Method for selecting a finishing device for digital printing
View Patent ↗Methods for selecting finishing devices to perform finishing operations on a print run. The print job contains demands for which finishing operations must be performed on the print run. The printing device contains suggestions for which finishing operations may, but need not, be performed on the print run. In operation, the printing device selects a finishing device that can perform all demands and a maximum number of suggestions. The suggested finishing operations are stored in a memory of the printing device and may be defaults or entered by a printer operator. Upon selecting the finishing device, the printing device directs the print run to the selected finishing device for processing.
1. A method for selecting a finishing device for digital printing, wherein the finishing device performs one or more finishing operations on a print job from a printing device, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a data stream for the print job in the printing device, wherein the data stream is an electronic version of the print job;
determining whether the finishing device can perform all demanded finishing operations, wherein the data stream includes instructions associated with the demanded finishing operations;
when the finishing device can perform all demanded finishing operations, determining whether the finishing device can perform a maximum number of suggested finishing operations, wherein the printing device includes the suggested finishing operations in a memory; and
when the finishing device can perform the maximum number of the suggested finishing operations, directing the print job to the finishing device.
2. A computer readable medium, having stored therein instructions for causing a central processing unit to execute the method of claim 1 .
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
repeating the determining steps for each available finishing device of one or more available finishing devices until the finishing device is selected.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
when the finishing device cannot perform all the demanded finishing operations, not directing the print job to the finishing device.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
when the finishing device cannot perform the maximum number of the suggested finishing operations, not directing the print job to the finishing device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic version of the document is formatted in a Page Description Language.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the Page Description Language is a Portable Document Format.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the instructions associated with the demanded finishing operations comprise one or more metatags.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
storing the suggested finishing operations into the memory of the printing device.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the suggested finishing operations are defaults of the printing device.
11. A method for selecting a finishing device for digital printing, wherein the finishing device performs one or more finishing operations on a print job from a printing device, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a data stream for the print job in the printing device, wherein the data stream of the print job is formatted in a Page Description Language;
determining whether the finishing device can perform all demanded finishing operations, wherein the data stream includes one or more metatags associated with the demanded finishing operations;
when the finishing device cannot perform all the demanded finishing operations, not directing the print job to the finishing device;
when the finishing device can perform all demanded finishing operations, determining whether the finishing device can perform a maximum number of suggested finishing operations, wherein the printing device includes the suggested finishing operations in a memory;
when the finishing device cannot perform the maximum number of the suggested finishing operations, not directing the print job to the finishing device; and
when the finishing device can perform the maximum number of the suggested finishing operations, directing the print job to the finishing device.
12. A computer readable medium, having stored therein instructions for causing a central processing unit to execute the method of claim 11 .
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the Page Description Language is a Portable Document Format.