Abstract: Disclosed herein is a production planning processor comprising an admissions control module in communication with a queue management module, the admissions control module calculating a proposed profit for expedited handling of a new print job, the queue management module determining a revised print job queue based upon data received from the admissions control module. A corresponding method of processing print jobs is also disclosed, along with a system and a method for determining the profitability of accommodating a rush print job.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining a document's overall effectiveness or quality using a technique that employs detecting correlation between document citation rate and document presentation elements such as style and layout. A document's citation rate is the number of citations of or references to that document from other documents. This is taken as an indicator of a document's overall effectiveness. This invention employs automated means to obtain, for a sample of documents, both presentation data and citation rate data. Presentation data is obtained, for each document in the sample, by automated inspection of the document, for stylistic elements. The citation rate for each document is based on the number of citations (e.g., hyperlinks) to that document from another set of documents, the larger the set the better.

Abstract: A method of organizing electronic document-related information at least includes generating a collection of electronic documents, forming from the collection, at least one cluster of documents based upon a user's selection of a subject, and determining for each author of documents in the cluster, the number of times each the author is an author of a document corresponding to the subject. The authors are ranked and presented to the user in the form of an index. The ranked index can be interpreted as a ranking of subject matter experts.

Abstract: The optimal version of a document can depend on the user's need and the presentation device, and can govern choices of content as well as style. The content needed for multiple versions of a document can be included in a single document structure and identified by means of tags or by a content selection node. Tags allow the user to specify a desired version, while selection nodes allow the content to be automatically selected, styled and formatted to optimize a set of constraints. Content alternatives may be generated automatically from original content.

Abstract: In a client-server-document repository system, a secure method of print-by-reference includes sending, from the client to the printer, user credentials to release a document, a delegation credential for permitting the printer to print the document and the address of the document; verifying, at the printer, the user's credentials and the delegation credential; sending, from the printer to the document repository, printer credentials, the delegation credential and the address of the document; verifying, at the document repository, the printer's credentials and the delegation credential; providing the document to the server; and printing the document. The client may be a wireless device such as a cell phone or personal digital assistant.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing secure value-added network services in a network using one or more operating systems. The system runs on a distribution agent Web server accessible from one or more types of network Operating Systems (“OS”) via a Secure Socket Layer (“SSL”) channel. The system includes one or more subsystems, including a receiving system that receives one or more document service requests over a secure communications medium, an authentication system that authenticates each received document service request, a processing system that processes the one or more authenticated document service requests, and a request fulfillment system that fulfills each processed document service request.

Abstract: A computer system for automatically ordering consumables for a printer or a similar machine where the inventory is monitored by comparing the amount of material delivered, for example, by scanning the incoming cartons, against the amount used, for example, by the machine automatically sending to the computer counts of the various units consumed. The computer is equipped with a set of rules for automatically reordering new supplies. In an alternative case, the rules would request a concession, in terms of price or some other parameter such as quantity, from one or more vendors before ordering.

Abstract: A system for guaranteeing that a defective check is destroyed before a duplicate check is printed. A client terminal is connected to a check printer and a shredder. The client requests a check to be printed. If the printing is defective the check is submitted to the shredder, which destroys the check and enables the printer to print a duplicate. To the extent that the client has a more extensive data base than the printer, the destruction of the check is transmitted to the client as well as the printer. In this case it is the client that instructs the printer to print a duplicate. Finally, to the extent that a network is used for communication between the elements, encryption and passwords may be used for security.