U.S. patent application number 13/079160 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-19 for method and system for creating ad-books.
Invention is credited to Bruce A. Fogelson.
Application Number | 20120095842 13/079160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46326541 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120095842 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fogelson; Bruce A. |
April 19, 2012 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AD-BOOKS
Abstract
A method and apparatus and format and form are provided for
preparing ad-books or related print or publishing for an
organization or organizations or a plethora of organizations over a
communications network. The method includes preparing an ads or
messages at a user terminal connected to the communications
network. The method further includes processing the "ad" or message
at a server connected to the communications network for placing the
"ad" or message in an "ad-book" or printing or other publication.
The method further includes an automated "ad-book" format or form
for the soliciting and obtaining ads or messages which provides
methods for collecting ad/message pricing, content, layout, billing
and information for ad/message for "ad-book" and related printing
or publishing. The method, apparatus, format or form are believed
particularly useful to assist and consolidate the efforts of
non-profit, charity and similar organizations who, though they may
differ in many ways, all rely on ad-books and similar print and
publications for their fundraising efforts.
Inventors: |
Fogelson; Bruce A.;
(Chicago, IL) |
Family ID: |
46326541 |
Appl. No.: |
13/079160 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11557664 |
Nov 8, 2006 |
7949566 |
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13079160 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.69 ;
705/14.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G06Q 30/0254 20130101; G06Q 10/10 20130101; G06Q 30/0267 20130101;
G06Q 30/0269 20130101; G06Q 30/0273 20130101; G06Q 30/0241
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.69 ;
705/14.4 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20120101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1-27. (canceled)
28. A method for preparing ad-books, or related printing or
publication, such method comprising: preparing an advertisement by
selecting choices relating to the "ad" or message at a user
terminal connected to a communications network; receiving the
prepared "ad" or message at the server connected to the
communications network; classifying the prepared "ad" or message
into at least one ad-book; and converting the prepared "ad" or
message into an "ad" or message to be placed into an ad-book,
printed or published.
29. A system for preparing charity or not-for-profit organization
ad-books or related print or publication used by a recognized
not-for-profit organization, such system comprising: a website of
the recognized not-for-profit organization operable to download a
webpage to a terminal of a supporter of the not-for-profit
organization through a communication network; the downloaded
webpage containing a contribution softkey that can be activated by
a supporter; a charity or not-for-profit organization server that
downloads a form to the supporter in response to the activated
softkey; the charity or not-for-profit organization server operable
to populate the faun with a name of the not-for-profit organization
and with a plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship of the
not-for-profit organization where a cost associated with each of
the plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship is commensurate
with a respective monetary contribution from the supporter to the
not-for-profit organization; means within the user terminal
connected to the communications network for preparing a message and
for selecting one of the selectable levels of sponsorship and
monetary contribution; and means within the charity or
not-for-profit organization server connected to the communications
network for processing the message and for placing the message in
the charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book, print or
publication.
30. The system of claim 29 wherein the means for preparing further
comprises means for selecting choices relating to the message.
31. The system of claim 30 wherein choices comprises message, size,
price, placement, background or layout.
32. The system of claim 30 wherein choices comprises indicating
whether the message shall be printed in a physical charity or
not-for-profit organization ad-book.
33. The system of claim 29 wherein the means for preparing further
comprises means for selecting message type, price or theme to
reduce the number of choices that user must make to produce
message.
34. The system of claim 29 wherein the communications network
comprises a public switch telephone network and packet data
network.
35. The system of claim 29 wherein the user terminal comprises a
computer system.
36. The system of claim 35 wherein the computer system comprises
one of a personal computer, notebook computer, a personal digital
assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone or a mobile/wireless
assistant.
37. The system of claim 29 wherein the server comprises a web
server computer system for accessing the communications
network.
38. The system of claim 37 wherein the web server comprises a
firewall for maintaining security.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein the firewall limits access to
information on the server wherein information comprises the
messages and the charity or not-for-profit organization
ad-books.
40. The system of claim 29 wherein the means for preparing further
comprises means for using computer software to create a message in
support of the non-for-profit organization.
41. The system of claim 40 wherein the computer software comprises
at least one of Microsoft Office, Corel PageMaker and Adobe
PhotoShop.
42. The system of claim 29 wherein the means for processing further
comprises receiving payment at the server for processing the
message for placement in a charity or not-for-profit organization
ad-book.
43. The system of claim 29 further comprising means for converting
the message into an HTML message to be shown on at least one user
terminal.
44. The system of claim 43 wherein the HTML format is a part of an
electronic charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book.
45. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for sending a
copy of the HTML message to an user whom initiated the message
preparation.
46. The system of claim 29 further comprising means for registering
with the server whereby a user at the user terminal connects to the
server and enters information relating to the user.
47. The system of claim 29 further comprising means for receiving
the message from a user.
48. The system of claim 47 further comprising means for sending an
acknowledgement to the user notifying the user of the receipt of
the message.
49. The system of claim 47 further comprising means for sending an
acknowledgement to the user notifying the user of payment
information.
50. A system for preparing charity or not-for-profit organization
ad-books over the Internet, such system comprising: a website of
the recognized not-for-profit organization operable to download a
webpage to a terminal of a supporter of the not-for-profit
organization through a communication network; a contribution
softkey on the downloaded webpage the contribution softkey can be
activated by the supporter; a charity or not-for-profit
organization server operable to download a contribution form
webpage to the supporter in response to activation of the
contribution softkey where the server populates the contribution
webpage with a name of the not-for-profit organization and with a
plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship of the not-for-profit
organization where a cost associated with each of the plurality of
selectable levels of sponsorship is commensurate with a respective
monetary contribution from the supporter to the not-for-profit
organization; the terminal coupled to the communications network
operable to receive a selection of one of the plurality of
selectable levels of sponsorship and data from the supporter
through the contribution form webpage to prepare a message in
support of the non-for-profit organization; and the charity or
not-for-profit organization server connected to the communications
network that receives the prepared message.
51. The system of claim 50 wherein the computer system further
comprises a graphical user interface for selecting choices relating
to the message.
52. The system of claim 51 wherein choices comprises message, size,
placement, color, price, background, or layout.
53. The system of claim 50 wherein the charity or not-for-profit
organization "ad-book" server presents choices relating to message
type or message theme to the computer system.
54. The system of claim 50 wherein the communications network
comprises a public switch telephone network and packet data
network.
55. The system of claim 50 wherein the computer system further
comprises one of a personal computer, a notebook computer, a
personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone or a
mobile/wireless assistant.
56. The system of claim 50 wherein the charity or not-for-profit
organization "ad-book" server further comprises a web server
computer system capable of interfacing with the Internet.
57. The system of claim 50 wherein the computer system further
comprises at least one of Microsoft Office, Corel PageMaker, and
Adobe PhotoShop.
58. The system of claim 50 wherein the charity or not-for-profit
organization "ad-book" server further comprises a database of at
least one of messages, ad-books, and users.
59. A method for preparing an ad-book, print or publication for one
of a plurality of charity or not-for-profit organizations: a member
or supporter of the charity or not-for-profit organization
accessing a website or e-mail of the one of the plurality of
charity or not-for-profit organizations or 3rd party provider of
such website and downloading an interactive e-mail or webpage from
the website; the member of supporter activating a hyperlink on the
webpage or interactive e-mail to download an interactive
contribution format of the charity or not-for-profit organization
or from a third-party "ad-book" preparer; the member or supporter
preparing an "ad" or message for inclusion within the ad-book,
print or publication using the interactive contribution format; and
the third-party "ad-book" preparer preparing or distributing the
ad-book, related print or publication with the prepared "ad" or
message of the member or supporter.
60. The method of claim 59 wherein preparing further comprises
selecting choices relating to the advertisement or message.
61. The method of claim 60 wherein choices comprises advertisement
or message, size, placement, color, font, logo, image, price,
background or layout.
62. The method of claim 60 wherein choices comprises indicating
whether the advertisement or message shall be printed in a physical
"ad-book" or similar print publication or posted on-line in a
virtual "ad-book" or similar internet publication or both
physically printer and posted on-line, where the advertisement or
message is simply rendered "anonymous"
63. The method of claim 59 wherein preparing further comprises
selecting an advertisement or message type or theme to reduce the
number of choices that an advertiser, member or sponsor must make
to produce an advertisement.
64. The method of claim 59 wherein the communications network
comprises a public switch telephone network and packet data
network.
65. The method of claim 59 wherein the user terminal comprises a
computer system.
66. The method of claim 65 wherein the computer system comprises
one of a personal computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital
assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone or a mobile/wireless
assistant.
67. The method of claim 59 wherein the server comprises a web
server computer system for accessing the communications
network.
68. The method of claim 67 wherein the web server comprises a
firewall for maintaining security including security from outside
access to the system and security within the system between various
clients, organizations, members, advertisers, supporters, lists and
accounts.
69. The method of claim 68 wherein the firewall limits access to
information on the server wherein information comprises the
advertisements and messages and the ad-books and the organizations
and the advertisers and the members and the supporters and the
lists and accounts.
70. The method of claim 59 wherein preparing further comprises
using computer software running at the user terminal to create an
advertisement or message.
71. The method of claim 70 wherein the computer software comprises
at least one of Microsoft Word or Office, Corel PageMaker and Adobe
Acrobat or PhotoShop or then most current and or appropriate
commercially available software applicable for the related fields
of this invention.
72. The method of claim 59 wherein processing further comprises
receiving payment for processing the advertisement or message for
placement in an "ad-book" or related print or publication.
73. The method of claim 59 wherein processing further comprises:
receiving the advertisement or message at the server from the user
terminal; storing the advertisement at the server; and converting
the received advertisement into an advertisement to be placed into
one or a plethora of "ad-books" or related print or publication and
differentiating ads or messages for placement by category or
criteria or affinity grouping.
74. The method of claim 73 further comprising receiving payment at
the server for processing the advertisement for placement in an
"ad-book" or related print or publication and allocating payment to
one or among a plethora of organizations into which the
advertisement or message is placed based on allocation
criteria.
75. The method of claim 73 further comprising classifying the
received "ad" or message into an "ad-book" category.
76. The method of claim 73 further comprising using techniques, the
techniques comprising statistics and demographics, to discern at
least one group of related ads or messages among or between a
plethora of organizations.
77. The method of claim 73 further comprising using techniques, the
techniques comprising statistics and demographics, to discern at
least one organization or a group of related organizations of a
plethora of organizations.
78. The method of claim 73 further comprising using techniques, the
techniques comprising statistics and demographics, to discern at
least one organization of related organizations or related ad-book
print or publications.
79. The method of claim 73 further comprising converting the
received advertisement into an HTML advertisement to be shown on at
least one user terminal.
80. The method of claim 79 wherein the HTML "ad" or message is a
part of one or a plethora of electronic "ad-books" or related print
publications or "ad-book" form for processing an "ad" or
message.
81. The method of claim 79 further comprising sending a copy of the
HTML "ad" or message to an advertiser or organization or a plethora
of organizations whom initiated or solicited the "ad" or message
preparation.
82. The method of claim 59 further comprising registering with the
server whereby an advertiser at the user terminal connects to the
server and enters information relating to the advertiser or the
organization or a plethora of organizations.
83. The method of claim 59 further comprising entering a mode of
payment at the user terminal to pay for the "ad" or message to be
placed in "ad-books" or related print or publication.
84. The method of claim 59 further comprising sending an
acknowledgement to advertises, members or supporters notifying the
organization or organizations or advertisers of the receipt of the
"ad" or message.
85. The method of claim 59 further comprising sending
acknowledgements to advertisers, members or supporters notifying
the members, supporters or advertisers of payment information.
86. A method for preparing ad-books, or related printing or
publication, for a plethora of organizations, such method
comprising: preparing advertisements by selecting choices relating
to the "ad" or message at a user terminal connected to a
communications network; receiving the prepared "ads" or messages at
the server connected to the communications network; classifying the
prepared "ads" or messages into at least one ad-book; and
converting the prepared "ads" or messages into an "ad" or message
to be placed into one or more ad-books, printed or published.
87. A method for preparing ad-book charity or not-for-profit
organization event-books, printing or publication used by a
recognized not-for-profit organization, such method comprising: a
website for one of a plurality of charity or recognized
not-for-profit organizations downloading a webpage, from a
plurality of web pages of the recognized not-for-profit
organization to a terminal of a supporter or potential supporter of
the not-for-profit organization through a communication network;
the supporter activating a softkey on the downloaded webpage; a
charity or not-for-profit organization server or a third party on
behalf of the charity or not-for-profit downloading a form to the
supporter, the form being populated within the form with a name of
the not-for-profit organization and with a plurality of selectable
levels of advertising or sponsorship of the not-for-profit
organization; the supporter completing the form by selecting or
preparing an advertisement or message in support of the
non-for-profit organization including selecting one of the
plurality of levels of sponsorship at the user terminal connected
to the communications network; and a processor of the charity or
not-for-profit organization server connected to the communications
network receiving the message through the communication network and
processing the message placing the message in a charity or
not-for-profit organization ad-book or related print or
publication.
88. The method of claim 87 wherein preparing further comprises
selecting at least one of a plurality of content choices relating
to the message.
89. The method of claim 88 wherein choices comprises message, size,
placement, color, font, logo, image, price, background or
layout.
90. The method of claim 87 further comprising receiving the message
at the server from the user terminal, storing the messages at the
server and converting the received message into a format to be
placed into the ad-book using techniques including statistics and
demographics, to provide suggested pricing or automate the
population of pricing of a given size of ad-message from at least
one group of related groups.
91. The method of claim 87 further comprising receiving the message
at the server from the user terminal, storing the messages at the
server and converting the received message into a format to be
placed into the ad-book using techniques including statistics and
demographics, to discern at least one group of related users,
members or supporters.
