SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSONALIZING COMMON MEDIA PRIOR TO DELIVERING THE COMMON MEDIA TO SPECIFIC RECIPIENTS

Abstract

A method is presented that allows an initiator other than the distributor to customize otherwise common media with media specific to a specific recipient, or with sound or smell, prior to delivery of the common media to that specific recipient. In one embodiment, the personalized media is delivered at a time controlled by the initiator. In another embodiment, the initiator controls, at least in part, the time when the modified common media is delivered to the recipient.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a generic publication to a plurality of recipients who are designated to receive said generic publication, said method comprising: receiving from an initiator associated with at least a particular one of the recipients particular personalized media identified by said initiator as being associated with said particular recipient, said personalized media including at least one of: (a) an image, the image being of a person who the recipient knows personally, or b) an image of something that is possessed either by the initiator or by the recipient, modifying said generic publication destined for delivery to said particular recipient, said modifying including a) modifying said generic publication with any said received personalized media, and b) positioning said media in said generic publication at an identified location, and wherein said identified location is a front page, a back page, or a centerfold of said generic publication, and causing said modified generic publication to be delivered to said particular recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal message media includes at least one of; text, sound, smell, or data from a live sensor located remote from both said initiator and said recipient.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said personal message includes an identity of either said recipient or said initiator.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said personalized media includes video.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said initiator controls when said publication is delivered to said particular recipient.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said publication delivery can be periodic.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said particular personalized media identified by said initiator as being associated with said particular recipient is received from said initiator in response to a prompt previously transmitted to said initiator.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized media is a direct substitute for at least one element of said generic publication.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said particular personalized media identified by said initiator as being associated with said particular recipient is delivered by said initiator in response to a prompt transmitted to said initiator.

10. A method of delivering common content of a subscription to a plurality of recipients who are designated to receive said common content, said method comprising: receiving from an initiator associated with at least a particular one of the recipients particular personalized media identified by said initiator as being associated with said particular recipient, said personalized media including at least one of sound or smell, modifying said common content destined for delivery to said particular recipient, said modifying including modifying said common content with any said received personalized media, and causing said modified common content to be delivered to said particular recipient.

11. The method of claim 10 where modifying said common content further includes positioning said media in said common content at an identified location.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said identified location is a front page, a back page, or a centerfold of said common content.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein a time of said delivery to said particular recipient is at least partially controlled by said initiator.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said delivery time is periodic.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said personalized media includes video.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said personalized media is a direct substitute for at least one element of said common content.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said particular personalized media identified by said initiator as being associated with said particular recipient being received in response to a prompt previously transmitted to said initiator.

18. A method of delivering a publication having common content from a distributor to a plurality of recipients, said method comprising: receiving particular personalized media from a party other than said recipient and other than said distributor, said personalized media being particular to a specific one of said recipients, said personalized media containing at least: a) an image of a person who the particular recipient knows personally, or b) an image of something that is possessed by the particular recipient, or c) something personal from said party; or d) sound, or e) smell, or f) wherein said image is video; delivering from time to time the same common content to each of said plurality of recipients, modifying said delivering step to cause any printed publication delivered to said particular recipient to contain said common content augmented by said particular recipient's personalized media, and wherein said delivering step includes a delivery time for said particular percipient, said delivery time controlled, at least in part, by said party.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized media is positioned within said common content at a location identified, at least in part, by said party.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein said location is either a first page, a back page or a centerfold of said publication.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system and method for personalizing universal content media prior to delivery to a recipient;

[0011] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate embodiments of magazines deliverable to recipients;

[0012] FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate additional embodiments of magazines deliverable to recipients;

[0013] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate that other media can be personalized as well as magazines;

[0014] FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of a database for storing relationships and associations between initiators, recipients and desired personalization media; and

[0015] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show embodiments of methods used to control the concepts discussed here.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment 10 of a system and method for personalizing universal content media prior to delivery to a recipient. As shown, a plurality of individual initiators 101 to ION using, for example PCs PC01 to PC0N, communicate with server 12 via network 11 in order to deliver media personal to each initiator. As will be seen, in one embodiment the personal data received from each initiator is stored in a database, such as database 60 (FIG. 6) in memory 1202 under control of an application, such as application 1203 running under control of processor 1201. In association with each initiator is one or more recipients, such as recipients R01 to R0N, who will ultimately have delivered or made available to them media (such as a printed magazine, a news letter, a game or a server logon ID, etc.) which, while intended for mass distribution is nonetheless modified by the received personal media from the initiator (or initiators) associated with the recipient. In this manner, an initiator can cause to be delivered to a particular specified recipient universally distributed media while also having that media personalized prior to delivery.

