention also provides a system for creating customized documents. The system includes a first computer having associated hardware and software defining a first computing platform. The first computer executes stored program instructions to create a first document containing at least one space for receiving variable information. The first document is preferably represented by data in a standard format and includes at least one space for receiving variable information. The system also includes a computer readable storage medium in communication with the first computer, the computer readable storage medium receiving and storing the data representing the first document in a standard image format. A second computer having associated hardware and software defines a second computing platform incompatible with the first computing platform. The second computer executes stored program instructions to create a second document including at least one variable positioned relative to the first document to coincide with the at least one space. The second document has an associated data file which includes data corresponding to each variable. The second computer creates a plurality of electronic documents each having the corresponding data substituted for the at least one variable. A printer in communication with the first and second computers and the computer readable storage medium combines each of the plurality of electronic documents with the standard image format data to merge and print the customized documents.
The present invention provides a number of advantages. More accurate reproduction of a document supplied by a customer reduces turn-around time and costs associated with manually manipulating or recreating a document in the same platform used to insert the variable data.
The above advantages and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4649513 (1987-03-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5917965 (1999-06-01), Cahill et al.
patent: 6014629 (2000-01-01), DeBruin-Ashton
Brooks & Kushman PC
Coles Edward
Lamb Twyler
NW Coughlin
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