System and method of data processing for a printing operation

• US 9,575,705 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quad Graphics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quad Graphics, Inc.
• Inventors: Blohm, Eric, Henke, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hasan, Syed
• Application Number:
  US14/738,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20150277836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1243 Variable data printing, e.g. document forms, templates, labels, coupons, advertisements, logos, watermarks, transactional printing, fixed content versioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1293 Printer information exchange with computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1296 Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/01 Customer relationship services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history

Abstract

Systems and methods relating to preparing data for use in a printing operation are provided. One method includes receiving selected records from a first data source. The selected records have been subjected to a first record characteristic updating step and the selected records comprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials. The method further includes updating the selected records with a second record characteristic updating step. A time at which the second record characteristic updating step is performed is determined in relation to a print production schedule for the printed materials. The method further includes creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation. The printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.

Claims

1. A method of preparing data for use in a printing operation, comprising:

receiving selected records from a first data source provided by at least one of a client or a data providing entity associated with the client, wherein the selected records comprise name information and a mailing address for each of a plurality of intended recipients of printed materials, and wherein the selected records have been subjected to a periodic first updating step using data from a first national change of address database;

updating the selected records with a second updating step using data from at least one of the first national change of address database or a second national change of address database, wherein a time at which the second updating step is performed is determined in relation to a print production schedule of the printed materials; and

creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation, wherein the printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated selected records are used to perform an electronic communication operation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the updating step, modifying the stored selected records based on a record suppression status.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the updating step, modifying the stored selected records based on message information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected records further comprise at least one of a record suppression status or message information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data used in the second updating step is more recently updated than the data used in the first updating step.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a new recipient is added to the selected records based on updating the selected records with the second updating step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a new message is added to the selected records based on updating the selected records with the second updating step.

9. A data processing system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive selected records from a first data source provided by at least one of a client or a data providing entity associated with the client, wherein the selected records comprise name information and a mailing address for each of a plurality of intended recipients of printed materials;

update the selected records with an updating step using data from a national change of address database at a time determined in relation to a print production schedule of the printed materials; and

create a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation, wherein the printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the updating step comprises a second updating step and the national change of address database comprises a first national change of address database, and wherein the selected records have been subjected to a periodic first updating step using data from at least one of the first national change of address database or a second national change of address database.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the selected records updated with the second updating step further comprise at least one of a record suppression status or a message status.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the data used in the second updating step is more recently updated than the data used in the periodic first updating step.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein a new recipient is added to the selected records based on updating the selected records with the second updating step.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein a new message is added to the selected records based on updating the selected records with the second updating step.

15. A method of preparing data for use in a printing operation, comprising:

receiving selected records from a first data source provided by at least one of a client or a data providing entity associated with the client, wherein the selected records comprise name information and a mailing address for each of a plurality of intended recipients of printed materials;

updating the selected records with a second updating step at a time determined in relation to a print production schedule of the printed materials, wherein the second updating step comprises at least one of;

a national change of address updating step in which the mailing address is updated using data from a national change of address database;

an address hygiene step in which one or more errors in the mailing address are corrected;

a record suppression step in which one or more of the selected records are suppressed such that the printed publication is not sent to the intended recipients associated with the suppressed records;

or

a merging step in which one or more duplicate records are removed from the selected records; and

creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation, wherein the printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the updating step comprises the national change of address updating step and at least one of the address hygiene step, the record suppression step, or the merging step.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the updating step comprises a second updating step and the national change of address database comprises a first national change of address database, and wherein the selected records have been subjected to a periodic first updating step using data from at least one of the first national change of address database or a second national change of address database.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data used in the second updating step is more recently updated than the data used in the periodic first updating step.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a new recipient is added to the selected records based on updating the selected records with the second updating step.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a new message is added to the selected records based on updating the selected records with the second updating step.