92. The method of claim 87 further comprising receiving the message
at the server from the user terminal, storing the messages at the
server and converting the received message into a format to be
placed into the ad-book using techniques including statistics and
demographics, to discern at least one group of related charity or
not-for-profit organization ad-books or related print or
publications.
93. The method of claim 87 further comprising receiving the message
at the server from the user terminal, storing the messages at the
server and converting the received message into a format to be
placed into the ad-book using techniques including converting the
received message into an HTML format to be shown on at least one
user terminal.
94. The method of claim 87 further comprising sending an
acknowledgement to an user, member or supporter notifying the
organization or user of the receipt of the message.
95. The method of claim 94 further comprising sending a reminder
message to inform a user of the receipt for the message such that
the reminder message recognizes the tax-exempt status of the Group
or Not-For-Profit.
96. The method of claim 95 further comprising sending a message to
inform a user such that the message recognizes one or the number of
viewings of the ad-book of posted or published message of the users
message from among the posted messages of the group or
not-for-profit ad-book.
97. The method of claim 87 further comprising sending an
acknowledgement to an user, member or supporter notifying the
member, supporter or user of payment information.
98. A method for preparing charity or not-for-profit organization
ad-books, printing or publication used by a recognized
not-for-profit organization, such method comprising: a website of
the recognized not-for-profit organization downloading a webpage to
a terminal of a supporter of the not-for-profit organization
through a communication network; the user, supporter or potential
supporter activating a contribution softkey on the downloaded
webpage; a charity or not-for-profit organization server
downloading a form to the supporter; the server populating the form
with a name of the charity or not-for-profit organization
information and with a plurality of selectable levels of
sponsorship of the not-for-profit organization where a cost
associated with each of the plurality of levels of sponsorship is
commensurate with a publishing or frequency of distribution of a
message recognizing the respective monetary contribution from the
supporter to the not-for-profit organization; the supporter
preparing a message in support of the non-for-profit organization
including selecting one of the plurality of levels of sponsorship
or frequency of distribution of the message and contribution to the
organization at the user terminal connected to the communications
network for the subsequent publication, recognition or distribution
of the message at one of various levels of recognition; and a
processor of the charity or not-for-profit organization server
connected to the communications network delivering the message of
recognition in exchange for contribution to the organization
through the communication network and processing the message and
publishing or, distributing or placing the message in a charity or
not-for-profit organization ad-book or distribution listing of
similar messages or distributions or related print or
publication.
99. The method of claim 98 wherein preparing further comprises
selecting choices relating to the message.
100. The method of claim 99 wherein choices comprises message,
size, placement, color, font, logo, image, price, background or
layout.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to what are commonly known
as "advertisement books" or more commonly referred to as "ad-books"
or printings or other publications as frequently used by charities
and not-for-profit organizations for fundraising, and more
particularly, to the forms and computerized/automated preparation,
production, publishing and management of ad-books and related print
or publishing frequently used by charities and not-for-profit
organizations for fund raising.
[0003] 2. Related Art.
[0004] Advertisement books (hereinafter "ad-books") and related
print or publications are fundraising vehicles whereby members and
supporters of an organization pay the organization to place an
advertisement (hereinafter an "ad") or message in an organization's
publication for the dual purpose of advertising and contributing to
the group. Organizations that may use ad-books include charities,
schools, teams, associations, clubs, professional organizations,
lodges, unions, boards, fraternities, sisterhoods, causes,
hospitals, homes, condo-boards, synagogues, events, community
groups, and political parties or candidates. Typically, an
organization will solicit members and supporters to buy an "ad" or
place a message in their "ad-book" or related print or publication
and either sell or give away the ad-books or related print or
publication as a fundraising tool. As a fundraising tool,
"ad-books" (and related print or publications) are similar to group
fundraisers such as award dinners, car washes, bake-sales, raffles,
auctions, golf-outings, or similar events. Each such event offers
members and supporters an excuse or opportunity to contribute and
help the organization raise money as well as to participate in or
be associated with an organization. An "ad-book" or related print
or publication also offers the member or supporter the opportunity
to be recognized by the organization or participate with a member,
family or friend by being an incidental supporter in an "ad-book"
or related print or publication, as opposed to being a
"card-carrying" or dues paying member. Ad-books are often
synonymous with or produced along with or in the faun of
dinner-programs, group directories, group calendars, raffles,
auction-books, yearbooks, newsletters, or along with other simple
content or events. In this way such print or other publication
offers sponsorship opportunities for ads, listings, messages or
other support and at a variety of rates and fees. It should be
noted that the rate or fee charged in the nature of this
not-for-profit sector is more attuned to the charitable giving,
giving history, recognition of the charitable nature of the giver
or of the members or supporters or the needs of the organization as
opposed to the more commercial marketplace which places value on
circulation and the more direct potential commercial results of the
advertisement or the product or service.
[0005] Although "ad-book" ads or messages are viewed by advertisers
as a deductible business expense, the "ad-book" advertisers are
primarily members or supporters and their primary economic
motivation most often is to make a contribution to the organization
or to be recognized as philanthropic or to receive a generally
positive social recognition as opposed to receiving quality or
value for a purchase either of the "ad" or for any particular
product or service. In fact, the pricing of an "ad" or message in
an "ad-book" is rarely related to the typical economic
considerations of a typical advertiser whereby the value of their
advertisement would be based on the circulation of a given
publication to the general public or a target market. The "ad-book"
in this case is often not circulated beyond the group itself and is
not often priced based on its circulation. Accordingly, the term
"ad-book" and "ad-book advertiser" have meanings that are limited
by the non-for-profit context of their uses herein.
[0006] Likewise, the "ad-book" has very little similarity in its
content to a general circulation commercial publication. Most
general circulation publications have content which is their
appeal, and advertising which supports the publication's articles
and editorial views or subjects. By contrast, "ad-books" have
primarily ads. And the balance of the content of an "ad-book" or
similar print or publication for an organization is by, for, or
about the organization or its mission or charitable or
not-for-profit works, and its members, supporters, or honorees. In
brief, an "ad-book" for a typical organization focuses inward, on
itself or the organization while a commercial publication typically
focuses outward toward its intended public audience or targeted
segment of the public.
[0007] In this sense, this type of "ad" for an organization's
"ad-book" is based on the advertiser's desire to support the
organization (or be seen among his/her peers as supporting). Often
ad-books and related print or publications are a part of the social
or philanthropic fabric of the charitable or not-for-profit
community and allow members, supporters, and donors to be
recognized for their contributions by ads or messages. For example,
a large and generous donor may be recognized for its contribution
by a prominent full-page, gold-leaf ad, while smaller donors may be
acknowledged for a smaller half page "ad" or message and still
smaller "gifts" or "donations" are priced to receive and provide an
even smaller "ad" or message of a 1/8.sup.th page or business card
size or even a single line notation. "ad" pricing for ad-books is
sometimes synonymous with "gift" or "donation" or similar terms,
even though they are also direct payment for particular ads size
and placement.
