U.S. patent application number 10/453039 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-16 for method of accelerating delivery of magazines to a new subscriber.
This patent application is currently assigned to Synapse group, Inc.. Invention is credited to Larsen, Paul, Loeb, Michael.
Application Number | 20030195788 10/453039 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28792251 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030195788 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loeb, Michael ; et
al. |
October 16, 2003 |
Method of accelerating delivery of magazines to a new
subscriber
Abstract
A system and a method, operable on a computer, accelerates
delivery of at least one issue of a new publication subscription.
Subscription information is received from a subscriber for a new
subscription to a publication. A printing house is selected to
provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber.
The subscription information and a request to effectuate delivery
of the first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber is
communicated electronically to the printing house. The subscription
information is communicated to a fulfillment center for fulfillment
of the remaining issues of the subscription.
Inventors: |
Loeb, Michael; (Darien,
CT) ; Larsen, Paul; (Fishkill, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Daniel H. Golub
1701 Market Street
Philadelphia
PA
19107
US
|
Assignee: |
Synapse group, Inc.
Four High Ridge Park
Stamford
CT
|
Family ID: |
28792251 |
Appl. No.: |
10/453039 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10453039 |
Jun 3, 2003 |
|
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09528643 |
Mar 20, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/7.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/06393 20130101;
G06Q 10/0631 20130101; G06Q 30/0201 20130101; G06Q 10/06
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/8 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method operable on a computer for accelerating delivery of at
least one issue of a new publication subscription, comprising:
receiving from a subscriber subscription information for a new
subscription to a publication; selecting a printing house to
provide a first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber;
communicating electronically to the printing house the subscription
information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue
of the new subscription to the subscriber; and communicating the
subscription information to a fulfillment center for fulfillment of
the remaining issues of the subscription.
2. A system for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a
new publication subscription, comprising: a processor; an input
device connected to the processor; an output device connected to
the processor; and a memory connected to the processor and storing
instructions for operating the processor to perform the steps of
receiving on the input device subscription information for a new
subscription by a subscriber to a publication; selecting a printing
house to provide a first issue of the new subscription to the
subscriber; communicating electronically on the output device to
the printing house the subscription information and a request to
effectuate delivery of the first issue of the new subscription to
the subscriber; and communicating the subscription information to a
fulfillment center for fulfillment of the remaining issues of the
subscription.
3. A system for accelerating delivery of at least one issue of a
new publication subscription, comprising: means for receiving from
a subscriber subscription information for a new subscription to a
publication; means for selecting a printing house to provide a
first issue of the new subscription to the subscriber; means for
communicating electronically to the printing house the subscription
information and a request to effectuate delivery of the first issue
of the new subscription to the subscriber; and means for
communicating the subscription information to a fulfillment center
for fulfillment of the remaining issues of the subscription.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a system and method of
accelerating the delivery of magazine issues to a new subscriber
and to keep records of the number of issues delivered on an
accelerated basis for adjustment against normally delivered
issues.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The magazine industry is old (200 years and counting),
diversified and large. According to statistics, there are over
3,000 magazines published covering a diversity of subject matters,
although only about 600 are tracked by trade organizations such as
the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC). The industry generates
roughly $25 billion each year from the sale of advertising space,
single copies on the newsstand and subscriptions. Each year
Americans spend $8 billion to purchase over 300 million
subscriptions of the 300 million subscriptions, approximately, 120
million are renewals and 180 million are new subscriptions.
[0005] The industry sells and services subscriptions in many
different ways. Publishers often outsource subscription marketing.
Presently, about 60% of all new subscriptions are provided by third
party marketers known in the trade as subscription agents or
"agents". Typically, the agent markets the initial subscription to
consumers and turns over the information on a new subscriber to the
publisher (or a publisher's fulfillment house). The remaining 40%
of the new subscription orders are placed directly with the
publishers.
