WO2001095199A1

WO2001095199A1 - Self editing personalized electronic book

Info

Publication number: WO2001095199A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000662
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nam-Chul Kim
Original assignee: Kim Nam Chul
Priority date: 2000-04-26
Filing date: 2001-04-21
Publication date: 2001-12-13
Also published as: KR20000037464A

Abstract

The present invention relates to the fields of electronic books. More particularly, the present invention relates to the devices and method of making self editing personalized electronic books. Up to now electronic books simulate paper books. However, electronic books have totally new and different nature, digital, from paper books. And properly utilized, electronic books can be more valuable and more creative than paper books. This invention enables a person to make his own personalized electronic books. For example when a person purchase an electronic book through internet, he can edit it directly to his taste and then buy it online. With this invention, the electronic books can be more valuable and it can give more convenience to buyer. And the purchaser who bought the personalized electronic books get more satifaction and affectation for it.

Description

Self Editing Personalized Electronic Book

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device and a method for purchasing an electronic book which is edited and finished by the buyer's request instead of purchasing a book which is finished by a copyright holder when a buyer purchases an electronic book in the internet.

BACKGROUND ART

An electronic book means a digital type book which can be read, seen or heard through a CPU and an output device such as a computer or exclusive terminal device for the electronic book.

Compared to a paper book, the electronic book can be made at a much cheaper price and the period for publishing the electronic book is greatly decreased. Moreover, the electronic book can contain sound or moving pictures which can not be contained in a paper book. The electronic book has extra features such as searching, and can be distributed on-line such as the internet. Technically, it has features of prevention of illegal copying and is connected to electronic billing system for an on-line trade.

According to the development of information and communication technologies, the proliferation of the electronic book is expected. Most of the current sales methods of a paid electronic book are not simple transformation of a paper book into an electronic form, but provide a copying prevention system or a limited printing system which does not permit editing of contents for the protection of copyright. The above-mentioned purpose is made possible by selling the electronic book equipped with a special technical system. Those systems are inevitable for the protection of copyright of digital type products considering their iirfinite possibility of copying

However, those copying prevention system can incur inconvenience for users if the computer environment or use of the electronic book is different, even though it is very effective in protecting copyright. For example, users with a small monitor or those with a bad sight might want to have a book with big font, and users intending to print an electronic book on a personal printer might want to have as much contents as possible in one screen to save papers. In order to satisfy the diverse requests, the program for reading an electronic book should have all those functions. But, in reality it is not easy to satisfy all the requests and attempts to satisfy those requests may lead to insufficient protection of copyright.

The above-mentioned problems can be solved by editing an electronic book according to a buyer's request when the buyer purchases an electronic book. An electronic book dose not cause additional cost when a buyer edits it unlike a paper printed book, and the editing of the electronic book is very simple due to its electronic nature. Furthermore, many people are accustomed to document editing works due to popularity of a computer. However, the editing should be performed in a server, because when data is transmitted to the computer or the terminal device of the buyer, there is a possibility of copyright infringement. Purchasing an electronic book after editing is like a purchasing a personalized electronic book for each buyer. Of course, the above-mentioned editing may infringe right of the copyright holder, and should be exercised after a prior consent of the copyright holder. On the other hand, it does not infringe essence of the writing, but slashes inconveniences of buyers and gives bigger satisfaction for buyers.

Here, editing means changing in formats and contents of a book such as changing of size or shape of an electronic book, controlling of top/bottom/left/right/bookbinding margins, changing of heading or notes, changing of fonts, size, attributes, width, spacing, position of letters, changing of style applied to a document, insertion of character string/image/sound/moving picture, or substitution of character string.

Hereinafter, details for personalized book are presented. The concept of personalized book has been existed in the existing paper book. However, manufacturing of one's own personalized book in a paper book is uncommon due to its high manufacturmg cost and time even with the permission of a copyright holder. There have been trials for a personalized book in a paper book. It was used to induce attractions of children or for presents. There are many ways in reality such as attaching a sticker printed with a name of a child into a pre-printed book, or printing personalized data such as names of a child, friend 1 and friend 2 obtained by a questionnaire onto empty spaces of a predetermined story. Those personalized books are rather close to manufacturing of a new book in addition that the means for manufacturing is printing and a paper book. Furthermore, it is making a book instead of editing a book. Besides, there are essential differences in purpose and construction.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution for previous problems by allowing personalized editing prior to purchasing by a buyer, and to satisfy desires of buyers, because the conventional paper books do not satisfy diverse desires of buyers and buyers have been in a passive position in purchasing a book. In this process the buyer and a server is connected by the internet, the buyer gives editing orders as if the buyer does editing by himself or herself but the editing work is performed in a server, so that a personalized electronic book is manufactured without the possibility of copyright infringement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagra of a device which can make an electronic book by buyer's self editing through the internet to make a personalized electronic book according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram showing the operation flow of selected devices proposed in the

Fig. 1.

