Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for personalizing printed media such as (but not limited to) catalogs, magazines, and books are disclosed. Personalized components are created before binding of the media occurs, reducing use of ink-jet printers on-line. At least the personalized components contain machine-readable indicia to permit identification and coordination of use of the components during the binding processes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to forming printed or similar media such as (but not limited to) catalogs, magazines, and books and more particularly to methods and processes of creating multiple personalized components of the media prior to their being combined with generic components. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,128 of Harris, Jr., et al., incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, discloses methods and apparatus “for incorporating pre-personalized signatures within magazines . . . which are intelligently matched to recipient name and address information printed on the covers of the magazines . . . ” See Harris, Jr., Abstract, 11. 1-5. 
     As described therein: 
     It is often desirable to personalize magazines by printing information specific to the individual recipient inside the magazine. For example, an advertising page in the magazine might be personalized with the name of the recipient and the location of the dealer closest to the recipient&#39;s address. Personalization of this type is also widely used in the print media field, and is generally known as on-line personalization or ink-jet personalization—a term derived from the printing device customarily employed. 
     See id., col. 1, 1. 67 through col. 2, 1. 8. 
     To accomplish the intended results of its disclosed methods and apparatus, the Harris, Jr. patent describes processes involving “pre-personalizing off-line signatures with personalization information including machine readable indicia.” These signatures are then loaded into binding-line hoppers and deposited between “chain pins” on conveyors. A symbol-reading device deciphers the indicia and generates the name and address of the recipient of each printed document and, using an ink-jet printer forming part of the binding line, prints the address information on the cover signature of that particular document. See id., col. 6, 11. 45-63. 
     Conventionally, personalization of printed documents such as magazines or catalogs has been restricted to an area of a central insert (such as an order form or advertising page) and, as discussed in the Harris, Jr. patent, the cover. Size, space, and speed limitations relating to binding lines and ink-drying times, in particular, preclude effective use of on-line ink-jet printers for personalizing documents beyond creating relatively few characters of address or other information. Thus, traditional magazines and catalogs made in high-volume binding lines contain little true personalization of their contents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, by contrast, admits substantially greater personalization of the contents of printed or similar media (sometimes generically referred to herein as “books”) formed on a binding line. Useful regardless of binding-line type (whether “stitching” or “perfect binding,” for example, “selective” or “non-selective,” or “custody” or “non-custody”), the invention contemplates off-line preparation of both personalized signatures and covers, unlike the methods of the Harris, Jr. patent. These personalized components are encoded with indicia to permit their identification and coordination of their use. Because created entirely off-line, they additionally can be examined (electronically or otherwise) before entering the binding line to ensure their correct sequencing and number. 
     In embodiments of the invention utilized in connection with selective-binding processes, a computerized file used to produce the pre-personalized components likewise can function as the basis for the master driver file for the bindery controller. After establishing for the controller appropriate configurations for the media to be created, the controller is provided information identifying which signature is in each particular “pocket” (area) of the line. Indicia present on each personalized signature in a pocket may be read (either before, as, or after the signatures enter the pocket) to form a computerized buffer containing records of each signature. Typically, the number of available records in the buffer will exceed the number of chain pins for the binding lines, allowing creation of new records on-line (and consequent production of “omits” or “re-order” books) to account for binding errors. Because production of a relatively generic omit book can occur utilizing the next available chain pin space, it often can remain in the same mail or zip-code batch as was originally intended. 
     Indicia on personalized signatures may be read again as each signature enters a chain pin space of the binding-line conveyor. Verification of the indicia in an appropriate buffer record permits the master driver file to control selective feeding of other appropriate signatures into that space. The result is a printed medium which may contain either or both of one or more pre-personalized and generic components, with feeding of the pre-personalized signatures having been coordinated so that all personalization is consistent for the intended recipient of the medium. 
