System and method to produce and control subsidization of targeted materials at point of sale

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method to produce and control subsidization of targeted advertising materials. According to one exemplary method, customized printer material and targeted advertising material is provided to a consumer, where the price of the customized printed material is subsidized in exchange for the consumer agreeing to receive the targeted advertising material.

1 . A method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party, the customized printed material including one or both of customized content selected by the first party and customized content provided by the first party, the customized printed material and the targeted advertising material printed at a POS (Point of Sale) printing device for a subsidized nominal price to be charged by a second party to the first party, the subsidized nominal price related to a nominal price subsidized by a third party associated with providing the targeted advertising material in consideration for the targeted advertising material being printed along with the customized printed material, the method comprising:
 a) the first party creating customized material including one or both of customized content selected by the first party and customized content provided by the first party to be printed by the POS printing device;   b) communicating to one of the printing device and one or more servers operatively connected to the printing device the created customized material including the customized content to be printed by the POS printing device;   c) one or more of the POS printing device and the one or more servers generating the targeted advertising material in a format for printing by the POS printing device;   d) one or more of the POS printing device and the one or more servers providing nominal price subsidization information to one or both of the first party and the second party, the nominal price subsidization information associated with a subsidization of the nominal price associated with providing the customized printed material to the first party in consideration for the targeted advertising material being printed along with the customized printed material;   e) the POS printing device printing the customized material and the target advertising material; and   f) the first party paying the second party the subsidized nominal price based on the subsidization information.   
     
     
         2 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein the customized material includes one or more of text and images. 
     
     
         3 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein the targeted advertising material is generated as a function of one or more of the context of the customized printed material, one or more interests of the first party, one or more preferences of the first party, the location of the POS printing device, one or more keywords included in the customized printed material, one or more events associated with the customized printed material, a time associated with the printing of the customized printed material, one or more products offered y an advertiser associated with the targeted advertising material, and one or more services offered by an advertiser associated with the targeted advertising material. 
     
     
         4 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein
 step a) comprises the first party creating the customized material at one of a MFD (multi function device) a KIOSK, a cell phone and a PC (personal computer).   
     
     
         5 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 step c) generates targeted advertising material in a format for printing by the POS device, the format including one or more of a coupon, an ad, a QRC (Quick Response Code), a Bar Code, a menu, a promotional item, an insert, an onsert, and an event-centric coupon.   
     
     
         6 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein the customized material is one of a greeting card, a document, a publication, a banner, an event flyer, and a calendar. 
     
     
         7 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein step e) includes printing the targeted advertising material without interfering with the printing of the customized material. 
     
     
         8 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein the first party selects one of printing the customized printed material and targeted advertising material for the subsidized nominal price and printing the customized printed material without the targeted advertising material for the nominal price. 
     
     
         9 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein
 step a) comprises the first party creating customized material including one or both of customized content selected from one or more of a plurality of predefined materials, and customized content provided by the first party including one or more of an image material and text material.   
     
     
         10 . The method for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 1 , wherein the usage of the targeted advertising material by the first party is tracked and communicated to one of the first party, the second party, the third party and a fourth party whom receives the customized printed material from the first party and a fifth party associated with compiling the usage of the targeted advertising material. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party, the rendered customized material including one or both of customized content selected by the first party and customized content provided by the first party, the customized material and the targeted advertising material rendered on a rendering device for a subsidized nominal price to be charged by a second party to the first party, the subsidized nominal price related to a nominal price subsidized by a third party associated with providing the targeted advertising material in consideration for the targeted advertising material being rendered along with the customized material, the method comprising:
 a) the first party creating customized material including one or both of customized content selected by the first party and customized content provided by the first party to be rendered by the rendering device;   b) communicating to one of the rendering device and one or more servers operatively connected to the rendering device the created customized material including the customized content to be rendered by the rendering device;   c) one or more of the rendering device and the one or more servers generating the targeted advertising material in a format for rendering by the printing device;   d) one or more of the rendering device and the one or more servers providing nominal price subsidization information to one or both of the first party and the second party, the nominal price subsidization information associated with a subsidization of the nominal price associated with providing the rendered customized material to the first party in consideration for the targeted advertising material being rendered along with the customized material;   e) the rendering device rendering the customized material and the target advertising material; and   f) the first party paying the second party the subsidized nominal price based on the subsidization information.   
     
     
         12 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 11 , wherein the customized material includes one or both of text and images. 
     
