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.

Abstract: The invention allows an online print engine to enhance a printing quality and a user experience of an online printing system. The invention may be used for photo books, photo cards, photo calendars, and in other online print situations. One embodiment is a print engine residing on and executable from a digital medium, the print engine integrated with a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network, the print engine including a communications link to a print server and a printer connected to the data network, a print queue for queuing printing tasks, and an effects filter size-reduction module. The print engine automatically senses via the effects filter size-reduction module if the area of a filter is greater than a pre-defined threshold, and if so produces a smaller filter embedded into a bitmap image, after which the bitmap image is scaled back up to the filters original size.

Abstract: In a server-based system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects, the system having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) accessible by computer browser, a method is provided for scaling a project page using relative units including the steps (a) establishing a 0 point at the center of the project page, (b) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a negative limit value for width equal to one half of total width value, (c) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a negative limit value for height equal to one half of the total height, (d) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a positive limit value for width equal to one half of total width, and (e) from the center, scaling a number of relative units ending at a positive limit value for height equal to one half of the total height.

Abstract: A system includes a server connected to a network, the server having access to a processor, a data repository, and software executing from a non-transitory physical medium, the software providing for establishing a connection to a computing appliance, initiating and maintaining a data session with a user through a graphics user interface (GUI), training a facial recognition system to navigate to an online photo-enabled and to store a facial recognition pattern of at least one photo accessible therethrough, and to collect and store the associated descriptive metadata, associating a name tag from the photo metadata to the facial recognition pattern of the photo, detecting a photo uploaded into the image-based project by the user through the GUI, attempting to match the one or more photos to one or more photos processed by the fourth function, and the one or more photos that significantly match a pre-stored facial recognition pattern.

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 system for creating image and or text-based projects includes a server, the 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 connection between the server and at least one mobile computing device 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 providing an image container to visually display images selected by a user to add to a project, a fourth function for enabling view of image properties and selection order of the contained images, and a fifth function for enabling digital manipulation of the images while in the image container.

Abstract: A system for working with image and or text-based projects includes a server having a processor and a data repository, with software running from a non-transitory physical medium, the software providing functions for establishing a client-server connection between the server and a user-operated appliance, maintaining a data session between a user through a graphics user interface (GUI), monitoring and recording working behaviors of the users, determining that a user should be incentivized to purchase a particular product, determining an amount for the incentive based in part on the parameters of the particular product, and providing notification, at a dynamically determined time during the instant active session, or at some time after the session, to individual ones or to the group of users of the availability of and the value of the incentive.

Abstract: A system for creating and editing image and or text-based projects includes a server 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 reducing the size of a rendered project layout by a pre-specified factor of multiplication, a fourth function for overlaying the layout with a mask containing modifications to mimic higher-resolution, visual print output, and a fifth function for displaying the masked layout for the end device or devices.

Abstract: A system for locking in a dynamically changing pricing for an electronic print order among a grouping of two 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 a first function for recording a current vendor price associated with vendor completion and shipping of the print order, a second function for generating an invoice covering the print order according to the vendor price, and a third function for electronically sending the invoice along with the print order.

Abstract: A system for creating image and or text-based projects includes a server having access to least one processor, a data repository, and a non-transitory physical medium. Software running from the medium provides a first function for establishing a client server connection between the server and the user-operated computing appliance, a second function for initiating an active data session with the user, a third function for provisioning a software mechanism to the computing appliance for facilitating upload of images to an image library associated with the project, a fourth function for detecting when the user is uploading images to the project, and a fifth function for notifying the user of the software mechanism and prompting the user to redistribute the software mechanism to interfaces operated by or otherwise controlled by friends and family of the user for the purpose of inviting them to add assets to the project.

Abstract: A system for creating and editing image-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 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);, analyzing in at least three dimensional values, all of the colors of an asset presented in the image-based project, creating a histogram of the asset based on the analysis by the third function, blending the histogram by adding new color contributions to augment the original colors in relevancy, and storing the blended histogram with the asset.

Abstract: A system for routing electronic print orders 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 acquiring current job capacity capabilities, delivery time estimates, historical production times, and current cost estimates for printing and shipping relative to one or more products resulting from completion of the one or more electronic print orders, scoring the values and comparing the scores to identify more preferable scores, and routing one or more of the electronic print orders according to the results of scoring performed by the second function.

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.