[0017] In one embodiment, when it is time for distribution of the media, such as a magazine or a game, server 12 (or any other control) sends the universal (common) media to medial control 13 for subsequent delivery to the various recipients. Prior to delivery to the recipient (at least in one embodiment) the media that is to be personalized for that particular recipient has inserted therein the personalized media previously received from (or identified by) the initiator(s) associated with that particular recipient. Media control then directs the printing of the magazine via printer 1301 or burns a disk via burner 1302 or in some situations by email or other electronic The media is then delivered via delivery service 14, which can be a terrestrial mail delivery service. In some situations the media will be available to the recipient on-line, for example, via media server 1303 and either requested by or pushed to the recipient.

[0018] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate embodiments of magazines deliverable to recipients. FIG. 2A shows a generic professionally constructed magazine 20-1 geared to the teen market, called TEEN MAG 21-1. This magazine is deliverable, usually by subscription, to a plurality of teenagers and the content, such as the content partially recited in cover index 22-1, contained in each issue of the magazine is geared to all subscribers in common. In the issue shown, the cover contains generic media, such as picture 23-1.

[0019] FIG. 2B shows the same magazine, namely TEEN MAG 20-2, except that this magazine is destined for delivery to recipient R01 at the initiation of initiator 101. The common content is the same, as for generic magazine 20-1, as shown by cover index 22-2, but generic picture 23-1 has been replaced by media sent by initiator 101. In this situation, the customized picture is of grandpa's new dog. Note that the customizable material could come from the initiator directly, or could come from a site remote from the initiator pointed to by the initiator. As will be discussed, prior to publishing this issue of the magazine, the publisher could have sent a message to each initiator soliciting customizable media for use in this (or future) issues. The publisher could have sent along parameters for the media, such as physical size, theme, etc, or could have provided a web site for each initiator to access and fill in blanks to create the desired media. Also note that the customization is not limited to any specific place in the magazine but could be any place and could be multiple customizations. Also, the initiator could, if desired, be given the opportunity to selected which portion of the common material is to be distributed. In such a situation, the initiators could be told which possible articles are available for a particular issue and then that initiator could select which article (or advertisement, etc.) is printed in the distributed media.

[0020] FIG. 2C shows magazine 20-3 customized for recipient R0N under control of initiator I02. In this instance, recipient R0N will see a picture 23-3 of recipient's entire family, instead of generic picture 23-1.

[0021] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a magazine common to seven year olds.

[0022] FIG. 3A shows generic AGE 7 MAG magazine 30-1 having universal content suitable for seven year olds and having generic media 31-1 on the cover.

[0023] FIG. 3B shows AGE 7 MAG 30-2 customized for recipient R02 by initiator 101. Generic media 31-1 has been replaced by personalized media 31-2, which in this case is a picture of the initiator's new cat. Note that while pictures are being used in the embodiment, any media would work, including pictures, text, sound, and perhaps smell (digitized and delivered in the same manner as any other media). As will be discussed hereinafter, the personalized media is stored in database 50 (FIG. 5) in an association between initiator and recipient.

[0024] In some embodiments a recipient profile can be established such that the recipient, or the initiator, could establish profile elements that can be stored in a database, such as in database 50, and these profile elements could be used by the publisher from time to time to change certain of the content for the recipient. For example, religious preferences (or age or any other profile element) could be one profile element and the publisher then would use that element to adjust articles or content to suit the various different recipients.

[0025] Thus, in such a scenario the December issue of a magazine could have articles tailored to a recipients religious preferences, such that Christian recipients would have recopies for Christmas dinner (or articles on Christmas) while the content for Jewish preference recipients would be geared around Chanukah. The recipient preference would be determined by the profile element(s) of each recipient. In some situations it might be appropriate to adjust the advertizing and/or the substantive content based on each recipient's preferences, would could include gender, age, religion, as well as more personal preferences, such as non-alcohol user, political preferences, nationality, etc. The use of profiles can also work well for games and other media where certain content is adjusted for a group of recipients based upon a common thread among a number of profiles.

[0026] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate that other media can be personalized as well as magazines. FIG. 4A shows a generic game 41-1 and FIG. 4B shows the same mass distributed game personalized for recipient R01 by initiator I02. In this case the customizable media may be video as well as static pictures or text. The added media might even allow for the substitution of family or other favorite characters for characters or objects in the game. For example, assume that the game has falling stars that need to be blown up in order to survive. The stars could have the face of the family cat thereon. The family dog might be cast as the savior in the version of the game personalized for recipient I02.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows one embodiment 50 of a database for storing relationships and associations between initiators, recipients and desired personalization media. Some of the media stored (or identified), for example in column 55, is media that will be used repetitively for more than one issue of the delivered media. Media identified in column 56 is for a particular upcoming issue and will be used only once. As discussed above, this media can take any form suitable for the publication. Column 54 identifies the universal media, such as the magazine, game, etc that is to be delivered to a wide range of people. Columns 51 and 52 contain the associations between initiators and recipients and column 53 contains the recipients profile information, if desired. As shown, recipient R01 has profile elements f (female), 16 (age 16) and J (Jewish) and NA (no alcohol). Note that the recipient need not be Jewish to have a Jewish profile if the recipient (or the initiator for the recipient) desires for the recipient to have Jewish content. In some situations, the recipient profile will be marked with what the recipient does not desire to see instead of what the recipient desires to have sent. Thus, a recipient may desire to have the December issue of a magazine contain all of the possible religious celebrations and not just a single religious theme.