[0008] The "ad-book" may also be seen as a "roll of givers" that
acts as a directory, establishes a pecking-order, and may even
pressure others to donate. In this instance the names or
recognition of members, supporters or donors to an "ad-book" may be
recognized in lists, typically from the most generous to the least.
Frequently such lists are broken down into groupings and/or given
honorary names for each level. An example of such an "ad-book" or
printing or publication would include a sequence of giving levels
such as $1,000-$10,000, $500-$999, $250-$499, $100-$249 and under
$100. Similarly, an example of names denoting higher levels of
giving could include Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, etc.
Another verbal example of levels is Chairman's Club, President's
Club, Board Level or Member. There are numerous other verbal
example categories of recognition and of giving levels depending
widely upon the constituency of the given organization, its cause
and the demographic of its community, to name just a few
factors.
[0009] In this sense, ad-books give the advertiser the opportunity
to be known as a benefactor and to help the community recognize its
benefactors, great and small. But Ad-books are also believed to
encourage giving and to offer a unique opportunity to boost giving
or revenue to an organization beyond just giving, since, though
thinly veiled as an ad, such ads can be treated as a business
expense for advertising or with matching gifts, for members or
supporters who are advertising, as opposed to other means of
contribution to an organization.
[0010] The process of putting together an "ad-book" includes
gathering advertisers, creating ads, collating ads, collecting
money, issuing receipts, performing layout of content and graphics,
finding prospective printers, bidding pre-print layout, bidding for
printing services, contracting with a printer, proofreading,
compiling content, pagination and printing and or publishing and
distributing ad-books. Organizations that use ad-books as a
fundraising vehicle often perform these tasks by organizing
committees of volunteers. Many of these tasks may be performed by
the organization or sent to one or more local businesses, such as
graphic designers or printers, to assist with the production of the
ad-books. In either case, the process is time consuming and very
labor intensive for the organizations that use ad-books or similar
print or publications as a fundraising vehicle. Further, since
organizations generally do not collaborate or cooperate in their
fundraising efforts, the economic benefit that arises from
producing ad-books or other similar print or publications in large
quantities for many different organizations is unavailable. Thus, a
number of alternative fundraising ways are known and preferred to
using ad-books such as holding an annual dinner or auction or
event. But because groups or organizations appeal to their members
on such special occasions and want to recognize their efforts,
honorees or event, the "ad-book" techniques are often employed
within such other related print or publishing (such as an outing,
event or a dinner program) where "advertisers" are recognized as
"sponsors". The above techniques are well known in the world of
associations, not-for-profits, charity educational, and religious
organizations, to name a few.
[0011] In the field of pure charity, we know of at least one known
reference that describes a method of and device for streamlining,
simplifying and inducing the giving of contributions or gift
commitments by contributors or prospective gift givers that
involves dispersing through a crowd of prospective contributors or
gift givers a plurality of keyless, electronic contributions or
gifts management devices for immediate entry of consecutive data
comprising the identities of the contributors or gift givers making
the monetary contribution commitments or monetary gift
commitments.
[0012] Another known "charity" reference describes a method of
capturing monetary donations or monetary gifts made by donors or
gift givers at points in time and space in which said donors or
gift givers are optimally motivated to make said donations or
gifts, said donations or gifts being the donation or gift
preferences of respective donors or gift givers. The method
comprises inputting a multiplicity of sequences of data comprised
of monetary donations or monetary gifts. The monetary donations or
monetary gifts are made by a plurality of said respective donors or
gift givers consecutively free of input of information unrelated to
said respective monetary donations or monetary gifts at a
multiplicity of distinct sites where said donations and gifts are
being received.
[0013] Another known "non-ad" reference describes a central office
that correlates charitable contributions made at vending stations
in food service establishments which issue information carriers in
return for charitable contributions which are receipts for the
contribution and entitle the donor to a beverage dispensed from a
machine responding to the information carrier. Yet another known
reference describes a multiplicity of charitable collection
stations with selectors for choosing the charity to which a
contribution is destined, a change maker for issuing change if
desired, a display for displaying information with respect to
premiums available and contributions made, and a modem or other
telecommunicator for two-way communications with a central
station.
[0014] However, none of these known ways improves upon or
streamlines the creation, publishing, and development of ads,
ad-books or related print-jobs or publishing. In addition, none of
these ways creates a new tool of a type of physical "Run" to fill
out that simultaneously offers to or collects members or supporters
billing information for an "ad" or message and the advertisements
or messages, themselves, for automated delivery to pre-print
production or printing and financial information or funds for
direct deposit or to automatically issue accounting statements such
as billing, receipts or reports. Accordingly, a new method and
system and tool or device for creating ad-books is needed.
[0015] Furthermore, there is no standardized method, system, tool,
automated form or device to provide such services to a plethora of
groups, charities and not-for-profit organizations for fundraising
ad-books or related print or publication, and more particularly, to
standardized computerized/automated preparation, production,
publishing and management. The lack of previously known methods to
support a plethora of organizations with ad-books is probably due
to several key factors which are overcome by the proposed
invention. First, there is a propensity for community groups to be
insular and private and to jealously guard their membership
information and the privacy of their members. It is therefore only
ironic that the use of ad-books provides a rare event where such
organizations permit, and even encourage a public display of
members and supporters. An internet based system for ad-book
fundraising (as under the claimed invention) can provide
customizable interconnectivity as well as privacy protection for a
plethora of organizations based on the same methods and tools.
Second, organizations, large and small, can rely upon volunteer
efforts and volunteered efforts, in which even a plethora of
organizations, can be systematized using an internet based system.
And, third, organizations and groups all engage in similar
fund-raising activities. Their individual identity and cause is
"their heart and sole" and thus they strongly self-associate and do
not share methods or tactics. But the advent of the internet has
provided a unique platform for even far-flung organizations to use
universally accepted methods and techniques under the claimed
invention. And the flexibility of the invention, coupled with the
internet delivery system and methods to personalize the delivery of
forms and facades can allow widely differing groups to engage in
the nearly identical fund-raising ad-book, print and publication
techniques showing their own "front-end" to members and supporters
while the organizations benefit from the similar methods systems,
tools, automated form or device to provide such service as
computerized/automated preparation, production, publishing and
management by the "back-end" provided by the invention and for
shared fractions of the cost spread over numerous groups, large and
small.
SUMMARY
[0016] A method and apparatus and forms are provided for preparing
ad-books over a communications network. The method includes
preparing an advertisement or message at a user terminal connected
to the communications network and using a form or format that
facilitates the transactions. The method further includes
processing the advertisement or message at a server connected to
the communications network for placing the advertisement or message
in an "ad-book" or related printing or publication.
[0017] As a more specific example, a method and apparatus are
provided for preparing an ad-book, print or publication for one of
a plurality of charity or not-for-profit organizations. The method
includes the steps of a member or supporter of the charity or
not-for-profit organization accessing a website of the one of the
plurality of charity or not-for-profit organizations and
downloading a webpage from the website, the member or supporter
activating a hyperlink on the webpage to download an interactive
"ad-book" ad, message or contribution form of the charity or
not-for-profit organization linked to a third-party "ad-book" print
or publication manager and preparer, the member or supporter
preparing an "ad" or message for inclusion within the ad-book,
print or publication using the interactive contribution form and
the third-party "ad-book" manager and preparer preparing and
publishing the ad-book, print or publication with the prepared "ad"
or message of the member or supporter on behalf of the
organization.
[0018] One thing that all of these "ad-books" and related print and
publications have in common is a "request for information" for
placing ads from its members and supporters. Though each "request
for information" is different, when compared among many, there are
striking similarities and significant differences. This invention
seeks to reconcile the similarities and overcome the differences
with a technical solution heretofore not available or contemplated,
other than as described herein.
[0019] The similarities of the "requests for information" include
basic contact information of the member, supporter or "advertiser"
such as name, address, phone, and the fact that they wish to
participate in the "ad-book". An example of consistent, though not
identical information, common among ad-books requests among
differing organizations for ad-books or similar print or
publications is the pricing or levels of giving, size and method of
conveying the "ad" or message and the methods of payment. An
example of information that is unique to each organization's
"ad-book" request would be the organizations name, logo, contact
information and mailing address.
[0020] To the best of our knowledge there is no standard "ad-book"
request for information format nor is there any particular request
for information used by any two groups. Each group seems to, simply
enough, come up with their own format. Though "ad-book" requests
for information may be similar, or even plagiarized from one group
to another or adapted from local printers there is no common rule
or tool to guide this very cloistered, parochial and private
"industry".
[0021] Illustrated embodiments of the invention provide a common
format using unique computer technology, automated form-making
technology and the internet, which, together combine the common
elements, make more flexible and responsive the similar elements
and simply drop-in the features unique to each group or
organization from a data-base of digital information kept for each
individual group from the plethora of groups and organizations.
[0022] Historically, each organization had to process the requests
for information using paper requests for information and had to do
two additional key elements by hand in addition to handling and
processing the form. The two key additional elements are the money
deposit and accounting and the processing of the content and layout
of the "ad" or message to prepare for printing or delivery to the
printer. Typical requests for ads require the member or supporter
who is placing an "ad" or message to attach or enclose payment,
requiring separate processing by the Organization and or the
organization's financial institution. Such processing included
depositing payments, accounting, issuing billing or receipts in
each instance and overall budgeting for the management, budgeting
and tracking of the success of the total campaign.
[0023] Typical forms require the member or supporter placing an
"ad" or message to attach or enclose the "ad" or message copy,
camera-ready art, business card, photo or text with the faun,
requiring separate processing by the organization or its vendors.
Such processing typically requires graphic design, pre-print
layout, pagination and other print or publishing typical of
ad-books or other related print or publishing jobs.
[0024] The invention provides a common form with the help of
computer technology, form-making technology and the internet,
which, together can make common the diverse elements of processing
and take similar elements of processing of "ad-book" from each
individual group and combine them with consolidated service
providers in order to achieve economies of scale and efficiency
without unreasonably reducing the unique identity or appeal of each
organization or their cause. For instance, through a relatively
common automated format the member or supporter can create their
own ad, including graphic design and images (thus eliminating much
of the pre-print-production costs of a 3.sup.rd party graphic
designer for many ads or messages). An automated "ad-book" format
can automatically send funds, receipts or billing information or
deposit funds directly into the organization's financial
institution or provide accounting and track progress of the
fund-raising efforts, or send automatic reminder or renewal
notices. By combining accounting with pre-print layout, such a
system can use automation and computer-driven rules to allow
consistent and well regulated pagination so that more generous
"full-page" ads are grouped in order and less expensive business
card sized ads are grouped together.
[0025] Many other features and benefits are reasonably expected
from this invention, e.g. automated renewal notices, multi-year
"ad" placement, standardized yet flexible formats for data,
ad/message content management, standardized "ad-book" features such
as stock-sizes, covers, sizes, colors, table of contents formats,
affinity group content, and celebrity endorsement; consolidated
printing and print work bidding, consolidated advertising and
account management, cross-ad-book advertising and demographic
specific publication, automated up-selling techniques, frequency
reminders, on-line publishing and directory services, lock-box
collection, services and specialized accounting, reporting and
receipts, which are typical of not-for-profit and political
organizations. The use of a common or typical format for soliciting
or the use of an electronic form such as can be conveyed over the
internet offers many advantages such as saving postage, e-mailing
larger pools of members and supporters, electronic processing of
electronic forms, including graphic design features for
on-line/on-the-fly graphic design of "ad-book" ads or messages and
on-line payment.
[0026] Other embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention
will be apparent to one with skill in the art of both organizations
who rely on "ad-books" and similar print or publications for
fund-raising as well as printers and graphic designers who have
traditionally helped compile and publish such ad-books and related
print publications and who may also benefit from more organized and
automated pre-print production and delivery by organizations.
[0027] Other embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention
will be apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of
the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that
all such additional embodiments, features, and advantages be
included within this description, be within the scope of the
invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0028] The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale,
emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of
the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the different views.
[0029] FIG. 1 depicts an "ad-book" preparation system in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an example user terminal of FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates an example "ad-book" server of FIG.
1;
[0032] FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart for creating ad-books using the
system of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 5a-b depicts an example advertisement selection form of
the system of FIG. 1; and
[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic of processors of the system of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an advertisement book
(used herein as "ad-book), print and publication preparation system
10 shown generally in accordance with an illustrated embodiment of
the invention. FIG. 6 depicts an overall connection diagram of the
software modules used to implement the system 10 of FIG. 1.
[0036] The system 10 may include a number of hosts 50, 52 operated
by a charity or not-for-profit organizations and a third-party
"ad-book" server 6. Each of the charity or not-for-profit hosts 50,
52 may support one or more websites 54, 56 for the benefit of the
members and supporters of the charity or not-for-profit
organization. Members and supporters of each of the charity or
not-for-profit organizations may access the respective websites 54,
56 and make contributions to the charity and not-for-profit
organization through a respective terminal 2, 4 of the member or
supporter.
[0037] Upon accessing the websites 54, 56 of the respective charity
or not-for-profit organization, the members and supporters 2, 4 may
download one or more web pages 58 from the respective websites 50,
52 of the charities or not-for-profit organizations. Located on the
web pages 58 may be a number of windows 60 with descriptive
information (e.g., mission statements, operational objectives and
achievements, donation instructions, etc.) about the charity or
not-for-profit organization.
[0038] Also located on the web pages 58 may be a softkey 62
entitled MAKE CONTRIBUTION." Activation of the softkey 62 activates
a subroutine 64 downloaded with the webpage 58. Activation of the
subroutine 64 causes the subroutine to activate a hyperlink 68 that
sends a message to the "ad-book" server 6. Included within the
message is a request for a contribution form 100 and an identifier
of the host 50, 52 (i.e., an identifier of charity or
not-for-profit organization) from which the request originated.
[0039] Within the third-party server 6, a request processor 70 may
receive and process the request. As a first step, the processor 70
may retrieve the identifier of the charity or not-for-profit
organization to access a file 72 of the charity or not-for-profit
organization and retrieve a set of contribution parameters 74. With
the contribution parameters, the request processor 70 may construct
an interactive contribution form 100 (FIGS. 5a-b).
[0040] As a first step in the construction of the contribution form
100, the request. processor 70 may insert a name of the charity or
not-for-profit organization in a display area 102 within the form.
The request processor 70 may also insert a set of names 104 of
customized levels of sponsorship of the charity or not-for-profit
organization. As a final step, the request processor 70 may also
attach a processing subroutine 76 to the form 100 and download the
form 100 and attached subroutine 76 to the member or supporter 2,
4.
[0041] Alternatively, the form 100 may be pre-constructed and saved
as a feature within each web page 58. In this case, the form 100
would be downloaded with the web page 58 from the website 54, 56
whenever a member or supporter 2, 4 visits the website 54, 56,
although the size of the file (i.e., the form 100) would slow the
downloading of the web page 58.
[0042] In general, a member or supporter of the charity or
not-for-profit organization may use a user terminal 2, 4 to prepare
an advertisement to be placed in an ad-book. An "ad-book" server 6
receives advertisement data via the form 100 from a user terminal
2, 4 via a communications network 8. In an illustrative embodiment,
communications network 8 functions to carry information between the
user terminals 2, 4 and the "ad-book" server 6 to facilitate the
creation of ad-books. The communications network 8 may include
circuit switched telephony as used in public switch telephone
networks (PSTN) or data packet networks adhering to Internet
Protocol (IP), frame relay, or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
protocols. In an illustrative embodiment, communications network 8
provides IP communication for user terminal 2, 4 and "ad-book"
server 6.
[0043] As used herein, an advertiser includes members and
supporters of an organization, e.g. charity, school, team,
association, club, professional organization, lodge, union, board,
fraternity, sisterhood, cause, hospital, home, condo-board,
synagogue, event, community group, political party candidate, and
volunteers and staff of the organization. For example, a local
hardware store may be an advertiser since it may desire to support
the local community group. Further, the advertiser may include
representatives and agents of the members and supporters. For
example, a marketing manager or a secretary for the marketing
manager may be termed an "advertiser" for purposes of this
application. Further yet, volunteers or members of the organization
may serve as advertisers. For example, a local bakery may desire
that the volunteers of the synagogue put together the advertisement
on the bakery's behalf.
[0044] The user terminal 2, 4 functions to provide an interactive
input apparatus for the creation of advertisements to be placed in
ad-books. As used herein, the term "advertisement" in the context
of an "ad-book", print or publication for a charity or
not-for-profit organization includes announcements, statements,
proclamations, public statements, posters, billboards, public
notices, classified ads, want ads, commercials, flyers, brochures,
and other information to be disseminated to the public. The
advertisement may includes graphics, simple text, images, video
clips, audio clips, and audiovisual information.
[0045] An embodiment of the present invention may be employed and
used in conjunction with any computer system, such as a personal
computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA),
a cellular telephone, or a mobile/wireless assistant or automatic
teller machine (ATM) or automatic ticket dispenser. For example, as
shown in FIG. 2, a user terminal 2, 4 may be a personal computer
system including a monitor 12, a keyboard 14, a mouse 16, random
access memory (RAM), storage in the form of a hard disk, a scanner
18, and network access 20 to the communications network 8. The
personal computer may also include a floppy disk, a CD-ROM drive,
read-only-memory, a modem, speakers, a camera, and a laser printer
22 as are well known in the art. In addition to a personal
computer, the user terminal 2, 4 may be practiced using a network
computer, a "dumb terminal" on a multi-user system, or an Internet
or intranet computer, in which software is resident on the Internet
or intranet, rather than stored on a hard disk on a personal
computer. Further, the user terminal 2, 4 may either operate in a
stand-alone mode or over a network.
[0046] The user terminal 2, 4 may be provisioned with computer
operating software currently available on a number of platforms,
such as Microsoft Windows, Apple MacOS and Sun Solaris. The
computer system may be running Windows 98, Windows NT, or
equivalent, Palm OS, WindowsCE, or equivalent or an operating
system used on Apple or Sun Computers. An embodiment of the present
invention is not limited to a particular operating system or
computer system to function.
[0047] The user terminal 2, 4 allows an advertiser to prepare an
advertisement by using the computer (as shown in FIG. 2) to display
and edit a desired advertisement. A desired advertisement 44 is
shown in FIG. 1 as it would be displayed on the monitor 12 of the
user terminal 2. The user terminal 2, 4 may be provisioned with
computer software currently available for the preparation of the
advertisement or simple content. Computer software, such as
Microsoft Office, Corel PageMaker and Adobe PhotoShop may be
suitable for the preparation of a desired advertisement. Further,
the user terminal 2, 4 may be used to connect with the "ad-book"
server 6 to transmit the desired advertisement to the "ad-book"
server 6 to be printed on a printer or to be formatted for display
as an electronic ad-book.
[0048] In this context, the member or supporter may use the
contribution form 100 in conjunction with the software to prepare
the advertisement. The advertisement 44 may be created by the
member or supporter and saved as a separate file 78 under an
appropriate format (e.g., pdf) on the user terminal 2, 4.
[0049] The member or supporter may then access the contribution
form 100 to submit the advertisement. For example, after adding
identification information of the member or supporter in a first
area 106 of the form 100, the member or user may activate a BROWSER
softkey 108. Activation of the softkey 108 allows the member or
supporter to view and identify one or more graphics and/or text
files 78 within a window 107 for inclusion within the ad. Selection
of the file 78 causes an image of the file to displayed in a window
109. The member or supporter may add text within another window 112
to create the finished ad 44. Alternatively, the member or
supporter may enter an IP address within a window 113 of the file
44 that identifies a path through the communication system 8
through which the file 44 may be retrieved. Once the files have
been identified, the member or supporter may activate an UPLOAD
softkey 110.
[0050] The "ad-book" server 6 may function to perform processing
for the creation of ad-books. It may provide user terminals 2, 4
with the ability to enter prepared content or advertisements or to
prepare an advertisement for an ad-book via the electronic form
100. An embodiment of the "ad-book" server 6 may be employed and
used in conjunction with any computer system, such as a personal
desktop computer. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, an "ad-book"
server 6 includes a web server system may include a monitor 26, a
keyboard 30, a mouse 28, a processing unit 24, and network access
35 with a firewall 34 to the communications network 10. The web
server may also include a floppy disk, a CD-ROM drive,
read-only-memory, a modem, speakers, a camera, a zip drive and a
laser printer 32 as are well known in the art. Optionally, the
"ad-book" server may include a database for managing ad-books, user
terminals 2, 4, advertisers, and advertisements.
[0051] The "ad-book" server 6 may be provisioned with computer
operating software currently available on a number of platforms,
such as Microsoft Windows, Apple MacOS and Sun Solaris. The
computer system may be running Windows 98, Windows NT, or
equivalent, Palm OS, WindowsCE, or equivalent or an operating
system used on Apple or Sun Computers.
[0052] For example, once a form 100 is received, a consolidation
processor 80 may receive the advertisement 44 and incorporate the
advertisement 44 into the "ad-book", print or publication 48. If
the form 100 is the first advertisement 44 received, then the
advertisement 44 would simply be added to the file. If the
advertisement 44 where one of many, then the advertisement 44 may
be prioritized within the "ad-book, print or publication 48. For
example, a member or supporter who submits an advertisement as a
Gold Sponsor 104 may be inserted at a beginning of the "ad-book",
print or publication. A Standard Sponsor may be relegated to an end
of the "ad-book", print or publication.
[0053] Similarly, the consolidation processor 80 may assembly
advertisements 44 based upon size. In this case, advertisement that
occupy a full page would simply be appended based upon priority.
One-half page advertisements 44 would be consolidated with another
one-half page advertisements 44 or two one-fourth page
advertisements 44.
[0054] In another illustrated embodiment of the present invention,
the "ad-book" server 6 may be programmed as a web server adhering
to the Active Server Pages specification to generate web pages for
display on the user terminals 2, 4. An embodiment of the present
invention is not limited to a particular operating system or
computer system to function.
[0055] In operation, an embodiment of the present invention
functions to allow advertisers at user terminals 2, 4 to produce
advertisements for ad-books without the necessity of first
accessing any website 54, 56 of a charity or not-for-profit
organization. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example flow of
the functions performed by the "ad-book" server 6 in creating
ad-books. Advertisers at user terminals 2, 4 may connect to a
website 82 of the "ad-book" server 6 by accessing the Internet via
the communications network 8 and entering a URL address relating to
the "ad-book" server 6. An advertiser at a user terminal 2, 4 may
register (see Block 36) with the "ad-book" server by entering
information related to the ad-book, the organization, and the
advertiser. With regard to the charity or not-for-profit
organization, the member or supporter may activate a BROWSE softkey
114 and a list of charities or not-for-profit organizations
registered with the server 6 may be displayed within a window 102.
The member or supporter may select the charity or not-for-profit
organization and activate the SELECT softkey 116.
[0056] The advertiser may enter the business name, address, and
telephone number in a first text area 106. The advertiser at a user
terminal 2, 4 may prepare an advertisement (see Block 38) by a
number of different methods including by downloading an
advertisement that has been previously prepared, filling in one of
several standard forms, and composing an advertisement at the
"ad-book" server 6 (see block 38). Downloading may include
transmitting the previously prepared advertisement or standard form
from the user terminal 2, 4 to the "ad-book" server 6 through the
communications network 8. An advertiser may directly create an
advertisement using applications software such as Microsoft Word,
Corel PageMaker and Adobe PhotoShop. As mentioned, an example
advertisement 44 prepared on the user terminal 2 and viewed on the
monitor 12 of the user terminal 2 is shown in FIG. 1.
[0057] Alternatively, an advertisement may be composed at the
"ad-book" server 6 by selecting choices relating to the
advertisement including desired size, cost/fee, message, layout,
and background from a web-based advertisement preparation tool. The
web-based advertisement preparation tool may be executed at
"ad-book" server 6 and may present choices relating to
advertisement size, placement, cost/fee, layout, background and
text to the user terminals 2, 4. For example, desired messages
available for selection may include "Congratulations!" "Good Luck
on the Fundraising," and "We Support You!" Further, messages may be
personal or personalized so that the advertiser may input personal
information such as a name. For example, personalized messages
available for selection include "From Your Friends at ______", or
"With Love From ______". Yet other messages may provide or allow
for matching corporate giving. For example, an individual's "ad" or
message which would include an approved "matching funds and support
provided by ______ Corporation".
[0058] Advertisement preparation (see Block 38) also includes
selecting one of a number of desired backgrounds by using an input
apparatus, such as mouse 16 on the user terminal 2, 4, to select
among multiple background patterns being displayed. Choices may
include regular and premium placement. For example, an advertiser
may choose the "Gold" background at a higher cost to show their
higher degree of support for the organization. Advertisement
preparation (see Block 38) may also include selecting font, font
size, and color as is known in the art. For example, an advertiser
may choose to have white letters in an Ariel font size of 14. Other
variations of advertisement preparation are known in the publishing
art and will not be further described herein.
[0059] Further, it may be possible to select an advertisement theme
so that the number of choices that an advertiser has to make in
order to compose an advertisement is reduced. For example, a
predefined advertisement theme such as "Formal," "Sponsor,"
"Endower," or "President's Level" may define a message, layout,
background and lettering font or size. Further, the cost associated
with predefined advertisement themes may commensurate with various
levels of giving. Further, an advertiser may input multimedia
comprising graphics, logos, images, video clips, audio clips and
audiovisual to the advertisement. For example, a photograph input
by use of a camera (not illustrated in FIG. 2) may be used as part
of the advertisement. If an advertiser wishes to use a previously
designed advertisement or image, or revise a past ad or image, then
the advertiser may select an image or prepared advertisement from a
list of images or prepared advertisements or from an archive of
images or past ads 84 which may be stored at the "ad-book" server
6. The "ad-book" server 6 may maintain archives classified
according to a criterion, e.g. organization's name, organization's
type, advertiser's name. Once the advertisement has been prepared,
it may be displayed to the advertiser so that further changes or
editing may be made or for final proof-reading and approval. Shown
in FIG. 1 is an example advertisement 46 prepared by selecting
choices from the "ad-book" server 6 and shown on the monitor of the
user terminal 4.
[0060] The "ad-book" server 6 may also generate messages to the
user terminal 4. Messages that may be generated include suggesting
modifications to an ad, reminding an advertiser to "up-sell" or
renew, informing the advertiser of potential "ad-books", prints and
publications to advertise in, and promoting an advertiser to re-run
an ad. The "ad-book" server 6 may use up-selling sales techniques
and user history or demographic information to suggest specialty
"ad" placement. For example, the server 6 may maintain a database
of user history or demographic information and "ad-book"
characteristics that may be analyzed to form recommendations
regarding potential advertiser interest or history of giving or
placing past "ads" or messages. For example, the server 6 may
suggest that an advertiser place an "ad" on a particular date in an
"ad-book" calendar or the server 6 may suggest that an advertiser
place an "ad" alongside specific members.
[0061] Data processing occurs as advertisement preparation is
completed (see block 40). Since many advertisements and many
ad-books may be processed at the "ad-book" server 6, data
processing includes classifying each advertisement received into
individual ad-books (or multiple ad-books if so desired). For
example, Bob's Garage may prepare and transfer an advertisement
showing its support for the local girls' softball team to the
"ad-book" server 6. The "ad-book" server 6 may classify the
advertisement for inclusion in the softball team ad-book. Yet
another example, a Chicago-area fast food restaurant may support
several causes and wish to be included in many different ad-books.
"ad-book" server 6 may classify the fast food restaurant
advertisement for a homeless society ad-book, a legal clinic
"ad-book" and a church affiliated ad-books.
[0062] An embodiment of this invention allows one advertiser to
support many organizations. For example, a regional or national
advertiser wishing to support all such organizations that meet the
advertiser's demographic, advertising or sponsorship criteria or
corporate philosophy may designate its support by selecting all
relevant ad-books for all relevant organizations. In a more
specific example, a major cosmetic company may wish to support
women's organizations, including girl's sports teams, women's
health issues, and women's charities within its major markets. In
yet another example, a major sporting goods supplier may wish to
sponsor all youth sport teams or just those in a particular sport.
Being able to support many organizations is a benefit of an
embodiment of this invention. Pooling support for various
organizations together provides efficiency in securing
advertisements from an advertiser or advertisers which no one
organization could reach and no such advertising campaign could
reach so many organizations. Further, pooling support from
advertisers, through this invention, allows each advertiser to
efficiently offer support to many organizations and allows each
organization to discreetly and confidentially accept or reject such
support as could be dictated by the consensus of the organization
(since it is implied that organizations have a conscience where as
for-profit publications would accept any decent paying ad). Thus,
both advertisers and organizations benefit from using an embodiment
of this invention if successfully deployed to a plethora of
advertisers and a plethora of organizations.
[0063] In an alternate embodiment, data processing (see Block 40)
includes the step of processing a mode of payment for placing the
advertisement in an ad-book. For example, an advertiser may enter
an advertiser's credit card number in a payment area 118 and
request that the bill be charged to the credit card. The mode of
payment may also include direct bank drafts, a request to be
billed, or, as is unique to not-for-profit and charity
organizations a "pledge" for future payment or payments over time.
Alternatively, a secure payment provider may be selected 122. Once
selecting a payment method, the member or supporter may activate a
SUBMIT softkey 124 to complete the process or simply print the
information for hand-delivery or mailing.
[0064] The "ad-book" server 6 may process the payment information
to the organization and or send a follow up receipt for tax
purposes or billing for payment or reminders for payment of a
"pledge". Further, the "ad-book" server 6 may consolidate payment
and advertisement information for the advertiser and or the
organization. In such a manner, an embodiment of this invention
provides assistance with specialized tax issues which many
not-for-profit organizations face.
[0065] Data processing (see Block 40) may also include sending an
acknowledgement to the advertiser at user terminal 2, 4 that
prepared the advertisement. The acknowledgement may include
transmitting an electronic mail (email) to the advertiser thanking
the advertiser for its support. The email may also include
specialized accounting information so as to aid with the
specialized tax issues mentioned above. The acknowledgement may
also include sending a postal mail to or telephoning the
advertiser. Further, data processing (see Block 40) may include
sending the advertiser a copy of the advertisement as a proof or
that may be printed in the "ad-book" or forwarding a copy of an
"ad-book" with the advertisement to the advertiser. In an
alternative embodiment, data processing (see Block 40) also
includes translating the advertisement into Hypertext Markup
Language (HTML) format so that the advertisement may be viewed from
user terminals 2, 4 connected to the Internet. Where advertisements
may be viewed from user terminals 2, 4, the term publishing is used
to describe the ability of users at user terminals 2, 4 to view an
ad-book. Where advertisement may be viewed from user terminals 2,
4, ad-books may or may not be printed in physical form. Further
yet, data processing (see Block 40) may also include managing
advertisements and ad-books so that advertisers may include links
to preferred web-sites. For example, a hardware advertiser may
include a hypertext link to its home page on the Internet. Further,
data processing (see Block 40) may also include the step of
deleting old advertisements, advertisements not paid for, and old
ad-books in the "ad-book" server 6.
[0066] In an alternative embodiment, password protection for the
advertisements and ad-books may be available to provide security
and limit access to the advertisements and the ad-books. Further, a
firewall 34 may be included for the "ad-book" server 6 so as to
provide security and limit access to the advertisements and the
ad-books.
[0067] Returning to FIG. 4, advertisement output (see block 42)
functions to create ad-books that are distributed by an
organization to raise money. This may include printing out a
typeset copy of an "ad-book" on the laser printer 32 of the
"ad-book" server 6 or it may include sending an electronic copy of
the "ad-book" to a print shop so that a large number of copies may
be printed on a printing press or, further, to be bound. In an
alternative embodiment, advertisement output (see Block 42) also
includes displaying advertisements and-ad-books to the user
terminals 2, 4. Further, electronic versions of the advertisements
and ad-books may be viewed by users connecting to the "ad-book"
server 6 through communications network 10. In one embodiment, user
terminals 2, 4 may view an electronic "ad-book" that has HTML
versions of the advertisements.
[0068] An embodiment of the present invention may be provided as
software, which may be loaded from floppy disks, from a CD-ROM,
over a network, or from any other suitable storage media. The
software may be loaded onto the hard disk drive of a computer in a
manner that is known to those skilled in the art.
[0069] FIG. 6 depicts a schematic 200 of the software processors
operating within the system of FIG. 1. As shown, members and
supporters may contact a host 50, 52 of the charity or
not-for-profit organizations over a first set of connections 202,
204 through the Internet 8. The host 50, 52 may provide links 206
to any of a number of different websites 208 of different charity
or not-for-profit groups.
[0070] The websites 208 may include the processor 210 with the
functionality of the server 6 or provide hyperlinks 206, 204, 216
to a separate server 6. Where the processor 210 contains the
functionality of the server 6, then the processor may down load the
form 100 to the member or supporter and the member or supporter may
create the advertisement using an internal processor 232.
[0071] Alternatively, the member or supporter may use the services
of a consultant to prepare the advertisement 44 and reference the
graphics for retrieval via a IP address 113. In this case, the
member or supporter may create a graphics file within a first
processor 232 and transfer the file to a processor 234 that
converts the file to a format suitable for the "ad-book, print or
publication. Another processor 236 may divide the file into first
and second forms for on-line and printed formats. Still another
processor 238 may perform further graphics adjustments (e.g., add
margins, color, etc.) for approval by the member or supporter.
Another processor 240 may add text or make other final
adjustments.
[0072] The advertisement 44 within the form 100 may be received
from the member or supporter through links 202, 204, 206. The
"ad-book", print or publication may be sent to an in-house printer
212 or sent to a third party printer 214 through links 206, 204,
218. Where the advertisement 44 is retrieved through the IP address
113, retrieval of the advertisement may be through links 204, 206,
242, 244 or 246.
[0073] Where processor 210 prepares the "ad-book", print or
publication, payment may be obtained via a credit card 220 or bank
222 via links 206, 204, 224, 226. Alternatively, the member or
supporter 2, 4 may arrange for payment directly via a processor 228
and links 202 224, 226, 230.
[0074] In other embodiments, the server 6 may be operated by a
third party. The third party may maintain a database 248 of
previous advertisements from members and supporters of charities
and not-for-profit organizations. The third party may also maintain
its own accounting system 250 for collecting donations from members
or supporters of client charities and not-for-profit
organizations.
[0075] While various embodiments of the invention have been
described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible
that are within the scope of this invention.
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