     A typical computerized record for a printed medium may contain fields detailing the “book number” of the medium, its chain pin location, and both demographic and address-related information of the intended recipient. In selective binding processes, such demographic information is often expressed in terms of which of the available signatures will be used to make a particular medium. Whereas a first recipient may receive the first, third, and fifth available signatures, for example, a second recipient might instead receive the first, second, and fourth signatures. Yet another recipient might receive only the third and fourth signatures. In each case, the types of signatures received by the recipient depends, at least in part (and either directly or indirectly), on information about her or him. In the present invention, additional fields in each record link the information to locations of pre-personalized signatures prepared to enter the binding line. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide off-line, pre-personalization of both covers and other components of printed media formed on a binding line. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to enhance the area available for personalized information in media prepared on high-speed binding lines by performing the personalization off-line. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for coordinating use of multiple personalized signatures or components intended to appear in a single medium directed to a particular recipient. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for recognizing the existence of certain defects in particular media and re-ordering production of relatively-generic replacement media (omits). 
     It is also an object of the present invention to avoid use of ink-jet printers on the binding line (except, perhaps, to print name and address information on omits). 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide and maintain computerized records of locations of personalized components both before and after (or as) such components enter a binding line. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the remainder of the text and drawings of this application. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exemplary, pre-personalized signature bearing information personal to a (fictitious) person named “Joe Smith.” 
     FIG. 2 is an exemplary, pre-personalized signature bearing information personal to a (fictitious) person named “Jane Doe.” 
     FIG. 3 is an exemplary, pre-personalized cover signature bearing information personal to the Mr. Smith referenced in the description of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an exemplary, pre-personalized cover signature bearing information personal to the Ms. Doe referenced in the description of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exemplary, generic cover signature to which address information has been added personal to the Ms. Doe referenced in the description of FIG.  3 . 
     FIGS. 6A-C schematically depict generic signatures for use in connection with those of FIGS. 1-5. 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart detailing exemplary actions and operations forming or consistent with the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram representing a printing system and binding line useful in connection with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrated in FIG. 1 is an exemplary signature  10 A useful for forming a personalized direct-mail catalog for a person named Joe Smith. Signature  10 A is not limited to use in connection with a catalog, however, and alternatively may form a portion of a magazine, book, or other printed medium or thing. Like conventional signatures, signature  10 A may form one or more pages of a printed medium. Unlike conventional signatures used in binding lines, however, signature  10 A has been created and personalized off-line, expanding the flexibility and extent to which it can include personalization. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, for example, signature  10 A may include an entire page designed to promote a sale tailored specifically to Mr. Smith, who in this example is known to be a frequent purchaser of large volumes of paper clips. Accordingly, visible page  14 A of signature  10 A depicts a paper clip and links Mr. Smith&#39;s name to a special sale and price for the clips. Although visible page  18 A of the signature  10 A shows generic information about various office supplies, other pages of signature  10 A may include additional information bearing Mr. Smith&#39;s name (or otherwise personalized for him). 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a signature  10 B whose visible page  14 B promotes a sale tailored specifically for a (fictitious) person named Jane Doe believed likely to respond favorably to reduced prices for envelopes. By contrast with that of page  14 A, therefore, the information on page  14 B links Ms. Doe&#39;s name to a depiction of an envelope and the relevant pricing information. Page  18 B may be the same as page  18 A if desired to present to Ms. Doe generic information about other office supplies, and various other pages within signature  10 B may either be personalized or generic as desired. Signatures  10 A and  10 B nevertheless form part of the same signature set  10  for purposes of this explanation, as the personalization described herein applies in connection with (and is different from) arguable “personalization” available through use of conventional selective binding methods. In other words, although some arguable “personalization” may be achieved by selectively including or omitting generic signatures from certain of the media, it differs from the true personalization achievable through use of the present invention. 
     Included on each of respective pages  14 A and  14 B is machine-readable indicia  22 A and  22 B. Indicia  22 A may contain as much information as desired about Mr. Smith and signature  10 A; at minimum, however, it includes information sufficient to facilitate signature  10 A being incorporated into a medium containing other signatures, if present, personalized for Mr. Smith (and usually only Mr. Smith). Similarly, indicia  22 B contains at least such information respecting Ms. Doe. Because intended to be read by machine, the information of indicia  22 A and  22 B may be encoded and not intelligible by mere visual examination. 
