Method and system for creating ad-books

Abstract

A method and apparatus and format and form are provided for preparing ad-books or related print or publishing for an organization or organizations or a plethora of organizations over a communications network. The method includes preparing an ads or messages at a user terminal connected to the communications network. The method further includes processing the “ad” or message at a server connected to the communications network for placing the “ad” or message in an “ad-book” or printing or other publication. The method further includes an automated “ad-book” format or form for the soliciting and obtaining ads or messages which provides methods for collecting ad/message pricing, content, layout, billing and information for ad/message for “ad-book” and related printing or publishing. The method, apparatus, format or form are believed particularly useful to assist and consolidate the efforts of non-profit, charity and similar organizations who, though they may differ in many ways, all rely on ad-books and similar print and publications for their fundraising efforts.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for preparing ad-books, or related printing or publication, such method comprising:
 preparing an advertisement by selecting choices relating to the “ad” or message at a user terminal connected to a communications network;   receiving the prepared “ad” or message at the server connected to the communications network;   classifying the prepared “ad” or message into at least one ad-book; and   converting the prepared “ad” or message into an “ad” or message to be placed into an ad-book, printed or published.   
     
     
         29 . A system for preparing charity or not-for-profit organization ad-books or related print or publication used by a recognized not-for-profit organization, such system comprising:
 a website of the recognized not-for-profit organization operable to download a webpage to a terminal of a supporter of the not-for-profit organization through a communication network;   the downloaded webpage containing a contribution softkey that can be activated by a supporter;   a charity or not-for-profit organization server that downloads a form to the supporter in response to the activated softkey;   the charity or not-for-profit organization server operable to populate the faun with a name of the not-for-profit organization and with a plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship of the not-for-profit organization where a cost associated with each of the plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship is commensurate with a respective monetary contribution from the supporter to the not-for-profit organization;   means within the user terminal connected to the communications network for preparing a message and for selecting one of the selectable levels of sponsorship and monetary contribution; and   means within the charity or not-for-profit organization server connected to the communications network for processing the message and for placing the message in the charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book, print or publication.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the means for preparing further comprises means for selecting choices relating to the message. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein choices comprises message, size, price, placement, background or layout. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30  wherein choices comprises indicating whether the message shall be printed in a physical charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the means for preparing further comprises means for selecting message type, price or theme to reduce the number of choices that user must make to produce message. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the communications network comprises a public switch telephone network and packet data network. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the user terminal comprises a computer system. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the computer system comprises one of a personal computer, notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone or a mobile/wireless assistant. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the server comprises a web server computer system for accessing the communications network. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the web server comprises a firewall for maintaining security. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the firewall limits access to information on the server wherein information comprises the messages and the charity or not-for-profit organization ad-books. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the means for preparing further comprises means for using computer software to create a message in support of the non-for-profit organization. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the computer software comprises at least one of Microsoft Office, Corel PageMaker and Adobe PhotoShop. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the means for processing further comprises receiving payment at the server for processing the message for placement in a charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 29  further comprising means for converting the message into an HTML message to be shown on at least one user terminal. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the HTML format is a part of an electronic charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising means for sending a copy of the HTML message to an user whom initiated the message preparation. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 29  further comprising means for registering with the server whereby a user at the user terminal connects to the server and enters information relating to the user. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 29  further comprising means for receiving the message from a user. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47  further comprising means for sending an acknowledgement to the user notifying the user of the receipt of the message. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47  further comprising means for sending an acknowledgement to the user notifying the user of payment information. 
     
     
         50 . A system for preparing charity or not-for-profit organization ad-books over the Internet, such system comprising:
 a website of the recognized not-for-profit organization operable to download a webpage to a terminal of a supporter of the not-for-profit organization through a communication network;   a contribution softkey on the downloaded webpage the contribution softkey can be activated by the supporter;   a charity or not-for-profit organization server operable to download a contribution form webpage to the supporter in response to activation of the contribution softkey where the server populates the contribution webpage with a name of the not-for-profit organization and with a plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship of the not-for-profit organization where a cost associated with each of the plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship is commensurate with a respective monetary contribution from the supporter to the not-for-profit organization;   the terminal coupled to the communications network operable to receive a selection of one of the plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship and data from the supporter through the contribution form webpage to prepare a message in support of the non-for-profit organization; and   the charity or not-for-profit organization server connected to the communications network that receives the prepared message.   
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the computer system further comprises a graphical user interface for selecting choices relating to the message. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51  wherein choices comprises message, size, placement, color, price, background, or layout. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the charity or not-for-profit organization “ad-book” server presents choices relating to message type or message theme to the computer system. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the communications network comprises a public switch telephone network and packet data network. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the computer system further comprises one of a personal computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone or a mobile/wireless assistant. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the charity or not-for-profit organization “ad-book” server further comprises a web server computer system capable of interfacing with the Internet. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the computer system further comprises at least one of Microsoft Office, Corel PageMaker, and Adobe PhotoShop. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the charity or not-for-profit organization “ad-book” server further comprises a database of at least one of messages, ad-books, and users. 
     