THE BEST CONDITION TO EMBODY THIS INVENTION Explanation on an example of the present invention referring to the attached drawings is as follows.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the electronic book trade in the internet based on World Wide Web (WWW), the device for manufacturing personalized electronic book in the internet of the present invention comprises a terminal device which requests editing of an electronic book to be purchased by a buyer to a server device, orders editing which is performed by a server by displaying editing screen on a screen, and asks the server to execute the editing; and a server device which transmits the data requested by the terminal device, performs editing commands of a buyer, and manufacture an electronic book. Furthermore, the method for manufacturing an electronic book according to the present invention in the internet based on World Wide Web comprises the steps of: processing purchasing and editing requests of a buyer; executing editing works of a buyer in the server; manufacturing an electronic book after buyer's editing; and delivering the manufactured personalized electronic book to the buyer.

Figure 1 a block diagram of a device which can produce a personalized electronic book in the internet according to the present invention. The device comprises a terminal device or an exclusive terminal device for an electronic book 10 for searching World Wide Web in the conventional internet and a server device 30 which transmits a purchased electronic book. An input unit 12 and an interface unit 14 which outputs inputted data to the corresponding unit are connected to the terminal device 10. The input unit 12 comprises a keyboard, a mouse or a stylus pen for an input of diverse data, hi addition, the terminal device 10 comprises an operation system 16 which is connected to the output terminal device of the interface unit 14 and an internet protocol unit 20 which is operated by the operation system. The operation system 16 operates each device so that the corresponding device processes inputted data from the interface unit 14. The internet protocol unit 20 means all protocols used in the internet, and it is necessary to get service through the internet. The terminal device 10 is operated by the operation system 16, and equips a browser 22 which can be coimected to the internet by the internet protocol unit 20. The browser 22 is a tool used for searching internet documents. The browser 22 searches all documents in the internet and displays docmnent contents on the screen for a buyer. The terminal device 10 equips an interface unit 14, a connection unit 18 coimected to the internet and a terminal unit 24 connected to the interface unit. The connection unit 18 equips a modem and a network adapter for connection to the internet network. The output unit 24 equips diverse devices such as a monitor to display contents searched by a browser 22.

The server device 30 comprises a connection unit 18 of a terminal device, an interface unit 14, an operation system 16 and an internet protocol unit 20, and operates the units. In other words, the server device 30 equips a connection unit which is coimected to the internet and an interface unit 34 which outputs inputted data to the corresponding device. Furthermore, the server device equips an operation system 36 which operates each device to process inputted data through the interface unit 34 and an internet protocol unit 38. The server device 30 is operated by the operation system 36 and equips the WWW server unit 30 which is operated by the internet protocol unit 38. The WWW server unit 40 transmits data requested by the browser 22. The server device 30 is connected to an electronic book operation unit 42 which is placed between the WWW server unit 40 and the database management unit 44. The electronic book operation unit 42 is operated by the operation system 36, and transmits and receives data with WWW server unit 40. The author of the electronic book can make an electronic book by using diverse computer application programs. The electronic book made by an application program is stored in the electronic book contents database. The contents of the electronic book is delivered to tlie electronic book operation unit from the electronic book contents database by the server when a buyer intends to buy it, and the delivered contents can be edited by a computer application program which can edit electronic book contents. For example, for an electronic book finished with an MS Word program, it is firstly saved in a contents DB, then upon the request of a buyer the operation unit copies the file, runs MS Word and edits the book. The editing process is not performed in the buyer domain. The buyer issues an editing order through a editing browser and oversees the process, but data is not transmitted to a buyer. All editing process is performed in the electronic book operation unit and infringement of copyright can be prevented. The electronic book operation unit 42 provides an editing program based on tlie electronic book editing function for a buyer to edit the electronic book, and produces an electronic book according to tlie buyer's edition. Furthermore, The server device 30 is coimected to database management unit 44 which is placed between the electronic book operation unit 42 and the database unit 46. The database management unit 44 is operated by the operation system 36, and outputs necessary data for tlie operation of the electronic book operation unit 42 by referring to the electronic book contents database unit 46. This device equips electronic contents database unit 46 which is coimected to tlie database management unit 44. The electronic book contents database unit 46 either outputs data necessary for the database management unit 44 or stores data inputted through the database management unit 44. The operation of the present invention as is constructed above is explained in Fig. 2 in detail.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram showing the operation flow focused on tl e browser 22,A, WWW server unit 40,B, electronic book operation unit 42, C, and database management unit 44,D which are most closely related to the present invention among the devices in Fig. 1.