     
         13 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 11 , wherein the targeted advertising material is generated as a function of one or more of the content of the customized material, one or more interests of the first arty, one or more preferences of the first party, the location of the rendering device, one or more keywords included in the customized material, one or more events associated with the customized material, a time associated with the rendering of the customized material, one or more products offered by an advertiser associated with the targeted advertising material, and one or more services offered by an advertiser associated with the targeted advertising material. 
     
     
         14 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 11 , wherein
 step a) comprises the first party creating the customized material at one of a MFD (multi function device) a KIOSK, a cell phone and a PC (personal computer).   
     
     
         15 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 11 , wherein
 step c) generates targeted advertising material in a format for rendering by the rendering device, the format including one or more of a coupon, an ad, a QRC (Quick Response Code), a bar code, a menu, a promotional item, an insert, an onsert, and an event-centric coupon.   
     
     
         16 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 11 , wherein the customized material is one of a greeting card, a document, a publication, a banner, an event flyer, and a calendar. 
     
     
         17 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 11 , wherein step e) includes rendering the targeted advertising material without interfering with the rendering of the customized material. 
     
     
         18 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 11 , wherein the first party selects one of rendering the customized material and targeted advertising material for the subsidized nominal price and rendering the customized material without the targeted advertising material for the nominal price. 
     
     
         19 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first party according to  claim 11 , wherein
 step a) comprises the first party creating customized material including one or both of customized content selected from one or more of a plurality of predefined materials, and customized content provided by the first party including one or more of an image material and text material.   
     
     
         20 . The method for providing rendered customized material and targeted advertising material to a first part, according to  claim 11 , wherein the usage of the targeted advertising material by the first party is tracked and communicated to one of the first party, the second party, the third party and a fourth party whom receives the rendered customized material from the first party and a fifth party associated with compiling the usage of the targeted advertising material. 
     
     
         21 . A printing system for providing customized printed material and targeted advertising material to a first party, the customized printed material including one or both of customized content selected by the first party and customized content provided by the first party, the customized printed material and the targeted advertising material printed at a POS (Point of Sale) printing device for a subsidized nominal price to be charged by a second party to the first party, the subsidized nominal price related to a nominal price subsidized by a third party associated with providing the targeted advertising material in consideration for the targeted advertising material being printed along with the customized printed material, the printing system comprising:
 a POS printing device; and   one or more severs operatively connected to the POS printing device,   wherein one or more of the POS printing devices and the one or more servers are configured to execute a method comprising:
 a) the first party creating customized material including one or both of customized content selected by the first party and customized content provided by the first party to be printed by the POS printing device; 
 b) communicating to one of the printing device and one or more servers operatively connected to the printing device the created customized material including the customized content to be printed by the POS printing device; 
 c) one or more of the POS printing device and the one or more servers generating the targeted advertising material in a format for printing by the POS printing device; 
 d) one or more of the POS printing device and the one or more servers providing nominal price subsidization information to one or both of the first party and the second party, the nominal price subsidization information associated with a subsidization of the nominal price associated with providing the customized printed material to the first party in consideration for the targeted advertising material being printed along with the customized printed material; 
 e) the POS printing device printing the customized material and the target advertising material; and 
 f) the first party paying the second party the subsidized nominal price based on the subsidization information. 
   
     
     
         22 . The printing system according to  claim 21 , wherein the targeted advertising material is generated as a function of one or more of the context of the customized printed material, one or more interests of the first party, one or more preferences of the first party, the location of the POS printing device, one or more keywords included in the customized printed material, one or more events associated with the customized printed material, a time associated with the printing of the customized printed material, one or more products offered by an advertiser associated with the targeted advertising material, and one or more services offered by an advertiser associated with the targeted advertising material. 
     
     
         23 . The printing system according to  claim 21 , wherein
 step a) comprises the first party creating the customized material at one of a MFD (multi function device) a KIOSK, a cell phone and a PC (personal computer).   
     
     
         24 . The printing system according to  claim 21 , wherein
 step c) generates targeted advertising material in a format for printing by the POS device, the format including one or more of a coupon, an ad, a QRC (Quick Response Code), a Bar Code, a menu, a promotional item, an insert, an onsert, and an event-centric coupon.   
     
     
         25 . The printing system according to  claim 21 , wherein the customized material is one of a greeting card, a document, a publication, a banner, an event flyer, and a calendar. 
     
     
         26 . The printing system according to  claim 21 , wherein the usage of the targeted advertising material by the first party is tracked and communicated to one of the first party, the second party, the third party and a fourth party whom receives the customized printed material from the first party and a fifth party associated with compiling the usage of the targeted advertising material.