Automated job creation for job preparation

• US 6,509,974 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midwest Athletics and Sports Alliance LLC (Midwest Youth A&S, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Inventors: Hansen, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/573,113
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.2, 358/1.6, 358/1.9, 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 358/296, 358/437
• US Class Current: 358/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1241 Dividing a job according to job requirements, e.g. black/white and colour pages, covers and body of books, tabs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1264 by assigning post-processing resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1268 Job submission, e.g. submitting print job order or request not the print data itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1275 Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1282 High volume printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing production printing instructions for a printed end document to a job preparation station. The printed end document is made up of a plurality of other documents received from the customer which are to be inserted in a predefined order and in a predefined format. The job submission station includes a computer and a receiver which receives the plurality of documents in electronic format. An input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, is used to provide the job submission station operator with the ability to provide input instructions to the computer. The operator uses the input device to arrange all of the documents into an electronic folder, such as a directory, and to arrange the documents in the order in which the documents are to be printed to compose the end document. The computer is programmed to automatically convert the document into a ready for printer format file and merged the plurality of documents together to create a single document. The computer also generates an electronic job ticket that provides global attributes for the printed end product.

Claims

1. A method for providing production printing instructions relating to a printed end document to a job preparation station, wherein the printed end document comprises a plurality of documents in a predefined order, the plurality of documents each comprising content and document formatting, the method comprising:

receiving the plurality of documents in electronic format from a job submission station operator, and

transmitting the documents in electronic format to a computer;

placing said plurality of documents into an electronic folder in the computer;

arranging the plurality of documents in said folder in the order the documents are to be printed in the printed end document;

said computer automatically converting the plurality of documents into a ready for printer format and merging the plurality of documents together to create a single document in said ready for printer format where the plurality of documents comprise a main portion and at least one exception page;

delaying the printing of the main portion at a production device associated with the single document, while the at least one exception page is printed at an alternate output device;

receiving at the production device the at least one exception page from the alternate output device;

printing at the production device the main portion and where the production device collates the at least one exception page with the main portion; and

said computer automatically creating an electronic job ticket providing global attributes for the printed end document.

2. A system for providing production printing instructions for a printed end document to a job preparation station, wherein said printed end document comprises a plurality of documents in a predefined order, said plurality of documents each comprising content and document formatting, said system comprising:

a job submission station having a computer;

a receiver to receive said plurality of documents in electronic format from a job submission station operator, said receiver disposed at said job submission station and connected to transmit said documents in electronic format to said computer;

an input device connected to said computer for said job submission operator to input instructions to said computer, said instructions operative to control features of said plurality of documents, wherein said control comprises at least one of manage, edit, modify and add feature;

said computer programmed to;

(1) receive input instructions from said operator through said input device to place said plurality of documents into an electronic folder, and arrange said plurality of documents in said folder in the order said documents are to be printed in the printed end document;

(2) automatically convert the plurality of documents into a ready for printer format and merge the plurality of documents together to create a single document in said ready for printer format; and

(3) create an electronic job ticket providing global attributes for the printed end document,

wherein the plurality of documents are merged to create the single document, where the plurality of documents comprise a main portion and at least one exception page, where the printing of the main portion is delayed at a production device associated with the single document, while the at least one exception page is printed at an alternate output device where the production device prints the main portion and where the production device collates the at least one exception page with the main portion.