Abstract: A method of scheduling jobs in a printing machine includes choosing configuration and selection policies and model and store traversers from a library based on a model of the machine, traversing the model of the machine to prepare and store a list of valid itineraries based on the configuration policies and traversing the stored list of valid itineraries to locate a valid itinerary to process a job. An itinerary is a schedule of the printer modules and capabilities through which a sheet must pass to perform a print job. The step of traversing the model of the machine includes evaluating all possible itineraries to preparing the list of valid itineraries based on the configuration policies and storing the list in a memory. The step of traversing the stored list of valid itineraries to locate the valid itinerary to process a job includes evaluating the list based on the selection policies and the job description.

Abstract: A scheduler for a machine includes a selector to select a traverser and to select policies from a library based on a model of the machine and the traverser selected by the selector. The traverser includes a search algorithm that is selected by the selector from a search algorithm library so that the traverser is abstracted from dependence on any particular search algorithm. Alternatively, the traverser includes a search algorithm shell and a plurality of search algorithm fragments that are selected by the selector from a search algorithm library based on a strategy design pattern so that the traverser is abstracted from dependence on any particular search algorithm shell and from dependence on any particular search algorithm fragment.