Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory physical storage medium for rendering theme-based digital assets in a media-based project having one or more searchable templates searchable through a graphical user interface (GUI), the method including tagging each of the searchable templates with one or more tag words relative to each searchable template's content; automatically retrieving one or more tag words corresponding to a current template of a currently-active media-based project; automatically retrieving one or more related tag words that correspond to the tag words of the current template; automatically forming one or more tag groups for the current template, each tag group comprising one or more of the tag words and/or one or more of the related tag words; and automatically searching for one or more related templates from among the searchable templates using one or more of the tag groups as search terms in a search engine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for automatically aggregating a plurality of system users into participants for a group activity. In some embodiments, the method comprises generating a personal profile of each system user; generating one or more preference profiles of a desired participant for a respective group activity; identifying the personal profiles of the system users that meet the one or more preference profiles; comparing information in the personal profiles to determine a strength-of-match between system users populating the group activity; optionally grouping of the participants into a plurality of subgroups according to the strength-of-match between each member of the subgroup; and assigning the participants to the group activity based on the strength-of-match. The present invention automates the process of organizing groups of friends and/or strangers for participation in group activities, such as movie outings, sports outings, company events, and so on.

Abstract: Methods and systems for editing media rich photo projects are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention uses drag and drop features to add a photo to a spread, to remove a photo from the spread, and/or to create a new spread. In another embodiment, drop areas are utilized to facilitate addition and removal of photos at an editor. In another embodiment, drop targets are determined by an animated highlight of a drop target, a time delay allowing a user to wait until a drop target is auto-selected by the pre-set rules of the editor, and pre-set rules of a drop target as determined by the location of a drop. Furthermore, drop targets are determined by location coordinates of a photo over the spread before being dropped, proximity of a dragged photo with a photo slot, or a pre-calculated photo slot based on pre-set rules.

Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory physical storage medium for rendering theme-based digital assets in a media-based project having one or more searchable templates searchable through a graphical user interface (GUI), the method including tagging each of the searchable templates with one or more tag words relative to each searchable template's content; automatically retrieving one or more tag words corresponding to a current template of a currently-active media-based project; automatically retrieving one or more related tag words that correspond to the tag words of the current template; automatically forming one or more tag groups for the current template, each tag group comprising one or more of the tag words and/or one or more of the related tag words; and automatically searching for one or more related templates from among the searchable templates using one or more of the tag groups as search terms in a search engine.

Abstract: A system rendering theme-based digital assets used in creating and editing image and or text-based projects searchable through a graphics user interface (GUI) includes a server connected to a network, the server having access to least one processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium, and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing, a first function for tagging each template with multiple tag words relative to template content and function, a second function for forming tag groups from the template tags, a third function for providing a search engine for searching for templates using one or a grouping of the tag words as search input.

Abstract: Methods and systems for editing media rich photo projects are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention uses drag and drop features to add a photo to a spread, to remove a photo from the spread, and/or to create a new spread. In another embodiment, drop areas are utilized to facilitate addition and removal of photos at an editor. In another embodiment, drop targets are determined by an animated highlight of a drop target, a time delay allowing a user to wait until a drop target is auto-selected by the pre-set rules of the editor, and pre-set rules of a drop target as determined by the location of a drop. Furthermore, drop targets are determined by location coordinates of a photo over the spread before being dropped, proximity of a dragged photo with a photo slot, or a pre-calculated photo slot based on pre-set rules.

Abstract: A system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects includes a server connected to a network and having access a processor and a data repository, and software running from a non-transitory physical medium, the software providing for establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in project creation and or in project editing through a graphics user interface (GUI), establishing a layout grid and defining gridlines as snap-to targets, establishing snap guides for specified assets to be placed on a canvass in an image and or text-based project, and establishing a distance threshold representing the distance between an asset and a gridline before snapping occurs, selectively de-activating or deleting gridlines for snap-to functionality with certain assets based on breach of an asset population threshold.

Abstract: A system for working with image and or text-based projects includes a server having access to a processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function for establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, a second function for initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in working with the image and/or text-based projects through a graphics user interface (GUI), a third function for acquiring and recording current font attributes for text-based items on a page that is to be remixed, and a fourth function for calculating a best unified set of font attributes for the text-based items subject to the remixed page.

Abstract: A photo-based project and associated printed photobook having a flush photo collage, or montage, on the front cover are disclosed. In one embodiment, a photobook is made by receiving a plurality of images corresponding to a photo-project; storing said plurality of images in a data repository; receiving a print order for a printed photobook corresponding to the photo-project; in response to the print order, printing a photo-strip having one or more of the images; producing a front cover by compressing a compressible cover material to form a channel in the compressible cover material, wherein the channel is of a size and a shape matching the photo-strip; wrapping the compressible cover material with the channel around a cover board to make the front cover; and setting the photo-strip permanently into the channel and flush with the front cover to create the photobook.

Abstract: In an online collage-based editor, a method for determining an effective aspect ratio for a selected project orientation that includes a group of two or more available page sizes having different aspect ratios and displaying a project page at a derived aspect ratio in the GUI during editing includes the steps (a) determining for each page size in the group, the viewable area of each page, (b) recording the aspect ratios of the viewable areas of step (a), (c) using a mathematical function, describing a total amount of error present amongst the available aspect ratios of step (b) for a given aspect ratio, (d) using a mathematical program, process, or automated calculation tool, finding the effective aspect ratio that minimizes the function and hence the error value of step (c), and (e) displaying the project page at the selected effective aspect ratio.

