GB2372362A - Localised printing - Google Patents

Abstract

A request for a creative expression (greeting card) associated with an order for goods is sent to an application server (109) to be printed by a fulfillment client (113), and, automatically the creative expression received from the application server (109) is printed (163).

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD TO INITIATE LOCALIZED PRINTING OF DOCUMENTS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is generally related to the field of printing and, more particularly, is related to a system and method for initiating localized printing of documents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The advent of the information age sparked by the Internet and computer technology has provided new opportunities for commercial gain. A myriad of companies now exist that seek to make commercial gain by selling their wares on-line. Many of these entities strive to provide fast and efficient delivery for orders received on-line.

To achieve fast delivery of products ordered on-line, many companies distribute their operation among a number of fulfillment sites that service the various geographical regions of the United States. The fulfillment sites are closer to the potential customers and, consequently, customers receive products ordered on-line in a shorter amount of time.

Although fulfillment sites may be distributed, often times the order taking system is centralized. The orders for goods taken at the centralized on-line system are generally provided to one of the fulfillment sites to be fulfilled.

In more recent times, it has been desirable to purchase gifts on-line through such organizations for direct delivery to the person who is to receive the gift. Since the item is delivered directly to the individual who receives the gift, the purchaser will not have the opportunity to include a personalized greeting card to accompany the gift. Consequently, on-line companies who provide goods have scrambled to develop systems that provide a personalized greeting to accompany a gift bought on-line. However, due to the distribution of fulfillment centers, the personalized greeting has to be generated at the fulfillment site to be included with the delivery of goods. In cases where various fulfillment sites handle relatively modest amounts of orders for goods, it may not be economical to invest in specialized equipment to achieve the ability to create personalized greetings to accompany orders for goods. Consequently, the advance of such distribution channels is stifled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides for a system and method in a fulfillment client for printing of a creative expression. Broadly stated, the method comprises the steps of transmitting a request for a creative expression associated with an order for goods to an applications server to be printed by the fulfillment client, and, automatically printing the creative expression received from the applications server.

The present invention may also be viewed as a system in a fulfillment client for printing of a creative expression. In this regard, the system comprises a processor coupled to a local interface, and a memory coupled to the local interface. The system also includes print button logic stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the print button logic being associated with an order for goods. The print button logic includes logic to transmit a request for a creative expression associated with the order for goods to an applications server to be printed by the fulfillment client, and logic to automatically print the creative expression received from the applications server.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art in view of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS The invention can be understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Also, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. I is a functional block diagram of a distributed printing system according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a software embodiment, for example, of the distributed printing system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an electronic mail message employed in the distributed printing system of FIG. 2 that includes a graphical print button according to an aspect of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a drawing of a web page employed in the distributed printing system of FIG. 2 that also includes a graphical print button according to an aspect of the present invention ; FIG. 5 is a flow chart of order logic executed in an Etailer server in the distributed printing system of FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a flow chart of print button logic associated with an order for goods generated by the Etailer server in the distributed printing system of FIG. 2; FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a portion of client print logic executed by a client in the distributed printing system of FIG. 2; and FIG. 8A-8C are flow charts of modules of print logic executed by an application server in the distributed printing system of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. 1, shown is a distributed printing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The distributed printing system 100 includes an Etailer server 103, a client 106, an application server 109, and a fulfillment client 113. The Etailer server 103 includes a web site 123 that features both order logic 126 and create logic 129. The order logic 126 and the create logic 129 are executed on the Etailer server 103 to generate an order for goods and to create a creative expression that is to accompany the order for goods to be delivered to the recipient. The creative expression may be, for example, a greeting card or other expression.