Before explaining tlie operation of the present invention, an electronic book contents database is constructed for an electronic book which can be edited and purchased by a buyer under tlie permission of the copyright holder. When a buyer selects an electronic book which can be purchased after editing by connecting to the WWW server unit, pays for a price, and requests for editing of the selected electronic book (step 300), the WWW server unit 40 requests the electronic book operation unit to make tlie selected electronic book (step 302). The electronic book operation unit asks the database management unit the contents of the selected electronic book (step 304), and the database management unit copies and transmits the selected electronic book data (step 306). The electronic book editing unit runs a program which can edit the contents of tlie electronic book, gets ready for the editing of tlie selected electronic book, and waits for an editing command of a buyer (step 308). The WWW server unit 40 transmits the editing screen for a buyer to edit tlie contents (step 310). The buyer edits the contents through the editing screen by changing formats and contents of a book such as changing of size or shape of an electronic book, controlling of top/bottom/left/right/bookbinding margins, changing of heading or notes, changing of fonts, size, attributes, width, spacing, position of letters, changing of style applied to a document, insertion of character string/image/sound/mov ig picture, or substitution of character string (step 312).

The WWW server 40 transmits an editing command to the electronic book operation unit (step 314). The electronic book editing unit performs buyer's editing command through the editing program, and transmits the result back to the WWW server unit 40 (step 316). The WWW server unit 40 transmits edited contents screen to the buyer (step 318). When all editing operations requested by the buyer are finished (step 320), the WWW server unit 40 transmits editing completion command to the electronic book operation unit (step 326) and the electronic book operation unit makes a personalized electronic book based on the edited electronic book contents (step 324). The WWW server unit 40 transmits the finished electronic book to the buyer (step 326), and the trade is completed by delivering the electronic book to the buyer (step 329).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 1. A buyer has an effect of making personalized book by editing and changing an electronic book according to his/her taste, and has higher satisfaction for the product. 2. A buyer has bigger love for the electronic book because the buyer participated in the editing of formats and contents of tlie electronic book which he/she intends to buy. 3. The usefulness and convenience of using the book can be increased because the shape shown on a screen can be modified or the shape printed on a paper can be changed according to the user's request.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. The device for manufacturing personalized electronic book in the internet comprising: a terminal device which requests editing of an electronic book to be purchased by a buyer to a server device, displays an electronic book editing screen on a screen, orders editing so that a server edits the electronic book, and asks the server to execute the editing; and a server device which transmits tlie data requested by the terminal device, performs editing commands of a buyer, and manufactures an electronic book, in the electronic book trade in tlie internet based on World Wide Web .

2. The device for manufacturmg personalized electronic book in the internet according to claim 1, wherein the server device comprises: a connection unit which connects to the internet; an interface unit which outputs data inputted by the connection unit and an operation system; an operation system which operates each device to process data inputted by the interface unit; and an electronic book editing unit which is operated by tlie operation system, edits an electronic book selected by a buyer in the internet, and manufacture an electronic book.

3. The device for manufacturing personalized electronic book in the internet according to claim 2, wherein the device for manufacturing electronic book comprises: an internet protocol unit which defines data traffic in the internet; a WWW server unit which is operated on tlie internet protocol unit and transmits data selected by a buyer to a browser; an electronic book editing unit which receives and transmits data with the WWW server and receives and transmits data necessary for making and managing personalized electronic book with a database managing unit; a database managing unit which outputs data necessary for the electronic book operation unit by referring to the electronic book contents database unit; and an electronic book contents database unit.

4. A method for manufacturing an electronic book in the internet comprising the steps of: processing editing requests of a buyer; executing editing works of a buyer in the server; manufacturmg an electronic book after buyer's editing; and delivering the manufactured personalized electronic book to the buyer, in the electronic book trade in tlie internet based on World Wide Web.

5. A method for manufacturing an electronic book in the internet according to claim 4, wherein an editing screen is transmitted to a buyer and the contents of an electronic book can be edited in the serve by running an editing program, in the first step when a buyer purchase an electronic book after editing.

6. A method for manufacturing an electronic book in the internet according to claim 4, wherein if a server performs editing by buyer's editing command, the editing command is performed in the server and the editing resulting screen is transmitted to a buyer to see the editing result, in the second step of executing an editing is performed.

7. A method for manufacturing an electronic book in the internet according to claim 4, wherein tlie server manufactures an personalized electronic book as edited, in the third step of finishing editing by a buyer.

8. A method of manufacturing an electronic book according to claims 4 to 7, wherein editing is changing formats and contents of an electronic book such as changing of size or shape of an electronic book, controlling of top/bottom/left/right/bookbinding margins, changing of heading or notes, changing of fonts, size, attributes, width, spacing, position of letters, changing of style applied to a document, insertion of character string/image/sound/moving picture, or substitution of character string.