Abstract: A system includes a server having access to least one processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing for establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in working with the image and/or text-based projects through a graphics user interface (GUI), facilitating division of an image into a fractal image components for presentation on editable canvas in the GUI using more than one photo slot to present the fractal image components, coordinating the positions of the fractal views together, and translating the positional data resulting from the movement of a fractal image component in one photo slot to all of the other photo slots hosting the fractal image presentation.

Abstract: A method has steps receiving a plurality of digital images at a network-connected computing appliance, sorting the plurality of images by one or more functions of software executing from a non-transitory physical medium on the computing appliance to determine a subset of images that are related according to data associated with individual ones of the digital images, and dedicating the determined subset of images to a single page of a photo album being prepared by the software.

Abstract: A system for creating image and or text-based projects includes a server connected to a network, the server having access to least one processor and a data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium, and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function for establishing a client server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network, a second function for initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users involved in project creation and or in project editing through a graphics user interface (GUI), a third function for establishing a cache memory on the at least one operated computing appliance, the cache dedicated for caching user and server-side data, a fourth function for caching user actions in the cache memory, and a fifth function for persisting the cached data to the server.

Abstract: A project network service includes a server connected to the network, the server having access to least one processor and at least one data repository, the server including a non-transitory physical medium and software running from the non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance, a second function registering at least one individual to use the service, a third function initiating and maintaining an active data session between one or more users through a graphics user interface (GUI), a fourth function accepting data input and asset contributions from the one or more users, a fifth function recording and applying the input, a sixth function facilitating a transaction for at least one project created through the GUI, and a seventh function orchestrating and managing production and delivery of the project to the one or more users.

Abstract: Methods and systems of inter-relating themes via a design and a layout relationship are disclosed, offering flexibility in design and data relationships of media-based projects. In one embodiment, an Internet user at a user-device selects a theme from a plurality of available themes, the theme being a collection of designsets. The system automatically selects a design from the designsets that best fits the content provided by the user. The design automatically inherits a layout from a layoutset corresponding to the automatically selected design. The design defines style and formatting over the layout, while the layout defines the locations of photos and text. When a user selects a different theme, the system can quickly adjust the design without input from the user, increasing user friendliness and usability. The user can create additional personal customizations, and print the final design to create a photobook or other media-based project.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for updating pricing information for participation in a group activity for a plurality of users. In one embodiment, a method comprises enabling definition of group activities for participation by the users, definition including at least attributes desired of users to participate; creating personal profiles for users of the system, including one or more of personal attributes, data regarding activity preferences, activity participation history, user location, and user calendar of pending activity; determining initial pricing to be enforced for participation in a pending group activity; evaluating information about users scheduled to participate in the pending group activity periodically after the initial pricing is determined; adjusting the pricing for the activity based on results of the periodic evaluation; and publishing an updated pricing accessible to the participating users over the network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automating insertion of content into media-based projects are disclosed. In one embodiment, images are uploaded from a user device to a server. The server performs image analysis on the uploaded images and obtains automatic image information. After presentation of the initial project, the user manually interacts with the uploaded images to provide user inputs to the project. The system observes the user interactions to generate manual image information based on the user interactions with the project. Based on the automatic image information and the manual image information, the present invention automatically updates a printable photobook or other media-based project after automatically inserting relevant content into the project. This produces a faster and more seamless user experience, and increases the number of customers purchasing the ultimate product by minimizing friction points to purchase.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically aggregating a plurality of system users into participants for a group activity having a plurality of assigned spaces, the participants automatically grouped into a plurality of subgroups based on desired attributes of each member of the subgroup. In some embodiments, the method comprises generating a personal profile of each system user; generating one or more preference profiles of a desired participant for a respective group activity; identifying the personal profiles of the system users that meet the one or more preference profiles; comparing information in the personal profiles to determine a strength-of-match between system users populating the group activity; grouping of the participants into the plurality of subgroups according to the strength-of-match between each member of the subgroup; and assigning the participants of the group activity, grouped into the subgroups, to the plurality of spaces in the group activity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for background uploading of media files are presented that greatly improve efficiency and user-experience in creating media-based projects. In one embodiment, a user selects original media files at a user-device for an upload. The user-device first resizes the original files to resized files and uploads them to a server, and second the original files start uploading in a background computer process. The server then allows the user to create, edit, manipulate, and even finish building the project without having to wait for the original files to upload completely, during which time the user-device gives the user an illusionary impression of a completed upload, even while the original files are still uploading. Finally, the user-device completes the upload of the original files to the server, either while the user is editing the project, or after the user has completed editing the project using an upload widget.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a server, system, and method for automatically creating a photo-based project based on photo analysis and image metadata is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: receiving a plurality of images from a user-device, reading embedded metadata from the plurality of images, and storing said plurality of images in a data repository; performing photo analysis on the plurality of images in the data repository to determine a visual content and relevant metadata in the images; customizing the photo-based project automatically by performing one or more automatic customization actions based on the visual content in and the relevant metadata in the plurality of images; placing the plurality of images automatically in one or more particular page layouts of the photo-based project based on the customization performed; and generating a printed product comprising the plurality of images based on the customization performed.