US5748484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for printing social expression cards in response to electronically transmitted orders
Assignee: Onkor Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-02-07
•
Granted: 1998-05-05
•
Expires: 2016-02-07
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G. Cannon
- 👤 Daniel L. DeHart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:49
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/26; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B17/00024; G07B2017/00072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for printing social expression cards comprising: a server having: (a) means for electronically receiving order information for a selected card; and (b) data storage means for storing a database describing each social expression card; a card printing facility having: (a) means for electronically retrieving said order information from said server; (b) a printer; and (c) processor means for selectively retrieving card description data for said selected card specified in said order information, and printing said database information for said selected card using said printer; and at least one card display/order facility separate and remote from said card printing facility and said server having: (a) means for accessing said card description database at said server; (b) means for inputting card parameters; (c) means for retrieving and visually displaying cards associated with said card parameters from said card description database at said server; (d) means for inputting order information; and (e) means for electronically transmitting said order information to said server.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for printing social expression cards comprising: a server having: (a) means for electronically receiving order information for a selected card; and (b) data storage means for storing a database describing each social expression card; a card printing facility having: (a) means for electronically retrieving said order information from said server; (b) a printer; and (c) processor means for selectively retrieving card description data for said selected card specified in said order information, and printing said database information for said selected card using said printer; and at least one card display/order facility separate and remote from said card printing facility and said server having: (a) means for accessing said card description database at said server; (b) means for inputting card parameters; (c) means for retrieving and visually displaying cards associated with said card parameters from said card description database at said server; (d) means for inputting order information; and (e) means for electronically transmitting said order information to said server.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said data storage means of said server further comprises a card parameter database for prompting a customer to select a series of card parameters for displaying cards associated with said card parameters in said card description database.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said server and said card display/order facility comprise computers communicating over a network, and said card description database is accessed by said card display/order facility over said network, and said orders are transmitted over said network from said card display/order facility to said server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said display means at said card display/order facility comprise a television set, and said access means comprise a cable television converter communicating with said server over a cable television system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the intended recipient of the card.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said order information comprises a card identifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said order information comprises a card delivery date.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the card purchaser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said order information comprises information for personalization of the card, and wherein said card printing facility further comprises means to incorporate said personalization information into the card printed by said printer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said personalization information comprises text.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said personalization information comprises handwriting.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said personalization information comprises images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said orders are transmitted by means of a modem over telephone lines.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said card description database comprises text to be printed for each card.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said card description database comprises images to be printed for each card.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
200 words
A system for vending and printing social expression cards comprising: a database preparation system having: (a) means for inputting text for each of said cards; (b) means for creating a high-resolution print font for each text; (c) means for creating a lower-resolution display font for each text; and (d) means for creating a card description database defining the layout of each card in terms of its text and other components and their locations on the card; 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 fonts for said selected card using said card description database, and printing said text using 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; (b) means for inputting card parameters; (c) means for retrieving and visually displaying said display fonts 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.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
200 words
A system for vending and printing social expression cards comprising: a database preparation system having: (a) means for inputting text for each of said cards; (b) means for creating a high-resolution print font for each text; (c) means for creating a lower-resolution display font for each text; and (d) means for creating a card description database defining the layout of each card in terms of its text and other components and their locations on the card; 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 fonts for said selected card using said card description database, and printing said text using 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; (b) means for inputting card parameters; (c) means for retrieving and visually displaying said display fonts 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.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said card description database further comprises information for each card concerning the location, size, font and color of text on the card.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said card description database further comprises information on fields that can be personalized for each card.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the intended recipient of the card.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises a card identifier.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises a card delivery date.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the card purchaser.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said order information comprises information for personalization of the card, and wherein said card printing facility further comprises means to incorporate said personalization information into the card printed by said printer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said personalization information comprises text.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said personalization information comprises handwriting.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said personalization information comprises images.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said orders are transmitted by means of a modem over telephone lines.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said card printing facility and said card display/order facility comprise computers communicating over a network, and said card description database and card parameter database are accessed by said card display/order facility over said network, and said orders are transmitted over said network from said card display/order facility to said card printing facility.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said card display/order facility display means comprise a television set, and said access means comprise a cable television converter communicating with said card printing facility over a cable television system.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for printing social expression cards comprising: a server having: (a) means for electronically receiving order information for a selected card; and (b) data storage means for storing a database describing each social expression card; a card printing facility having: (a) means for electronically retrieving said order information from said server; (b) a printer; and (c) processor means for selectively retrieving card description data for said selected card specified by said order information, and printing said database information for said selected card using said printer; and at least one card display/order facility separate and remote from said card printing facility and said server having: (a) means for electronically retrieving and visually displaying cards described in said card description database of said server; (c) means for inputting order information; and (d) means for electronically transmitting said order information to said server.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for printing social expression cards comprising: a server having: (a) means for electronically receiving order information for a selected card; and (b) data storage means for storing a database describing each social expression card; a card printing facility having: (a) means for electronically retrieving said order information from said server; (b) a printer; and (c) processor means for selectively retrieving card description data for said selected card specified by said order information, and printing said database information for said selected card using said printer; and at least one card display/order facility separate and remote from said card printing facility and said server having: (a) means for electronically retrieving and visually displaying cards described in said card description database of said server; (c) means for inputting order information; and (d) means for electronically transmitting said order information to said server.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said data storage means of said server further comprises a card parameter database for prompting a customer at said card display/order facility to input a series of card parameters for displaying cards associated with said card parameters in said card description database.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the intended recipient of the card.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises a card identifier.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises a card delivery date.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises the name and address of the card purchaser.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said order information comprises information for personalization of the card, and wherein said card printing facility further comprises means to incorporate said personalization information into the card printed by said printer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 36 wherein said personalization information comprises text.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 36 wherein said personalization information comprises handwriting.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 36 wherein said personalization information comprises images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4876592A
Cited
US4750036A
Cited
US4839829A
Cited
US4947028B1
Cited
US4947028A
Cited
US5027400A
Cited
US5561604A
Cited
US5513116A
Cited
US5077607A
Cited
US5124980A
Cited
US5036427A
Cited
US5056029A
Cited
US5093718A
Cited
US5546316A
Cited
US5559714A
Cited
US5172413A
Cited
US5243174A
Cited
US5615123A
Cited
US5327265A
Cited
US5552994A
Cited
US5600563A
Cited
US5513117A
Cited
US5555496A
Cited
US5687087A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-04 | 2001-11-03 | 2002-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-04 | 2005-11-03 | 2006-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-04 | 2009-11-03 | 2010-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |