FR3021794A1 - METHODS OF CUSTOMIZING PACKAGING AND READING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT, AND PACKAGING AND ARTICLES THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for personalizing the packaging of an article to be given as a gift, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) during a purchase process of an article or later, establish a transaction with a gift packaging personalization server (20) to produce a personalized package (40) impressively comprising a machine readable code (C) containing access data for network access to pre-defined multimedia content (M) for reading on computer equipment; b) affixing the package to the article, such that after receipt of the article and its packaging, said machine readable code can be read using computer equipment, so as to access said multimedia content and read it on said equipment. The reading method includes, upon receipt of a gift with such custom packaging, reading of the machine-readable code (C) present on the personalized package using computer equipment (50) then access to the multimedia content (M) and its reading on said equipment.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of personalization of packaging or gifts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are already known systems enabling a person to customize a package, for example the packaging of a gift for one of his relatives. Such customization can be achieved with text, images, etc., which are downloaded from a user's computer system to a server, the server being associated with a printing equipment for printing on a data element. packaging (paper, plastic sleeve, etc.) the text or image. For this purpose, the customer (the one who offers the gift) accesses a dedicated website and can interact with it to customize the package (for example by entering text or uploading a photo file to the server). Technical constraints (file format, color chart or fonts) of the brand, etc.) may be imposed on the entire process. This website cooperates with a program that can directly generate the file (for example a file in PDF format) that can be used for direct printing using appropriate digital printing equipment.

The user can preview the PDF file before final validation. He can also receive by email the validated PDF file after placing his order. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims at extending the possibilities of personalization of gift packs.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method is thus proposed for customizing the packaging of an article intended to be given as a gift, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) during of an article purchase process or at a later date, establishing a transaction with a gift packaging personalization server to produce a personalized package imprinted with machine-readable code containing access data enabling network access to predefined multimedia content in order to read it on computer equipment; b) affix the packaging to the article, such that after receipt of the article and its packaging, said code readable by machine can be read using computer equipment, so as to access said multimedia content and read it on said equipment.

The following features, considered individually or in any technically compatible combination, advantageously but optionally supplement this method: The machine readable code is an optically readable code. the access data includes a URL of the multimedia content. The transaction with the packaging personalization server also includes the transmission to the server of additional data selected from a group comprising text and images, so as to allow customization of the package with additional data. * The transaction with the packaging personalization server also includes the transmission to the server of a stream of multimedia content during its implementation at the computer system of the person offering. The transaction with the packaging personalization server also includes transmitting to the data server allowing the generation of a second machine-readable code containing electronic coordinates of the offerer. * The establishment of said transaction includes entering an access code obtained from a standard packaging of the article.

According to a second aspect, there is provided according to the invention a method for selectively reading a multimedia sequence on a computer system of a recipient person, the method being characterized in that it comprises the implementation of the personalization method of packaging as defined in the foregoing, and upon receipt of a gift provided with such personalized packaging by the recipient person, reading the machine-readable code present on the customized package using receiving computer equipment, then access to the multimedia content reading on said equipment, this method is implemented with a personalization method where Advantageously but optionally, this method is implemented with a personalization method where the transaction with the packaging customization server also includes the transmission to the data server allowing the generation of a second machine-readable code containing electronic coordinates of the offerer person, and further comprises a step of reading said second code and establishing a transaction with a response server so as to cause the sending by the person recipient to the person offering a message such as a message of thanks. According to a third aspect, according to the invention, a personalized gift packaging is proposed, characterized in that it is produced by digital printing and in that it comprises a machine-readable code in which access data is encoded. to multimedia content accessible for reading from a server on a personal computer equipment. The following features, considered individually or in any technically compatible combination, advantageously but optionally supplement this package: The machine readable code is an optically readable code. * access data includes a URL of the multimedia content. the package further comprises text and / or personalization images also produced by digital printing. * The package further comprises a second machine-readable code containing electronic contact data with the offerer for sending by the recipient to the person offering a message such as a thank-you message.

Finally, according to the invention, a packaged article is proposed, characterized in that it comprises a personalized packaging as defined above. Advantageously, but optionally, the packaged article includes, below the custom packaging, a standard package including an access code for a personalization server from which the custom package is defined. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example and made in reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single Figure illustrates how a gift package is generated and used according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, a user computer system 10 such as a personal computer, a tablet, a smartphone, etc., contains means for interacting with a remote server 20, such as a web browser program associated with a network communication equipment, in a manner known per se.

