Vistaprint USA Incorporated

Vistaprint Technologies Limited

Cimpress USA Incorporated

Robert Keane

Sebastien Coursol

Erik Robertson

Sebastian Coursol

Eric Robertson

Systems and methods for managing print jobs associated with multiple customers. Customer-editable design templates for printed products and design software tools enabling creation by customers of custom print product designs are provided, via a network, to multiple customers operating corresponding electronic devices. Individual print jobs corresponding to custom print product designs created by multiple different customers via the electronic devices are received and automatically aggregated into an aggregate print job comprising individual print jobs from different customers. The aggregated individual print jobs in the aggregate print job are printed simultaneously on one or more units of a shared substrate when the aggregate print job is printed.

Managing print jobs

The invention provides methods for managing print jobs. One such method includes (a) accumulating discrete print jobs electronically from respective customers, (b) aggregating the discrete print jobs into aggregate print jobs, each of the aggregate print jobs being printable at one time on units of an integral print medium, and (c) electronically distributing the aggregate print jobs to respective printers for printing.

Product pricing system and method

Methods for creating a customized document using a downloadable product design tolls executing in the user's browser. A template for a partially completed product design is selected by the user and downloaded to the user's computer for editing by the user at the user's computer using the downloadable design tools. While viewing the product design template, the user can enter text or other content into the template elements. The completed product design can be uploaded to the server for production of the corresponding printed product.

Browser-based product design

Methods for creating a customized document using downloadable product design tools executing in the user's browser. A template for a partially completed product design is selected byte user and downloaded to the user's computer for editing by the user at the user's computer using the downloaded design tools. While viewing the product design template, the user can enter text or other content into the template and modify template elements. The completed product design can be uploaded to the server for production of the corresponding printed product.

A number of geographically dispersed automated product design systems and support systems are connected to a network. A user of a design system requesting assistance in using the design system is connected to an operator of one of the support systems. A display and control connection is established between the user system and the support system such that the operator of the support system can monitor and control the user system. A discussion connection is established between the user of the user system and the operator of the support system such that the user can submit inquiries to and receive responses from the operator while the operator is viewing the information being displayed to the user at the user system.

System and method for remote assistance

Computer-implemented methods for assembling multiple individual print jobs into an aggregate print job for printing in a print run quantity. Individual print jobs and a print quantity indicating the number of copies of the individual print job to be primed are stored. Individual print jobs are retrieved and assigned to one or more individual print job positions in an aggregate print job layout based on the number of copies of the individual print job to be printed. A retrieved individual print job having an associated print quantity that equals the print run quantity of the aggregate print job is assigned to a single position in the aggregate print job layout. A retrieved individual print job having an associated print quantity that is a multiple of the print run quantity is assigned to that multiple number of positions in the aggregate print job layout.

Quantity-based print job preparation

Computer-implemented methods for creating an aggregate print job containing multiple individual print jobs. Individual print jobs having a plurality of associated printing parameters are received and stored. Printing parameters associated with an individual print job may include parameters indicating the requested print quantity, product size, product type, a requested delivery date, and any required post-printing processing. The stored printing parameters are searched to identify individual print jobs having at least some printing parameters in common. Individual print jobs identified during the search are aggregated to create a larger print job such that a number of different individual print jobs may be simultaneously printed.

Method of aggregating multiple individual print jobs having common printing parameters

Computer-implemented methods for creating an aggregate print job for simultaneous printing of multiple individual print jobs. Individual print jobs having an associated parameter identifying the size of the product to be printed are received. A number of received individual print jobs are arranged to create an aggregate print job having multiple individual print jobs in two dimensions. Aggregate print jobs may have pre-defined individual print job locations of a pre-defined size and position with which individual print jobs of are associated or may have no pre-defined individual print job sizes and positions.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, MA, United States of America

Robert Keane