Quantity-based print job preparation

• US 7,187,465 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cimpress USA, Incorporated (Cimpress Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vistaprint Technologies Limited (Cimpress Plc)
• Inventors: Coursol, Sebastien, Robertson, Erik, Keane, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia; Gabriel I.
• Application Number:
  US10/608,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.8, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 358/1.2, 358/452, 358/448, 382/284, 382/298, 707/525, 707/910
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1251 for continuous media, e.g. web media, rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1252 for sheet based media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1262 by grouping or ganging jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods for assembling multiple individual print jobs into an aggregate print job for printing in a print run quantity. Individual print jobs and a print quantity indicating the number of copies of the individual print job to be primed are stored. Individual print jobs are retrieved and assigned to one or more individual print job positions in an aggregate print job layout based on the number of copies of the individual print job to be printed. A retrieved individual print job having an associated print quantity that equals the print run quantity of the aggregate print job is assigned to a single position in the aggregate print job layout. A retrieved individual print job having an associated print quantity that is a multiple of the print run quantity is assigned to that multiple number of positions in the aggregate print job layout.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for filling an aggregate print job layout having a plurality of printing positions, the layout intended to be printed in a print run quantity, the method comprising

a. storing individual print jobs,

b. for each individual print job, storing an associated print quantity,

c. retrieving an individual print job having an associated print quantity that is substantially equal to or a multiple of the print run quantity from the stored individual print jobs for incorporation into the aggregate print job layout,

d. if the print quantity associated with the retrieved individual print job is substantially equal to the print run quantity, assigning the selected individual print job to one position in the aggregate print job layout,

e. if the print quantity associated with the retrieved individual print job is substantially equal to a multiple of the print run quantity, assigning the selected individual print job to that multiple number of positions in the aggregate print job layout.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating steps c–

e until the layout filling process is completed.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the layout filling process is completed when all printing positions in the layout have been filled.

4. the method of claim 2 wherein the layout filling process is completed when no individual print job having an associated print quantity that is substantially equal to or a multiple of the print run quantity is available at step c.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising printing the layout in the print run quantity and cutting the quantity of printed layouts to separate the individual print jobs.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the individual print jobs are received electronically.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the individual print jobs are received over a computer network.

8. One or more computer readable media having computer executable instructions encoded therein for performing the method of claim 1.

9. In a system having a plurality of stored individual print jobs, each stored individual print job having an associated print quantity, at least some of the print quantities being different, a computer-implemented method for preparing an aggregate print job layout to be printed at a print run quantity, the method comprising

searching the stored individual print jobs to identify individual print jobs having an associated print quantity that is substantially equal to the print run quantity,

assigning at least some of the identified individual print jobs to positions in an aggregate print job layout, whereby the individual print jobs in the aggregate print job layout will be printed simultaneously when the aggregate print job is printed.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising printing to layout in the print run quantity and cutting the quality of printed layouts to separate the individual print jobs.

11. One or more computer readable media having computer executable instructions encoded therein for performing to method of claim 9.

12. In a system having a plurality of stored individual print jobs, each stored individual print job having an associated print quantity, at least some of the print quantities being different, a computer-implemented method for preparing an aggregate print job layout to be printed at a print run quantity, the method comprising

selecting an individual print job having an associated print quantity that is either substantially equal to or a multiple of the print run quantity,

if the print quantity associated with the selected individual print job is substantially equal to the print run quantity, assigning the selected individual print job to a single print position in the aggregate print layout, and

if the print quantity associated with the selected individual print job is substantially equal to a multiple of the print run quantity, assigning the selected individual print job to that multiple number of print positions in the aggregate print layout, whereby the appropriate print quantity of each selected individual print job in the will be printed when the aggregate print layout is printed.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, after the layout filling process is completed, printing to layout in the print run quantity and cutting the quantity of printed layout to separate the individual print jobs.

14. One or more computer readable media having computer executable instructions encoded therein for performing the method of claim 12.

15. In a system having a plurality of stored individual print jobs, each stored individual print job having an associated print quantity, some of the print quantities being multiples of at least one of the print quantities, a computer-implemented method for preparing an aggregate print job layout, the method comprising

a) identifying stored individual print jobs having an associated first print quantity, the first print quantity being a multiple N of a second print quantity,

b) if the number of individual print jobs identified in step a) is at least substantially equal to the number of print locations in an aggregate print layout, assigning at least some of the individual print jobs identified in step a) to one position in the aggregate print layout, the aggregate print layout to be printed at a print run quantity substantially equal to the first print quantity,

c) if the number of individual print jobs identified in step a) is not at least substantially equal to the number of print locations in the first aggregate print layout, assigning at least some of the individual print jobs identified in step a) to N positions in the aggregate print layout, the aggregate print layout to be printed at a print run quantity substantially equal to the second print quantity.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising, after the layout filling process is completed, printing to layout in the print run quantity and cutting the quantity of printed layout to separate the individual print jobs.

17. One or more computer readable media having computer executable instructions encoded therein for performing the method of claim 15.