Abstract:
Disclosed are a picture book template and a system and a method for making the same. The picture book template includes a picture book cutout that is cut and folded according to directions to create a picture book. The picture book cutout has a number of pages. The pages are defined by a number of identifier lines. The picture book template also includes a region that includes assembly instructions with a graphical depiction of an assembly of the picture book from the picture book cutout. The graphical depiction shows the identifier lines to aid in the assembly of the picture book. There is a correspondence between respective identifier lines in the picture book cutout and in the graphical depiction. The correspondence is indicated, for example, by creating the corresponding identifier lines with a predefined color or type of line.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is generally related to the field of printing and, more particularly, is related to a picture book template and a system and method for creating the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People often wish to keep pictures with them for various reasons. For example, many wish to keep pictures of family members with them so that they can be reminded of their family when they are apart. Others may wish to have pictures for other reasons. Sales persons may wish to provide pictures of products in a compact format. For example, real estate brokers may wish to provide a series of pictures of real estate in a compact format that prospective buyers may view. 
     Currently, more and more pictures are available in digital format. With the advent of digital cameras, many people no longer choose to memorialize their pictures on film. Instead, the images and accompanying text may be viewed on a screen or printed out on paper. Sometimes, it is desirable to print such images and text in the form of a picture book. Unfortunately, it can take significant effort to create a simple and attractive picture book due to the complexities regarding formatting and other considerations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the forgoing, the present invention provides for a picture book template and a system and method for making the same. The picture book template includes a picture book cutout that is cut and folded according to directions to create a picture book. The picture book cutout has a number of pages. The pages are defined by a number of identifier lines. The picture book template also includes a region that details assembly instruction with a graphical depiction of an assembly of the picture book from the picture book cutout. The graphical depiction shows the identifier lines to aid in the assembly of the picture book. There is a correspondence between respective identifier lines in the picture book cutout and the graphical depiction as indicated, for example, with a predefined color or type of line. 
     The present invention may also be viewed as a system to create a digital picture book template. In this regard, the system includes a processor circuit having a processor and a memory. The system also includes book assembly logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor. The book assembly logic further comprises logic to obtain a number of content items to be depicted in a picture book cutout in the digital picture book template, logic to define a number of pages of the picture book cutout with a number of indicator lines, logic to associate at least one of the content items with at least one of the pages, and logic to associate a set of assembly instructions with the digital picture book template. 
     In addition, the present invention may also be viewed as a method for creating a digital picture book template in a server. The present method comprises the steps of: obtaining a number of content items in a server to be depicted in a picture book cutout in the digital picture book template, defining a number of pages of the picture book cutout in the server with a number of indicator lines, associating at least one of the content items with at least one of the pages, and associating a set of assembly instructions with the digital picture book template. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art in view of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Also, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of a picture book template according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing of a graphical depiction of an assembly of a picture book from a picture book cutout in the picture book template of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a picture book assembly network to create a digital version of the picture book template of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of a book assembly system executed in the system of  FIG. 3  to create the digital version of the picture book template of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing of a user input interface generated by the book assembly system of  FIG. 4  and employed to obtain content items with which to create the digital version of the picture book template of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a drawing of a second user input interface generated by the book assembly system of  FIG. 4  and employed to identify preexisting content items with which to create the digital version of the picture book template of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a drawing of a user interface generated by the book assembly system of  FIG. 4  and employed to provide a view on a display device of the digital version of the picture book template of  FIG. 1  before printing; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a book assembly logic portion of the book assembly system of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , shown is a picture book template  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The picture book template  100  includes a picture book cutout  103  and an instructions region  106 . The instructions region  106  includes instructions  109  and a graphical depiction  113  of the assembly of a picture book from the picture book cutout  103 . The picture book cutout  103  includes a number of pages  116 . The pages are defined by a number of identifier lines  119 . The pages  116  that are defined by the identifier lines  119  ultimately become the pages of a picture book that is assembled from the picture book cutout  103  pursuant to the instructions  109  and in light of the graphical depiction  113 . One or more of the pages  116  can include an image  123  and text  126 , or a combination of an image  123  and text  126 , etc. Also, multiple images  123  and/or blocks of text  126  may be included within a specific page  116 . 