     
         59 . A method for preparing an ad-book, print or publication for one of a plurality of charity or not-for-profit organizations:
 a member or supporter of the charity or not-for-profit organization accessing a website or e-mail of the one of the plurality of charity or not-for-profit organizations or 3rd party provider of such website and downloading an interactive e-mail or webpage from the website;   the member of supporter activating a hyperlink on the webpage or interactive e-mail to download an interactive contribution format of the charity or not-for-profit organization or from a third-party “ad-book” preparer;   the member or supporter preparing an “ad” or message for inclusion within the ad-book, print or publication using the interactive contribution format; and   the third-party “ad-book” preparer preparing or distributing the ad-book, related print or publication with the prepared “ad” or message of the member or supporter.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein preparing further comprises selecting choices relating to the advertisement or message. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein choices comprises advertisement or message, size, placement, color, font, logo, image, price, background or layout. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60  wherein choices comprises indicating whether the advertisement or message shall be printed in a physical “ad-book” or similar print publication or posted on-line in a virtual “ad-book” or similar internet publication or both physically printer and posted on-line, where the advertisement or message is simply rendered “anonymous” 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 59  wherein preparing further comprises selecting an advertisement or message type or theme to reduce the number of choices that an advertiser, member or sponsor must make to produce an advertisement. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the communications network comprises a public switch telephone network and packet data network. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the user terminal comprises a computer system. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  wherein the computer system comprises one of a personal computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone or a mobile/wireless assistant. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the server comprises a web server computer system for accessing the communications network. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the web server comprises a firewall for maintaining security including security from outside access to the system and security within the system between various clients, organizations, members, advertisers, supporters, lists and accounts. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the firewall limits access to information on the server wherein information comprises the advertisements and messages and the ad-books and the organizations and the advertisers and the members and the supporters and the lists and accounts. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 59  wherein preparing further comprises using computer software running at the user terminal to create an advertisement or message. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the computer software comprises at least one of Microsoft Word or Office, Corel PageMaker and Adobe Acrobat or PhotoShop or then most current and or appropriate commercially available software applicable for the related fields of this invention. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 59  wherein processing further comprises receiving payment for processing the advertisement or message for placement in an “ad-book” or related print or publication. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 59  wherein processing further comprises:
 receiving the advertisement or message at the server from the user terminal; storing the advertisement at the server; and converting the received advertisement into an advertisement to be placed into one or a plethora of “ad-books” or related print or publication and differentiating ads or messages for placement by category or criteria or affinity grouping. 
 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising receiving payment at the server for processing the advertisement for placement in an “ad-book” or related print or publication and allocating payment to one or among a plethora of organizations into which the advertisement or message is placed based on allocation criteria. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising classifying the received “ad” or message into an “ad-book” category. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising using techniques, the techniques comprising statistics and demographics, to discern at least one group of related ads or messages among or between a plethora of organizations. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising using techniques, the techniques comprising statistics and demographics, to discern at least one organization or a group of related organizations of a plethora of organizations. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising using techniques, the techniques comprising statistics and demographics, to discern at least one organization of related organizations or related ad-book print or publications. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising converting the received advertisement into an HTML advertisement to be shown on at least one user terminal. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the HTML “ad” or message is a part of one or a plethora of electronic “ad-books” or related print publications or “ad-book” form for processing an “ad” or message. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 79  further comprising sending a copy of the HTML “ad” or message to an advertiser or organization or a plethora of organizations whom initiated or solicited the “ad” or message preparation. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising registering with the server whereby an advertiser at the user terminal connects to the server and enters information relating to the advertiser or the organization or a plethora of organizations. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising entering a mode of payment at the user terminal to pay for the “ad” or message to be placed in “ad-books” or related print or publication. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising sending an acknowledgement to advertises, members or supporters notifying the organization or organizations or advertisers of the receipt of the “ad” or message. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising sending acknowledgements to advertisers, members or supporters notifying the members, supporters or advertisers of payment information. 
     
