Method and interface for assembling books

• US 20020078083A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Heidelberg Digital LLC (Eastman Kodak Company)
• Inventors: Armstrong, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/000,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078083A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/501.1
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet

Abstract

An interface, implemented in a computer, for representing and controlling the electronic assembly of books or manuals. The interface comprises a display, a plurality of directories, each directory identifying a selected group of documents to be printed and a plurality of objects, each object being associated with a visual representation on the display of a plurality of different ordered stock media. The interface interacts with software that will open up a directory and perform a predetermined sorting of the ordered media contained in each of the directories. The software also preferably sorts the directories for each of the ordered media types. An operator can use the graphic user interface to move a selected directory to a predefined location on the screen whereby the software will perform the sorting function automatically.

Claims

1. A document production system for managing the assembly of a document, the system comprising:

a display for displaying a visual representation;

a data storage device for storing a directory for identifying a corresponding selected group of documents to be printed;

a plurality of data objects being associated with corresponding visual representations on the display, at least one object representing a set of ordered media for document production; and

software instructions for accessing the directory and performing a predetermined arrangement of the ordered media for the documents contained in the directory.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a graphical user interface for moving a selected directory to a predefined location on the screen of the display to trigger the performance of the predetermined arrangement.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a graphical user interface for dividing a document into sections for placement into corresponding directories.

4. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface for separating each chapter of a book, as the document, for placement into a corresponding directory.

5. A method for managing the assembly of a document for a document production system, the method comprising:

establishing a plurality of directories, each directory identifying a selected group of documents;

establishing a plurality of objects, each object being associated with a visual representation on a display, at least one object representing a set of ordered media; and

accessing the directories and performing a predetermined arrangement of the ordered media contained in the directories.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the performing of the predetermined arrangement comprises sorting of the ordered media.

7. The method according to claim 5 further comprising:

moving a selected one of the directories to a predefined location on a screen of the display to trigger the performance of the predetermined arrangement.

8. The method according to claim 5 further comprising:

separating each section of a document for placement into corresponding directories.

9. The method according to claim 5 further comprising:

separating each chapter of a book, as the document, for placement into a corresponding directories.

10. A method for managing document production, the method comprising:

inputting input data in a raw document format into a document production system;

converting the inputted data from the raw document format into a ready-for-printer format, the converting triggered by placement of the files into a conversion directory;

placing the converted documents in a job preparation directory; and

assembling the converted documents in a document assembly of one or more prepared documents.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising:

submitting the prepared documents for processing by an output production device.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the assembling comprises one or more of the following:

annotating at least one of the converted documents, editing at least one of the converted documents, imposition of at least one of the converted documents, and applying a page feature to at least one of the converted documents.

13. The method according to claim 10 comprising:

determining at least one of the capabilities, skill levels, and training levels of corresponding operators of the document production system;

storing data in a database on at least one of the determined capabilities, skill levels, and training levels of the operators; and

allocating a print job of converted documents to a corresponding operator for handling the print job based on at least one of the determined capabilities, skill levels, and training levels of the operators.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein the placing comprises placing the converted documents into a queue waiting for the assemblying and production by the document production system.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein each prepared document comprises at least one of a chapter of a book, a cover for a book, instructions for printing the chapter, and instructions for printing the cover.

16. The method according to claim 10 wherein each prepared document comprises at least one of a section of a written work, a cover for a written work, instructions for printing the section, and instructions for printing the cover.

17. The method according to claim 10 wherein each of said prepared documents contains a ready-for-printer format comprising data for printing and control instructions.

18. The method according to claim 10 wherein the ready-for-printer format comprises at least one of a portable document format, a postscript format, and a printer control language.

19. The method according to claim 10 wherein the assemblying comprises modifying the converted document by adding page numbers across multiple converted documents to form the document assembly.

20. The method according to claim 10 wherein the assemblying comprises adjusting page layout for tab stock to form the document assembly.

21. The method according to claim 10 wherein the assemblying comprises aligning binding of the prepared documents to compensate for binding alignment.

22. The method according to claim 10 wherein the prepared documents comprise one or more of the following:

chapters of a book, sections of a book, chapters of a manual, sections of a manual, instructions on ordered media, a cover, a table, a document indicating the start of a chapter, a document indicating the placement of a chapter, and a document indicating placement of various tabs.

23. The method according to claim 10 further comprising displaying a section on a display in the directory with different objects representing each ordered media contained in the section.

24. The method according to claim 10 further comprising displaying chapters of a converted document and displaying ordered media for each chapter.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the ordered media includes at least one of tabs, a cover, tables, or a page indicating the start of a chapter.

26. The method according to claim 10 wherein the assemblying comprises dragging a directory on the display to a preselected location of the display to add the converted document to the document assembly.