     The identifier lines  119  differ from each other in appearance depending on their placement in the picture book cutout  103 . The identifier lines  119  as shown generally correspond to the same identifier lines  119  as depicted in the graphical depiction  113  to aid in the assembly of the resulting picture book. In this respect, the identifier lines  119  may be color-coordinated, for example, to allow a user to more readily identify the procedure for assembling the resulting picture book. For example, the identifier lines  119  may include one or more orange identifier lines  119   a , a red identifier line  119   b , green identifier lines  119   c  and a blue identifier line  119   d . Note that other color arrangements may be employed that correspond with the color statements in the instructions  109 . 
     Turning then to  FIG. 2 , shown is a further illustration of the graphical depiction  113  according to an aspect of the present invention. As shown, the graphical depiction  113  includes the identifier lines  119   a ,  119   b ,  119   c , and  119   d  in relation to their assembled positions to aid the user in understanding the overall assembly of the picture book from the picture book cutout  103  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , shown is a picture book assembly network  200  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The picture book assembly network  200  provides a means by which the picture book template  100  ( FIG. 1 ) may be created as will be discussed. The picture book assembly network  200  includes a server  203 , a client  206 , and a network  209 . The server  203  and the client  206  are both coupled to the network  209  to facilitate data communications therebetween. Also, other servers  213  may be linked to the network  209  as is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art. A printer  216  is coupled to the client  206  to enable the user to print out documents from the client  206 . Running on the client  206  is a browser  219  that provides access to various web sites and web pages located on the server  203  and the other servers  213 , etc. The client  206  may comprise, for example, a computer system or other such system that are generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art. 
     The server  203  may be, for example, a computer system or other system that includes a processor  223  and a memory  226 , both of which are coupled to a local interface  229 . The local interface  229  may comprise, for example, a data bus with an accompanying control bus as is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art. Stored in the memory  226  and executable by the processor  223  is an operating system  233  and a book assembly system  236 . The operating system  223  is executed by the processor  223  to perform the basic operating functionality of the server  203  as is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art. The book assembly system  236  is executed by the processor  223  to interface with the client  206  via the browser  219  to assemble a picture book template  100  ( FIG. 1 ) as was discussed with reference to  FIG. 1 . Once the picture book template  100  is assembled in digital form on the server  203 , it is transmitted to the client  206  and viewed through the browser  219  or other application. A particular user of the client  206  can then print out the picture book template  100  onto paper or other material via the printer  216 . 
     The network  209  may be, for example, the Internet, wide area networks (WANs), local area networks, or other suitable networks, etc., or any combination of two or more such networks. The server  203 , client  206 , the other servers  213  are coupled to the network  209  to facilitate data communication with other devices through the network  209  in any one of a number of ways that are generally known by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the server  203  or client  206  may be linked to the network  209  through various devices such as, for example, network cards, modems, or other such communications devices. Also, the server  203  or client  206  may be coupled to the network  209  through a local area network and an appropriate network gateway or other arrangements, etc. 
     The memory  226  may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory components. Volatile components are those that do not retain data values upon loss of power. Nonvolatile components are those that retain data upon a loss of power. Thus, the memory  226  may comprise, for example, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard disk drives, floppy disks accessed via an associated floppy disk drive, compact disks accessed via a compact disk drive, magnetic tapes accessed via an appropriate tape drive, and/or other memory components, or a combination of any two or more of these memory components. 
     In addition, the processor  223  may represent multiple processors and the memory  226  may represent multiple memories that operate in parallel. In such a case, the local interface  229  may be an appropriate network that facilitates communication between any two of the multiple processors or between any processor and any of the memories, etc. The local interface  229  may facilitate memory to memory communication as well. The processor  223 , memory  226 , and local interface  229  may be electrical or optical in nature. Also, the memory  226  may be magnetic in nature as discussed above. 