The client 106 includes a browser 133. By manipulating the browser 133, a user of the client 106 may access the web site 123 and generate an order for goods pursuant to the order logic 126. The user may also create a creative expression that is to be associated with the order for goods and shipped with the goods to the ultimate recipient. To create the creative expression, the user may interface with the create logic 129 through the browser 133. The creative expression that is created is then associated with the order for goods by the order logic 126 as will be discussed. The order logic 126 may ultimately create one or

more orders 143 from one or more clients 106. For each order 143 that includes an associated creative expression, print button logic 146 is attached to initiate the printing of the creative expression by the fulfillment client 113 as will be discussed. The orders 143 are transmitted to the fulfillment client 113 for assembly and shipment to the customers.

The fulfillment client 113 includes a browser 153, electronic mail service 156, and client print logic 159. A printer 163 is coupled to the fulfillment client 113 to print the creative expression that is associated with a particular order 143. The specific operation of the browsers 133 and 153 and the electronic mail service 156 is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art, and consequently, are not discussed herein in detail. The client print logic 159 is executed to print the creative expression on the printer 163. The actual printing of the creative expression is initiated by the print button logic 146 as will be described.

The application server 109 includes build logic 166 and print logic 169. The build logic 166 is executed by the application server 109 to generate the creative expression in a format that is recognizable by the client print logic 159 for printing. The print logic 169 is executed by the application server 109 in interfacing with the fulfillment client 113 to facilitate the automated printing of the creative expression without user intervention.

Next, a description of the operation of the distributed printing system 100 is provided. To begin, a user of the client 106 manipulates the browser 133 to access the web site 123 on the Etailer server 103. By interfacing with the web site 123, the user can generate an order 143 for goods or services. If desired, the user may also create a creative expression pursuant to the create logic 129 that is to be associated with the order 143. The order logic 126 attaches print button logic 146 to each order 143 that includes a creative expression. The creative expression itself is stored on the Etailer server 103 to be accessed at a later time when the order 143 is assembled for shipment. The order logic 126 associates the creative expression with the order 143, for example, by including the uniform resource locator (URL) of the creative expression stored on the Etailer server 103 with the order 143 so that the creative expression may be accessed at a later time. The order logic 126 then transmits the order 143 to the fulfillment client 113. Alternatively, the fulfillment client 113 may access the web site 123 using the browser 153 to access any orders 143 that are to be fulfilled.

The order 143 may be embodied in one of any number of forms. For example, an order 143 may be embodied, for example, in an electronic mail message that is transmitted from the Etailer server 103 to the fulfillment client 113. Such an electronic mail message can be displayed using the appropriate electronic mail service 156 at the fulfillment client 113. The electronic mail service 156 may be, for example, Microsoft Outlook sold by Microsoft Corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Alternatively, an order 143 may be embodied in a web page stored on the Etailer server 103 that constitutes an appropriate graphical user interface that is accessed and displayed by the fulfillment client 113 through the browser 153. In either form, if there is a creative expression to be printed and shipped with the order 143, a graphical print button (not shown) is included in the electronic mail message or the web page. By manipulating the graphical print button, a user at the fulfillment client 113 causes the execution of the print button logic 146 associated with the order 143 that initiates the automated printing of the creative expression on the printer 163.

Once the fulfillment client 113 receives an order 143, the user at the fulfillment client 113 assembles the goods or services identified by the order 143 for shipment. If a creative expression is to be included with the shipment, then the print button logic 146 is included with the order 143. The user at the fulfillment client 113 manipulates the graphical print button to initiate the printing of the creative expression. Upon manipulating the graphical print button at the fulfillment client 113, the print button logic 146 sends a request to the application server 109 for a particular creative expression created by a particular user.

The request includes the uniform resource locator (URL) of the creative expression stored on the Etailer server 103.

To ensure the creative expression can be printed, the print logic 169 at the application server 109 first responds by interfacing with the fulfillment client 113 to ensure that the client print logic 159 is stored in the fulfillment client 113. The build logic 166 in the application server 109 then retrieves the particular creative expression from the Etailer server 103 that was created pursuant to the create logic 129. The build logic 166 then assembles a data file that represents the creative expression in a form that is recognizable by the client print logic 159. The application server 109 then transmits the data file to the

fulfillment client 113. The file is then accessed by the client print logic 159 that automatically prints the creative expression embodied therein on the printer 163.