This interaction, in addition to the possible steps of selecting a gift, payment, etc., comprises the steps of making accessible, via a network such as the Internet, multimedia content M such as a video clip, sequence of slides, for example containing a personal message for the person receiving the gift. This multimedia content can be easily obtained with a device equipped with a camera, such as a smartphone or tablet, or with a camera of the user system itself. In a basic embodiment, this step includes downloading the media content to the server 20 or to another server to which the server 20 is associated, to allow a person receiving the gift to subsequently access this content as one would. will explain it later. In another embodiment, and as also illustrated in the Figure, this step may comprise a storage in the cloud ("cloud" in English terminology) of the multimedia content, an address such as a URL address ("Uniform Resource Locator "being associated with this content to later access the content and perform its reading.

In still another embodiment, provision can be made for using the user system 10 as a server for storing and accessing the multimedia content. When the server 20 receives a request from the user system 10 of the person offering the gift, it generates a machine-readable pattern, typically optically readable, such as a "Datamatrix" or "QR" type code designated by the reference C. This pattern encodes the address (typically the URL) of the multimedia content, which address, depending on the type of storage of the multimedia content, is either determined at the system 10 and sent to the server 20 or 30 determined at the server level.

The server 20 is associated with printing equipment 30 able to print packaging for articles. This may be any type of printing technology, but the equipment is preferably a last generation laser or inkjet digital printing equipment. The printing equipment is controlled by the server 20 or by another computer system connected to the server 20, so as to print the package 40 of the gift ordered, this package including the aforementioned code C. A link between the packaging and the multimedia sequence is thus created.

Subsequently, when the recipient of the gift receives it, it can, using a smart phone, a tablet or other equipment 50 provided with a camera 51, optically read the code C printed on the package, and the equipment then automatically accesses (arrow F1) the multimedia content stored at an address encoded in the code C, and reads the content, for example in streaming mode ("streaming" in English terminology). ), however, it is possible to download the content before reading, as shown in the arrow F2. Thus, in addition to other possible customizations of the package 40 (text messages, photographs, etc.), the product package 20 according to the invention has another type of customization, with a link to a video or other message. multimedia prepared in advance by the person offering the gift. In one embodiment, the multimedia content, such as a video message, may be concatenated with a corporate video or an advertisement video as it is read by its recipient. Optionally, the package may also receive by printing another code such as another code "QR" or "Datamatrix" (not shown) in which is encoded an address (for example an email address of the person offering the gift, associated to a "mailto" function), 30 that the person who received the gift can take a picture with the camera 51 of his equipment 50 so as to send a message of 3021794 7 thanks to the person who gave the gift. This code can alternatively contain a URL address of a dedicated response server, on which the person who received the gift will first have to enter their personal details (name, address, email address, etc.) and then enter a response ( or download a photograph or video, following the same principles as those described above). This allows, for commercial purposes, also to collect information about the person receiving the gift. In this case also, the video message may be concatenated with a corporate video or an advertisement video when read by its recipient. Another possibility is to precede the message of the multimedia content M with a promotional message of the gift mark. For this purpose, the server may comprise means for adding to the content M such a promotional message.