[0028] Note that a recipient may have many initiators and vice versa. In some situations, more than one initiator may desire to personalize the same media for a given recipient. In some situations this is allowable and in others it might be prevented. Also note that a recipient can be his/her own initiator.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows on embodiment 60 of a method for receiving media from an initiator. The methods discussed herein can be run, for example, as part of applications 1203 under control of processor 1201. Process 601 determines if an initiator has logged onto the system. If so, processes 602 and 603 verify the proper identity of the person logged on. If all is proper, then process 604 controls the receipt of the desired media from the initiator.

[0030] Process 605 determines if this media is for the next issue only (one-time media) or for recurring use. If the information is for a one-time use then it is stored in a temporary database, such as indicated by column 56 shown in FIG. 5 as controlled by process 607. If the input is to be used for multiple issues, or if the input is profile information, then process 606 controls the storage in more permanent databases via process 608 (column 55) and process 609 (column 53). Note that any database or set of databases can be used for such storage until the information is needed for a particular issue of the media.

[0031] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment 70 of a method for informing initiators that it is time to provide personalized media. Process 701 determines if a message is ready for delivery to initiators. When it is time to obtain media input from initiators, process 702 retrieves the link or network address of each initiator and sends a message by email, text or any other electronic method. Process 702 can, if desired, from time to time, provide anticipated common media to one or more initiator so that the initiator can select from among a number of possible medias for inclusion in an upcoming delivery. For example, there can be ten possible articles that could appear in the December issue and the initiator could select which articles his/her recipients will actually receive. This selection can be in addition to the personal message media and data that the initiator can also include in the December distribution. Using the link information, process 703 sends the respective messages and processes 704 and 705 continues such sending until all known initiators, or their allowed designees, have been sent messages or the required input has been received or the deadline has passed.

[0032] FIG. 8 shows one embodiment 80 of a method for controlling personalized delivery of otherwise universal media. Process 801 determines if it is time to distribute media. When the time is right, process 802 compiles the universal. This may be done over a period of time but at some point the media is ready for distribution except for the personalized information. At that point in time, process 803 retrieves the entire recipient list for the issue being prepared.

[0033] Process 804 determines for each recipient if there is customizable material and/or profile information that pertains to this next issue or release that needs to be used in the preparation of the next distribution. If not, process 806 sends the universal generic material to print control and concurrently, process 805 indexes to the next recipient. If there is profile information then the profile information is used to control the generic content material as discussed above.

[0034] When a recipient is shown as having available personalized media, or when the initiator has selected certain media from among a selection of common media, process 807 retrieves both the one-time media and the repetitive media from database 50 (FIG. 5) and process 808 inserts the retrieved media in the proper locations within the generic media. In some situations this inserted material will replace material already in the generic version and in other situations the retrieved material with supplement the generic material. Process 809 sends the personalized media to print control. In one embodiment, the system will be instructed to obtain customized input data from a location via Process 813. This location can be the initiator's own computer, some other storage device or even a live sensor(s) located remote from the initiator. The remote sensor then allows for the customization to be of real-time data, such as temperature, weather conditions, biometrics, pictures, etc. This real-time data can be delivered as a link to a data storage device, or to a processor, and can be fed on a continuous basis upon call from the publisher. For magazines this might be a one-time call per issue, but for electronic media, such as that provided by a server the personalized updates can be continuous and can depend upon static sensors at a single location or upon multiple sensors, or upon movement of the initiator (or some designee(s)) or upon some other selected target, such as a boat, storm conditions, traffic conditions, etc. In this manner, a game, or other media can be continuously changed by external events that might be random, or might be dependent upon some action, words spoken or other activity of the initiator (or designee(s).

[0035] Process 810 delivers the media to recipients by, for example, placing proper addressing on a mailing label being certain to make sure that customized media for a particular recipient, such as for recipient R01, has a mailing label specific for that recipient.

[0036] Optionally, once the media is delivered, particularly for electronic delivery, it is possible for a return message to be communicated for the recipient to the initiator. Processes 811 and 812 handle this function, if available.

[0037] Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.