Graphical user interface, system and method for managing contacts within an online stationery system

Abstract

A graphical user interface, system and method are described for managing a contacts database within an online stationery service. A presentation logic receives contacts to whom personalized stationery will be mailed and generates a graphical user interface comprising: a first region for displaying the contacts received from the stationery service contacts manager, the contacts within the contacts selectable via a user input device, a second region comprising a series of data field for entering a new contact via a user input device, and a third region displaying the contacts to whom the online stationery service will mail stationery directly on behalf of the user, the contacts within the third region selected from the first region or entered in the second region. A print module generates a print job to print the personalized stationery and envelopes containing the address information for the user-selected contacts.

1 . A network-based computer system for providing an online stationery service:
 a stationery service contacts database configured to store contacts data associated with one or more users;   a stationery personalization engine configured to provide a user with a set of selectable stationery templates, to receive a selection from the user of a particular one of the stationery templates, and to generate personalized stationery based on the particular one of the stationery templates;   one or more computer servers in communication with the stationery service contacts database and configured to enable display of a graphical user interface (GUI) on a user device, wherein the one or more computer servers are configured to display on the user device:
 a first region comprising a list of contacts from the stationery service contacts database, wherein the list of contacts are selectable by the user; 
 a second region comprising a series of data fields for entering a new contact via the user device; 
 a third region comprising a list of contacts to whom the online stationery service is to mail stationery directly on behalf of the user, the contacts within the third region selected from the first region or entered in the second region; and 
 a fourth region comprising a list of contacts for whom the online stationery service is to print and mail stationery for the user, the contacts within the fourth region selected from the first region or entered in the second region; and 
   a print module configured to generate a print job to print the personalized stationery and envelopes containing the address information for the user-selected contacts.   
     
     
         2 . The network-based computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI comprises a Web page rendered within a browser on the user device. 
     
     
         3 . The network-based computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computer servers are configured to further display on the user device:
 a first tab visually coupled to the first region; and   a second tab visually coupled to the second region,   wherein the first region is selectable by the user by selecting the first tab and the second region is selectable by the user by selecting the second tab.   
     
     
         4 . The network-based computer system of  claim 3 , wherein the first region and the second region occupy overlapping area within the GUI, and wherein the first region and the second region are alternatively displayed in response to user's selection of the first tab or the second tab. 
     
     
         5 . The network-based computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computer servers are configured to display on the user device a check box associated with and adjacent to each contact in the contact list in the first region, wherein the user may select a plurality of contacts from the list by selecting the corresponding check boxes. 
     
     
         6 . The network-based computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth regions each comprises an “add” graphical element associated with adding users from the contacts list in the first region or a contact entered within the data fields of the second region. 
     
     
         7 . The network-based computer system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more computer servers are configured to display a “move” graphical element to move a selected contact between the third region and the fourth region. 
     
     
         8 . The network-based computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a contacts import module configured to import at least a portion of the contacts data from the user device or an online contacts database.   
     
     
         9 . The network-based computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the online contacts database comprises an online email service or a social network. 
     
     
         10 . The network-based computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the contacts import module is configured to resolve conflicts in the portion of the contacts data and other portion of the contacts data stored in the stationery service contacts database. 
     
     
         11 . The network-based computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the contacts import module is configured to merge the portion of the contacts data into the contacts data stored in the stationery service contacts database. 
     
     
         12 . A network-based computer system for providing an online stationery service:
 a stationery service contacts database configured to store contacts data associated with one or more users;   a contacts manager module configured to manage contacts data within a stationery service contacts database in response to user input;   a stationery personalization engine configured to provide a user with a set of selectable stationery templates, to receive a selection from the user of a particular one of the stationery templates, and to generate personalized stationery based on the particular one of the stationery templates,   wherein the stationery personalization engine is configured to allow the user to enter a default message to be used on stationery for a first set of contacts and one or more personalized messages to be used on stationery for a second set of contacts;   a presentation module configured to receive a list of contacts from the contacts manager module to whom the personalized stationery is to be mailed and to display the list of contacts on a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the presentation module configured to allow the user to select a default message or a personalized message for each contact in the list at the GUI, wherein the GUI further comprises a review list of all contacts selected for a stationery mailing and data entry fields showing a personalized message or a default message for each contact in the review list, wherein the GUI further comprises a personalized signature or a default signature for each contact in the review list, wherein the stationery personalization engine is configured to receive a selection from the user as to whether the stationery is to be mailed directly to the contact or shipped to the user; and   a print module configured to generate a print job to print the personalized stationery and envelopes containing the address information for the user-selected contacts.   
     
     
         13 . The network-based computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the stationery personalization engine is configured to allow the user to enter the personalized message for the corresponding contact at the GUI. 
     
     
         14 . The network-based computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the stationery personalization engine is configured to allow the user to enter a greeting and to select a first or last name of a contact to be used on the stationery at the GUI. 
     
     
         15 . The network-based computer system of  claim 14 , wherein the GUI further comprises a signature data entry field for entering a signature for the stationery. 
     
     
         16 . The network-based computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the review list includes, for each contact, a set of selectable radio buttons, a first radio button choosing a default message, a second radio button choosing a custom message and a third radio button choosing no message for the stationery to be sent to the selected contact. 
     
     
         17 . The network-based computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the GUI comprises an edit link associated with an adjacent to the default message radio button and the custom message radio button, the edit link generating a GUI for editing either the default message or the custom message. 
     
     
         18 . The network-based computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the presentation module configured to display a preview link in association with each contact in the review list at the GUI, and to generate a preview image of a stationery product to be sent to the associated contact when the preview link is selected by the user. 
     
     
         19 . The network-based computer system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a contacts import module configured to import at least a portion of the contacts data from the user device or an online contacts database, wherein the online contacts database comprises an online email service or a social network.   
     
     
         20 . The network-based computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the contacts import module is configured to resolve conflicts in the portion of the contacts data and other portion of the contacts data stored in the stationery service contacts database, wherein the contacts import module is configured to merge the portion of the contacts data into the contacts data stored in the stationery service contacts database.