The personalization described in the foregoing can be carried out at the moment the gift is purchased (for example by online purchase) or later, after the purchase of the gift. In the latter case, the process is for example the following: a) a person buys an item (the gift) in a shop. On the packaging (standard) of the article is printed, in the form of a text or in the form of a machine-readable code such as a QR code or a "Datamatrix" code, a URL address constituting the address of a personalization server (a website). b) with his user system 10, the person connects to this Internet site. Advantageously, to prevent malicious people abusing the system, the server asks the person to enter personal data (name, address, email address, etc.) and a specific text code (for example a word of single pass or OTP for "one-time password" in English terminology), as it is also printed on the package; this can be done on the buyer's computer system after he has returned to make his purchase, or in any other place with a portable system such as a smartphone, or even in the shop where he did his work. purchase, using a dedicated personalization machine provided in the shop for customers. c) the server compares the received code with previously stored code to allow the user to perform the customization. If the same code was previously used by the same user, access to the customization is denied. d) by means of a dedicated interface, the user can download to the server a text message, one or more photograph files and a video or link to a video; the video can be downloaded as a pre-existing file, or streamed to the server as it is recorded using an internet camera (webcam) or other camera of the system 10; alternatively, the user can download a link (URL) to a pre-existing public or private video, for example a video accessible by the Youtube® server. Similarly, one or more still images can be uploaded to the server; before validation, it is possible to propose to the user to print on his personal printer an image of the packaging as it will appear, for example in the form of a PDF file generated at the server and transmitted by this one. ci, and / or visualize a three-dimensional restitution of the package, either within a Web page generated dynamically by the server, or also contained in a PDF file. e) from there, a personalized print service connected to the server prints a personalized package including the text message, the photograph (s) and a link encoded in a QR code (in the form of a public or private URL) and pointing to the video; a type (format, type of paper or packaging film, model, etc.) of the custom packaging can be determined either from the URL used to access the personalization server or from a word entered single pass 30 to allow customization. 3021794 9 (f) this personalized packaging is then sent by post or courier to the user, who may then package the article with that packaging, either as a second packaging layer or after removing the packaging. original standard packaging; the custom package is advantageously in the form of a sleeve which can be slid around the article and secured with adhesive elements provided on the sleeve. f ') in an alternative embodiment, the personalized packaging can be made "at home", and for example a PDF file containing the personalized packaging with text, photos and the QR code in which the address of 10 the video message is encoded (ie the aforementioned validation PDF file) is transmitted to the user for printing on his own printer, then attachment to the gift or its standard packaging. (g) the user then sends the article to the addressee by post, special carrier, etc.

Of course, if the article is purchased online, the steps of purchasing the article and customizing its packaging can be done in a single process or in two processes related to each other, with example a redirect to a personalization website during the purchase transaction or after its completion. Then the packing operation of the article with the custom packaging is done directly at the source and not by the user. Of course, those skilled in the art can bring to the invention described above many variations and modifications. For example, in place of the optically readable code as described above, it is possible to implement a magnetic code, a readable radio-readable code in the near field (NFC for "Near Field Communications" in English terminology), etc.

Claims (16)

REVENDICATIONS1. A method for personalizing the packaging of an article to be given as a gift, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) during a purchase process of an article or later, establish a transaction with a gift packaging personalization server (20) to produce a personalized package (40) impressively comprising a machine readable code (C) containing access data for network access to pre-defined multimedia content (M) for reading on computer equipment; b) affixing the package to the article, such that after receipt of the article and its packaging, said machine readable code can be read using computer equipment, so as to access said multimedia content and read it on said equipment. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine readable code (C) is an optically readable code. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the access data comprises a URL of the multimedia content (M). The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transaction with the packaging personalization server (20) also includes transmitting to the server additional data selected from a group consisting of text and images, to allow customization of the package with additional data. 5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transaction with the packaging personalization server (20) also comprises the transmission to the server of a stream of multimedia content 3021794 11 during its implementation at the computer system of the person offering. 6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transaction with the packaging personalization server (20) also comprises transmitting to the data server enabling the generation of a second machine-readable code and containing contact information of the offeror. 10 7. The method of one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the establishment of said transaction comprises entering an access code obtained from a standard packaging of the article. 8. A method for selectively reading a multimedia sequence on a computer system of a recipient person, the method being characterized in that it comprises implementing the packaging personalization method according to one of claims 1 to 7, and upon receipt of a gift provided with such personalized packaging by the recipient person, reading of the machine-readable code (C) present on the personalized package using computer equipment ( 50) of recipient, then access to the multimedia content (M) and its reading on said equipment. The method of claim 8 implemented with the personalization method of claim 6, further comprising a step of reading said second code and establishing a transaction with a response server so as to cause the same. sending by the person receiving the offerer a message such as a message of thanks. 3021794 12 10. Personalized packaging (40) for gift, characterized in that it is produced by digital printing and in that it comprises a code (C) readable by machine in which are encoded data access to a multimedia content ( M) accessible for reading from a server on a personal computer equipment. The package of claim 10, wherein the machine readable code is an optically readable code. 10 The package of claim 10 or 11, wherein the access data comprises a URL address of the multimedia content. 13. The package of one of claims 10 to 12, which further comprises text and / or personalization images also made by digital printing. The package of one of claims 10 to 13, which further comprises a second machine-readable code containing electronic contact data with the supplying person for delivery by the recipient to the person offering a message such as a thank you message. 15. Packaged article, characterized in that it comprises a personalized packaging according to one of claims 10 to 14. 25 An article according to claim 15, further comprising, beneath the custom packaging, a standard package including an access code for a personalization server (20) from which the custom package (40) is defined . 30