[0006] The filling of a subscription order and the servicing of the
subscription are also typically outsourced to third party
subscription providers known as fulfillment centers, fulfillment
houses or fulfillment bureaus. The fulfillment centers collect and
store information on each subscriber, including the name, address,
term of subscription and payment; manufacture mailing labels;
print, mail and process renewal notices and bills; and provide
subscriber service. The fulfillment centers collect the information
on the subscription orders from the publishers and the agents,
bundles the information for different magazines and provide the
number of subscribed issues with the names and addresses to
printing houses. Printing houses are typically responsible for
manufacturing trade publications, placing the subscriber's name and
address on the publication cover, and entering the copies into the
mail stream. The printing houses then print the number of issues of
each magazine required to fill the subscription orders. The name
and address labels are also printed and attached to each issue and
mailed out to each subscriber.
[0007] Methods for increasing the subscription sales of a magazine
have been available. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,796 describes
a method of converting a single sale of an issue of a magazine at a
retail outlet to a subscription. However, the conversion of a
single sale to a subscription does not mean that the subscriber
will receive the next available issue or issues of the
magazine.
[0008] Presently, the process of collecting the information on the
new subscriptions, bundling the information, providing instructions
to the printing houses, verifying payment, etc. takes time. As a
result, the first issue mailed out in response to a new
subscription order usually takes six to eight weeks, or even
longer. The new subscriber is often warned of this delay prior to
delivery of the first issue of the magazine subscription.
Unfortunately, the information provided in magazines is "news" and
is perishable. As such, "old" issues cannot be delivered to meet a
new subscription order. Current issues must be supplied. The new
subscriber is deprived of the information desired from the
subscription during the delay. Further, a delay of six to eight
weeks means that the revenue that should have been generated from
the new subscription order for the 6 to 8 weeks is lost. This is
particularly true for weekly magazines, where many issues are
published between the time the order is made and the time when the
order is fulfilled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A system and method have been developed to accelerate the
delivery of the first issue(s) of a publication as required to fill
a new subscription order. The system and method collect the
information on a new subscription order and based on the date when
an order is received, determine the availability at the printing
houses of a current issue of the magazine and instructs the
printing house with an available current issue to accelerate the
delivery of the current issue to the subscriber. The system and
method further tracks the delivery of issues in response to a new
subscription order to ensure that delivery of currently available
issues is continued until the new subscription enters the regular
fulfillment schedule. This ensures early and continuous delivery to
fulfill the new subscription order. The system and method can also
track the number of issues delivered under the accelerated delivery
system and adjust the number of issues to be delivered for the full
term of the subscription order.
[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the system comprises
a system of collecting new subscription orders; sorting the new
subscription orders to determine the magazine subscribed to by a
new subscriber, determine the current availability of the magazine
ordered, determine the identity of a printing house with an
available warehoused current issue and instructing the printing
house with the available issue to deliver it to the new
subscriber.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, the method and system
tracks the order to determine when the next issue will be
delivered, and if it is not the next-in-line issue, the embodiment
further instructs the accelerated delivery of the next-in-line
issue to ensure continuity of delivery to fulfill a new
subscription order.
[0012] In a further aspect of the invention, the method and system
tracks the number of issues delivered by the accelerated delivery
system and reconciles the issues delivered against the number of
issues necessary to fulfill the new subscription order.
[0013] Additional aspects of the invention are described herebelow
and defined by the appended claims. It is to be understood that
both the foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to
provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The following drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the
present invention and constitute part of the specification.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a system according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the central controller
used in the system shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the central
controller used in the system shown in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a sample of the contents of the
subscriber database stored in central controller shown in FIGS.
2-3;
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a sample of the contents of the magazine
database stored in central controller shown in FIGS. 2-3;
[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a sample of the contents of the publisher
database stored in central controller shown in FIGS. 2-3;
[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates a sample of the contents of the
fulfillment center/printing house database stored in central
controller shown in FIGS. 2-3;
[0022] FIGS. 8a and 8b are-flow charts of the overall operation of
one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Introduction
[0024] The method and system according to one embodiment of the
invention satisfies the shortcomings of the existing publication
delivery methods and systems by accelerating delivery of the first
few issues of a magazine subscription to a subscriber (or
consumer). The method and system accomplishes this in a seamless
fashion through the coordination of at least one fulfillment center
and at least one printing house. All information associated with a
new subscription order is stored in a database and the fulfillment
center and the printing houses are notified to initiate appropriate
subscriptions for each consumer. During the period in which the new
subscription order information has yet to be fulfilled by the
fulfillment center, the printing house continues to distribute the
magazine to the subscriber. Once the subscriber's order is
fulfilled through the traditional method, the fulfillment center
manages subsequent magazine delivery. Information concerning prior
deliveries handled by the printing houses are reported to the
fulfillment center, publishers, and third parties for
reconciliation purposes (revenue reconciliation, issue count
reconciliation, advertising reconciliation, etc.).
