Abstract: Computer-readable media, systems, and methods are provided for prompting a customer of a service to submit digital content to the service in order to generate an online compilation. Input from the customer may be received in response to communications from the service. Temporal preference information may then be extracted from the input by determining time periods at which the customer most commonly provides the input in response to the communications. Based on the time periods at which the customer most commonly provides input, a prompting scheme may be derived, where the prompting scheme governs scheduling an automatic distribution of subsequent communications to the customer at the time periods at which the customer most commonly provides the input. The subsequent communications may then be distributed to the customer in accordance with the prompting scheme.

Abstract: A merchandiser for displaying items at an angle with respect to a rear panel of a display fixture is formed from flat sheets. The merchandiser has first and second side panels separated by a bottom panel along first and second fold lines that are generally parallel to each other. The first and second panels are offset from each other and may be folded toward each other to a generally parallel orientation. The merchandiser has tabs extend from a rear thereof that may be received in slots in the rear panel of the fixture to couple the merchandiser thereto. The merchandiser is reversible and may be folded into a functional form which angles to either the right or the left with respect to the panel to which they are coupled to allow customers to easily view the front of items held therein while still maintaining a high density of display.

Abstract: An interactive toy for interacting with a user while a story is being read aloud from a book or played from a movie/video. The toy includes a speech recognition unit that receives and detects certain triggering phrases as they are read aloud or played from a companion literary work. The triggering phrase read aloud from the book or played in the movie/video may have independent significance or may only have significance when combined with other phrases read aloud from the book or played in the movie/video. In one embodiment, the toy is configured to detect only certain types of triggering prompts in certain states, such as, for example, triggering phrases or triggering terms. In this embodiment, and others, the toy is configured to switch between states such that it can at times respond to triggering terms and at other times respond to triggering phrases.

Abstract: A gift box is described for housing a plurality of pop-up elements that are automatically presented to a user when a lid of the box is removed. The box includes an interior portion enclosed by a base and sidewalls around its outer periphery. The interior portion of the gift box contains a central tower coupled to four levers that each pivot on a respective sidewall. The central tower and/or the four levers additionally have one or more paper pop-up elements attached thereto that are presented to a user when the box is opened. A band passing through the interior portion of the box stores the mechanical energy necessary to cause the four levers to pivot on the sidewalls, thereby generating the force to move the central tower out of the box when the lid is removed.

Abstract: A method of displaying merchandise creates a more user friendly display that facilitates quicker and easier shopping for a consumer. The display includes an information communication hierarchy that conveys various levels of information to consumers. The hierarchy includes branding information, product category information, product category information in an alternate orientation, indexing information and product specific information. The levels provide navigational directions to the consumer to direct them to a small subset of merchandise being displayed that would meet the consumer's needs.

Abstract: An article (e.g., toy, ornament, etc.) having an audio recording and playback device permits recording of a karaoke-style song to be played. A user sings along with a permanently prerecorded, karaoke-style song that is played during a recording session. The recording device is operable in either a trial mode or a use mode. In the trial mode, a user-recorded song is played back initially for the potential purchaser but is not subsequently played back to be later heard by other potential purchasers. In the use mode, which the article may be switched to after purchase, a user-recorded karaoke-style song can be played. During playback, the user-recorded song is played simultaneously with the prerecorded karaoke-style recording that was played during the recording session. Additional prerecorded messages, such as voice prompts with instructions, may also be included.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention use light to add human-like features to an inanimate object. In one embodiment, the object includes a film with an image that has been manipulated to provide for a low profile projection of an image onto a vertical surface directly adjacent to the object. For example, the image of a witch's head could be projected onto a wall and directly beneath, a witch's hat could be hanging on the wall. In another embodiment, changing lights and shadows are used to create animated objects out of otherwise inanimate objects. Various embodiments include components to create the illusion of changing facial expressions. These components include a plurality of light sources and an electronic device that controls the light sources to create the animation.

Abstract: Ink delivery systems to provide ink from a reservoir to an applicator pad for marking a surface. Ink is stored in a reservoir within a marker body. A valve system controls the flow of ink to the applicator pad to prevent puddling of ink on the marking surface. The reservoir is a hollow body with free flowing ink or may contain a fiber reservoir at least partially saturated with ink. The reservoir may also contain capillary channels and ribs to aid in transporting ink to the valve system. The valve system includes a plug and a spring to bias the plug in a closed position. The plug includes at least one contact surface to contact a housing, and thereby control the flow of ink from the reservoir to the applicator pad. The spring may be a coil spring or a compressible foam-like spring.