     FIGS. 3-4 represent cover signatures  26 A and  26 B, respectively. Like signatures  10 A and  10 B, cover signatures  26 A and  26 B may contain personalized information (such as shown on visible cover pages  30 A and  30 B) and, for purposes of this explanation, are part of the same cover signature set  30 . Cover signature  26 A, for example, includes text informing Mr. Smith that the catalog is made especially for him; it additionally includes Mr. Smith&#39;s name and mailing address. By contrast, cover signature  26 B identifies a catalog as having been created especially for Ms. Doe and contains her name and mailing address on page  30 B. Unlike the ink-jet addressing of the signatures of the Harris, Jr. patent, however, personalization of cover signatures  30 A and  30 B is designed to occur off-line and need not (although possibly could) involve use of ink-jet printers. 
     Indicia  34 A and  34 B appear on signatures  26 A and  26 B. Similar to indicia  22 A, indicia  34 A may include information sufficient to facilitate signature  30 A being incorporated into a medium containing other signatures, if present, personalized for Mr. Smith (and usually only Mr. Smith). Indicia  34 B facilitates signature  30 B being incorporated into a medium containing signatures personalized, typically, only for Ms. Doe. 
     Customarily, therefore, the catalog received by Mr. Smith will include personalized signatures  10 A and  26 A and exclude signatures  10 B and  26 B, while that sent to Ms. Doe will include personalized signatures  10 B and  26 B (but not signatures  10 A and  26 A). Coordination of use of signatures  10 A,  10 B,  26 A, and  26 B is thus important to forming the catalogs correctly. This is particularly true given that production of the signatures  10 A,  10 B,  26 A, and  26 B may occur at a site remote from the binding line, requiring extensive handling—and consequent opportunity for mishandling—of them before they are fed onto the binding line conveyor. 
     FIGS. 6A-C depict exemplary generic signatures GS 1 , GS 2 , and GS 3 , some or all of which also may be included in catalogs received either by Mr. Smith, Ms. Doe, or both. If selective binding techniques are employed, for example, Mr. Smith may receive a catalog containing signatures GS 1  and GS 2  in addition to personalized signatures  10 A and  30 A. Demographic data respecting Ms. Doe may dictate she receive a catalog containing signatures GS 2  and GS 3  as well as personalized signatures  10 B and  30 B. Those skilled in the art will, of course, recognize that many other combinations of signatures or components are possible and greater or fewer numbers of signatures may be incorporated into any particular printed medium. 
     Shown in FIG. 7 is a chart describing actions which may occur in connection with the present invention. Initially, a computerized mailing list is developed or obtained (block  50 ). Such list often includes names, corresponding addresses, and both demographic data and information sufficient to allow sorting of finished products by zip code or to be consistent with postal service guidelines or regulations. (Not all this data and information need necessarily be present, however, and other types of information might also be included.) The list as well may serve as the basis for the master file of computerized records associated with the binding process. 
     Utilizing the list as appropriate, suitable numbers of personalized and generic signatures of a particular medium may be created (block  54 ). In accordance with the invention, some or all personalization occurs before the signatures enter the binding line. This allows printing techniques other than use of small, on-line ink-jet printers to be employed, vastly increasing the amount of personalization available in each signature. (In fact, each page of each signature can be personalized if desired.) It also allows the personalized signatures to be created other than at the binding line, which could be valuable especially if the binding line is unavailable temporarily or otherwise in use. 
     Following their creation, the personalized and generic signatures may be transported to the binding line (block  58 ) if necessary and the master file loaded into the bindery controller (block  62 ). Usually, generic signatures are loaded into pockets of the line (block  66 ); personalized signatures are loaded into pre-feeder stations or areas where indicia corresponding to indicia  22 A,  22 B,  34 A, and  34 B are scanned or otherwise read by machine to create a set of buffer records (block  70 ) from which the integrity of each medium may be verified. The sequence in which personalized signatures are loaded for entry onto the binding line is especially significant, as knowledge of it helps coordinate use of the multiple signatures and match those intended for each particular recipient of the printed medium. 
     Each set of personalized signatures is then fed to its assigned pocket (block  74 ). The binding line operator, who has made the assignments of both the personalized and generic signatures, then informs the controller of the mapping between the pockets and particular types of signatures (block  78 ). If no discrepancies in the sequence and location of signatures is detected, operation of the binding line thereafter can commence (block  82 ). 
     As a simple example, assume one hundred catalogs are to be created, the first twelve of which are for residents (including Mr. Smith and Ms. Doe) of a town who have the same zip code (and perhaps even the same postal carrier). Master records for Mr. Smith, Ms. Doe, and others may be exemplified as follows: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Book 
                 Chain_Pin 
                 GS1 
                 GS2 
                 GS3 
                 10 
                 30 
                 Name 
                 Address 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                  1 
                 A 
                 X 
                 X 
                   