With reference to FIG. 2, shown is a distributed printing system 100a that depicts a software implementation of the distributed printing system 100 (FIG. 1), for example, according to the present invention. The distributed printing system 100a includes the Etailer server 103 with a processor 203 and a memory 206, both of which are coupled to a local interface 209. The local interface may comprise, for example, a data bus with an associated control bus as is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the art. Stored on the memory 206 and executable by the processor 203 are an operating system 213, the order logic 126, and the create logic 129.

Next, the client 106 also includes a processor 223 and a memory 226, both of which are coupled to the local interface 229. The local interface 229 may include, for example, a data bus with an associated control bus as is known by those with ordinary skill in the art.

Stored on the memory 226 and executable by the processor 223 is an operating system 233 and the browser 133.

In addition, the distributed printing system 100a features the application server 109.

The application server 109 includes a processor 243 and a memory 246, both of which are coupled to a local interface 249. The local interface 249 includes, for example, a data bus with an accompanying control bus as known by those with ordinary skill in the art. Stored on the memory 246 and executable by the processor 243 is an operating system 253, build logic 166, and the print logic 169.

The distributed printing system 100a also includes the fulfillment client 113. The fulfillment client 113 includes a processor 263 with a memory 266, both of which are coupled to a local interface 269. The local interface 269 may include, for example, a data bus with an accompanying control bus as is known by those with ordinary skill in the art.

Stored on the memory 266 and executable by the processor 263 is an operating system 273, the electronic mail service 156, the browser 153, the client print logic 159, and the order 143 with the print button logic 146. The fulfillment client 113 also includes a display device 276. The display device 276 may be, for example, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display screen, a gas plasma-based flat panel display, indicator lights, light emitting diodes, or other suitable display device.

Depicted on the display device 276 is the electronic mail message 143a or the web page 143b. The fulfillment client 113 also includes a keyboard 283 and the printer 163.

The display device 276, the keyboard 283 and the printer 163 are generally coupled to the local interface 269 using appropriate input/output cards or other suitable interface. Also note, that the fulfillment client 113 may include other user input/output devices such as, for example, but not limited to, a keypad, touch pad, touch screen, microphone, mouse, joystick, or one or more push buttons, etc. User output devices may include, for example, a screen, indicator lights, speakers, printers, etc. Also note, that the Etailer server 103, the client 106, and the application server 109 may also include appropriate input/output devices and display devices as needed in a similar manner to the fulfillment client 113, the description of which is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The distributed printing system 100a also includes network 293. The Etailer server 103, the client 106, application server 109, and fulfillment client 113 are coupled to the network 293 as shown. The network 293 may include, for example, the Internet, wide area networks (LANs), local area networks, or other suitable networks, etc. The Etailer server 103, client 106, application server 109, and fulfillment client 113 are coupled to the network 293 to facilitate data communication to and from the network 293 in any one of a number of ways that are generally known by those of ordinary skill in the art. The servers 103/109 and clients 106/113 may be linked to the network 293 through various devices such as, for example, network cards, modems, or other such communication devices. Also, the servers 103/109 and clients 106/113 may be coupled to the network 293 through a local area network and an appropriate network gateway or other similar arrangements, etc.

The memories 206,226, 246, and 266 may include both volatile and non-volatile memory components. Volatile are those that do not retain data values upon loss of power.

Non-volatile components are those that retain data upon a loss of power. Thus, the memories 206,226, 246, and 266 may include, for example, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard disk drives, floppy disks accessed via an associated floppy disk drive, compact disks accessed via compact disk drive, magnetic tapes accessed via an appropriate tape drive, and/or other memory components, or a combination of any two or more of these memory components.

