Postscript to PDF conversion of graphic image files

• US 6,381,032 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imagex.Com Inc.
• Original Assignee: ImageX Inc. (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Laverty, Timothy A., Krum, Brent A., Klatt, Cory E., Roy, Larry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/481,010
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.2, 358/1.5, 358/1.9, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/400, 358/500, 382/169, 382/170, 382/260, 382/276, 382/277, 382/302, 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/248, 707/100, 707/101, 707/500, 707/523
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An on-line automated printing system quickly produces consistent printed materials. The system includes front-end customer setup and product setup modules available on a web server. A Print Ready File is produced embodying the product to be printed. The Print Ready File is compiled and all operations on the file can be completed via reference to the information contained therein. A state flag is associated with each element of the file, the flag having states such as preview, print, both, or none. The file is stored on an asset management file server. The file (unchanged) may be previewed or printed using internal flags and logic built-in to the PostScript language. A batcher service batches print jobs. A plater service accepts the Print Ready Files and outputs a plate file to a print vendor'"'"'s ordering system. Over the Internet the plate file is sent to a vendor computer. The plate file is sent to a raster image processor (RIP) which outputs a bitmap to be printed. Included within the system is a PostScript to PDF conversion subsystem. A client application requests conversion of a file to PDF and pulls conversion parameters from an image logic information database. The client sends the parameters along with input and output files to a master service. The master service selects a lower-level service for conversion. A PostScript to PDF conversion module (with hardcoded parameters) executes the software application Distiller to perform conversion of the file and outputs the result.

Claims

1. A method of converting a file from PostScript to PDF format within an automated printing system for producing printed materials, said method comprising:

storing said file in a database in communication with said automated printing system, said file including instructions for printing said printed materials;

storing one or more conversion parameters in an image database;

requesting of a master service hosted on a server computer that conversion of said file be performed;

requesting of a conversion software module that conversion of said file be performed;

setting one or more default parameters for performing conversion of said file based on said request made of said conversion software module, thereby allowing said default parameters to be set differently for various clients that make requests;

receiving one or more other parameters for performing conversion of said file and saving said other parameters in said conversion software module;

retrieving automatically said conversion parameters from said image database;

transferring said conversion parameters to a PostScript to PDF software tool;

executing said PostScript to PDF software tool under control of said conversion software module, said software tool inputting said file and performing conversion of said file using said conversion parameters; and

outputting the resulting file firm said software tool, whereby PostScript to PDF conversion of said file is performed automatically.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of executing further comprises:

initializing said software tool, thereby allowing said software tool to be executed automatically in said automated printing system.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of executing further comprises:

using an automated command line for said software tool, thereby allowing said software tool to be executed automatically in said automated printing system.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

saving said one or more default parameters in said conversion module.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said saving of said one or more other parameters operates to overwrite at least one of said one or more default parameters.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said default or other parameters can be entered manually.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

selecting a conversion module by said master service to perform said conversion.

8. A PostScript to PDF conversion subsystem within an automated printing system for producing printed materials, said conversion subsystem comprising:

a server computer in communication with said automated printing system;

a master service hosted on said server computer and being arranged to accept a request for conversion of a file from within said automated printing system, said file including instructions for printing said printed materials;

a database in communication with said automated printing system and suitable for storing said file and one or more conversion parameters;

a conversion software module arranged to

accept said request for conversion of said file,

retrieve automatically said conversion parameters from said database,

set one or more default parameters for performing conversion of said file based on said request made from said master service to perform said conversion, thereby allowing said default parameters to be set differently for various clients that make requests, and

being further arranged to receive one or more other parameters for performing conversion of said file and to save said other parameters; and

a PostScript to PDF conversion software tool arranged to accept said file, to receive said conversion parameters from said conversion software module and to perform conversion of said file under the control of said conversion software module and using said conversion parameters, whereby conversion of said file to PDF format is performed automatically.

9. A PostScript to PDF conversion subsystem as recited in claim 8, wherein said conversion software module is further capable of initializing said conversion software tool, thereby allowing said software tool to be executed automatically in said automated printing system.

10. A PostScript to PDF conversion subsystem as recited in claim 8, wherein said conversion software module is further capable of using an automated command line for said conversion software tool, thereby allowing said conversion software tool to be executed automatically in said automated printing system.

11. A PostScript to PDF conversion subsystem as recited in claim 8, wherein said conversion software module is further capable of saving said one or more default parameters in said conversion module.

12. A PostScript to PDF conversion subsystem as recited in claim 8, wherein said conversion software module is further capable of overwriting at least one of said default parameters.

13. A PostScript to PDF conversion subsystem as recited in claim 8, wherein said default or other parameters can be entered manually.