Document production workflow cost estimation system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving print order information;
generating a plurality of possible workflows to complete the print order, determining what materials and resources will be required to complete the print order;
for each workflow, estimating a cost for completing the print order including estimating costs for shipping some or all of the print job based upon the materials and resources to be used;
choosing a workflow to use to complete the print order based at least in part upon the estimated cost for each workflow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods are disclosed that include receiving information regarding a print order, generating a plurality of possible workflows to complete the print order, determining what materials and resources will be required to complete the print order, estimating a cost for completing the print order for each workflow including estimating costs for shipping some or all of the print job based upon the materials and resources to be used, and choosing a workflow to use to complete the print order based at least in part upon the estimated cost for each workflow. Methods also include providing the estimated cost of completing a print job to the generator of the print order, submitting a bid based upon the estimated cost, and selecting a printing organization based upon the bids received.
23 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving print order information;
generating a plurality of possible workflows to complete the print order, determining what materials and resources will be required to complete the print order;
for each workflow, estimating a cost for completing the print order including estimating costs for shipping some or all of the print job based upon the materials and resources to be used;
choosing a workflow to use to complete the print order based at least in part upon the estimated cost for each workflow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for generating a bid for a print job, comprising:
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receiving the details of a job to be printed;
generating a plurality of possible workflows to complete the print order;
determining the costs of each of the possible workflows, wherein determining the cost of each workflow includes determining the costs of shipping materials between production sites as well as shipping a finished product;
submitting a bid for the print job based upon a cost of the cheapest of the plurality of possible workflows. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for selecting an organization to complete a document production order, comprising:
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creating the details of a document production job to be completed including a physical description of the completed job to be delivered;
submitting the details of the job to be completed to multiple document production organizations, wherein the details of the job include the physical description of the completed job to be delivered;
receiving bids that include prices that take into account the costs of shipping the completed job to its final destination;
selecting an organization based upon the bids received. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification