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 network system for posting content at a web site includes computer servers configured to host a web site for a group of users, and a data storage configured to store an email address in association with a destination at the website. The computer servers can receive an email message at the email address by the computer servers from a user. A computer processor can automatically extract content from the email message. The computer servers can automatically post the content extracted from the email message at the destination at the website.

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 system and method are described for managing a contacts database within an online stationery service.

Abstract: A graphical user interface, system and method are described for managing a contacts database within an online stationery service. For example, one embodiment of the invention comprises a graphical user interface comprising: a first region for displaying the listing of contacts received from the stationery service contacts manager, the contacts within the listing of 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; a third region displaying a list of contacts to whom the online stationery service will mail stationery directly on behalf of the end user, the contacts within the third region selected from the first region or entered in the second region; and a print module to generate a print job to print the personalized stationery and envelopes containing the address information for the user-selected contacts.

Abstract: A system implemented by an online stationery/card service is described allowing a user to personalize and send non-electronic stationery/cards, the system comprising: a Web-based GUI for designing stationery/cards and envelopes for the stationery/cards comprising: an envelope design region for designing an envelope to be used for mailing the stationery/cards selected by the end user, the envelope design region comprising: a return address region comprising one or more text boxes for entering a return address of the end user; an address region comprising one or more text boxes for entering the address of a recipient, wherein the address region includes a first link to generate a list of contacts in the user's contacts database and a second link to generate one or more options for contacting the recipient when the user does not know the address of the recipient.

Abstract: A system, method and graphical user interface (GUI) are described for managing a contacts and calendar database within an online stationery/card service.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating personalized stationery online. For example, a computer-implemented method according to one embodiment comprises: defining variable types including formatting options to be used in stationery templates; specifying variables to be used for a particular stationery template, each of the variables being assigned a particular variable type; creating a global template for a product category of stationery; extracting metadata from a file or other content provided by a stationery designer; and creating a product template using information contained in the global template and the metadata extracted from the file.

Abstract: A method for producing a photo album includes providing a library of page layouts, selecting a first group of one or more images to be placed in the first page of the photo album, selecting a second group of one or more images to be placed in the second page of the photo album, graphically displaying the first group of one or more images within a first border that represents a first page, graphically displaying the second group of one or more images within a second border that represents a second page, automatically selecting a first page layout from the library of page layouts, and automatically placing the first group of one or more images into the one or more image receiving areas in the first page layout to produce the first page in the photo album.

Abstract: A method for producing a photo album includes sorting images according to a primary predetermined criterion, separating the sorted images into a first page group and a second page group using one or more secondary criteria, and automatically selecting a first page layout from a library of page layouts. The first page layout includes a same number of one or more image receiving areas as the number of one or more images in the first page group. The one or more images in the first page group are automatically placed into the one or more image receiving areas in the first page layout.

Abstract: A method for producing a gift card for a gift imaging product, comprises receiving an order of the gift imaging product from a user, producing the gift imaging product, producing the gift card by the user for the gift imaging product; and consolidating the gift card with the gift imaging product into one package.

Abstract: An automated manufacturing system comprises a computer processing system and a plurality of consolidation systems. The computer processing system receives information on product subbatches and product packages and consolidation status information to produce consolidation assignment information, each product package comprising one or more product subbatches. The consolidation systems receive the product subbatches in accordance to the consolidation assignment information and consolidate the product subbatches into product packages, wherein the status of the consolidation systems are tracked and the consolidation status information is sent to the computer processing system.

Abstract: A user interface for a computer device includes an image collage layout including a plurality of image receiving areas each configured to receive an image, a first control configured to select a number of the image receiving areas in the image collage layout, a second control configured to select tilt angles of one or more of the image receiving areas in the image collage layout, a third control configured to select an amount of padding between the image receiving areas in the image collage layout, and a fourth control configured to select a width of a canvas border for the image receiving areas in the image collage layout, wherein the first control, the second control, the third control, and the fourth control are configured to be actuated by a user.

Abstract: A system and method are described for digitally processing a stationery order and for selecting an optimum fulfillment site for fulfilling the stationery order. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: providing an end user with a set of selectable stationery templates, the stationery personalization engine receiving an indication that an end user has selected a particular one of the stationery templates; collecting personalization data from the user, the personalization data including personalized messages, one or more stationery formatting options selected by the user, and names and addresses of stationery recipients; applying the personalization data to the stationery templates to generate a personalized stationery design; identifying a set of eligible fulfillment sites for printing the stationery design based on a first set of variables; and identifying an optimal fulfillment site from the set of eligible fulfillment sites based on a second set of variables.

Abstract: An image management system includes a first storage device configured to store a list of image identifiers indexed by one or more image property descriptors, wherein each of the image identifiers corresponds to a digital image, an index processor in communication with the first storage device, configured to write the image identifiers and the associated image property descriptors for each image identifier in the image index storage, and a search processor in communication with the first storage device, configured to receive a specified image property descriptor and to identify one or more image identifiers that match the specified image property descriptor.

Abstract: A method for producing a photo album includes providing a library of page layouts, selecting a first group of one or more images to be placed in the first page of the photo album, selecting a second group of one or more images to be placed in the second page of the photo album, graphically displaying the first group of one or more images within a first border that represents a first page, graphically displaying the second group of one or more images within a second border that represents a second page, automatically selecting a first page layout from the library of page layouts, and automatically placing the first group of one or more images into the one or more image receiving areas in the first page layout to produce the first page in the photo album.

Abstract: An automated printing system for producing an image-based product comprises a server computer that receives from a first user a group of one or more copyright protected digital images and price information for image-based product. The price information can be distinct for each group of copyright protected digital images. The automated printing system also includes a computer processor that processes the copyright protected digital images in response to an order from a second user and calculates payment to the first user based on the price information and a digital printer that produces the image-based product in response to the processed copyright protected digital image.

Abstract: A system and method are described for digitally processing a stationery order and for selecting an optimum fulfillment site for fulfilling the stationery order. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: providing an end user with a set of selectable stationery templates, the stationery personalization engine receiving an indication that an end user has selected a particular one of the stationery templates; collecting personalization data from the user, the personalization data including personalized messages, one or more stationery formatting options selected by the user, and names and addresses of stationery recipients; applying the personalization data to the stationery templates to generate a personalized stationery design; identifying a set of eligible fulfillment sites for printing the stationery design based on a first set of variables; and identifying an optimal fulfillment site from the set of eligible fulfillment sites based on a second set of variables.

Abstract: A sensing device for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) includes a substrate, a plurality of nano structures over the substrate, wherein at least one of the nano structures comprises an active SERS nano surface and an adsorption layer on the active SERS nano surface.

Abstract: A data structure for a photo book kit includes a first data object, a second data object, and a third data object. The first data object includes first image data to define a first image, and a first image location to define the position of the first image on a page of a photo book. The second data object includes second image data to define a second image and a second image location to define the position of the second image on a cover of the photo book. The third data object includes third image data to define a third image and a third image location to define the position of the third image on a book accessory that is to be assembled with the photo book to form the personalized photo book kit.