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: 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: A system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects from a mobile computing appliance 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 providing a mobile application including an image selection component, a project previewing component, and a project ordering component to the mobile computing appliance, and a third function for enabling initiation of and maintenance of an active data session between one or more users involved in project creation and or in project editing through the mobile application.

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.

Abstract: A print configuration engine implemented in software residing on and executable from a digital medium, the print engine integrated with a graphics user interface (GUI) for creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network, the print engine including a communications link to a compatible print server and printer connected to the data network, a print queue for queuing printing tasks, and an image tiling module. The print engine automatically senses if the pixel size of an image is greater than a pre-defined image size threshold for high resolution printing and if so tiles the image and saves the individual image tiles to memory for later reconstitution.

Abstract: A system for staging printable assets included in an electronic print order submitted by users through a graphics user interface for printing by one or more print vendors over a data network includes a server connected to the 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 for receiving the electronic print order, recording the positional data of each of the printable assets included for printing, compressing and rasterizing certain printable assets of the electronic order, selecting certain printable assets of the electronic printing order and including those items as vector assets, and reconstructing the printable assets, page, or pages for a printer or printers.

Abstract: A method and system for routing electronic print orders among a grouping of two or more print vendors over a data network includes acquiring print vendor information from the grouping of two or more print vendors for printing and shipping relative to one or more products resulting from completion of the one or more electronic print orders; utilizing an algorithm having one or more weighing functions to analyze said printer information to calculate print vendor scores characterizing each print vendor, and comparing the print vendor scores to identify the most preferable print vendor based on the print vendor information, wherein the print vendor information comprises current cost estimates and delivery time estimates; and a third function for dynamically routing one or more of the electronic print orders according to the results of scoring performed by the second function.

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 for creating and editing image and or text-based projects includes a server connected to a data network, the server having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) accessible by computer browser, at least one data repository residing on the network, the repository accessible to the server, the repository containing images, and product-related graphics, a print configuration engine implemented in software residing on and executable from the digital medium or another accessible medium, the print configuration engine for rendering image and or text-based products for printing, and at least one bi-directional communication channel established between a computing appliance running a version of the GUI while connected to the network and a server managing the data repository.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a server for creating photo-based projects is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for background uploading of media files are presented. Background uploading improves efficiency and user-experience in creating media-based projects online. In one embodiment, a user selects original media files at a user-device for an upload. The user-device at first resizes the original files to resized files and uploads them to a server along with meta-data, and at second the original files start uploading in the background computer process. The user is provided the resized images to create a project. The server converts each resized media file into compressed media files, and provides the compressed files to the user to continue or finish building the project, during which the user-device renders to the user an illusionary impression of a completed upload of the original files when the original files are still uploading. Finally, the user-device completes the upload of the original files to the server.