Imposition of graphic image files

• US 6,771,384 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Imagex.Com Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kinko's Washington Incorporated
• Inventors: Laverty, Timothy A., Krum, Brent A., Klatt, Cory E.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/480,980
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.13, 358/1.9, 358/1.1, 358/450, 358/1.8, 707/517, 707/527, 707/908, 707/910, 707/526, 707/217, 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 an imposition subsystem. A client application requests imposition of a file and pulls imposition 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. An imposition module (with hardcoded parameters) executes the software application Preps to perform imposition of the file and outputs the result.

Claims

1. A method of imposing a set of files within an automated system, said method comprising:

storing said set of files in a first database in communication with said automated system;

storing one or more parameters in a second database;

requesting of an imposition software module that imposition of said set of files be performed;

retrieving automatically said one or more imposition parameters from said second database;

transferring said one or more imposition parameters to an imposition software tool;

executing said imposition software tool under control of said imposition software module, said imposition software tool automatically performing imposition of said set of files using said one or more imposition parameters, thereby allowing imposition of said set of files without user intervention; and

outputting the resulting plate file from said imposition software tool, whereby imposition of said files is performed automatically.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said imposition parameters include one or more default parameters set during a setup process.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said imposition parameters include parameters that are determined manually during a setup process.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

performing a setup process before said step of requesting, said setup process including at least one step that allows said imposition software tool to automatically perform imposition.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said imposition parameters are stored in one or more parameter files, and said parameter files are used by said imposition software module to execute said imposition software tool.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of requesting originates with a client application within said automated printing system.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said automated system is an automated printing system for producing printed materials, and wherein each of said files includes instructions for printing said printed materials.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said files is a print ready file that includes instructions for rendering the information in said each file.

9. An imposition subsystem within an automated system, said imposition 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 imposition of a set of files from within said automated system;

a database in communication with said automated system and suitable for storing said files and one or more imposition parameters;

an imposition software module arranged to;

accept said request for imposition of said files;

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

transfer said one or more imposition parameters to said imposition software tool; and

an imposition software tool arranged to accept said files and to perform imposition of said files using said one or more imposition parameters, thereby allowing imposition of said files to be performed without user intervention.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said imposition parameters include one or more default parameters set during a setup process.

11. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said imposition parameters include parameters that are determined manually during a setup process.

12. A system as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

a software module to perform a setup process, said setup process including at least one step that allows said imposition software tool to automatically perform imposition.

13. A system as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

parameter files for storing said imposition parameters, said parameter files being used by said imposition software module to execute said imposition software tool.

14. A system as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

a client application within said automated printing system that originates a request for said imposition.

15. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein said automated system is an automated printing system for producing printed materials, and wherein each of said files includes instructions for printing said printed materials.

16. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein each of said files is a print ready file that includes instructions for rendering the information in said each file.