[0025] System of the Invention
[0026] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the system of the present
invention. In this embodiment, the system includes a central
controller 110, configured to receive information from subscribers
120, and transfer data to fulfillment centers 150. In one
embodiment, information is communicated between the subscriber and
the data fulfillment center through magazine publishers 130. In
another embodiment, such information is directed through agents
140. It should be noted that the central controller 110 may be
housed within, or may be otherwise in communication with,
fulfillment center 150.
[0027] Central controller 110 preferably comprises a
processor-based system that maintains databases and information
relating to trade publication subscriptions. Central controller 110
receives, stores and utilizes subscriber, magazine and other data
to effectuate delivery of magazine subscriptions and to reconcile
data, such as revenue information, issue count, circulation
information, and the like. Also, the central controller 110
transmits consumer and subscription information to fulfillment
house(s) 150. The structure of certain embodiments of the central
controller 110 is described below in connection with FIGS. 2 and
3.
[0028] Subscribers 120 include individuals wishing to receive
subscriptions to a magazine. Further, a new subscriber is a
subscriber 120 who has placed a current subscription for a
requested magazine and has not had such subscription for at least a
predetermined time period (i.e., more than a month, more than year,
ever, etc.). Accordingly, a new subscription is an order for
delivery of magazine issues for a new subscriber 120. It should be
noted that the term magazine may include other printed publications
including, but not limited to, newsletters, trade publications,
etc.
[0029] A new subscriber or consumer 120 may subscribe to a magazine
publication in various manners. For example, the subscriber may
send the required subscription initiation information to the
magazine publisher 130. In an alternate embodiment, the consumer
may complete the requested information on a card that is inserted
in many magazines and return the card to an agent 140. In another
embodiment, the information may be received by the agent via
telephone, facsimile or some other remote consumer terminal. In one
embodiment, the remote consumer terminal can be the consumer's PC
or internet access device.
[0030] Consumers 120 may transmit this subscription information in
various ways. For instance, consumers 120 can provide subscription
information electronically by means of the internet. This is done
by transmitting subscription orders electronically from a remote
consumer terminal to the central controller 110, via publisher 130
or agent 140, which provides a consumer interface in the form of a
web page on the internet. Two alternate ways in which a consumer
may transmit subscription information to central controller 110
include (1) telephoning live operators at publisher 130 or agents
140, to verbally provide the required subscription and subscriber
information; and (2) telephone answering services of publishers 130
or agents 140 that are equipped to receive the necessary
information. The information may then be forwarded to central
controller 110. In an alternate embodiment, the subscriber 120 may
communicate the subscription information directly to central
controller 110.
[0031] Fulfillment centers 150 receive all consumer information and
provide subscription issues to appropriate consumers once
subscriber and magazine information is processed. Each fulfillment
center 150 controls at least one trade publication and possibly
several more based on its relationship with respective publishers
150. In one embodiment central controller 110 transmits consumer
information and subscription requests to fulfillment center(s) 150
electronically by means of the internet. Fulfillment center(s) 150
may be notified to either initiate, renew or cancel subscriptions
for each consumer 120.
[0032] Publishers 130 publish trade publications and provide them
to subscribers through fulfillment centers 150. Publishers 150 are
billed a fee for each new subscription provided to a consumer 120.
Also, publishers 150 may be billed a smaller fee for each renewal
subscription provided to a consumer 120. Agents 140 are third party
organizations that facilitate initiation, renewal and cancellations
of trade publications. Agents also receive a fee for each new
subscription, and sometimes each renewal subscription, filled by
the agent 140.
[0033] Printing houses 160 are typically responsible for
manufacturing trade publications, placing the subscriber's name and
address on the publication cover, and entering the copies into the
mail stream. In one embodiment, multiple printers 160 are utilized
for a trade publication as large circulation magazines often
require multiple plants to print the required copies in a timely
manner. Also, weekly titles, with their highly perishable content,
generally use several geographically dispersed plants to minimize
the distance and time to the Post Office.