Abstract: A realistically opening artificial flower has a slidable pusher basket having an upper end and a lower end and is moveable from a first position to a second position. The flower includes a means for moving the slidable pusher basket from the first position to the second position; the means is located generally adjacent the lower end of the slidable pusher basket. The flower also includes a simulated flower with a base that receives the upper end of the slidable pusher basket along with multiple rows of petals disposed on a plurality of vertically stacked supports. The slidable pusher basket is coupled with at least one of the plurality of vertically stacked supports via a petal attachment member. Incident to the slidable pusher basket moving from the first position to the second position, the multiple rows of petals transition from the generally closed position to the generally open position, and each row of petals has varying open and closed angles.

Abstract: An envelope has a latching mechanism that is activated by a key to releasably secure a flap of the envelope in a closed position. The latching mechanism is located on the envelope's flap. The tip of the key fits into an aperture in the middle of the latching mechanism. Rotation of the key rotates ears on the back of the latching mechanism from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the ears align with a correspondingly-shaped opening in the front panel of the envelope, and the ears pass through the opening. Rotation to the second position rotates the ears behind the front panel such that the ears of the latching mechanism are now behind the front panel, thereby securing the opening of the envelope flap.

Abstract: A method of managing inventory may include using a handheld scanning device to locate one or more inventory items on a retail display. The method may further include scanning the identification symbols of inventory items on a retail display to determine the type of the scanned item. An associated apparatus may include a communication interface to receive information from a remote database and to send information to a remote server. The received information may include predetermined information about proper locations for individual inventory items on the retail display, thereby reducing the need to manually determine the proper locations of multiple inventory items, which may be, for example, greeting cards on a retail store display.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are provided for interactively playing with a printed image. A printed image resembling a game board, book, or picture, is provided. The printed image includes a registration area and a plurality of feedback areas in which an indicator color is printed at a predetermined level, e.g. percentage of area. A figurine is provided that includes a light source and light sensor. The light source and light sensor are placed in proximity to the designated areas in the image to sense the level of the indicator color printed therein and an associated output is provided. The registration area is useable to identify a predefined template associated with the image to allow feedback of the figurine with a plurality of different printed images. The figurine can include an ultraviolet light source to activate graphics printed in the image with photochromic ink.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an Audio-Story Engine that includes a repository of prerecorded audio files that, when played in a certain sequence, with user provided recordings placed throughout, tell a story. To obtain the user provided recordings, the Audio-Story Engine asks the user to make audio recordings of various words or phrases. For example, the Audio-Story Engine may ask the user a series of questions in order to record and store the user's audible responses. Upon completion, the Audio-Story Engine plays back a completed story that incorporates the user's audio recordings by playing an appropriate user recording after playing a prerecorded audio file. This is repeated several times in sequence to form a seamless, customized, audio story. In addition, the Audio-Story Engine may alter the pitch or sound of the user's recorded words to match the pitch of the prerecorded story.

Abstract: A greeting card having an audio message and playback device delivers a first sound recording upon opening of the greeting card and a second sound recording upon closing of the greeting card. The delivery of each sound recording may be delayed by a timing component within the audio message and playback device. Additionally, the delivery of each sound recording may be played simultaneously or in queue. Sound recordings may also be recorded by a user using a recording component that is in addition to the audio message and playback device. The audio message and playback device may also include an additional trial mode component that allows the user to test a recorded message before purchasing the greeting card and place the greeting card into a use mode that allows the user to permanently record the message.

Abstract: A plush toy having electronics therein for interacting with a user includes a non-rigid electrical component for detecting deformation thereof. The component includes a first layer of a compressible material with at least one aperture therethrough. Second and third layers of an electrically conductive material are positioned on opposite sides of the first layer across the aperture. The second and third layers of material may be brought into contact with each other in the aperture of the first layer to complete an electrical connection between the second and third layers by compression of the first layer upon application of a compression force. When the compression force is removed, the first material expands to separate the second and third layers, thereby breaking the electrical connection. Upon detection of deformation of the electrical component, the electronics activate a response by the toy, such as an audio response.

Abstract: An interactive toy for interacting with a user while a story is being read aloud from a book or played from a movie/video. The toy includes a speech recognition unit that receives and detects certain triggering phrases as they are read aloud or played from a companion literary work. The triggering phrase read aloud from the book or played in the movie/video may have independent significance or may only have significance when combined with other phrases read aloud from the book or played in the movie/video.