Abstract: A system and method for broadcasting data in the form of instant messages over a computer network. The broadcast system 100 preferably includes a messaging manager 200, an integration engine 300, a subscription manager 400, a scheduler 500, and a broadcast engine 600. The messaging manager 200 interfaces with all other components and provides a multi-threaded, run-time engine that coordinates the integration, triggering, scheduling, and message delivery activities for scalable broadcast applications. The integration engine 300 provides a system for “exposing” Web services and “consuming” external data streams. The subscription manager 400 includes an event watcher, which monitors the state of the external environment it interacts with, and an event dispatcher, which collects event subscriptions and ensures the instant delivery of events to all subscribers by way of the broadcast engine.

Abstract: A user of an electronic printing system in accordance with the invention may create custom print designs locally and provide those custom print designs to a local or remote printer for printing. Upon a user creating a custom print design, the electronic printing system may store the custom design information until an order is placed by the user. Every order may have associated design files and an order file (for example, multiple items in an order). The design file(s) may describe the initial layout of a print design and may reflect updates to the initial layout based upon the custom design created by a user. An imaging engine resident on the remote server(s) of the electronic printing system may convert the information in the design file(s) into an image file for on-screen representation as well as a “ready-to-print” output file that may be retrieved electronically by a remote or local printer facility.

Abstract: A user of an electronic printing system in accordance with the invention may create custom print designs locally and provide those custom print designs to a local or remote printer for printing. Upon a user creating a custom print design, the electronic printing system may store the custom design information until an order is placed by the user. Every order may have associated design files and an order file (for example, multiple items in an order). The design file(s) may describe the initial layout of a print design and may reflect updates to the initial layout based upon the custom design created by a user. An imaging engine resident on the remote server(s) of the electronic printing system may convert the information in the design file(s) into an image file for on-screen representation as well as a “ready-to-print” output file that may be retrieved electronically by a remote or local printer facility.

Abstract: A printing system operates on a computer system to enable creation of a variety of printed products. The printing system takes either a kiosk form or a personal system form. The printing system contains a variety of definitions of products in its storage which may be selected and modified by a user. The user may alter a plurality of aspects of the selected product including the layout of the product, the graphics of the product and different aspects of the textual information to be printed on the product to personalize the product. Upon completion of personalization of the product, the printing system provides the user with a plurality of order and transmission options which allow certain products to be printed locally, and which allows certain products to be printed by a remotely located printing facility. The user may create a print order which is transmitted in one of two manners to the remote printing facility.