                  1 
                  1 
                 Joe 
                 1 A Road 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Smith 
               
               
                  2 
                 B 
                   
                 X 
                 X 
                  2 
                  2 
                 Jane 
                 1 B Street 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Doe 
               
               
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                 11 
                 L 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
                 11 
                 11 
                 Bob 
                 9 A Road 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Jones 
               
               
                 12 
                 M 
                 X 
                   
                 X 
                 12 
                 12 
                 Ted 
                 7 B Street 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Lee 
               
               
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     According to the first record, the first “book” (catalog) will be created in a chain pin space designated as “A” and is for Mr. Smith of 1 A Road in the town. It will contain non-personalized signatures GS 1  and GS 2  as well as the first signature fed from the set of each of personalized signatures  10  and cover signatures  30 . Depending on the physical locations of the pockets along the binding line, additional information about the sequence in which signatures GS 1 , GS 2 ,  10 , and  30  are fed onto chain pin space “A” may be included in the record. Regardless, however, in this example signatures GS 1 , GS 2 ,  10 , and  30  form a catalog containing both personalized information (within signatures  10  and  30 ) and selective information, the latter being because only two (GS 1  and GS 2 ) of the three possible generic signatures are included in the catalog. 
     The second record appearing above identifies the second “book” as being created in chain pin space “B” and being for Ms. Doe of 1B Street in the town. It includes generic signatures GS 2  and GS 3  together with the second signatures fed from each set of personalized signatures  10  and  30 . The eleventh and twelfth records shown above likewise provide information about catalogs to be prepared for Messrs. Jones and Lee. If the buffer records do not indicate sequences of personalized signatures  10  and  30  in which those for Mr. Smith are fed first, followed by those for Ms. Doe, and with those for Mr. Jones fed eleventh and those for Mr. Lee fed twelfth, an error condition may be announced and binding prevented until the sequence of personalized signatures is changed. 
     If indicia  22  or  34  of each signature  10  and  30  is re-scanned or -read upon entry onto the line (block  86 ), integrity of the coordination can be checked. Continuing with the example above, although chain pin spaces A-I and K-L are already assigned, chain pin space “J” temporarily is unassigned. If personalized signature  10 B for Ms. Doe misfeeds into chain pin space “B” so that indicia  22 B cannot be read properly, the error condition can be such that the line continues to operate but with knowledge that Ms. Doe&#39;s personalized book is ruined. The bindery controller can proceed automatically to direct into chain pin space “B” all other signatures (including cover signature  30 B) personalized for Ms. Doe in order to dispose of all such signatures (block  90 ) and to create a new record requesting that an “omit” book be made for Ms. Doe (block  94 ). The omit book typically would not contain any of the pre-personalized signatures but rather would include only generic signatures (block  98 ), although the generic signatures could be imaged and selective binding techniques could continue to be employed so that Ms. Doe receives only selected ones of the available generic signatures. Moreover, because chain pin space “J” is unassigned in the example, Ms. Doe&#39;s remade book can be formed in that space, in the midst of those being routed to her zip code or postal carrier. 
     Thus, the one hundred first record in this example might read, at least in part: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Book 
                 Chain_Pin 
                 GS1 
                 GS2 
                 GS3 
                 10 
                 30 
                 Name 
                 Address 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 101 
                 J 
                   
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
                 Jane 
                 1 B Street 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Doe 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     According to this record, Ms. Doe would continue to receive a catalog made of generic signatures GS 2  and GS 3  (but not GS 1 ). Rather than having the personalized signatures from the sequences of signatures  10  and  30 , however, she will receive generic ones of these as well. Because in this example signature  30  is the cover signature, the re-ordered book for Ms. Doe will not have any pre-printed address information. Instead, an on-line ink-jet (or other) printer, or a labelling system, can be used to print or provide such information for Ms. Doe on a generic cover signature  30  (block  102 ), as shown in FIG.  5 . This does, however, represent the only type of situation in which printing needs to occur as part of the binding line, avoiding the disadvantages associated with performing substantial amounts of such printing on-line. 
     If either the original catalog or remade book is acceptable, it may travel to one or more additional stations for final processing (block  106 ) and transport or mailing. The invention thus provides methods and apparatus for pre-personalizing mass quantities of printed media, validating the integrity of the media during its creation on a binding line, and correcting certain errors without disrupting either the line itself or the formation sequence. Although the foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention, modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.