Digital image processing network
View Patent ↗In an imaging method an image or multiple images, an ink specification and substrate or substrates for imaging are selected. A central computing device (CCD) determines a volume of ink required to form the images and communicates with a plurality of printers that are geographically remote from the CCD. Each of the plurality of printers communicates to the CCD an ink specification available at the printer, a volume of ink available and optionally substrates that are available at the printer location. The CCD selects a printer or printers from the plurality of printers to fulfill the print job considering the geographic location of the printer(s), the ink specification available to the printer, and the volume of ink available at the printer. The CCD provides to the printer information and specifications which may include an image specification, an ink specification, a waveform specification and a substrate specification.
1. A printing system for imaging substrates, comprising
a central computing device;
a plurality of computing devices, each of the plurality of computing devices geographically separated from the central computing device and from each other, the plurality of computing devices constructed and arranged to communicate to the central computing device an ink specification and substrate specification required for a printing task and the geographic location of a computing device of the plurality of computing devices communicating the ink specification and substrate specification required for the printing task;
a plurality of printers, wherein each printer of the plurality of printers is associated with a computing device of the plurality of computing devices, and the plurality of computing devices are constructed and arranged to communicate to the central computing device ink inventory and substrate inventory at the printer associated with the computing device of the plurality of computing devices, and the geographic location of the printer;
the central computing device selecting a printer associated with the computing device of the plurality of computing devices based upon a printer specification, image specification, ink specification and substrate specification required for the printing task and the geographic location of the printer, and the central computing device communicating imaging information to the printer selected by the central computing device.
2. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , further comprising a metadata file communicated by the central computing device to the printer, wherein the metadata file comprises imaging information.
3. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , wherein the imaging information comprises a waveform specification.
4. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , wherein the image specification comprises visual graphics information, image size and image resolution.
5. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , wherein the central computing device determines the volume of ink required to form the image as a function of a pulse count required for the image specification, ink specification, and substrate specification.
6. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , wherein the printing task comprises a plurality of images for printing, and the central computing device determines a volume of ink required to form the images and central computing devices selects a printer associated with the computing device of the plurality of computing devices based upon a printer specification, image specification, ink specification, substrate specification and the volume of ink required to form the images required for the printing task.
7. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , wherein the printing task comprises an ink specification for inks comprising sublimation dyes.
8. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , wherein the central computing device further communicates shipping and handling information for printing tasks to the plurality of remote computing devices.
9. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of remote computing devices are constructed and arranged to communicate printing task status to the central computing device.
10. A printing system for imaging substrates as described in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of order receiving computing devices, wherein the central computing device communicates printing task status to an order receiving computing device of the order receiving computing devices.