Knowlege-based method for using social networking site content in variable data applications

Abstract

A method and system automatically obtain user page data from at least one social networking site, using at least one computerized device and automatically monitor the social networking site using the computerized device to detect an event. Upon the detection of an event, the method and system automatically identify a variable information document from a repository based on the topical content of the event using the computerized device. The method and system automatically select data from the user page data that matches the topical content of the event using the computerized device; automatically generate a variable data print instance by combining the images and text from the user page with the variable information document using the computerized device; and automatically output the variable data print instance to a user of the social networking site using the computerized device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 automatically monitoring an online user page using a computerized device to detect an event;   upon detection of said event, automatically identifying a variable information template based on topical content of said event using said computerized device;   automatically selecting items from said online user page that match said topical content using said computerized device; and   automatically generating a variable data print instance by combining said items from said online user page with said variable information template using said computerized device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing said user an option to view said variable data print instance, using said computerized device. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising one of displaying and printing said variable data print instance. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , said automatically monitoring comprising comparing said online user page to predetermined event rules to determine whether said event has occurred. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , said event comprising one of a recurring event and a one-time event. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 automatically monitoring an online user page to detect an event of a plurality of pre-established events using said computerized device, each of said events comprising topical content;   upon detection of said event, automatically identifying a variable data campaign of variable data campaigns based on said topical content of said event and time-based rules using said computerized device, said variable data campaigns comprising variable information templates;   automatically selecting items from said online user page data that match said topical content using said computerized device; and   automatically generating a variable data print instance by combining said items from said online user page with said variable data campaign using said computerized device.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising providing said user an option to view said variable data print instance, using said computerized device. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising one of displaying and printing said variable data print instance. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , said automatically monitoring comprising comparing said online user page to predetermined event rules to determine whether said event has occurred. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , said event comprising one of a recurring event and a one-time event. 
     
     
         11 . A computerized system comprising:
 a computerized device maintaining computerized instructions, said computerized instructions causing said computerized device to:
 monitor an online user page to detect an event; 
 identify a variable information template from a repository, upon detection of said event, based on topical content of said event; and 
 select items from said online user page that match said topical content; and 
   a variable data printing hosted service in communication with said computerized device, said variable data printing hosted service generating a variable data print instance by combining said items from said online user page with said variable information template.   
     
     
         12 . The computerized system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a graphic user interface displaying said variable data print instance and providing said user an option to view said variable data print instance. 
     
     
         13 . The computerized system according to  claim 11 , said first computerized device comparing said online user page to predetermined event rules to determine whether said event has occurred. 
     
     
         14 . The computerized system according to  claim 11 , said event comprising one of a recurring event and a one-time event. 
     
     
         15 . The computerized system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a printing device operatively connected to said second computerized device, said printing device outputting said variable information template. 
     
     
         16 . A computerized system comprising:
 a computerized device maintaining computerized instructions, said computerized instructions causing said computerized device to:
 monitor an online user page to detect an event of a plurality of pre-established event, each of said events comprising topical content; 
 identify a variable data campaign of variable data campaigns based on said topical content of said event and time-based rules, said variable data campaigns comprising variable information templates; and 
 select items from said online user page that match said topical content; and 
   a variable data printing hosted service in communication with said computerized device, said variable data printing hosted service generating a variable data print instance by combining said items from said online user page with said variable data campaign.   
     
     
         17 . The computerized system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a graphic user interface displaying said variable data print instance and providing said user an option to view said variable data print instance. 
     
     
         18 . The computerized system according to  claim 16 , said first computerized device comparing said online user page to predetermined event rules to determine whether said event has occurred. 
     
     
         19 . The computerized system according to  claim 16 , said event comprising one of a recurring event and a one-time event. 
     
     
         20 . The computerized system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a printing device operatively connected to said second computerized device, said printing device outputting said variable information template.