Print job allocation system

US5897260A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG · DE

Inventor

• Oded Zingher · Alzenau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 20, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 27, 1999
• Expiry date: Jan 20, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41F33/00
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A print job allocation system interlinks customers of a plurality of printing plants located throughout the world and a plurality of printing plants located throughout the world. The system includes a network for connecting the printing plant customers and a plurality of printing machine control devices controlling a plurality of printing machines in the plurality of printing plants. The system also includes a print job processor which receives print job data from the printing customers and printing machine data from the printing machine control devices. The print job processor processes the data received and allocates print jobs by matching desired print job requirements to available printing machine capacity and capabilities. Using various print job criteria, the print job processor selects one or more printing machines from one or more printing plants which provide for optimum use of the world-wide printing machines and optimum performance of the printing and distribution of the printed products.