     
         86 . A method for preparing ad-books, or related printing or publication, for a plethora of organizations, such method comprising:
 preparing advertisements by selecting choices relating to the “ad” or message at a user terminal connected to a communications network;   receiving the prepared “ads” or messages at the server connected to the communications network;   classifying the prepared “ads” or messages into at least one ad-book; and   converting the prepared “ads” or messages into an “ad” or message to be placed into one or more ad-books, printed or published.   
     
     
         87 . A method for preparing ad-book charity or not-for-profit organization event-books, printing or publication used by a recognized not-for-profit organization, such method comprising:
 a website for one of a plurality of charity or recognized not-for-profit organizations downloading a webpage, from a plurality of web pages of the recognized not-for-profit organization to a terminal of a supporter or potential supporter of the not-for-profit organization through a communication network;   the supporter activating a softkey on the downloaded webpage;   a charity or not-for-profit organization server or a third party on behalf of the charity or not-for-profit downloading a form to the supporter, the form being populated within the form with a name of the not-for-profit organization and with a plurality of selectable levels of advertising or sponsorship of the not-for-profit organization;   the supporter completing the form by selecting or preparing an advertisement or message in support of the non-for-profit organization including selecting one of the plurality of levels of sponsorship at the user terminal connected to the communications network; and   a processor of the charity or not-for-profit organization server connected to the communications network receiving the message through the communication network and processing the message placing the message in a charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book or related print or publication.   
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87  wherein preparing further comprises selecting at least one of a plurality of content choices relating to the message. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88  wherein choices comprises message, size, placement, color, font, logo, image, price, background or layout. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 87  further comprising receiving the message at the server from the user terminal, storing the messages at the server and converting the received message into a format to be placed into the ad-book using techniques including statistics and demographics, to provide suggested pricing or automate the population of pricing of a given size of ad-message from at least one group of related groups. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 87  further comprising receiving the message at the server from the user terminal, storing the messages at the server and converting the received message into a format to be placed into the ad-book using techniques including statistics and demographics, to discern at least one group of related users, members or supporters. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 87  further comprising receiving the message at the server from the user terminal, storing the messages at the server and converting the received message into a format to be placed into the ad-book using techniques including statistics and demographics, to discern at least one group of related charity or not-for-profit organization ad-books or related print or publications. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 87  further comprising receiving the message at the server from the user terminal, storing the messages at the server and converting the received message into a format to be placed into the ad-book using techniques including converting the received message into an HTML format to be shown on at least one user terminal. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 87  further comprising sending an acknowledgement to an user, member or supporter notifying the organization or user of the receipt of the message. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94  further comprising sending a reminder message to inform a user of the receipt for the message such that the reminder message recognizes the tax-exempt status of the Group or Not-For-Profit. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95  further comprising sending a message to inform a user such that the message recognizes one or the number of viewings of the ad-book of posted or published message of the users message from among the posted messages of the group or not-for-profit ad-book. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 87  further comprising sending an acknowledgement to an user, member or supporter notifying the member, supporter or user of payment information. 
     
     
         98 . A method for preparing charity or not-for-profit organization ad-books, printing or publication used by a recognized not-for-profit organization, such method comprising:
 a website of the recognized not-for-profit organization downloading a webpage to a terminal of a supporter of the not-for-profit organization through a communication network;   the user, supporter or potential supporter activating a contribution softkey on the downloaded webpage;   a charity or not-for-profit organization server downloading a form to the supporter;   the server populating the form with a name of the charity or not-for-profit organization information and with a plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship of the not-for-profit organization where a cost associated with each of the plurality of levels of sponsorship is commensurate with a publishing or frequency of distribution of a message recognizing the respective monetary contribution from the supporter to the not-for-profit organization;   the supporter preparing a message in support of the non-for-profit organization including selecting one of the plurality of levels of sponsorship or frequency of distribution of the message and contribution to the organization at the user terminal connected to the communications network for the subsequent publication, recognition or distribution of the message at one of various levels of recognition; and   a processor of the charity or not-for-profit organization server connected to the communications network delivering the message of recognition in exchange for contribution to the organization through the communication network and processing the message and publishing or, distributing or placing the message in a charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book or distribution listing of similar messages or distributions or related print or publication.   
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98  wherein preparing further comprises selecting choices relating to the message. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99  wherein choices comprises message, size, placement, color, font, logo, image, price, background or layout.