METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN A DISTRIBUTED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• US 20160077769A1
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mimeo.com
• Original Assignee: HubCast Incorporated
• Inventors: LaVigne, Toby, Wells, Christopher David, Blume, Aron
• Granted Patent: US 10,275,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• 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 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1296 Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6033 using test pattern analysis H04N1/6055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A method and system is provided for printing jobs received from enterprise customers through a global printing network. One aspect relates to an architecture that interfaces customers, communication service firms (CSFs), and downstream digital print service providers (PSPs) in a global communications network. Such an architecture permits last-mile production functions that allow the distribution of print jobs to be optimized, containing costs, maintaining quality, and performing billing functions that improve the quality of such networks and make a global print network feasible. As a result, Enterprise customers benefit from lower costs and global sourcing while print service providers and graphics service firms benefit from increased revenue due to increased utilization of the overall global network.

Claims

1. A method for printing in a distributed communications network, the network comprising a plurality of enterprise customers capable of printing to a plurality of color printer types, the method comprising acts of:

determining a color reference;

determining a respective output associated with each of the plurality of color printer types; and

comparing the color reference to each respective output; and

determining, for each of the plurality of color printer types, a deviation in response to the act of comparing.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of measuring the respective output of each of the plurality of color printer types.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of determining a color reference includes an act of determining a color space that represents a potential output of each of the plurality of color printer types.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining a correction based on the determined deviation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of color printer types are located among a plurality of print service providers distributed in a global network, and wherein the act of determining a color reference includes an act of determining a global color reference.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of displaying information regarding the deviation on a display of a computer system.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising an act of displaying the information regarding the deviation to a user.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining, based on the determined deviation, whether a print service provider is printing a product in accordance with a service level agreement.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising an act of determining a specific color reference for a particular color printer and comparing the specific color reference for the particular color printer with a desired output of a print job.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of comparing the specific color reference with the desired color output as referenced in a file associated with the print job.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising modifying the file associated with the print job in response to the act of comparing.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the file associated with the print file is a JDF-formatted file, and the act of modifying the file includes modifying the JDF file for the particular color printer.

6. The method according to claim S, further comprising an act of using the global color reference in a global printing network comprising the plurality of print service providers.

14. A method for printing in a distributed communications network, the network comprising a plurality of enterprise customers that are capable of submitting at least one print job to a global network, the method comprising acts of:

receiving the print job form at least one of the plurality of enterprise customers;

allocating at least one first portion of the print job to a first service provider;

allocating at least one second portion of the print job to a second print service provider.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the acts of allocating are performed transparently to the at least one of the plurality of enterprise customers.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to pricing information provided by the first service provider.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to an act of determining a shipping zone associated with the at least one first portion of the print job.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to an act of determining an availability of the first service provider to produce the at least one first portion of the print job.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to an act of determining a relative location of the first service provider to a destination of the at least one first portion of the print job.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to an act of determining a shipping time for shipping the at least one first portion of the print job to a destination.

21-36. -36. (canceled)