     Also, the server  203 , client  206 , and the other servers  213  may include input devices such as, for example, a keypad, touch pad, touch screen, microphone, scanner, mouse, joystick, or one or more push buttons, etc. User output devices may include display devices, indicator lights, speakers, printers, etc. Specific display devices may be, for example, cathode ray tubes (CRT), a liquid crystal display screens, a gas plasma-based flat panel displays, light emitting diodes, or other display devices. For example, the client  206  includes a display device that is employed to display the browser  219  that is manipulated by a user. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , shown is a functional block diagram of the picture book assembly network  200 , according to the present invention. The book assembly system  236  includes user interface logic  253  and book assembly logic  256 , both of which interface with a database  259 . The user interface logic  253  generates graphical user interfaces  263  that are displayed on the browser  219 . The graphical user interfaces  263  are created by the user interface logic  253  and supplied to the browser  219  via the network  209 . 
     Next, a discussion of the operation of the picture book assembly network  200  is provided. To begin, a user manipulates the browser  219  in the client  206  ( FIG. 3 ) to access the book assembly system  236  on the server  203  ( FIG. 3 ). In this regard, for example, the user interface logic  253  may include a number of web pages that include the graphical user interfaces  263 . Through the graphical user interfaces  263 , a user then identifies and/or otherwise supplies the content items that are to be included in the picture book template  100  ( FIG. 1 ). The content items may be, for example, the images  123  ( FIG. 1 ) and/or blocks of text  126  ( FIG. 1 ) that are to be included in the picture book template  100  ( FIG. 1 ). The user may supply the images  123  and/or blocks of text  126  themselves, or, the user may access a number of images  123  and/or blocks of text  126  stored in the database  259  through appropriate graphical user interfaces  263  generated by the user interface logic  253 . 
     Once the appropriate images  123  and/or text  126  are identified for a particular picture book template  100 , then the book assembly logic  256  assembles the picture book template  100  in digital form. The user interface logic  253  then transmits the picture book template  100  to the browser  219  to be shown to the user via an appropriate graphical user interface  263 . The user may then preview the picture book template  100  and, if it is acceptable, the user may print out the same on the printer  216 . 
     Note that the format of the picture book template  100  that is generated by the book assembly system  236  is a digital format that allows the user to print the document from the printer  216 . In this regard, the picture book template  100  may be embodied in a digital format that may be displayed by the browser  219 . Alternatively, the picture book template  100  may be embodied in a digital format that is recognizable by an application that runs on the client  206  for printing. Such an application may include, for example, Acrobat™ Reader 4.0, a product that is sold by Adobe Systems, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. If the Acrobat Reader 4.0 is used, for example, the picture book template  100  is embodied in a portable document format (.pdf) as is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art. Note that the book assembly logic  356  may obtain the images  123  and text  126  from the client  206 , other servers  213 , or from the database  259  to include in the picture book template  100 . For example, the images  123  may be downloaded into the client  206  from a digital camera or from a portable memory device such as, for example, a floppy disk or a compact disk, etc. Also, the images  123  may be scanned by a scanner locally coupled to the client  206 . Alternatively, the images  123  and the text  126  may be provided to the book assembly logic  356  having been retrieved from the client  206  via the user interface logic  253  and stored in the memory  226  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     With regard to the book assembly system  236 , it is understood that each block represents a module, object, or other grouping or encapsulation of underlying functionality as implemented in programming code. However, the same underlying functionality may exist in one or more modules, objects, or other groupings or encapsulations that differ from those shown in  FIG. 4  without departing from the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , shown is the browser  219  with a first graphical user interface  263   a . The first graphical user interface  263   a  is generated by the user interface logic  253  and supplied to the browser  219  in the client  206  ( FIG. 3 ) to allow a user to input their particular selection of images  123  and text  126  to appear in the picture book template  100 . Note that other graphical configurations beyond that shown in the first graphical user interface  263   a  may be employed as well. The various buttons and fields in the graphical user interface  263   a  may be manipulated by positioning a cursor appropriately with a mouse and pressing the mouse button or “enter” button appropriately as is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art. This is referred to herein as “clicking” on a particular button, etc. Also, users may enter textual information into various fields by manipulating a keyboard or other device. Generally, the specific details regarding the manipulation of various elements of a graphical user interface are generally known by those skilled in the art and are not discussed herein. 
