US6446100B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable imaging using an electronic press
Assignee: RR Donnelley and Sons Co
•
Filing: 2000-06-22
•
Granted: 2002-09-03
•
Expires: 2020-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for controlling an electronic press develops first and second sets of template data representing associated first and second template pages, respectively, wherein each set of template data includes master data representing fixed information to be printed and area data representing an area of a page in which variable information is to be printed. A database is developed having a number of entries, each of which represents variable printed information and an electronic press is responsive to the sets of template data and the database to print the first and second template pages with selected variable printed information.
Inventors
- 👤 James L. Warmus
- 👤 Mark G. Drey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:57
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42C; B42C19/00; B41; B41F; B41F17/00; B41F17/02; G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/103; G06F40/114; G06F40/12; G06F40/123; G06F40/166; G06F40/174; G06F40/197; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/18; G06K15/1848; G06K15/1852; G06K15/1856; G06K15/1857; B41P; B41P2217/00; B41P2217/50; B41P2217/51; B65; B65H; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/43; B65H2301/431; B65H2301/4311; B65H2511/00; B65H2511/40; B65H2511/415; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of developing a data file representative of a page from a template file and a database file, wherein the template file includes data representing fixed information to be reproduced on the page and data representing a position for variable information on the page and wherein the database includes data representing variable information to be reproduced at the position on the page, the method comprising the steps of: developing a first data file from the template file, wherein the first data file includes the data representing the fixed information; developing a second data file from the template file, wherein the second data file includes the data representing the position for the variable information on the page; developing a third data file from the second data file and the data in the database; and developing a fourth data file that specifies a manner of combining the first and third data files to produce the data file representative of the page.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of developing a data file representative of a page from a template file and a database file, wherein the template file includes data representing fixed information to be reproduced on the page and data representing a position for variable information on the page and wherein the database includes data representing variable information to be reproduced at the position on the page, the method comprising the steps of: developing a first data file from the template file, wherein the first data file includes the data representing the fixed information; developing a second data file from the template file, wherein the second data file includes the data representing the position for the variable information on the page; developing a third data file from the second data file and the data in the database; and developing a fourth data file that specifies a manner of combining the first and third data files to produce the data file representative of the page.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the developing step is undertaken using a desktop publishing application.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of developing the first data file includes the steps of opening a working copy of the template file and stripping the data representing the position for the variable information therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of stripping includes the steps of comparing the data in the template file with the data in the database and, based on the comparison, removing only the variable information from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of comparing includes the steps of identifying images within the template file, wherein each image has a name, and deleting any image having a name corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of comparing includes the steps of identifying text boxes within the template file, wherein each text box includes a word, and deleting the any text box having a word corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of developing the second data file includes the steps of opening a working copy of the template file and stripping the data representing the fixed information therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of stripping includes the steps of comparing the data in the template file with the data in the database and, based on the comparison, removing only the fixed information from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of comparing includes the steps of identifying images within the template file, wherein each image has a name, and deleting any image having a name that does not correspond to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of comparing includes the steps of identifying text boxes within the template file, wherein each text box includes a word, and deleting any text box that does not have a word corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of developing the second data file includes the step of storing data representing attributes of the variable information in the second data file.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of developing the third data file includes the steps of extracting the data representing variable information from the database, formatting the extracted data using the data representing attributes, and inserting the formatted data into the second data file in place of the data representing the position for variable information.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
233 words
A system that develops a data file representative of a page from a template file and a database file, wherein the template file includes data representing fixed information to be reproduced on the page and data representing a position for variable information on the page and wherein the database includes data representing variable information to be reproduced at the position on the page, the system comprising: a computer readable medium; a first routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by a processor that develops a first data file from the template file, wherein the first data file includes the data representing the fixed information; a second routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor that develops a second data file from the template file, wherein the second data file includes the data representing the position for the variable information on the page; a third routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor that develops a third data file from the second data file and the data in the database; and a fourth routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor that develops a fourth data file that specifies a manner of combining the first and third data files to produce the data file representative of the page.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
233 words
