Method and apparatus for printing in a distributed communications network
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.
1. A system for printing in a communications network, comprising: a server comprising at least one processor configured to:
receive, via at least one network communication interface, a Job Description Format (JDF) file for a print job to be printed, the JDF file comprising a plurality of attributes, the plurality of attributes comprising at least one paper attribute, at least one print process attribute, at least one finish attribute, and at least one destination address to which a physical product of the print job is to be shipped;
begin validating the JDF file prior to downloading one or more image files for the print job, wherein validating the JDF file comprises verifying that one or more required attributes are present in the JDF file;
divide the print job into a plurality of portions, each portion of the print job to be printed at a respective print location of a plurality of print locations,
wherein:
the plurality of portions of the print job comprises a first portion of the print job, wherein a physical product of the first portion of the print job is to be shipped to a first destination address from the JDF file, and a second portion of the same print job, wherein a physical product of the second portion of the print job is to be shipped to a second destination address from the JDF file, the second destination address being different from the first destination address,
the first portion of the print job is to be printed at a first print location, the first print location being selected from a plurality of print locations within a first geographic zone, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the first geographic zone based at least in part on the first destination address for the physical product of the first portion of the print job, and
the second portion of the print job is to be printed at a second print location different from the first print location, the second print location being selected from a plurality of print locations within a second geographic zone different from the first geographic zone, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the second geographic zone based at least in part on the second destination address for the physical product of the second portion of the print job, and forward each portion of the print job to the respective print location of the plurality of print locations for printing of the portions of the print job at the respective print locations.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit at least one color benchmark to a remote computer system in communication with the server over the communications network.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive calibration data from the remote computer system relating to a comparison of printer output to the at least one color benchmark transmitted to the remote computer system.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the at least one color benchmark based upon a type of printer in communication with the remote computer system.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a shipping time for shipping the physical product of the first portion of the print job from the first print location to the first destination address, wherein the first print location is selected based at least in part on the shipping time.
6. A system for printing in a communications network, comprising: a server comprising at least one processor configured to:
receive, via at least one network communication interface a Job Description Format (JDF) file for a print job to be printed, the JDF file comprising a plurality of attributes, the plurality of attributes comprising at least one paper attribute, at least one print process attribute, at least one finish attribute, and at least one destination address to which a physical product of the print job is to be shipped;
begin validating the JDF file prior to downloading one or more image files for the print job, wherein validating the JDF file comprises verifying that one or more required attributes are present in the JDF file;
divide the print job into a plurality of portions, each portion of the print job to be printed at a respective print location of a plurality of print locations,
wherein:
the plurality of portions of the print job comprises a first portion of the print job, wherein a physical product of the first portion of the print job is to be shipped to a first destination address from the JDF file, and a second portion of the same print job, wherein a physical product of the second portion of the print job is to be shipped to a second destination address from the JDF file, the second destination address being different from the first destination address,
the first portion of the print job is to be printed at a first print location, the first print location being selected from a plurality of print locations within a first geographic zone, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the first geographic zone based at least in part on the first destination address for the physical product of the first portion of the print job, and
the second portion of the print job is to be printed at a second print location different from the first print location, the second print location being selected from a plurality of print locations within a second geographic zone different from the first geographic zone, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the second geographic zone based at least in part on the second destination address for the physical product of the second portion of the print job,
forward each portion of the print job to the respective print location of the plurality of print locations for printing of the portions of the print job at the respective print locations,
transmit at least one color benchmark to each of the plurality of print locations over the communications network,
receive calibration data from the plurality of print locations, the calibration data comprising first calibration data received from the first print location relating to a comparison of printer output at the first print location to the transmitted at least one color benchmark and second calibration data received from the second print location relating to a comparison of printer output at the second print location to the transmitted at least one color benchmark, wherein the first calibration data is indicative of a deviation from the at least one color benchmark, and
determine a correction based on the deviation, the correction comprising a modification to an input file associated with the first portion of the print job.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the at least one color benchmark based upon a type of printer in communication with a remote computer system to which the at least one color benchmark is to be transmitted.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a shipping time for shipping the physical product of the first portion of the print job from the first print location to the first destination address, wherein the first print location is selected based at least in part on the shipping time.
9. A computer-implemented method for printing in a communications network, the method comprising acts of:
receiving, via at least one network communication interface a Job Description Format (JDF) file for a print job to be printed, the JDF file comprising a plurality of attributes, the plurality of attributes comprising at least one paper attribute, at least one print process attribute, at least one finish attribute, and at least one destination address to which a physical product of the print job is to be shipped;
beginning validating the JDF file prior to downloading one or more image files for the print job, wherein validating the JDF file comprises verifying that one or more required attributes are present in the JDF file;
dividing the print job into a plurality of portions, each portion of the print job to be printed at a respective print location of a plurality of print locations,
wherein:
the plurality of portions of the print job comprises a first portion of the print job, wherein a physical product of the first portion of the print job is to be shipped to a first destination address from the JDF file, and a second portion of the same print job, wherein a physical product of the second portion of the print job is to be shipped to a second destination address from the JDF file, the second destination address being different from the first destination address,
the first portion of the print job is to be printed at a first print location, the first print location being selected from a plurality of print locations within a first geographic zone, wherein the first geographic zone is determined based at least in part on the first destination address for the physical product of the first portion of the print job, and
the second portion of the print job is to be printed at a second print location different from the first print location, the second print location being selected from a plurality of print locations within a second geographic zone different from the first geographic zone, wherein the second geographic zone is determined based at least in part on the second destination address for the physical product of the second portion of the print job, and
forwarding each portion of the print job to the respective print location of the plurality of print locations for printing of the portions of the print job at the respective print locations.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising an act of:
transmitting, over the communications network, at least one color benchmark to a remote computer system.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising an act of:
receiving calibration data from the remote computer system relating to a comparison of printer output to the at least one color benchmark transmitted to the remote computer system.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising an act of:
selecting the at least one color benchmark based upon a type of printer in communication with the remote computer system.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising an act of:
determining a shipping time for shipping the physical product of the first portion of the print job from the first print location to the first destination address, wherein the first print location is selected based at least in part on the shipping time.