     Keeping this in mind, turning to  FIG. 5 , the first graphical user interface  263   a  includes a title field  303  and a number of image fields  306 . The title field  303  allows a user to enter a title that is a block of text  126  that appears on the first page  116  ( FIG. 1 ) of the picture book template  100 . The first graphical user interface  263  also includes a browse button  309  that can be clicked on by the user to browse through the local memory on the client  206 , such as, for example, a hard drive, or other memory device, to identify various images  123  to be included in the picture book template  100 . The first graphical user interface  263   a  also includes a “see picture collection” button  313  that may be clicked on to cause a further graphical user interface to appear in the browser  219  that provides a selection of images for the user. Finally, the first graphical user interface  263   a  includes a submit button  316  that allows a user to submit the information previously entered into the first graphical user interface  263   a  to the server  203  ( FIG. 3 ). The server  203  then operates to create the picture book template  100  by executing the book assembly logic  356  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , shown is a second graphical user interface  263   b , according to another aspect of the present invention. The second graphical user interface  263   b  is generated by the user interface logic  253  ( FIG. 4 ) in response to the manipulation of the “see picture collection” button  313  ( FIG. 5 ) of the first graphical user interface  263   a  ( FIG. 5 ). Note that other graphical configurations beyond that shown in the second graphical user interface  263   b  may be employed as well. Accordingly, the second graphical user interface  263   b  includes a picture collection  323  that displays a number of pictures  326 . The user may select one of the pictures  326  to be included in the picture book template  100  by clicking on the desired picture  326 . Once a particular picture  326  is selected in the second graphical user interface  263   b , the first graphical user interface  263   a  is automatically displayed with a reference to the selected picture indicated in the image field  306 . Note that the reference may be, for example, a uniform resource locator (URL), file path, or other reference. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , shown is a third graphical user interface  263   c  that is employed to display a digital version of the picture book template  100  ( FIG. 1 ) for confirmation by the user on the client  206  ( FIG. 4 ) according to an aspect of the present invention. Note that other graphical configurations beyond that shown in the first graphical user interface  263   c  may be employed as well. The third graphical user interface  263   c  includes a print button  333 , a revise button  336 , and a “see pages” button  341 . The third graphical user interface  363   c  also includes a viewing box  339  in which to display the digital version of the picture book template  100 . The user may scroll the picture book template  100  within the viewing box  339  as shown. If the user clicks on print  333 , then the picture book template book  100  is supplied to the printer  216  ( FIG. 1 ) and printed out accordingly. If the user clicks on the revise button  336 , then the first graphical user interface  263   a  is displayed where the user may alter any of the given selections that were made previously to regenerate the picture book template  100 . Finally, if the user clicks on the see pages button  341 , then the individual pages  116  are displayed in the viewing box  339  so that the user may determine how each page will appear in detail. Note that toggle buttons or other similar mechanism may appear after the “see pages” button  341  is clicked so that a user may toggle between pages in the viewing box  338 . 
     Note that by clicking on the print button  333 , the user causes the printing of the picture book template  100 , for example, using hypertext markup language (HTML) as is generally by those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the picture book template  100  may be supplied to the client  206  in a digital format that is recognizable by an appropriate application on the client  206  that may be used to print the document on the printer  216 . Such an application may include, for example, Acrobat™ Reader 4.0, a product that is provided by Adobe Systems, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. If the Acrobat Reader 4.0 is used, for example, the picture book template  100  is embodied in a portable document format (.pdf) as is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art. If such is the case, then the particular application may be automatically executed in the client  206  upon receiving the picture book template  100  that facilitates the previewing and printing rather than displaying and printing the picture book template  100  from the browser  219 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , shown is a flowchart of the book assembly logic  256 , according to an aspect of the present invention. The book assembly logic  256  is executed by the server  203  ( FIG. 3 ) as a component of the book assembly system  236  ( FIG. 3 ). Specifically, the book assembly logic  256  is executed to construct the picture book template  100  ( FIG. 1 ) in a digital format that may be transmitted to the client  206  for printing. Beginning with block  343 , the book assembly logic  256  obtains the instructions  109  and the graphical depiction  113  of the instructions to include in the instructions region  106 . The instructions and the graphical depiction  113  are obtained, for example, from the memory  226  ( FIG. 3 ). Thereafter the book assembly logic  256  moves to block  346  in which the header instructions  109  and the graphical depiction  113  are placed in the instructions region  106  of the picture book template  100 . Thereafter, in block  349 , the identifier lines  119  are placed in the picture book template  100 , thereby defining the pages  116 . 