In addition, the processors 203, 223, 243, and 263 each may represent multiple processors that operate in parallel, and each of the memories 206, 226, 246, and 266 may represent multiple memories that operate in parallel with the multiple processors. In such a case, the local interfaces 209,229, 249, and 269 may be an appropriate network that facilitates communication between any two of the multiple processors or between any processor and any of the memories, etc. In addition, the processors 203,223, 243,263 ; memories 206,226, 246,266 ; and the local interfaces 209,229, 249,269 may be electrical or optical in nature. The memories 206,226, 246, and 266 may also be magnetic in nature.

The operating systems 213,233, 253, and 273 are generally known by those of ordinary skill in the art to facilitate the operation of the servers 103/109 and the clients 106/113. Consequently, the operating systems 213,233, 253, and 273 are not discussed herein in detail.

With reference to FIG. 3, shown is an example of the electronic mail message 143a according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic mail message 143a is one embodiment of the order 143 (FIG. 1) that includes order information 303 and the graphical print button 146a. The graphical print button 146a is included as there is a creative expression that is to be included with the particular order 143. The electronic mail message 143a thus provides needed information to the user of the fulfillment client 113 that is necessary to fulfill the particular order. The electronic mail message 143a also includes the graphical print button 146a that is clicked upon or otherwise manipulated by the user of the fulfillment client 113 to print out a creative expression that is to be shipped with the order.

Thus, the order 143 may be embodied in an electronic mail transmission that is transmitted from the Etailer server 103 to the fulfillment client 113 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The electronic mail message 143a thus depicts a "push"method of downloading the orders 143 from the Etailer server 143 to the fulfillment client 113. Specifically, the Etailer server 103 will automatically transmit the electronic mail message 143a to the fulfillment client 113 after the order 143 has been created.

With reference to FIG. 4, shown is a depiction of the web page 143b that includes the order information 303 and the graphical print button 146a as well. The web page

143b thus depicts a second means by which the order 143 may be accessed and viewed appropriately. Thus, the web page 143b shows a"pull"approach to downloading orders 143 from the Etailer server 143 to the fulfillment client 113. Specifically, the user of the fulfillment client 113 must go on-line through the network 293 to the Etailer server 143 to download any orders 143 that must be fulfilled, the order 143 being depicted in the web page 143b. One or more orders 143 may be contained within the web page 143b.

With reference to FIG. 5, shown is a flowchart of the order logic 126 executed in the Etailer server 103. The order logic 126 is executed on the Etailer server 103 to interface with the browser 133 of the client 106 to generate the order 143 (FIG. 1) for goods. Beginning with block 353, the order logic 126 generates the order 143 by interfacing with the user of the client 106 through the browser 133. The order 143 can be generated in one of many different ways that are commonly known to those with ordinary skill in the art and employed in electronic commerce on a daily basis.

After the order 143 is generated, the order logic 126 moves to block 356 in which it is determined whether a creative expression such as, for example, a greeting card is to be created to ship with the order 143. If so, then the order logic 126 progresses to block 359 in which the creative expression is generated by interfacing with the client 106 through the browser 103. Specifically, to interface with the client 106, the Etailer server 103 executes the create logic 129. Alternatively, note that the order logic 126 may determine if a greeting card is to be created before the order 143 is generated. For a description of the operation of the create logic 129, reference is made to co-pending United States Patent Application entitled"System and Method for Transmitting and Printing a Creative Expression"filed on March 13,2000 and assigned Serial Number 09/524,190, the entire text and disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

After the creative expression has been defined in block 359, the order logic 126 progresses to block 363 in which the print button logic 146 (FIG. 1) is associated with the order 143 (FIG. 1). Thereafter, in block 366 the order 143 is transmitted to the fulfillment client 113 (FIG. 1) for assembly and shipment to the customer. Looking back to block 356, if there is to be no creative expression included in the shipment of goods, then the order logic 126 progresses to block 366 to transmit the order 143 to the

fulfillment client 113 without the print button logic 146. Thereafter, the order logic 126 ends as shown.

