US Patent 7016865 Personalization format converter system and method

A system and method for conveying information about a personalized product are disclosed. A web server processes product personalization information for a vendor. The web server accepts the personalization that a customer has provided and performed on a product. The web server further accepts a submission from the customer for an order for the production of that personalized product. The web server determines the vendors capable of producing the personalized product and may accept either customer selection of a vendor or automatic selection of a vendor to produce the personalized item. The web server can describe the personalized product in a manner consistent with a data specification or a production request format as defined by the vendor.