     Then in block  353 , a loop is commenced for each page  116  ( FIG. 1 ) of the resulting picture book. Next in block  356 , the image  123  ( FIG. 1 ) and/or text  126  ( FIG. 1 ) that is to be placed in the current page  116  is sized using various techniques that are known by those with ordinary skill in the art. This is done to ensure that the image  123  or text  126  fits in the particular page  116 . If such is already the case, then the resizing is not performed in block  356 . After block  356 , the book assembly logic  256  moves to block  359  in which the image  123  and/or text  126  is placed in the particular page  116  of the picture book template  100 . The image  123  and/or text  126  is centered and rotated as necessary. Thereafter in block  363 , the book assembly logic  256  determines whether the last page has been processed by including the desired image(s)  123  and/or text  126 . If not, then the book assembly logic  256  reverts back to block  366  where the next page is identified to process. Thereafter, the book assembly logic  256  reverts to block  353  to continue the loop. However, if in block  353  the last page  116  has been processed, then the book assembly logic  256  moves to block  369  in which a completed picture book template  100  is transmitted to the client  206  for printing. This may be done, for example, by supplying the picture book template  100  to the user interface logic  253  that then supplies a graphical user interface  263   c  that includes the picture book template  100  to allow the user to preview and print the picture book template  100 . Alternatively, the picture book template may be supplied directly to the client  206  to be previewed and printed using an appropriate application residing on the client  206  as discussed above. Thereafter, the book assembly logic  256  ends accordingly. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , although the book assembly system  236  of the present invention is embodied in software as discussed above, as an alternative the book assembly system  236  may also be embodied in hardware or a combination of software and hardware. If embodied in hardware, the book assembly system  236  can be implemented as a circuit or state machine that employs any one of or a combination of a number of technologies. These technologies may include, but are not limited to, discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing various logic functions upon an application of one or more data signals, application specific integrated circuits having appropriate logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGA), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other components, etc. Such technologies are generally well known by those skilled in the art and, consequently, are not described in detail herein. 
     The block diagram of  FIG. 4  and the flow chart of  FIG. 8  show the architecture, functionality, and operation of an implementation of the various components of the book assembly system  236 . If embodied in software, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that comprises one or more executable instructions to implement the specified logical function(s). If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function(s). In addition, although the flow chart of  FIG. 8  shows a specific order of execution, it is understood that the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks may be scrambled relative to the order shown. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession in  FIG. 8  may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. It is understood that all such variations are within the scope of the present invention. Also, the block diagram of  FIG. 4  and the flow chart of  FIG. 8  are relatively self-explanatory and are understood by those with ordinary skill in the art to the extent that software and/or hardware can be created by one with ordinary skill in the art to carry out the various logical functions as described herein. 
     Also, the book assembly system  236  can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system such as a computer/processor based system or other system that can fetch or obtain the logic from the computer-readable medium and execute the instructions contained therein. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any medium that can contain, store, or maintain the book assembly system  236  for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system. The computer readable medium can comprise any one of many physical media such as, for example, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor media. More specific examples of a suitable computer-readable medium would include, but are not limited to, a portable magnetic computer diskette such as floppy diskettes or hard drives, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory, or a portable compact disc. 
     Although the invention is shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.