System and method for computer-created advertisements

Abstract

The invention relates to a computerized method to create an advertisement by displaying a plurality of advertising formats for selection by a user; displaying a template corresponding to a selected advertising format; displaying product references for selection by the user; displaying on the template a selected product reference and creating a preview of the proposed of the proposed advertisement, all of which may be implemented using the internet. The invention further relates to a computerized system for creating an advertisement that comprises a template database for storing advertising formats; a product database for storing product references; and a computer to access the databases. Preferably, the user has a network interface such as Internet access, software to specify quantity, printing information, ship date, paper type, pricing information, and payment information, and configured to receive images and text for new products.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of creating printed material, comprising, one or more computers:
 obtaining a selection of a material format from a plurality of material formats;   obtaining a selection of a template from a plurality of templates corresponding to the selected material format;   obtaining at least one item for placement on the selected template;   obtaining a selection of the at least one item;   automatically arranging or obtaining a selection of a placement of the selected item on the selected template;   displaying a preview of the printed material;   obtaining a selection of printing options; and   printing the material.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the material format is selected from post cards, price cards, shelf-talkers, posters, sinage, flyers, run-of-press, newspaper advertisements, billboards, presentations, brochures, collateral materials, letterheads, business cards, pocket folders, display materials, reports, circulars, newspaper inserts, direct mail advertisements, newsletters, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one item is obtained from a database of items or is uploaded to the one or more computers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one item is selected from headings, text, images, logos, trademarks, prices, sizes, weights, specifications, SKU numbers, UPC numbers, colors, reference numbers, manufacturer identifications, barcodes, manufacturer trademarks, pictures, characters, designs, sketches, lowest prices, highest prices, sale prices, regular prices, average sale prices, competitor pricing, and images or text of product sizes, product colors and product compositions. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one item has a transparent background. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , where in the steps of obtaining a selection of the at least one item and automatically arranging or obtaining a selection of a placement of the selected item on the selected template are repeated a plurality of times. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the selections occur at a location remote from the location of the printing. 
     
     
         25 . T he method of  claim 24 , wherein the selections are obtained over one of the Internet, a Local Area Network, A metropolitan Area Network, and a Wide Area Network. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the printing options are chosen from delivery method, printing specifications, quantity, size, shipping information, distribution dates, a paper type, a payment method, delivery or shipping instructions, and publication dates. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising editing at least one of the selected at least one item, the selected material format, and the selected template. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of automatically arranging or obtaining a selection of a placement of the selected item on the selected template comprises automatically arranging the selected item on the selected template based on a set of priorities. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the rules of priority are chosen from the group consisting of: maximum size of product image; maximum number of advertised products per page; minimum separation between product references; maximum font size; minimum font size; predetermined number of product references per page; grouping by manufacturer; and grouping by product category. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising automatically saving the printed material. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising obtaining reimbursement for the printed material prior to printing the material. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 obtaining login information that uniquely identifies a user; 
 automatically saving, in response to the completion of each step, the printed material as a prior printed material, such that upon a subsequent login into the account, the user will be presented with an option of editing the prior printed material. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising automatically scaling the selected item to fit within physical dimensions of a portion of the selected template. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising automatically checking for errors. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the automatic checking comprises one or more of price checking, quantity checking, determining availability from inventory, from a distributor, or from a manufacturer, determining availability of product size, color or composition, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . A method of creating material for publication, comprising, one or more computers:
 obtaining a selection of a material format from a plurality of material formats;   obtaining a selection of a template from a plurality of templates corresponding to the selected material format;   obtaining at least one item for placement on the selected template;   obtaining a selection of the at least one item;   automatically arranging or obtaining a selection of a placement of the selected item on the selected template;   displaying a preview of the material;   obtaining a confirmation of acceptance of the material; and   publishing the material.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the material format is selected from post cards, price cards, shelf-talkers, posters, sinage, flyers, run-of-press, newspaper advertisements, billboards, presentations, e-mails, electronic advertisements, websites, brochures, collateral materials, letterheads, business cards, pocket folders, display materials, reports, circulars, newspaper inserts, direct mail advertisements, newsletters, and combinations thereof.