System and method for designing and generating online stationery

Abstract

A system and method are described for creating personalized stationery online. For example, a computer-implemented method according to one embodiment comprises: defining variable types including formatting options to be used in stationery templates; specifying variables to be used for a particular stationery template, each of the variables being assigned a particular variable type; creating a global template for a product category of stationery; extracting metadata from a file or other content provided by a stationery designer; and creating a product template using information contained in the global template and the metadata extracted from the file.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for assisting users to design stationery products online, comprising:
 defining a global template for a stationery product by a computer system comprising one or more servers, wherein the global template specifies variables and formatting options in a stationery product layout, wherein the global template defines a first variable whose appearance in the stationery product layout is conditional based on user input values;   asking users a question related to the first variable;   receiving from a first user a first value of user input in response to the question;   presenting to the first user, by the computer system, with a first stationery product layout including the first variable to allow the first user to create a first stationery product;   receiving from a second user a second value of user input in response to the question; and   presenting to the second user, by the computer system, with a second stationery product layout without the first variable to allow the second user to create a second stationery product.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the stationery product is for a baby's birth announcement, a wedding invitation, or a birthday party invitation. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the stationery product includes a baby birth announcement card. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the first variable includes a name of a sibling of the baby, wherein the question is about whether the baby has any siblings, wherein the first stationery product layout includes the sibling's name. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein the first stationery product layout position the sibling's name adjacent to a phrase “has a baby sister” or “has a baby sister”. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the first variable includes a birth time during the day of the baby's birth, wherein the question is about whether to include the birth time in the stationery product, wherein the first stationery product layout includes the birth time in addition to the birth date of the baby. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the first stationery product layout further includes an “at” before the birth time, wherein the second stationery product layout does not include a birth time or an “at” related to the birth time. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the variables comprise the baby's names and birth date, the method further comprising:
 receiving baby's names and birth date from the first user or the second user.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the variables comprise initials of the baby's names, wherein the first stationery product layout or the second stationery product layout includes text fields for displaying the initials of the baby's names. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the variables comprise the baby's weight and length, the method further comprising:
 receiving baby's weight and length from the first user or the second user.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the variables comprise names of the baby's parents, the method further comprising:
 receiving the names of the baby's parents from the first user or the second user.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first variable is associated with a first formatting option that specifies the display of an additional predetermined text in association with the first variable in the first stationery product layout in response to the first value of user input. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the additional predetermined text is not displayed in the second stationery product layout. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first variable comprise a date, and wherein the formatting options for the date comprises a formal format and a casual format. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first stationery product layout and the second stationery product layout are displayed at a web user interface. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 manufacturing the first stationery product in accordance with the first stationery product layout; and   manufacturing the second stationery product in accordance with the second stationery product layout.   
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method for assisting users to design stationery products online, comprising:
 defining a global template for a stationery product by a computer system comprising one or more servers, wherein the global template specifies variables and formatting options in a stationery product layout, wherein the global template defines a first variable whose appearance in the stationery product layout is conditional based on user input values, wherein the global template specifies the display of an additional predetermined text in association with the first variable in response to user input values;   asking users a question related to the first variable;   receiving from a first user a first value of user input in response to the question;   presenting to the first user, by the computer system, with a first stationery product layout including the first variable and the additional predetermined text to allow the first user to create a first stationery product;   receiving from a second user a second value of user input in response to the question; and   presenting to the second user, by the computer system, with a second stationery product layout without the first variable and the additional predetermined text to allow the second user to create a second stationery product.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the stationery product is for a baby's birth announcement, a wedding invitation, or a birthday party invitation. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the first variable comprise a date, and wherein the formatting options for the date comprises a formal format and a casual format. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the first stationery product layout and the second stationery product layout are displayed at a web user interface.