Patent Application
20050160362
The invention generally relates to digital printing and related methods.
In a variable data print (VDP) campaign, hardcopy, e.g., an advertising brochure, is produced that includes variable data. Variable data enhances the hardcopy by personalizing the content for the intended recipients. Specifically, the variable data is placed within copy holes defined on the hardcopy, with the copy holes being based upon a set of rules that govern the VDP campaign. By way of example, a rule may include placing variable data within a copy hole based on the age of the intended recipient of the hardcopy. Thus, in the event that the intended recipient is over fifty-five years of age, the variable data placed within the copy hole might include information about travel activities. In contrast, if the intended recipient is a teenager, the variable data placed within the copy hole might include information about various universities.
As should be understood, implementing a VDP campaign can be very complex. Typically, a single, highly-specialized person is used to manage and/or create multiple aspects of a VDP campaign. Since persons with the required level of specialized knowledge are somewhat rare, this person can become a workflow bottleneck in the implementation of VDP campaigns.
Systems and methods for performing variable data printing are provided. In this regard, an embodiment of a system comprises: a dynamic variable data print (VDP) workflow system operative to receive information corresponding to independent portions of a VDP campaign, the VDP campaign comprising a design portion, a rules portion and a variable data portion, the dynamic VDP workflow system being further operative to combine the information received to form a Personalized Print Markup Language Template (PPMLT) print job.
An embodiment of a method for performing variable data printing comprises: defining independent portions of a variable data print (VDP) campaign such that the VDP campaign includes a design portion, a rules portion and a variable data portion; and defining inputs and outputs associated with each of the portions of the VDP campaign.
Other systems, methods, features and/or advantages will be or may become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and/or advantages be included within this description and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
As will be described in detail here, systems and methods for performing variable data printing are provided that can potentially improve the efficiency of the workflow process for implementing a variable data print (VDP) campaign. Specifically, several embodiments will be described herein that include discretely defined portions of a VDP campaign. By way of example, these portions can include a design portion, which typically involves work provided by a graphic artist, a rules portion, which typically involves work provided by a marketing department, and a variable data portion, which typically includes information provided by a database administrator and/or information technologist. By specifically defining the inputs and outputs associated with each of the portions of a VDP campaign, the functions associated with each of the portions can be separately performed and then merged when the required outputs are received to form a print job.
Referring now to the drawings,
Reference will now be made to the flowchart of
A schematic diagram detailing exemplary inputs and outputs of representative portions of an embodiment of a VDP campaign is presented in
The rules portion 304 of VDP campaign 300 also receives an input. In this case, the input to rules portion 304 is an idea 314. Typically, such an idea is provided by a marketing manager, whose job it is to provide business logic so that the data provided by the variable data portion can be effectively used in the VDP campaign. By way of example, idea 314 can involve providing a discount coupon to customers based on previous purchases from a company. For instance, customers who have purchased more than $500.00 of equipment can be designated for receiving a twenty percent discount coupon, customers who have purchased between $250.00 and $500.00 of equipment can be designated for receiving a fifteen percent discount coupon, and customers who have purchased less than $250.00 of equipment can be designated to receive a ten percent coupon. This logic is embodied in one or more rules that can be provided as algebraic expressions, for example.
In the example of
When data is received by the data mapper element 316, the data mapper element reformats the data. Specifically, the result of applying a data mapper element to the data is an appropriately formatted input to a PPMLT template.
With respect to design portion 306, an idea 318 also is shown being input in
After using the idea 318 and an appropriate design application to create the design, design portion 306 outputs a PPMLT INPUT_DATA_STRUCTURE element 320 and a PPMLT template 322. The data structure element 320 is used to describe the structure of the variable data that is to be used in the PPMLT template, and can be described in XML Schema, for example. The PPMLT template identifies a prototype PPML document that is used to generate a PPML instance document. As mentioned before, a PPML instance document is a PPML file used by a digital printing device to create a hardcopy document of a VDP campaign.
Reference will now be made to
In order to receive the information corresponding to the various portions of the VDP campaign, the dynamic VDP workflow system 410 communicates with each of the variable data system 402, the rule system 404 and the design system 406 via a communication network 414. Although depicted as separate computer systems, more than one of the variable data system, the rules system, and the design system could be provided by a single computer, for example. Note, communication network 414 may be any type of communication network employing any network topology, transmission medium, or network protocol. For example, such a network may be any public or private packet-switched or other data network, including the Internet, circuit-switched networks, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN), wireless network, or any other desired communications infrastructure and/or combination of infrastructures.
The variable data system 402, the rules system 404 and the design system 406 are able to interface with each other in a manner facilitated by the dynamic VDP workflow system 410. Specifically, each of the various systems of the VDP campaign can receive inputs that were previously stored in accordance with instructions provided by the dynamic VDP workflow system. Additionally, outputs provided by each of the various systems also can be provided to the dynamic VDP workflow system, with the outputs being stored for later use. For instance, the stored information could be accessed, as needed, and used as the inputs to another portion (system) of the VDP campaign management system.
Once all of the various information is acquired by the dynamic VDP workflow system 410, the print job 412 can be completed, such as by providing the required PPML file(s) to a digital printing device (not shown in
Functionality associated with one or more of the portions (systems) of a VDP campaign management system, e.g., a rules portion and/or a dynamic VDP workflow system, can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware, or combinations thereof. When implemented in hardware, such a system can be implemented with any or a combination of various technologies. By way of example, the following technologies, which are each well known in the art, can be used: a discrete logic circuit(s) having logic gates for implementing logic functions upon data signals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having appropriate combinational logic gates, a programmable gate array(s) (PGA), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
In alternative embodiments, one or more of the aforementioned systems could be implemented in software as an executable program(s). For example, such a system can be executed by a special or general purpose digital computer. An example of a general purpose computer that can implement such a system is shown schematically in
Generally, in terms of hardware architecture, computer 500 includes a processor 502, memory 504, and one or more input and/or output (I/O) devices 506 (or peripherals) that are communicatively coupled via a local interface 508. The software in memory 504 can include one or more separate programs, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. In the example of
When an embodiment of a dynamic VDP workflow system 512 is implemented in software, it should be noted that such a system can be stored on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with any computer-related system or method. In the context of this document, a computer-readable medium is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer-related system or method. An embodiment of a dynamic VDP workflow system can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions.
In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (electronic), a read-only memory (ROM) (electronic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory) (electronic), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via for instance optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.
In operation, the variable data system 514, the rules system 516 and the design system 518 provide outputs that are stored in memory associated with the dynamic VDP workflow system 512. As needed, the dynamic VDP workflow system provides information corresponding to the previously stored inputs to the system(s), e.g., design system 518, requiring the information. Thus, the workflow process is decentralized, in that one portion of the VDP campaign does not need to wait for information provided by another portion of the campaign.
Once all of the various information is acquired by the dynamic VDP workflow system 512, the dynamic VDP workflow system merges the information into the desired format for printing. Typically, the print job, e.g., print job 520, is provided in PPMLT format converted to PPML format, and then provided to a digital printing device. In the embodiment of
Reference will now be made to
As shown in
It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