[0034] A detailed schematic of the central controller 110 will now
be described with reference to FIG. 2. In general, the central
controller 110 comprises a three tier or layered structure. The
first layer is a logical presentation layer, which provides the
graphically user interface (GUI) through which each subscriber 120
may interface with a publisher 130 or agent 140. The second layer
is the application layer, which provides support logic for the GUI
and establishes the business rules. The third layer is the database
management layer, which interacts with the application layer to
retrieve, modify, and store information. In addition to these three
layers, the central controller 110 also includes an optimizing
search server and a management council.
[0035] The initial components of the central controller 110 may
include a load balancing server 210 and a switch 215. The load
balancing server 210 distributes web hits over the architecture of
the central controller 110 via the switch 215. In other words, the
load balancing server 210 monitors the architecture to determine
what components are relatively busy and directs traffic away from
those components.
[0036] The central controller 110 also includes a presentation
server farm 220. The presentation server farm 220 contains the
servers that provide the functionality associated with the first
and second layers of the architecture namely, the logically
presentation layer and the application layer. Specifically, the
presentation server farm 220 includes logical presentation servers
222 that are programmed to provide the GUI resident on the web page
accessed by the subscribers 120, publishers 130, agents 140 and
printing houses 160. Also part of the presentation server farm 220
are the application servers 224. The application servers 224
provide the support and logic for the GUI created by the logical
presentation servers 222. As noted above, the application servers
224 also provide the business rules that govern the operation of
the central controller 110.
[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, the presentation
server farm 220 also includes hot swap servers 230, 235 for both
the logical presentation servers 222 and application servers 224.
Such hot swap servers provide redundancy and allow for continued
availability in the event of a component failure.
[0038] Related to the presentation server form 220 is the
presentation staging server 230. The presentation staging server
230 provides temporary functionality of the presentation server
farm 220 during the period the presentation server farm 220 (and/or
the software residing on the servers) is being upgraded. The
presentation staging server 230 allows the migration of the logical
presentation and application layers software.
[0039] The architecture of the central controller 110 also includes
a database server farm 240, which provides the functionality for
the database layer. Specifically, the database server farm 240
subscriber database 242, magazine database 244, publisher database
246, and fulfillment center/printing house database 248. In the
present embodiment each database is accessed, by a separate server,
although in an alternate embodiment, more than one database may be
accessed by the same server. The fields of each database and the
purpose of each will be discussed in greater detail below.
[0040] Like the presentation server farm 220, the database server
farm 240 includes a series of hot swap and staging servers 250,
252, 254, 256, one for each of the databases.
[0041] The central controller 110 also includes a search server 260
and corresponding hot swap server 262. The search server 260 is
coupled to the database server farm 240 to optimize the search
capability of the central controller 110. More specifically, the
presentation server farm 220 controls the search server 260, which
in turn, locally stores the databases 242, 244, 246, 248, as needed
to perform searches. Like the other hot swap servers, the search
hot swap server 262 provides redundancy should the search server
260 fail.
[0042] The central controller 110 also includes a management
console 270 for monitoring the architecture. The management console
270, which in one embodiment takes the form of one or more NT
workstations, monitors architecture performance, component loads,
and overall network load. The management console 270 also performs
the function of failure detection.
[0043] The central controller 110 also includes 3 gateways or
links: a business to business and database maintenance gateway 280,
a fulfillment and merchant processing gateway 282, and a revenue
and advertising reconciliation gateway 284. As will become apparent
to those skilled in the art based upon the following description,
these gateways are communication links to other devices.
[0044] A business to business and database maintenance gateway 280
is a link to the fulfillment centers 150 and printing houses 160.
In the present preferred embodiment, this gateway 280 is in the
form of a wide area network (WAN), although in alternate
embodiments may take the form of any network or other communication
link. In the simplest embodiment, the business to business and
database maintenance gateway 280 is not an electronic communication
link, but rather a terminal through which the necessary information
is entered. As described below, a business to business and database
gateway 280 provides communication with the fulfillment centers 150
and printing houses 160 for the purposes of receiving information
from the fulfillment centers 150 and printing houses 160 and
transmitting subscription information to the fulfillment centers
150 and printing houses 160.
