Automatic load balancer for presses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for load balancing presses, comprising:
- monitoring the presses;
monitoring post-raster image processor (RIP) queues on a network accessible storage (NAS) server;
periodically allocating print jobs in the post-RIP queues to the presses based on monitoring the presses and monitoring the post-RIP queues, the print jobs being in native format of the presses, wherein periodically allocating the print jobs comprises;
identifying available presses;
identifying a highest priority print job in the post-RIP queues;
determining a required option for the highest priority print job;
identifying a set of the available presses that has the required option for the highest priority print job installed;
when there is more than one press in the set;
selecting a set of preferred presses from the set of the available presses;
determining a least loaded press from the set of preferred presses; and
allocating the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the set of preferred presses, wherein the highest print job is moved from its post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the set of preferred presses;
when none of the available presses have the required option for the highest priority print job installed;
identifying another set of the available presses specified for the required option for the highest priority print job;
identifying a least loaded press from the other set of the available presses; and
allocating the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the other set of the available presses, wherein the highest priority print job is moved from its post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the other set of the available presses; and
moving the allocated print jobs to press loader queues on the NAS server, each press loader queue being assigned to a corresponding press.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A press load balancer automatically balances the printing load over a number of presses by taking into account the load on each press and the substrates (i.e., paper types) and inks installed on the presses to improve throughput while minimizing load on the press operators.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for load balancing presses, comprising:
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monitoring the presses; monitoring post-raster image processor (RIP) queues on a network accessible storage (NAS) server; periodically allocating print jobs in the post-RIP queues to the presses based on monitoring the presses and monitoring the post-RIP queues, the print jobs being in native format of the presses, wherein periodically allocating the print jobs comprises; identifying available presses; identifying a highest priority print job in the post-RIP queues; determining a required option for the highest priority print job; identifying a set of the available presses that has the required option for the highest priority print job installed; when there is more than one press in the set; selecting a set of preferred presses from the set of the available presses; determining a least loaded press from the set of preferred presses; and allocating the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the set of preferred presses, wherein the highest print job is moved from its post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the set of preferred presses; when none of the available presses have the required option for the highest priority print job installed; identifying another set of the available presses specified for the required option for the highest priority print job; identifying a least loaded press from the other set of the available presses; and allocating the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the other set of the available presses, wherein the highest priority print job is moved from its post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the other set of the available presses; and moving the allocated print jobs to press loader queues on the NAS server, each press loader queue being assigned to a corresponding press. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions for execution by a processor to load balance presses, wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to:
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monitor the presses; monitor post-raster image processor (RIP) queues on a network accessible storage (NAS) server; periodically allocate print jobs in the post-RIP queues based on the monitored presses and monitor the post-RIP queues, the print jobs being in native format of the presses, wherein, to periodically allocate the print jobs, the instructions are to cause the processor to; identify available presses; identify a highest priority print job in the post-RIP queues; determine a required option for the highest priority print job; identify a set of the available presses that has the required option for the highest priority print job installed; when there is more than one press in the set; select a set of preferred presses from the set of the available presses; determine a least loaded press from the set of preferred presses; and allocate the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the set of preferred presses, wherein the highest print job is moved from its post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the set of preferred presses; when none of the available presses have the required option for the highest priority print job installed; identify another set of the available presses specified for the required option for the highest priority print job; identify a least loaded press from the other set of the available presses; allocate the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the other set of the available presses, wherein the highest priority print job is moved from its post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the other set of the available presses; and move the allocated print job to press loader queues on the NAS server, each press loader queue assigned to a corresponding press. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A press system, comprising:
a digital front end, comprising; raster image processor (RIP) servers; a print server to send print jobs from product pools to the RIP servers to convert the print jobs to a native format of a plurality of presses, the print server to direct the RIP servers to output the converted print jobs to post-RIP queues, wherein each of the converted print jobs is assigned a priority according to a type of the print job, and wherein each of the converted print jobs is assigned a delivery time at which the print job is to be completed; a press load balancer to; monitor the presses; monitor post-RIP queues on a network accessible storage (NAS) server; periodically allocate print jobs in the post-RIP queues based on the monitored presses and monitor the post-RIP queues, the print jobs being in native format of the presses, wherein, to periodically allocate the print jobs, the instructions are to cause the processor to; identify available presses; identify a highest priority print job in the post-RIP queues; determine a required option for the highest priority print job; identify a set of the available presses that has the required option for the highest priority print job installed; when there is more than one press in the set;
select a set of preferred presses from the set of the available presses;
determine a least loaded press from the set of preferred presses; and
allocate the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the set of preferred presses;when none of the available presses have the required option for the highest priority print job installed;
identify another set of the available presses specified for the required option for the highest priority print job;
identify a least loaded press from the other set of the available presses;
allocate the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the other set of the available presses, wherein the highest priority print job is moved from its post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the other set of the available presses; and
move the allocated print job to press loader queues on the NAS server, each press loader queue assigned to a corresponding press; anda press loader to load the print job in the press loader queue to the corresponding press. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
Specification