Method and apparatus for assembling personalized electronic media into printed products

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assembling personalized CDs, DVDs and other types of optical disks, magnetic media, and data storage devices into magazines, catalogs, pamphlets, and other printed products in order to enhance the amount and quality of personalization associated with the printed product includes reading and/or writing personalized information to/from a data storage device and assembling the data storage device within a printed product that is to be delivered to a particular individual. The reading and/or writing of personalized information may be directed to either digital information stored on the data storage device or to more conventional optical indicia that is printed on and/or optically scanned from the data storage device.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A method of assembling a printed product on a binding line comprising: 
 writing personalized electronic information to a data storage device on the binding line; and    associating the written data storage device with a printed product on the binding line.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the printed product comprises a magazine.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising binding a personalized signature into the printed product on the binding line, wherein the personalized signature includes indicia that corresponds to the personalized information written to the data storage device.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising selectively binding the printed product with designated signatures based on the personalized information that is written to the data storage device.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the personalized information is written to the data storage device by a data-writing machine.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the data-writing machine is part of a hopper positioned on the binding line.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising reading the personalized information from the data storage device on the binding line.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the personalized information is read from the data storage device by a data-reading machine that is part of a hopper positioned on the binding line.  
     
     
         15 . A method of assembling a printed product on a binding line comprising: 
 reading electronic information on a binding line from a data storage device that has been pre-personalized offline with respect to the binding line; and    associating the data storage device with the printed product on the binding line.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the printed product comprises a magazine.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising assembling the printed product based on the information read from the data storage device including binding a personalized signature into the printed product that includes personalized indicia that corresponds to the information read from the data storage device.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising assembling the printed product based on the information read from the data storage device including selectively binding the printed product with designated signatures based on the information read from the data storage device.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising writing personalized electronic information to the data storage device on the binding line.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the personalized information is written to the data storage device by a data-writing hopper positioned on the binding line.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information is read from the data storage device by a data-reading hopper positioned on the binding line.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information read from the data storage device comprises personalized information.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for assembling printed products comprising: 
 a conveyor;    a first feeder located adjacent the conveyor adapted to feed a data storage device toward the conveyor;    a data storage device reader adjacent the conveyor and adapted to read the electronic information stored on the data storage device;    a plurality of second feeders located adjacent the conveyor and adapted to feed printed products toward the conveyor;    a binder positioned along the conveyor and capable of binding the printed products and the data storage device into an assembled product.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a controller communicating with the plurality of second feeders and the data storage device reader, wherein the controller selectively signals the second feeders to feed designated printed products toward the conveyor based upon the information read from the data storage device, and wherein the data storage device is associated with the designated printed products on the conveyor.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the information read from the data storage device comprises personalized information.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the personalized information includes the address of the recipient of the assembled product.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the printed product comprises a magazine.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a data writing machine adjacent the conveyor and adapted to write electronic information to the electronic data storage device.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for assembling a product comprising: 
 a conveyor;    a feeder located adjacent the conveyor adapted to feed an electronic data storage device toward the conveyor;    a data writing machine adjacent the conveyor and adapted to write electronic information to the electronic data storage device;    a plurality of printed product feeders located adjacent the conveyor and adapted to feed printed products toward the conveyor;    a binder positioned along the conveyor and capable of binding the printed products and the data storage device into an assembled product.    
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the assembled product comprises a magazine.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a controller communicating with the plurality of printed product feeders and the data writing machine, wherein the controller selectively signals the printed product feeders to feed designated printed products toward the conveyor based upon the personalized information that is written to the data storage device, and wherein the data storage device is associated with the designated printed products on the conveyor.