Automated Digital Catalog Generation via Layout Block Templates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital layout creation systems face inefficiencies when dealing with large volumes of digital content, such as in digital catalogs, due to manual processes that lack precision and require specialized coding knowledge, and are limited to specific page sizes and orientations, making them unsuitable for diverse devices.
Innovation Solution
A digital layout creation system that automatically generates metadata for the arrangement of digital content, allowing for the creation of layout blocks that can be used as templates for multiple digital catalog entries, enabling efficient generation of layouts for various page sizes and orientations, and supporting automatic pagination across multiple pages without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual layout creation techniques are used for digital catalogs with many items, then creative professionals can create layouts with precision, but the process becomes extremely time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating metadata and creating layout blocks before the actual catalog creation process. The layout block is generated in advance based on a template, containing placeholder elements that can be automatically populated with digital content items, thus preparing the structure beforehand to avoid manual work during catalog creation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying by creating a layout block that is a reusable template or copy of the desired layout structure. This layout block can be instantiated multiple times and automatically populated with different digital content items from the catalog, eliminating the need to manually recreate the same layout structure for each catalog entry.
2Ease of manufacture
If empty boxes are used to create layouts manually, then the layout structure can be defined, but the creative professional lacks accuracy in visualizing how digital content will appear
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using empty boxes, the system copies actual digital content items into the layout block template to show how they will appear in the final catalog. This allows the creative professional to visualize the actual content with its true dimensions, formatting, and appearance, providing accurate preview before final catalog generation.
3Ease of operation
If manual linking of digital content to layout boxes using XML is performed, then the layout can be populated with content, but the process is not feasible for catalogs with thousands of items and requires specialized coding knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating the metadata and populating the layout block with digital content items from the catalog without requiring manual XML linking. The system itself handles the complex metadata generation and content mapping processes, making the operation simple for the creative professional who only needs to select the layout template and start generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of XML linking with an automated computational process. Instead of manually writing and linking XML tags for each content item, the system uses automated metadata generation and programmatic content population, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated digital processes.
4Manufacturing precision
If layouts are specified per page with fixed size and orientation, then the layout can be created for specific devices, but the layout cannot be used for other device types
Solution Approach 1:
The layout block is designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of being adapted to different device types, sizes, and orientations. The template-based approach allows the same layout block to be instantiated and adjusted for various output formats, making it versatile across multiple device platforms rather than being limited to a single fixed page size.
Solution Approach 2:
The layout block incorporates dynamic properties that allow it to adapt to different device configurations. The system can dynamically adjust the layout based on the target device's screen size, orientation, and capabilities, transforming a static per-page specification into a dynamic, adaptable layout structure.
Data Source
AI summary
As part of generating a digital catalog, a creative professional interacts with digital content via a user interface to specify an arrangement of the digital content in relation to each other. This is used by a digital layout creation system to generate a layout block that is to serve as a basis for digital catalog entries in the digital catalog. As part of arranging the digital content, the digital layout creation system generates metadata automatically and without user intervention in real time that specifies the arrangement of the digital content and what digital content is associated as part of that arrangement. Once a desired arrangement is achieved by the creative professional, an input is received by the digital layout creation system to create a layout block that is used as a basis to generate digital catalog entries of a digital catalog.