Prepress workflow method and program

• US 6,380,951 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Global Graphics Software, Inc. (Global Graphics Plc)
• Original Assignee: Global Graphics Software, Inc. (Global Graphics Plc)
• Inventors: Petchenkine, Andri P., Liamkin, Eugene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/410,995
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 345/817, 345/818, 345/822, 345/825, 345/736, 345/740, 345/741, 345/763, 345/735, 345/839, 701/208, 701/117
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1275 Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing

Abstract

A system and computer program configures a prepress workflow. A prepress memory manager is loaded on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed. A prepress system design palette and modules toolbar have module icons representing different prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules that can be potentially used in a prepress workflow operation. Module icons are dragged and represent the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow from the module toolbar into the prepress system design palette and then linked based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or distributed object modules.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a prepress workflow comprising the steps of:

loading a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes prepress system design palette and a modules toolbar having module icons representing different prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules that can potentially be used in a prepress workflow operation;

dragging module icons representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow from the modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette; and

linking the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons.

2. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of launching a prepress memory manager at a remote computer based on user input at the local computer, and outputting the prepress workflow to an output device located at the remote computer.

3. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of configuring a desired hardware and/or software distributed object module based on user input by selecting a module icon representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object module to be configured by user selecting a dialog box corresponding to the desired hardware and/or software distributed object module and inputting information within the dialog box.

4. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of dragging the module icons into the system design palette with a user selected pointer tool and linking the module icons once positioned within the system design palette with a user selected linking tool.

5. A method of configuring a prepress workflow comprising the steps of:

loading a prepress memory manager on a workstation computer platform as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes a prepress system design palette;

selecting module icons representing desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow into the prepress system design palette; and

linking the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of selecting module icons further comprises the step of user enabling a pull down menu and selecting appropriate prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules corresponding to a desired hardware component and/or software function.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of selecting module icons further comprises the step of dragging module icons representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules from a modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette.

8. A method according to claim 5, and further comprising the step of launching a prepress memory manager at a remote platform based on user input at the workstation platform, and outputting the prepress workflow to an output device located at the remote platform.

9. A method according to claim 5, and further comprising the step of configuring a desired hardware and/or software distributed object module based on user input by selecting a module icon representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object module to be configured by user selecting a dialog box corresponding to the desired hardware and/or software distributed object module and inputting information within the dialog box.

10. A method according to claim 5, and further comprising the step of dragging the module icons into the system design palette with a user selected pointer tool and linking the module icons once positioned within the system design palette with a user selected linking tool.

11. A method of configuring a prepress workflow comprising the steps of:

loading a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes a prepress system design palette and a modules toolbar having module icons representing different prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules that can potentially be used in a prepress workflow operation;

dragging module icons representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow from the modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette;

linking the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons; and

rejecting a link between two module icons when the output of a first respective hardware and/or software distributed object module represented by a module icon is not operative with the input of a second respective hardware and/or software distributed object module to which the first hardware and/or software distributed object module is being linked.

12. The method according to claim 11, and further comprising the step of establishing a link by establishing graphical lines from one module icon to the next module icon representative of the prepress workflow.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said graphical lines are color coded, and said color coded graphical lines are a first visually distinguishable color when a successful link between module icons is established and a second visually distinguishable color when a link is rejected.

14. A method according to claim 11, and further comprising the step of launching a prepress memory manager at a remote computer based on user input at the local computer, and outputting the prepress workflow to an output device located at the remote computer.

15. A method according to claim 11, and further comprising the step of configuring a desired hardware and/or software distributed object module based on user input by selecting a module icon representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object module to be configured by user selecting a dialog box corresponding to the desired hardware and/or software distributed object module and inputting information within the dialog box.

16. A method according to claim 11, and further comprising the step of dragging the module icons into the system design palette with a user selected pointer tool and linking the module icons once positioned within the system design palette with a user selected linking tool.

17. A method of configuring a prepress workflow comprising the steps of:

loading a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes prepress system design palette;

selecting module icons representing desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow into the prepress system design palette; and

linking the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons; and

rejecting a link between two module icons when the output of a first respective hardware and/or software distributed object module represented by a module icon is not operative with the input of a second respective hardware and/or software distributed object module to which the first hardware and/or software distributed object module is being linked.

18. The method according to claim 17, and further comprising the step of establishing a link by establishing graphical lines from one module icon to the next module icon representative of the prepress workflow.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said graphical lines are color coded, and said color coded graphical lines a first visually distinguishable color when a successful link between module icons is established and a second visually distinguishable color when a link is rejected.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of selecting module icons further comprises the step of user enabling a pull down menu and selecting appropriate prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules corresponding to a desired hardware component and/or software function.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of selecting module icons further comprises the step of dragging module icons representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules from a modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette.

22. A method according to claim 17, and further comprising the step of launching a prepress memory manager at a remote computer based on user input at the local computer, and outputting the prepress workflow to an output device located at the remote computer.

23. A method according to claim 17, and further comprising the step of configuring a desired hardware and/or software distributed object module based on user input by selecting a module icon representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object module to be configured by user selecting a dialog box corresponding to the desired hardware and/or software distributed object module and inputting information within the dialog box.

24. A method according to claim 17, and further comprising the step of dragging the module icons into the system design palette with a user selected pointer tool and linking the module icons once positioned within the system design palette with a user selected linking tool.

25. A method of configuring a prepress workflow comprising the steps of:

loading a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes prepress system design palette and a modules toolbar having module icons representing different prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules that can potentially be used in a prepress workflow operation;

dragging module icons representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow from the modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette, wherein the module icons comprise a scan module corresponding to a software function for scanning incoming data in user selected file directories and a RIP module corresponding to a raster image processor for turning object descriptions contained in incoming data into bit map images; and

linking the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons.

26. A method according to claim 25, and further comprising the step of launching a prepress memory manager at a remote computer based on user input at the local computer, and outputting the prepress workflow at an output device at the remote computer.

27. A method according to claim 25, and further comprising the step of configuring a desired hardware and/or software distributed object module based on user input by selecting a module icon representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object module to be configured by user selecting a dialog box corresponding to the desired hardware and/or software distributed object module and inputting information within the dialog box.

28. A method according to claim 25, and further comprising the step of dragging the module icons into the system design palette with a user selected pointer tool and linking the module icons once positioned within the system design palette with a user selected linking tool.

29. A computer program that resides on a medium that can be read by a computer, wherein the computer program comprises instructions to cause a computer to configure a prepress workflow and:

load a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes prepress system design palette and a modules toolbar having module icons representing different prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules that can potentially be used in a prepress workflow operation;

drag module icons based on user input representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow from the modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette; and

link the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons.

30. A computer program according to claim 29, and further comprising instructions for causing the computer to launch a prepress memory manager at a remote computer based on user input at the local computer, and output the prepress workflow to an output device located at the remote computer.

31. A computer program according to claim 30, and further comprising instructions for causing a computer to configure a desired hardware and/or software distributed object module based on user input and select a module icon representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object module to be configured by a user selected dialog box corresponding to the desired hardware and/or software distributed object module and inputting information within the dialog box.

32. A computer program according to claim 31, and further comprising instructions for causing a computer to drag the module icons into the system design palette with a user selected pointer tool and link the module icons once positioned within the system design palette with a user selected linking tool.

33. A computer program that resides on a medium that can be read by a computer, wherein the computer program comprises instructions to cause a computer to configure a prepress workflow and:

load a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes a prepress system design palette;

select module icons representing desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow into the prepress system design palette; and

link the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons.

34. A computer program according to claim 33, and further comprising instructions for selecting module icons by a user enabling a pull down menu and a user selecting appropriate prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules corresponding to a desired hardware component and/or software function.

35. A computer program according to claim 33, and further comprising instructions for selecting module icons by dragging module icons representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules from a modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette.

36. A computer program according to claim 33, and further comprising instructions for causing the computer to launch a prepress memory manager at a remote computer based on user input at the local computer, and outputting the prepress workflow to an output device located at the remote computer.

37. A computer program according to claim 33, and further comprising instructions for causing a computer to configure a desired hardware and/or software distributed object module based on user input by selecting a module icon representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object module to be configured by user selecting a dialog box corresponding to the desired hardware and/or software distributed object module and inputting information within the dialog box.

38. A computer program according to claim 33, and further comprising instructions for causing a computer to drag the module icons into the system design palette with a user selected pointer tool and linking the module icons once positioned within the system design palette with a user selected linking tool.

39. A computer program that resides on a medium that can be read by a computer, wherein the computer program comprises instructions to cause a computer to configure a prepress workflow and:

load a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes a prepress system design palette and a modules toolbar having module icons representing different prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules that can potentially be used in a prepress workflow operation;

drag module icons based on user input representing the desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow from the modules toolbar into the prepress system design palette;

link the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons; and

reject a link between two module icons when the output of a first respective hardware and/or software distributed object module represented by a module icon is not operative with the input of a second respective hardware and/or software distributed object module to which the first hardware and/or software distributed object module is being linked.

40. The computer program according to claim 39, and further comprising instructions for causing a computer to establish a link by establishing graphical lines from one module icon to the next module icon representative of the prepress workflow.

41. The computer program according to claim 40, wherein said graphical lines are color coded, and said color coded graphical lines are a first visually distinguishable color when a successful link between module icons is established and a second visually distinguishable color when a link is rejected.

42. computer program that resides on a medium that can be read by a computer, wherein the computer program comprises instructions to cause a computer to configure a prepress workflow and:

load a prepress memory manager on a local computer as a result of a user input such that a graphical user interface is displayed and includes prepress system design palette;

select module icons representing desired prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules to be used in a prepress workflow into the prepress system design palette; and

link the module icons based on user input in the order which represents how the prepress workflow proceeds along the selected hardware and/or software distributed object modules represented by the module icons; and

reject a link between two module icons when the output of a first respective hardware and/or software distributed object module represented by a module icon is not operative with the input of a second respective hardware and/or software distributed object module to which the first hardware and/or software distributed object module is being linked.

43. The computer program according to claim 42, and further comprising instructions for causing a computer to establish a link by establishing graphical lines from one module icon to the next module icon representative of the prepress workflow.

44. The computer program according to claim 43, wherein said graphical lines are color coded, and said color coded graphical lines a first visually distinguishable color when a successful link between module icons is established and a second visually distinguishable color when a link is rejected.

45. A graphical user interface contained on a computer screen of a computer and used for establishing a prepress workflow comprising:

a prepress system design palette; and

a modules toolbar operative with the system design palette, said modules toolbar containing module icons representing different prepress hardware and/or software distributed object modules that can potentially be used in a prepress workflow operation, such that the module icons can be dragged from the modules toolbar into the system design palette and linked together based on user input in the order which represents a desired prepress workflow.

46. A graphical user interface according to claim 45, and further comprising a systems toolbar having an icon representative of al inking toolbar.