Abstract: A design-to-pack high performance workflow for use in a commercial printing environment and method of managing the same. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information from the print service provider location, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via an electronic network, verifying, at the print service provider location, that the press ready file will print at the print service provider location as designed at the designer location and, if not, correcting the press ready file to ensure printing substantially as designed, and performing automated shipping using, if created, said corrected press ready file, else using said verified press ready file.

Abstract: A method, program product and system for generating a production ready document in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises creating a file at the designer location using updated device configuration information from the print service provider location, selecting a document profile for the file from a plurality of document profiles available at the print service provider location, applying the selected document profile to the file and adjusting characteristics of the file, if necessary, to ensure that the file is a production ready document, submitting the production ready document to the print service provider location via an electronic network, and performing at least one of automated printing, finishing, packaging and shipping using the production ready document.

Abstract: An integrated workflow for commercial printing with a closed-loop communication link between designer and print service provider locations. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises establishing a closed-loop communication link between the designer location and the print service provider location, creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information received from the print service provider location via said closed-loop communication link, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via the closed-loop communication link, and performing at least one of automated printing, finishing, packaging and shipping using the press ready file.

Abstract: A design-to-ship enabled shipping device in a commercial printing environment and method for managing workflow for use with the same. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises establishing a closed-loop communication link between the designer location and the print service provider location, creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information received from the print service provider location via the closed-loop communication link, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via the closed-loop communication link, and receiving a printed output of the press ready file and shipping the printed output using an automated shipping device.

Abstract: A network assembly and associated method for assigning an identification code to an electronic file includes a reference repository, an indexing unit linked with the reference repository, and an editing unit linked with the reference repository and the indexing unit. The reference repository receives the electronic file from a communications network, such as the Internet, and stores characteristic information associated with the electronic file. The indexing unit assigns and stores an identification code with respect to the characteristic information. The editing unit inserts the identification code to the electronic file in a format suitable for the electronic file. The network assembly further includes a review unit linked with the editing unit for reviewing the inserted identification code before dispatching the electronic file from the network assembly.

Abstract: Document processing systems are provided that are capable of facilitating scanning of one or more documents via multiple scanners. In this regard, a preferred document processing system includes a document assembly system. The document assembly system is configured to electrically communicate with a first scanner, which may be assigned to a first group of scanners, and a second scanner, which may be assigned to a second group of scanners. The scanners provide scan information to the document assembly system. The document assembly system is configured to correlate the scan information received from the first scanner with the scan information received from the second scanner. Computer readable media and methods also are provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a document for a customer at a point-of-need includes selecting an intelligent template for the document from the point-of-need, merging data of the customer with the intelligent template for the document to create an intelligent document, and producing the document for the customer at the point-of-need based on the intelligent document.

Abstract: An apparatus for publishing a customized document includes an interface to a network of computing devices, a search engine for accessing content of interest, and a device for printing and finishing a document including content from a content provider. In one embodiment, the apparatus for publishing a customized document is housed within a kiosk. The device for printing and finishing a customized document further includes an imaging device, and a finishing device. A method for producing a document at a point of need includes selecting content for the document, printing the document, and finishing the document. The selection of content, printing and finishing are done at the point of need. The method also includes designing the document at the point of need.

Abstract: A virtual publishing system and associated method for publishing an authored work in a communications network environment includes a publisher, a repositor linked with the publisher, and a sales manager linked with the publisher and the repositor. The publisher converts the authored work to a resulting commercial-grade publication. The repositor is provided for storing the commercial-grade publication received from the publisher. The sales manager retrieves the commercial-grade publication from the repositor and distributes that commercial-grade publication.

Abstract: A design-to-pack high performance workflow for use in a commercial printing environment and method of managing the same. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information from the print service provider location, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via an electronic network, verifying, at the print service provider location, that the press ready file will print at the print service provider location as designed at the designer location and, if not, correcting the press ready file to ensure printing substantially as designed, and performing automated packaging using, if created, said corrected press ready file, else using said verified press ready file.

Abstract: A design-to-pack enabled packaging device in a commercial printing environment and method for managing workflow for use with the same. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises establishing a closed-loop communication link between the designer location and the print service provider location, creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information received from the print service provider location via the closed-loop communication link, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via the closed-loop communication link, and receiving a printed output of the press ready file and packaging the printed output using an automated packaging device.

Abstract: A method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information from the print service provider location by encapsulating a plurality of files associated with a print job created at the designer location, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via an electronic network and performing at least one of automated printing, finishing, packaging and shipping using the press ready file.

Abstract: A design-to-press high performance workflow for use in a commercial printing environment and method of managing the same. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information from the print service provider location, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via an electronic network, verifying, at the print service provider location, that the press ready file will print at the print service provider location as designed at the designer location and, if not, correcting the press ready file to ensure printing substantially as designed, and performing automated printing on a digital printer using, if created, the corrected press ready file, else using the verified press ready file.

Abstract: A method, program product and system for performing automated finishing in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises: creating a production ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information from the print service provider location, where the production ready file includes finishing instructions, submitting the production ready file to the print service provider location via an electronic network, receiving a printed output of the production ready file and finishing the printed output at a finishing device in accordance with finishing instructions from the production ready file.

Abstract: An integrated workflow for commercial printing with a prepress rework at the print service provider location.

Abstract: An integrated workflow for commercial printing with an automated, pre-submittal remote proofing. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information from the print service provider location including performing an automated remote proofing of the press ready file to remotely verify that when printed at said print service provider location, the press ready file will look substantially as designed, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via an electronic network and performing at least one of automated printing, finishing, packaging and shipping using the press ready file.

Abstract: An integrated workflow for commercial printing with a closed-loop communication link between designer and print service provider locations. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises establishing a closed-loop communication link between the designer location and the print service provider location, creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information received from the print service provider location via said closed-loop communication link, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via the closed-loop communication link, and performing at least one of automated printing, finishing, packaging and shipping using the press ready file.

Abstract: An integrated workflow for commercial printing with an automated preflight check at a print service provider location.

Abstract: A design-to-ship enabled shipping device in a commercial printing environment and method for managing workflow for use with the same. The present invention provides a method, program product and system for managing workflow in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises establishing a closed-loop communication link between the designer location and the print service provider location, creating a press ready file at the designer location using updated device configuration information received from the print service provider location via the closed-loop communication link, submitting the press ready file to the print service provider location via the closed-loop communication link, and receiving a printed output of the press ready file and shipping the printed output using an automated shipping device.

Abstract: A method, program product and system for generating a production ready document in a commercial printing environment including a designer location and a print service provider location, where the method comprises creating a file at the designer location using updated device configuration information from the print service provider location, selecting a document profile for the file from a plurality of document profiles available at the print service provider location, applying the selected document profile to the file and adjusting characteristics of the file, if necessary, to ensure that the file is a production ready document, submitting the production ready document to the print service provider location via an electronic network, and performing at least one of automated printing, finishing, packaging and shipping using the production ready document.