With reference then to FIG. 6, shown is a flowchart of the print button logic 146 according to the present invention. The print button logic 146 is associated with the order 143 and transmitted from the Etailer server 103 (FIG. 2) to the fulfillment client 113 (FIG. 2). Upon viewing the order 143 (FIG. 3) whether in the form of the electronic mail message 143a (FIG. 3) or the web page 143b (FIG. 4), the user may manipulate the graphical print button 146a, thereby executing the print button logic 146. For example, the print button logic 146 may be a plug-in that is executed by the browser 153 (FIG. 2) in the case that the order 143 is accessed via the web page 143b.

Beginning with block 403, the print button logic 146 determines whether the graphical print button 146a has been manipulated by being clicked on or depressed, thereby initiating the print button logic 146. The print button logic 146 then progresses to block 406 in which it is determined whether the fulfillment client 113 includes the client print logic 159 stored on the memory 266. The client print logic 159 is executed to automatically print the creative expression once it is downloaded to the fulfillment client from the application server 109 (FIG. 2). For a detailed discussion of the nature and operation of the client print logic 159, reference is made to co-pending United States Patent Application entitled"System and Method for Transmitting and Printing a Creative Expression"filed on March 13,2000 and assigned Serial Number 09/524,190, the entire text and disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In block 409, if the client print logic 159 is not present on the memory 266 (FIG.

2) of the fulfillment client 113, then the print button logic moves to block 413. In block 413, a request is transmitted to the application server 109 to download the client print logic 159 to the fulfillment client 113. Then, in block 416, if the download is complete, then the print button logic 146 moves to block 419.

With reference back to block 409, if the client print logic 159 is present on the memory 266, then the print button logic 146 moves directly to block 419. In block 419, the client print logic 159 is requested to perform an appropriate routine to identify the printer model of the printer 163 (FIG. 2) that is attached the fulfillment client 113. It is beneficial that the precise model of the printer 163 be supplied to the build logic 166 of

the application server 109 to format the creative expression for the printer 163. Upon receiving the request, the client print logic 159 then detects the printer model of the client 106 (FIG. 1) and transmits this information to the application server 109.

From block 129, the print button logic 146 progresses to block 426 in which a request is transmitted to the application server 109 for the particular creative expression that is to be supplied to the fulfillment client 113 to print out on the printer 163. The creative expression is then placed in the assembled shipment of goods that is sent to the customer. The request for the creative expression transmitted to the application server 109 (FIG. 2) contains a uniform resource locator (URL) of the actual creative expression that was created pursuant to the create logic 129 on the Etailer server 103. The application server 109 executes the build logic 166 that automatically accesses the creative expression at the URL. For a more detailed description of the build logic 166, reference is made to co-pending United States Patent Application entitled"System and Method for Transmitting and Printing a Creative Expression"filed on March 13, 2000 and accorded serial number 09/524, 190, that was previously incorporated by reference.

With reference to FIG. 7, shown is a flowchart of an additional portion of the client print logic 159 that is executed in the fulfillment client 113 (FIG. 2) to detect the printer model of the printer 163 (FIG. 2). The additional portion of the client print logic 159 is used because the browser 153 limits the ability of the print button logic 146 to communicate with the operating system 273 (FIG. 2) to examine the print model type on the fulfillment client 113 as is generally known by those skilled in the art. However, it is conceivable that the additional functionality of the client print logic 159 may be included within the print button logic 146 in circumstances in which the browser 153 and/or the email service 156 are not employed. Alternatively, the browser 153 and/or email service 156 may be adapted to provide for this functionality, although often this is prevented for reasons of security.

Beginning with block 456, the client print logic 159 reacts to the request from the print button logic 146 and determines the printer model on the fulfillment client 113 by interfacing appropriately with the operating system 273 of the fulfillment client 113.