A system that develops a data file representative of a page from a template file and a database file, wherein the template file includes data representing fixed information to be reproduced on the page and data representing a position for variable information on the page and wherein the database includes data representing variable information to be reproduced at the position on the page, the system comprising: a computer readable medium; a first routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by a processor that develops a first data file from the template file, wherein the first data file includes the data representing the fixed information; a second routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor that develops a second data file from the template file, wherein the second data file includes the data representing the position for the variable information on the page; a third routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor that develops a third data file from the second data file and the data in the database; and a fourth routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor that develops a fourth data file that specifies a manner of combining the first and third data files to produce the data file representative of the page.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the first through fourth routines are performed using a desktop publishing application.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the first routine is further adapted to open a working copy of the template file and strip the data representing the position for the variable information therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the first routine is further adapted to compare the data in the template file with the data in the database and, based on the comparison, remove only the variable information from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the first routine is further adapted to identify images within the template file, wherein each image has name, and delete the any image having a name corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the first routine is further adapted to identify text boxes within the template file, wherein each text box has a word, and delete any text box having a word corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the second routine is further adapted to open a working copy of the template file and strip the data representing the fixed information therefrom.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the second routine is further adapted to compare the data in the template file with the data in the database and, based on the comparison, remove only the fixed information from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the second routine is further adapted to identify images within the template file, wherein each image has a name, and delete any image having a name that does not correspond to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the second routine is further adapted to identify text boxes within the template file, wherein each text box includes a word, and delete any text box that does not have a word corresponding to a field of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 13 , second routine is further adapted to store data representing attributes of the variable information in the second data file.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the third routine is further adapted to extract the data representing variable information from the database, format the extracted data using the data representing attributes, and insert the formatted data into the second data file in place of the data representing the position for variable information.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
170 words
A system for developing a data file representative of a page from a template file and a database file, wherein the template file includes data representing fixed information to be reproduced on the page and data representing a position for variable information on the page and wherein the database includes data representing variable information to be reproduced at the position on the page, the system comprising: a control unit having a memory and a processor, wherein the control unit: develops a first data file from the template file wherein the first data file includes the data representing the fixed information; develops a second data file from the template file wherein the second data file includes the data representing the position for the variable information on the page; develops a third data file from the second data file and the data in the database; and develops a fourth data file that specifies a manner of combining the first and third data files to produce the data file representative of the page.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
170 words
A system for developing a data file representative of a page from a template file and a database file, wherein the template file includes data representing fixed information to be reproduced on the page and data representing a position for variable information on the page and wherein the database includes data representing variable information to be reproduced at the position on the page, the system comprising: a control unit having a memory and a processor, wherein the control unit: develops a first data file from the template file wherein the first data file includes the data representing the fixed information; develops a second data file from the template file wherein the second data file includes the data representing the position for the variable information on the page; develops a third data file from the second data file and the data in the database; and develops a fourth data file that specifies a manner of combining the first and third data files to produce the data file representative of the page.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein the control unit develops the first through fourth data files using a desktop publishing application.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein the control unit develops the first data file by opening a working copy of the template file and stripping the data representing the position for the variable information therefrom.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein control unit strips the data representing the position for the variable information by comparing the data in the template file with the data in the database and, based on the comparison, removing only the variable information from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein the control unit compares the data representing the position for the variable information by identifying images within the template file, wherein each image has a name, and deleting any image having a name corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein the control unit compares the data representing the position for the variable information by identifying text boxes within the template file, wherein each text box includes a word, and deleting any text box having a word corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein the control unit develops the second data file by opening a working copy of the template file and stripping the data representing the fixed information therefrom.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 31 , wherein the control unit strips the data representing the fixed information by comparing the data in the template file with the data in the database and, based on the comparison, removing only the fixed information from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 32 , wherein the control unit compares the data in the template file with the data in the database by identifying images within the template file, wherein each image has name, and deleting any image that does not have a name corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the wherein the control unit compares the data in the template file with the data in the database by identifying text boxes within the template file, wherein each text box includes a word, and deleting any text box that does not have a word corresponding to a field name of the database from the working copy of the template file.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein the control unit stores data representing attributes of the variable information in the second data file.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 35 , wherein the control unit develops the third data file by extracting the data representing variable information from the database, formatting the extracted data using the data representing attributes, and inserting the formatted data into the second data file in place of the data representing the position for variable information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-03-04 | 2006-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-02 | 2010-03-04 | 2010-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-02 | 2014-03-04 | 2014-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |