Trapping of graphic image files

• US 6,559,966 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/480,987
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.9, 358/1.18, 358/1.1, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.8, 358/515, 707/526, 707/527, 709/217, 345/431, 345/435
• 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 trapping subsystem. A client application requests trapping of a file and pulls trapping parameters from an image logic information database. The client sends the parameters along with input and output files to a gateway service. The gateway service places the job in a queue which is monitored by a processor service. The processor service hands the job off to a hierarchy of processing services. A trapping module (with hardcoded parameters) executes the software application Trapwise to perform a trap of the file and outputs the result.

Claims

1. A method of trapping a file 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 parameters in an image database;

requesting of a trapping software module hosted on a server computer that trapping of said file be performed;

retrieving automatically said one or more parameters from said image database;

transferring said one or more parameters to a trapping software tool;

initializing and executing said trapping software tool under control of said trapping software module, thereby allowing said trapping software tool to automatically perform trapping of said file using said one or more parameters, thereby allowing trapping of said file without user intervention; and

outputting the resulting file from said trapping software tool, whereby trapping of said file is performed automatically.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of executing operates to use an automated command line for 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 method further comprises:

saving said one or more default parameters in said trapping software module.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said saving of said one or more other parameters operates to overwrite at least one of said one or more default parameters.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more parameters are entered manually.

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

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

7. A trapping subsystem within an automated printing system for producing printed materials, said trapping 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 requests for trapping 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 trapping parameters;

a trapping software module arranged to;

accept said request for trapping of said file;

retrieve automatically said one or more trapping parameters from said database; and

transferring said one or more parameters to a trapping software tool; and

a trapping software tool arranged to accept said file and to perform a trapping of said file, using said one or more trapping parameters, thereby allowing said trapping of said file to be performed without user intervention, wherein said trapping software module is further capable of initializing said trapping software tool, thereby allowing said software tool to be executed automatically in said automated printing system.

8. A trapping subsystem as recited in claim 7, wherein said trapping software module is further capable of using an automated command line for said trapping software tool, thereby allowing said trapping software tool to be executed automatically in said automated printing system.

9. A trapping subsystem as recited in claim 7, wherein said trapping software module is further capable of saving one or more default parameters.

10. A trapping subsystem as recited in claim 9, wherein said trapping module is further capable of overwriting at least one of said one or more default parameters.

11. A trapping subsystem as recited in claim 7, wherein said one or more trapping parameters can be entered manually.