Once the printer model is determined, then the printer model is transmitted to the

application server 109 (FIG. 2) in block 459. Thereafter, the additional portion of the client print logic 159 ends.

With reference to FIGS. 8A-C, shown are flowcharts of various portions of the print logic 169 that are executed in the application server 109 (FIG. 2). The print logic 169 is executed in the application server 109 to interface with the fulfillment client 113 as will be described. The various portions of the print logic 169 may be, for example, servlets or other such software embodiments.

With specific reference to FIG. 8A, shown is a flowchart of print logic 169a that is executed to download the client print logic 159 (FIG. 2) to the fulfillment client 113 (FIG. 2) if necessary. Note that the client print logic 159 is also stored in the memory 246 (FIG. 2) for retrieval if needed. Beginning with block 473, the client print logic 169a waits to receive a download request from the fulfillment client 113 for the client print logic 159. If such is received, then the client print logic 169a proceeds to block 476 in which the client print logic 159 is transmitted to the fulfillment client 113.

With reference to FIG. 8B, shown is a flowchart that depicts the reaction of the print logic 169b that is executed to receive the printer model from the client print logic 159 (FIG. 2) as was discussed with reference to FIG. 7. Beginning with block 483, the print logic 169b waits to receive a message from the fulfillment client 113 (FIG. 2) indicating the printer model. Once received, the print logic 169b moves to block 486 in which the printer model is stored in the memory 246 (FIG. 2) for use by the build logic 166 (FIG. 2) in generating the corresponding creative expression. Thereafter, the print logic 169b ends accordingly.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8C that depicts a flowchart of a portion of the print logic 169c according to the present invention. The print logic 169c is executed to transmit the creative expression from the application server 109 (FIG. 2) to the fulfillment client 113 (FIG. 2) in a manner that facilitates the automatic printing of the creative expression on the printer 163 (FIG. 3). Beginning with block 503, the print logic 169c determines whether there is an expression definition file that is to be transmitted to the fulfillment client 113. The expression definition file embodies the creative expression in a digital format that is recognizable by the client print logic 159 (FIG. 2). For a more detailed discussion of the nature of the expression definition file, reference is made to co

pending United States patent application entitled"System and Method for Transmitting and Printing a Creative Expression"filed on March 13, 2000 and assigned Serial Number 09/524,190, the entire text and disclosure of which having previously been incorporated herein by reference.

Assuming that there is an expression definition file to transmit in block 503, the print logic 169c moves to block 506 in which a"load paper prompt is transmitted to the fulfillment client 113 that appears on the display device 276 (FIG. 2) to prompt a user to load paper into the printer 163. Thereafter, the expression definition file is transmitted to the fulfillment client 113 in block 509. The fulfillment client 113 then automatically prints the creative expression embodied in the expression definition file pursuant to the client print logic 159. Thereafter, in block 513 it is determined whether the creative expression is single-sided. Assuming that the creative expression is double-sided, then the print logic 169c moves to block 516 in which a"load paper prompt"is transmitted to the fulfillment client 113. This prompt is displayed on the display device 276 thereby prompting the user to load the paper to print the second side of the creative expression.

Thereafter, in block 519 the expression definition file that embodies the second side of the creative expression is transmitted to the fulfillment client 113. By executing the client print logic 159, the fulfillment client 113 automatically prints the second side of the creative expression on the printer 163. Thereafter, in block 523 an indication is transmitted to the fulfillment client 113 to be depicted on the display device 276 that indicates that the print job is complete. The print logic 169c then ends accordingly.

Referring back to block 513, assuming that the creative expression is single-sided, then the print logic 169c skips to block 523.

Note that the print logic 169c may be implemented, for example, as a number of servlets that respond to corresponding requests from the client 106. Specifically, each of the blocks 506,509, 516,519, and 523 may be implemented with individual servlets, etc.