[0045] The fulfillment and merchant processing gateway 282 is also
coupled to the database server farm 240. This gateway 282 provides
communication to an enterprise server 286. More specifically, a
central controller 110 communicates via the fulfillment and
merchant processing gateway 282 with the enterprise server 286 for
the purpose of fulfilling orders (by the fulfillment centers 150
and/or printing houses 160). It is to be understood that the
enterprise server 286 is not limited to any particular server, but
rather may take the form of any commercially available server.
[0046] The central controller 110 also includes the revenue and
advertising reconciliation gateway 284. Coupled to the presentation
server farm 220, this gateway 284 provides a link between the
fulfillment centers 150 and printing houses 160 for publication
distribution reconciliation (discussed below), as well as a link to
circulation auditing organizations, such as the Audit Bureau of
Circulation (ABC).
[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the central
controller 110 for a system according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 3, central controller 110 includes central processing
unit (CPU) 340, random access memory (RAM) 320, read-only memory
(ROM) 330, interface devices 360 and 370, and large capacity
storage device 350. CPU 340, preferably comprising a conventional
microprocessor such as an Intel Pentium Processor, is
electronically coupled to each of the central controller 110's
other elements.
[0048] CPU 340 executes program code stored in one or more of RAM
320, ROM 330 and storage device 350 to carry out the functions and
acts described in connection with central controller 110. CPU 340
preferably comprises at least one high-speed digital data processor
adequate to execute program modules for receiving subscriber and
magazine information, applying customized address enhancement
information accelerating the first issue(s) of a new subscription
(including the production of label files), and reconciling such
data. These modules are described in connection with FIGS. 8a and
8b. CPU 340 interacts with RAM 320, ROM 330 and storage device 350
to execute stored program code according to conventional data
processing techniques.
[0049] Interface devices 360 and 370 comprise devices for allowing
central controller 110 to communicate with subscribers 120,
publishers 130, agents 140, fulfillment centers 150 and printing
houses 160. Such communication is preferably electronic by means of
the internet and preferably comprises a conventional high speed
modem employing known communication protocols capable of decrypting
encrypted data received from the remote consumer terminals 120. In
an alternate embodiment, central controller 110 includes separate
interface devices for the publishers 130, agents 140, fulfillment
centers 150 and printing houses 160.
[0050] Large capacity storage device 350 contains transaction
processor 352, subscriber database 354, magazine database 356,
publisher database 358, and fulfillment center/printing house
database 359. Transaction processor 352 maintains, determines and
accesses data stored in the databases and effectuates accelerated
delivery of new publication subscription, as well as reconcile such
deliveries among the fulfillment centers 150, printing houses 160
and circulation auditing organizations as described in FIGS. 8a and
8b. Transaction processor 352 may comprise a separate, conventional
CPU/microprocessor, or a portion of the operating function of CPU
340. Subscriber database 354 contains data about subscribers 120
and which new trade publications have been initiated. Magazine
database 356 contains information about each trade publication,
including its publisher 140, fulfillment center 150 and associated
printing houses 160. Publisher database 358 contains information
relating to trade publication publishers, including which trade
publications each publishes. Fulfillment center/printing house
database 359 contains information relating to each fulfillment
center, including which trade publications are distributed by each
fulfillment center, and each printing house including which
publications they handle and which subscribers 120 that are
serviced. Samples of the respective fields contained in databases
354, 356, 358 and 359 are shown in and described in connection with
FIGS. 4-7.
[0051] Database Formats
[0052] Samples of the contents of databases 354, 356, 358 and 359
are shown in FIGS. 4-7. The specific data and fields illustrated in
these figures represent only one embodiment of the records stored
in the databases of the invention. In most cases, the fields shown
in FIGS. 4-7 are relatively straight forward and self-explanatory.
It is to be understood that the data and fields, as well as the
number of databases, can be readily modified from the described
embodiment and adapted to provide variations for supplying free
trade publication subscriptions and gathering consumer information.
Furthermore, each field may contain more or less information. For
example, an address field may be divided into separate fields
containing street address, apartment number, city, state and zip
code.
[0053] Subscriber database 354 maintains (among other information)
a compilation of all information provided by each subscriber 120 to
initiate a new publication subscription. The information may be
communicated to the publisher directly, an agent, or some other
party facilitating the processing of new subscriptions. In one
embodiment, each record in subscriber database 354 corresponds to
one subscriber.
[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates a sample record. As shown in FIG. 4,
subscriber database 354 contains fields corresponding to, for
example, subscriber ID, subscriber name, subscriber address and
e-mail address, subscription date, magazine ID and geographic
location code. The fields whose data is provided directly by the
subscriber by some form of a subscriber information retrieval
process (mail in card, on line registration, etc.) include the
consumer name, consumer address and e-mail address. The
subscription date is the date a consumer signed up each new
subscription. The geographic location code is used by the printing
houses 160 to determine which printing house 160 (when more than
one is associated with a publication) will serve the subscriber 120
based on the publication delivery location. From this data and data
stored in other databases, the data for the remaining fields can be
calculated.
[0055] Magazine database 356 contains information about trade
publications offered to consumers. FIG. 5 illustrates a sample
record of magazine database 356. As shown in FIG. 5, magazine
database 356 contains trade publication information having fields
corresponding to magazine ID, magazine name, publisher ID,
fulfillment center ID, printer house ID, and new subscription
code.
[0056] The new subscription code field is provided in the present
embodiment so that the new subscription information may be
monitored. As described more fully below, new subscriptions will be
delivered, at first, by the printing house 160 directly, and
subsequently by the fulfillment center 150. Thus, printing house
delivery information is reconciled among the fulfillment centers
150, printing houses 160, and other parties such as circulation
auditing organizations and the like. In one embodiment, the
monitoring will be implemented by transaction processor 352.
[0057] The frequency field identifies the frequency in which a new
publication is delivered to subscribers. Because the accelerated
delivery process often covers the first six to eight weeks of a new
subscription, the number of publication issues accelerated by the
printing houses 160 will vary from one to two for monthly
publications to as many as eight or more for weekly publications.
The new subscription code and publication frequency assist in the
tracking of those issues that are subject to the accelerated
delivery process described below. From this data and data stored in
other databases, the data for the remaining fields can be
calculated.
[0058] Publisher database 358 contains information about the trade
publication publishers. FIG. 6. illustrates a sample record of
publisher database 358. As shown in FIG. 6, publisher data base 358
contains publisher records having fields corresponding to, for
example, publisher ID, publisher name, publisher contact
information and list of magazine ID's published. Like the data in
magazine database 356, data in publisher database 358 is also
provided and periodically updated by publishers 130.
[0059] Finally, fulfillment center/printing house database 359
contains information about trade publication fulfillment centers
150 and printing houses 160. FIG. 7 illustrates a sample record of
fulfillment center/printing house database 359. As shown in FIG. 7,
each record of fulfillment house database 359 corresponds to a
particular fulfillment center 150 and printing house 160 and has
fields corresponding to, for example, fulfillment center ID,
fulfillment center name, fulfillment center contact information,
printing house ID, printing house name, printing house contact
information, list of new publication subscriptions, and accelerated
delivery count for each new subscription. Like the data in magazine
database 356 and publisher database 358, data in fulfillment
center/printing house database 359 is also provided and
periodically updated by publishers 130, agents 140, fulfillment
centers 150, and printing houses 160.
[0060] The process of using data from subscriber database 354,
magazine database 356, publisher database 358 and fulfillment
center/printing house database 359 to determine and provide free
trade publication subscriptions to subscribers 120 is represented
in the flow chart of FIGS. 8a and 8b, described in detail below.
Central controller 110 uses subscriber database 354, magazine
database 356, publisher database 358 and fulfillment
center/printing house database 359 to determine appropriate
subscription information for each subscriber 120 and to facilitate
seamless accelerated delivery of new publication subscriptions for
each subscriber 120 while also reconciling business data, such as
revenue, issue count and advertising monitoring information.
[0061] Accelerated Delivery Process
[0062] The accelerated subscription delivery process illustrated in
FIGS. 8a and 8b involves a series of steps utilizing the data
stored in databases 354, 356, 358 and 359 wherein subscribers 120,
publishers 130, agents 140, fulfillment centers 150 and printing
houses 160 may benefit from accelerating the delivery of the first
issue(s) of a new publication subscription. Subscribers 120 benefit
because the ordered publications are received by the consumer 120
in an expedited manner. For example, a delay in delivery of first
issues of a new subscription, which may be six to eight weeks, is
obviated. Publishers 130, agents 140, fulfillment centers 150 and
printing houses 160 benefit as, in addition to providing improved
customer service, issues of a subscription are more quickly filled,
resulting in additional potential revenue to these parties (i.e.,
renewals arise more quickly, more publications are distributed,
etc.).
