Abstract: A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories.

Abstract: A system, a method, and a user interface are described for personalizing and sending stationery/cards. A reminder list on the user interface includes a list of reminder entries each identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts of the user. A recommendation region is populated one or more recommended stationery/card designs associated with one of the entries in the reminder list. A stationery/card personalization engine provides the user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generates personalized stationery based on the selected stationery/card design and the user input.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating photo stories using video. The method includes receiving a user request to upload a user-specified video stream; determining whether the video stream meets one or more predetermined requirements, uploading the video stream; analyzing the video stream to select video frames for extraction based on a set of predetermined frame selection criteria; extracting the selected video frames from the video image; selecting a story book template to be used with the video images; and generating a preview of the story book template with the video images within a graphical user interface, the user editing the story book template with text and/or moving or modifying the video frames within the preview.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating photo stories using video. The method includes receiving a user request to upload a user-specified video stream; determining whether the video stream meets one or more predetermined requirements, uploading the video stream; analyzing the video stream to select video frames for extraction based on a set of predetermined frame selection criteria; extracting the selected video frames from the video image; selecting a story book template to be used with the video images; and generating a preview of the story book template with the video images within a graphical user interface, the user editing the story book template with text and/or moving or modifying the video frames within the preview.

Abstract: A system, a method, and a user interface are described for personalizing and sending stationery/cards. A reminder list on the user interface includes a list of reminder entries each identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts of the user. A recommendation region is populated one or more recommended stationery/card designs associated with one of the entries in the reminder list. A stationery/card personalization engine provides the user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generates personalized stationery based on the selected stationery/card design and the user input.

Abstract: A system and method are described for searching and providing a ranked list of home products comparable/compatible with an existing product. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: collecting attributes related to home products in a products database, each of the attributes having a weight associated therewith; receiving user input in the form of an existing product; determining input attributes for the existing product; comparing the input attributes with the attributes related to the home products in the products database and responsively determining distances between the input attributes and the attributes related to the home products in the products database; and generating a ranked list of home products from the products database using the determined distances and the weights associated with each of the attributes.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating photo stories using video. The method includes receiving a user request to upload a user-specified video stream; determining whether the video stream meets one or more predetermined requirements, uploading the video stream; analyzing the video stream to select video frames for extraction based on a set of predetermined frame selection criteria; extracting the selected video frames from the video image; selecting a story book template to be used with the video images; and generating a preview of the story book template with the video images within a graphical user interface, the user editing the story book template with text and/or moving or modifying the video frames within the preview.

Abstract: A system, a method, and a user interface are described for personalizing and sending stationery/cards. A reminder list on the user interface includes a list of reminder entries each identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts of the user. A recommendation region is populated one or more recommended stationery/card designs associated with one of the entries in the reminder list. A stationery/card personalization engine provides the user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generates personalized stationery based on the selected stationery/card design and the user input.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories.

Abstract: A system, a method, and a user interface are described for personalizing and sending stationery/cards. A reminder list on the user interface includes a list of reminder entries each identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts of the user. A recommendation region is populated one or more recommended stationery/card designs associated with one of the entries in the reminder list. A stationery/card personalization engine provides the user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generates personalized stationery based on the selected stationery/card design and the user input.

Abstract: A system and method are described for automatically generating and mailing greeting cards on behalf of the end user.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories.

Abstract: A railroad monitoring apparatus includes first and second diverse vital processing units, first and second current sensors configured to measure the current being provided to one or more signaling elements of an item of wayside signaling equipment, and means for measuring voltage levels being supplied to each of the signaling elements. The first processing unit receives a first current measurement from the first current sensor and the measured voltage levels, and the second vital processing unit receives a second current measurement from the second current sensor and the measured voltage levels. The vital processing units are each programmed to determine based on one or more of the first current measurement, the second current measurement and the measured voltage levels: (i) the state of the item of railroad wayside signaling equipment, (ii) failures within the item of railroad wayside signaling equipment, and (iii) failures within the monitoring apparatus itself.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating photo stories using video. The method includes receiving a user request to upload a user-specified video stream; determining whether the video stream meets one or more predetermined requirements, uploading the video stream; analyzing the video stream to select video frames for extraction based on a set of predetermined frame selection criteria; extracting the selected video frames from the video image; selecting a story book template to be used with the video images; and generating a preview of the story book template with the video images within a graphical user interface (GUI), the user editing the story book template with text and/or moving or modifying the video frames within the preview.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are described in which an appropriate pricing structure for a new stationery design is identified by automatically comparing attributes of the stationery design with attributes of existing stationery designs which have assigned pricing structures. In one embodiment, the attributes are prioritized such that certain attributes are weighted more than other attributes when determining an appropriate price structure. For example, in this embodiment, a search is initially performed for a price structure of an existing stationery product which shares all of the same attributes as the new stationery product. If a match is not found, then the least significant attribute is removed from the set of search criteria and another search is performed. This process continues until an existing pricing structure of a stationery product which shares the most significant attributes of the new stationery product is identified.

Abstract: A graphical user interface, system and method are described for managing a contacts database within an online stationery service. A presentation logic receives contacts to whom personalized stationery will be mailed and generates a graphical user interface comprising: a first region for displaying the contacts received from the stationery service contacts manager, the contacts within the contacts selectable via a user input device, a second region comprising a series of data field for entering a new contact via a user input device, and a third region displaying the contacts to whom the online stationery service will mail stationery directly on behalf of the user, the contacts within the third region selected from the first region or entered in the second region. A print module generates a print job to print the personalized stationery and envelopes containing the address information for the user-selected contacts.

Abstract: A system, a method, and a user interface are described for personalizing and sending stationery/cards. A reminder list on the user interface includes a list of reminder entries each identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts of the user. A recommendation region is populated one or more recommended stationery/card designs associated with one of the entries in the reminder list. A stationery/card personalization engine provides the user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generates personalized stationery based on the selected stationery/card design and the user input.