Ultimately, the precise nature of the implementation of the print logic 169c is application specific.

Although the logic 126,146, 159, and 169a-c of the present invention is embodied in software as discussed above, as an alternative the same may also be embodied in hardware or a combination of software and hardware. If embodied in hardware, the logic 126,146,

159, and 169a-c can be implemented as a circuit or state machine that employs any one of or a combination of a number of technologies. These technologies may include, but are not limited to, discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing various logic functions upon an application of one or more data signals, application specific integrated circuits having appropriate logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGA), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other components, etc. Such technologies are generally well known by those skilled in the art and, consequently, are not described in detail herein.

The flow charts of FIGS. 5,6, 7,8a-c show the architecture, functionality, and operation of an implementation of the logic 126,146, 159, and 169a-c. If embodied in software, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that comprises one or more executable instructions to implement the specified logical function (s). If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function (s). Although the flow charts of FIGS. 5, 6,7, 8a-c show a specific order of execution, it is understood that the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks may be scrambled relative to the order shown. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession in FIGS. 5,6, 7,8a-c may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence.

It is understood that all such variations are within the scope of the present invention.

Also, the logic 126,146, 159, and 169a-c can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system such as a computer/processor based system or other system that can fetch or obtain the logic from the computer-readable medium and execute the instructions contained therein. In the context of this document, a"computer-readable medium"can be any medium that can contain, store, or maintain the logic 126,146, 159, and 169a-c for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system. The computer readable medium can comprise any one of many physical media such as, for example, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor media. More specific examples of a suitable computer-readable medium would include, but are not limited to, a portable magnetic computer diskette such as floppy diskettes or hard drives, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory, or a portable compact disc.

Although the invention is shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS What is claimed is :

1. A method in a fulfillment client (113) for printing of a creative expression, comprising the steps of : transmitting a request for a creative expression associated with an order for goods to an application server (109) to be printed by the fulfillment client (113); and automatically printing the creative expression received from the application server (109).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a request for a creative expression associated with the order for goods to an application server (109) to be printed by the fulfillment client (113) further comprises the step of causing the request for the creative expression to be transmitted to the application server (109) upon the manipulation of a graphical user interface (146a) in the fulfillment client (113).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically printing the creative expression received the application server (109) further comprises the step of detecting an existence of a predefined client print logic (159) in the memory (266), the client print logic (159) being executable to print the creative expression.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of automatically printing the creative expression received the application server (109) further comprises the step of transmitting a request to the application server (109) for the client print logic (159) if the client print logic (159) is not detected in the memory (266).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically printing the creative expression received the application server (109) further comprises the step of identifying a printer model type of a printer (163) associated with the fulfillment client (113).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step for automatically printing the creative expression received the application server (109) further comprises the step of transmitting the printer model type to the application server (109).

7. A system in a fulfillment client (113) for printing of a creative expression, comprising: a processor (263) coupled to a local interface (269); a memory (266) coupled to the local interface (269); print button logic (146) stored on the memory (266) and executable by the processor, the print button logic (146) being associated with an order for goods, the print button logic (146) including: logic to transmit a request for a creative expression associated with the order for goods to an application server (109) to be printed by the fulfillment client (113); and logic to automatically print the creative expression received from the application server (109).

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic to transmit a request for a creative expression associated with the order for goods to an application server (109) to be printed by the fulfillment client (113) further comprises a graphical user interface (146a) manipulated by a user of the fulfillment client (113) to cause the request for the creative expression to be transmitted to the application server (109).

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic to automatically print the creative expression received the application server (109) further comprises logic to detect an existence of a predefined client print logic (159) in the memory (266), the client print logic (159) being executable to print the creative expression.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the logic to automatically print the creative expression received the application server (109) further comprises logic to transmit a request to the application server (109) for the client print logic (159) if the client print logic (159) is not detected in the memory (266).