Abstract:
A system and method for making a personalized wallpaper border product, includes means for providing at least one personal digital image; a work station for receiving the at least one personal digital image and arranging the at least one personal digital image in a pattern suitable for printing on a wallpaper border strip; and an inkjet printer for printing the pattern on the strip.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of printed products, and more particularly to a printed product incorporating personal digital images.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The use of wallpaper borders are a popular way to decorate a room. Although a large selection of wallpaper border designs is available from wallpaper manufacturers, the problem with available wallpaper borders is that the available designs are not personalized.  
           [0003]    There is a need therefore for an improved wallpaper border product that is personalized to the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The need is met according to the present invention by providing a system and method for making a personalized wallpaper border product, that includes means for providing at least one personal digital image; a work station for receiving the at least one personal digital image and arranging the at least one personal digital image in a pattern suitable for printing on a wallpaper border strip; and an inkjet printer for printing the pattern on the strip. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a personalized wallpaper border product according to the present invention;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a printer for making the personalized wallpaper border product according to the present invention; and  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a system for making the personalized wallpaper border product according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    Referring first to FIG. 1, a personalized wallpaper border product  10  according to the present invention is shown. The product  10  includes a strip of wallpaper having one or more personal color images  12  printed thereon. The images may be framed in a decorative shape  14 , and the product may include, for example, a decorative border  16 . The wallpaper border product is used as a room decoration and is applied around the walls of a room as is known in the prior art, slightly lower than the ceiling.  
         [0009]    Referring to FIG. 2, a color inkjet printer  18  for generating a personalized wallpaper product according to the present invention is shown. The printer  18  includes a color ink jet print head  20 , an ink supply  22  connected to the print head for delivering colored ink to the print head  20 . A paper handling system includes a supply roll  24 , a take-up roll  26  for holding a roll of border wallpaper stock  27 , and a drive roller  28  for moving the border wallpaper past the print head  20 . The printer can receive a source of personal digital images  30 , such as a digital memory card or picture CD via a reader  32 , or a via a computer connection to a personal computer. An operator control panel for arranging the personal digital images in a pattern for a wallpaper border, includes a display screen  34 , a keyboard  36  or a joystick  37 . Control electronics  38  which preferably includes a microprocessor, is connected to the elements of the printer for executing programs to allow a user to compose a wallpaper border pattern using the personal images, and for causing the print head  20  to print the pattern on the border wallpaper stock  27 .  
         [0010]    In operation, the user loads a blank roll of wallpaper border stock  27  in the printer  18 , and inputs one or more personal images into the printer. The printer control electronics  38  is programmed to display the personal image(s) on the display screen  34 , along with a graphic user interface that assists the user in designing a personalized pattern for the wallpaper. The graphical user interface can include for example a selection of decorative shapes for framing the personal images, and a selection of decorative borders. The interface may also provide a selection of image processing effects that can be applied to the personal image(s). After the user has designed the desired pattern, the user can input the total length of wallpaper border desired, and start the printing. The ink jet printer then applies the personalized pattern to the indicated length of wallpaper stock.  
         [0011]    Referring to FIG. 3, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the pattern is designed on a work station  40 , such as a personal computer, that is connected by a communication network  42 , such as the Internet to an image fulfillment center  44 . The image fulfillment center  44  receives the pattern, and an order for a defined quantity of personalized wallpaper border from the remote work station  40 , prints the ordered quantity on a printer  18 , and delivers the printed wallpaper border  41  to the customer by common carrier  46 . The work station  40  may be located in a customer&#39;s home, or in a retail establishment, such as a paint and wallpaper store. The fulfillment center can provide a web server  48  that supports a web site that can be visited by a customer at the work station to upload the customer&#39;s digital images and design the personalized border pattern.  
         [0012]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
                                         PARTS LIST                                10   personalized wallpaper border product       12   personal color images       14   decorative shape       16   decorative border       18   ink jet printer       20   ink jet print head       22   ink supply       24   supply roll       26   take-up roll       27   paper stock       28   drive roller       30   source of personal digital images       32   memory card reader       34   display screen       36   keyboard       37   joystick       38   control electronics       40   workstation       41   printed wallpaper border       42   communication network       44   image fulfillment center       46   common carrier       48   web server