[0063] Although the system and method is described wherein data is
communicated largely over the internet, the system and method are
not limited to such channel of communication. For example, in many
cases, agent 140 initiates new subscription processing by
collecting data from new subscribers 120 (step 810) which, in one
embodiment, is supplied by completed magazine inserts mailed by the
subscriber 120 to the agent 140. This information may be
communicated from the publishers 130 and agents 140 to the
fulfillment centers 150 and printing houses 160 via the internet.
Thus, the method and system may employ one or more communication
channels (i.e., mail, internet, facsimile, e-mail, etc.).
[0064] After the new subscription data is received, CPU 340 of
central controller 110 compiles the data received from subscriber
database 354, magazine database 356, publisher database 358 and
fulfillment center/printing house database 359 in step 820 in order
to identify the requested publication title, delivery frequency,
publisher charges, etc. Furthermore the appropriate printing house
160 for effectuating delivery is determined and accessed (step
830). For example, the magazine ID and subscriber geographic code
may determine which fulfillment center 150 and printing house 160
will be selected to effectuate publication delivery. Thus, if a
subscription for Engineering News is ordered by a subscriber 120
living in the Northeast (code=NE), then the fulfillment center 150
and printing house 160 that handles such publication in the
Northeast will be accessed. In this process, United States Postal
Service addressing standards are applied to customers' addresses.
It should be noted that, in one embodiment, only new issue(s) of
new subscriptions are accelerated by the printing house 160. CPU
340 of central controller 110 recognizes that a subscription is
designated as new by the new subscription code (i.e., code=X) of
magazine database 356. In step 840, central controller 110
instructs printing house 160 to deliver the first issue of a new
publication subscription. Accordingly, no delay is recognized by
the customer as information processing by the fulfillment center
150 need not be complete.
[0065] In step 850, CPU 340 compares subsequent issue delivery date
with the scheduled delivery date of the fulfillment center.
Magazine database 356 may have a publication frequency field that
identifies the frequency in which a publication is delivered.
Processing this data along with the subscription date information
(the date that the first issue of new subscription may be delivered
by printing house 160) stored in the subscription date field of
subscription database 354 enables central controller 110 to
determine the subsequent issue delivery dates. A determination is
made by CPU 340, in step 860, determining whether the associated
fulfillment center 150 is prepared to deliver the next issue. If
the fulfillment center 150 has yet to process all of the
information necessary to deliver issues of a new publication
subscription, the selected printing house 160 continues the
accelerated delivery process by delivering the next issue (step
870). In step 880, the delivery information is transmitted to
fulfillment center 150 for revenue and issue count reconciliation
as well as any third parties requiring such information. An example
of third parties requiring issue circulation information are
circulation auditing organizations, such as the Audit Bureau of
Circulation (ABC). These companies monitor the data associated with
publication circulation for the purpose of assisting in the
allocation of advertising revenue.
[0066] When the date for the next new subscription issue arrives,
the method and system again determines whether the fulfillment
center 150 is ready to deliver the next issue (step 860). Once the
fulfillment center 150 is prepared for issue delivery, the
fulfillment center 150 handles the current and subsequent issue
delivery and reconciles data with the printing house 160 as well as
third party organizations (step 890). The issue count
reconciliation enables the fulfillment center 150 and printing
house 160 to ensure that the correct count is made with respect to
the number of publication issues that have been delivered to
subscriber 120. The cooperation of the fulfillment center 150 and
printing house 160 facilitates the expeditious and seamless
delivery of a new publication subscription to the subscriber
120.
[0067] The many features and advantages of the present invention
are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is
intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and
advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and
scope of the claims.
[0068] Furthermore, since numerous modifications and Variations
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
that the present invention be limited to the exact construction and
operation illustrated and described herein, and accordingly, all
suitable modifications and equivalents which may be resorted to are
intended to fall within the scope of the claims.
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