Method and system for creating customized news digests

Abstract

A system is provided for delivering personalized digest documents to multiple users, including a profile module, a content management module, a document creation module, and an interface. The profile module receives a delivery preference of one of the users, and receives at least one of a user attribute and a content preference of the one user. The content management module searches at least one location for content items that match at least one of the user attribute and the content preference. The document creation module receives at least one of the content items that match, and compiles a personalized digest document for the one user that includes the at least one content item that matches. The personalized digest document is in a print-ready format, and the interface delivers the personalized digest document to the one user in accordance with the delivery preference of the one user.

1 . A computer system for delivering personalized digest documents to a plurality of users, the computer system comprising:
 a profile module for receiving a delivery preference of one of the users, and receiving at least one of a user attribute and a content preference of the one user;   a content management module for searching at least one location for content items that match at least one of the user attribute and the content preference;   a document creation module for receiving at least one of the content items that match, and automatically compiling a personalized digest document for the one user, the personalized digest document comprising the at least one content item that matches and being in a print-ready format; and   an interface for delivering the personalized digest document to the one user in accordance with the delivery preference of the one user;   wherein the delivery preference indicates how the one user desires to receive the personalized digest document; and   wherein the content preference indicates at least one type of content that the one user desires to receive.   
     
     
         2 . The computer system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the delivery preference also indicates a document template selected by the user, the document template specifying a format for the personalized digest document; and   wherein the personalized digest document is formatted in accordance with a document template selected by the user.   
     
     
         3 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a client module coupled to the interface, the client module automatically printing the personalized digest document that is received from the interface so as to automatically present a printed version of the personalized digest document to the one user. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system according to  claim 3 , wherein the delivery preference also includes a maximum total number of printed pages for the personalized digest document. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an advertising module for supplying advertising content that is related to at least one of the user attribute and the content preference. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system according to  claim 5 , wherein the advertising module selects a location within the personalized digest document for the advertising content. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one content item is a news article. 
     
     
         8 . A method for delivering personalized digest documents to a plurality of users, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a delivery preference of one of the users; receiving at least one of a user attribute and a content preference of the one user;   searching at least one location for content items that match at least one of the user attribute and the content preference;   receiving at least one of the content items that match;   compiling a personalized digest document for the one user that includes the at least one content item that matches, the personalized digest document being in a print-ready format; and   delivering the personalized digest document to the one user in accordance with the delivery preference of the one user.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein in the compiling step, the personalized digest document is formatted in accordance with a document template selected by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the delivery step comprises automatically printing the personalized digest document that is received from the interface so as to automatically present a printed version of the personalized digest document to the one user. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the delivery preference includes a total number of printed pages for the personalized digest document. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of supplying advertising content that is related to at least one of the user attribute and the content preference. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of supplying advertising content includes selecting a location within the personalized digest document for the advertising content. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one content item is a news article. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for delivering personalized digest documents to a plurality of users, said program containing instructions for performing the steps of:
 receiving a delivery preference of one of the users;   receiving at least one of a user attribute and a content preference of the one user;   searching at least one location for content items that match at least one of the user attribute and the content preference;   receiving at least one of the content items that match;   compiling a personalized digest document for the one user that includes the at least one content item that matches, the personalized digest document being in a print-ready format; and   delivering the personalized digest document to the one user in accordance with the delivery preference of the one user.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein in the compiling step, the personalized digest document is formatted in accordance with a document template selected by the user. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the delivery step comprises automatically printing the personalized digest document that is received from the interface so as to automatically present a printed version of the personalized digest document to the one user. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the delivery preference includes a total number of printed pages for the personalized digest document. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein said program further contains instructions for performing the steps of: supplying advertising content that is related to at least one of the user attribute and the content preference; and selecting a location within the personalized digest document for the advertising content. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one content item is a news article.