System and Method for Assigning Print Jobs To Autonomous Cells In a Transaction Printing Environment

• US 20080285068A1
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rai, Sudhendu
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 3/1275 Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Methods and systems for assigning a plurality of print jobs in a transaction printing environment are disclosed. A print job workflow management system receives a plurality of print jobs each having a job size and selects a first threshold based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of print jobs. A print job is assigned to a first autonomous cell if the job size for the print job is greater than the first threshold. The print job is assigned to a second autonomous cell if the job size for the print job is less than a second threshold. Otherwise, the print job is assigned to a third autonomous cell.

Claims

1. A method for assigning a plurality of print jobs in a transaction printing environment among one or more autonomous cells capable of completely processing a print job, the method comprising:

receiving, by a print job workflow management system, a plurality of print jobs, wherein each print job has a job size;

selecting, by the print job workflow management system, a first threshold based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of print jobs; and

for each print job;

if the job size for the print job is greater than the first threshold, assigning a first autonomous cell to process the print job,

if the job size for the print job is less than a second threshold, assigning a second autonomous cell to process the print job, and

otherwise, assigning a third autonomous cell to process the print job.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein assigning a first autonomous cell comprises assigning a continuous feed printer to process the print job.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein assigning, a second autonomous cell comprises assigning a desktop printer to process the print job.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein assigning a third autonomous cell comprises assigning a cut-sheet printer to process the print job.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a first threshold comprises:

for each of one or more threshold values, determining a maximum device utilization for the third autonomous cell at which a percentage of print jobs processed late is less than a predefined maximum late job value; and

selecting a threshold from the one or more threshold values that maximizes a sheet volume for the third autonomous cell and for which the maximum device utilization is greater than a predefined minimum device utilization value.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the predefined maximum late job value is approximately zero; and

the predefined minimum device utilization value is approximately 50%.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a first threshold comprises

simultaneously determining the first threshold and a printer speed for the third autonomous cell by maximizing an objective function having at least a first constraint and a second constraint,

wherein the first constraint comprises a maximum percentage of late jobs,

wherein the second constraint comprises a minimum device utilization value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the second threshold based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of jobs.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the first threshold comprises dynamically updating the first threshold substantially in real time.

10. A system for processing a plurality of print jobs in a transaction printing environment, the system comprising:

a plurality of autonomous cells, wherein each autonomous cell is configured to process print jobs; and

a print job workflow management system that coordinates a flow of print jobs with respect to said plurality of autonomous cells, wherein the print job workflow management system is configured to;

receive a plurality of print jobs, wherein each print job has a job size,

select a first threshold based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of print jobs, and

for each print job, assign an autonomous cell to process the print job, wherein a first autonomous cell is assigned if the job size for the print job is greater than the first threshold, wherein a second autonomous cell is assigned if the job size or the print job is less than a second threshold, wherein a third autonomous cell is otherwise assigned.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first autonomous cell comprises a continuous feed printer.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the second autonomous cell comprises a desktop printer.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the third autonomous cell comprises a cut sheet printer.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the print job workflow management system is configured to select a first threshold by:

for each of one or more threshold values, determining a maximum device utilization for the third autonomous cell at which a percentage of print jobs processed late is less than a predefined maximum late job value; and

selecting a threshold from the one or more threshold values that maximizes a sheet volume for the third autonomous cell and for which the maximum device utilization is greater than a predefined minimum device utilization value.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the predefined maximum late job value is approximately zero; and

the predefined minimum device utilization value is approximately 50%.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the print job workflow management system is configured to select a first threshold by:

simultaneously determining the first threshold and a printer speed for the third autonomous cell by maximizing an objective function having at least a first constraint and a second constraint,

wherein the first constraint comprises a maximum percentage of late jobs,

wherein the second constraint comprises a minimum device utilization value.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the print job workflow management system is further configured to select the second threshold based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of print jobs.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the print job workflow management system is configured to select a first threshold by dynamically updating the first threshold substantially in real time.