SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY PRINTING ADVERTISEMENTS

摘要

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented system and method for utilizing open space of a document to be printed for selective, targeted advertising based on information (such as demographics) about the user submitting the document. A server connects registered users to a network of dedicated printers that provide free or discounted printing in exchange for the placement of targeted advertising. Targeted advertisements are generated by system operators or submitted by advertisers and stored on the server along with specific placement instructions. The server then distributes the advertisements according to the instructions by merging them into the documents to be printed. Advertiser and user accounts are updated to reflect the transaction and enable various controls and techniques for selecting future advertisements and interacting with placed advertisements. In certain embodiments, the system enables the user to instruct the system to print the user's document advertisement-free if one or more prerequisites are met.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented system for managing print advertisement campaigns, said computer-implemented system comprising:
a database configured to store user account information in a plurality of user accounts and advertiser account information in a plurality of advertiser accounts, wherein each user account contains profile data identifying characteristics of a user, and wherein each advertiser account contains at least one advertisement file corresponding to an advertisement; a processor in electronic communication with the database; and a printer in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to operate with the database and the printer to:
(a) receive an electronic document from a first user, the electronic document including one or more pages;(b) if a designated condition is met, cause the printer to print the electronic document such that the electronic document does not include any advertisements; and(c) if the designated condition is not met:
(1) identify a plurality of candidate advertisement files from among the advertisement files stored on the database by comparing the advertisement instructions associated with the advertisement files stored on the database with the profile data stored in a user account associated with the first user;(2) determine at least one selected advertisement file from among the plurality of candidate advertisement files;(3) merge an advertisement image associated with the at least one selected advertisement file into the electronic document; and(4) cause the printer to print the electronic document including the merged advertisement image.