Abstract: A method of assigning a hub to a job source may include identifying one or more job sources where one or more print jobs are received, identifying one or more hubs to which the print jobs can be sent to be processed, determining a processing cost for each unique pair of job sources and hubs, creating, by a computing device, a job source list by identifying the pair associated with the largest processing cost, assigning the job source of the identified pair a highest position in the job source list, and repeating the identifying and the assigning for a next highest position until all identified job sources are assigned, and assigning the job source having the highest position in the job source list to an associated hub having a lowest processing cost.

Abstract: A method of recommending one or more solutions to a performance issue may include receiving operations information associated with a print production environment, determining one or more performance metrics associated with the print production environment based on at least a portion of the received operations information, and determining whether a performance issue associated with the print production environment exists based on one or more of the performance metrics.

Abstract: A method of determining an input character based upon character recognition output of an education assessment system may include receiving, by a processing device, a proposed value generated using character recognition. The proposed value may be associated with at least one handwritten character of an assessment. The method may include determining, by the processing device, whether the proposed value is correct, by determining a posterior probability associated with each of one or more possible characters, identifying the possible character associated with the posterior probability having a highest value, and in response to identifying the proposed value as the possible character associated with the posterior probability having a highest value, determining, by the processing device, that the proposed value is correct, otherwise, determining that the proposed value is incorrect.

Abstract: Systems and methods perform a first monitoring of a printing engine to produce first data; match a disturbance model that empirically describes types of color variation in a print process to the first data; generate a minimum variance control system based on the identified parameters of the disturbance model. The systems/methods infer a benchmark performance level the minimum variance control system achieves using the disturbance model; adjust operating parameters of a controller of the printing engine to match parameters of the minimum variance control system; perform a second monitoring of the printing engine to produce second data; determine a difference value between the benchmark performance level and the second data. If the difference value is above a first value and below a second value, the process is repeated. If the difference value is above the first value and the second value, an indication that the printing engine needs servicing is provided.

Abstract: A method of providing feedback to a student on penmanship may include receiving, by a computing device, a completed assessment that includes one or more handwritten responses of a student, classifying one or more of the responses into one or more classifications by applying intelligent character recognition to the responses, presenting one or more classification results to a user, receiving, by the computing device, validation information associated with the presented classification results, identifying one or more penmanship issues based, at least in part, on the received validation information, generating a second assessment that includes one or more questions designed to improve one or more of the identified penmanship issues, and providing the second assessment to the student.

Abstract: A method of simulating performance of a print production environment may include receiving, by a computing device, print production environment information that comprises one or more of the following: inventory information from a warehouse management system, worker information from a people management system, equipment information from an equipment management system, or job information from a job management system. The method may include receiving, by the computing device, a performance parameter associated with the print production environment, and performing, by the computing device, a simulation of operation of the print production environment using the received print production environment information to determine an impact of the performance parameter on the print production environment's performance.

Abstract: A method of assigning a hub to a job source may include identifying one or more job sources where one or more print jobs are received, identifying one or more hubs to which the print jobs can be sent to be processed, determining a processing cost for each unique pair of job sources and hubs, creating, by a computing device, a job source list by identifying the pair associated with the largest processing cost, assigning the job source of the identified pair a highest position in the job source list, and repeating the identifying and the assigning for a next highest position until all identified job sources are assigned, and assigning the job source having the highest position in the job source list to an associated hub having a lowest processing cost.

Abstract: A method of recommending one or more solutions to a performance issue may include receiving operations information associated with a print production environment, determining one or more performance metrics associated with the print production environment based on at least a portion of the received operations information, and determining whether a performance issue associated with the print production environment exists based on one or more of the performance metrics.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for providing a customized handwriting zone are disclosed. For example, the method receives a handwriting sample for a user, measures dimensions of the handwriting sample for the user, generates one or more handwriting zones that are sized in accordance with the dimensions of the handwriting sample of the user, receives a request to generate a form for the user and provides the form that includes the one or more handwriting zones that are customized in accordance with the dimensions of the handwriting sample of the user.

Abstract: A method of determining a cell configuration in a print production environment may include identifying a set of print devices to assign to a cell, identifying a print device number, identifying one or more subsets of print devices from the set, where each subset includes a unique portion of the print devices in the set, and each subset includes a number of print devices equal to the print device number, performing a simulation of operation on each subset to determiner a subset performance metric for each subset, selecting one of the subsets based on the associated subset performance metric, decrementing the print device number by an amount, updating the set with the selected subset, and repeating the identifying one or more subsets, performing the simulation, selecting one of the subsets, decrementing the print device number and updating until no subset performance metric satisfies a performance constraint.

Abstract: A method of determining a maximum profit for a print production environment may include receiving, by a computing device, a flow model associated with a print production environment, applying, by the computing device, a modified Jackson Network analysis to the flow model to generate one more characteristic curves that each characterize a relationship between profit of the print production environment and job inflow rate and that each show a maximum profit value for the print production environment, and presenting, by the computing device, one or more of the generated characteristic curves to a user.

Abstract: A method of assigning a job to a production device may include identifying a queue comprising a plurality of print jobs, identifying a plurality of print production devices capable of processing the plurality of print jobs, determining that one of the identified print production devices is an idle print production device, identifying a top priority print job from the queue, determining a completion time associated with processing the top priority print job by each of the identified print production devices, identifying a fastest print production device, assigning the top priority print job to the fastest print production device, determining whether the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, and in response to determining that the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, sending the top priority print job to the fastest print production device and removing the top priority print job from the queue.

Abstract: A method and device for performing a sampling methodology for measuring power consumption for a population of power-consuming devices. The device includes a processor configured to perform the method. The method includes determining an energy consumption level for each device in a population of power-consuming devices; clustering the population of power-consuming devices into a plurality of clusters such that each of the plurality of clusters has a similar overall energy consumption; determining an estimated total energy consumption for each cluster; determining an estimated total energy consumed by the population of devices based upon the total energy consumption for each cluster, wherein the estimated total energy consumed by the population is within an acceptable uncertainty; and determining a number of samples to measure in each cluster such that the uncertainty associated with the estimated total energy consumed by the population of devices is minimized.

Abstract: A method of designing a cell in a print production environment may include identifying one or more print jobs, grouping the one or more print jobs into one or more job groups, identifying a job group to assign to a cell, identifying a print job, determining a process, determining a job volume, and determining whether the cell includes a production device capable of performing the determined process. The method may include, in response to the cell not including a production device capable of performing the determined process, determining a production device capable of performing the determined process, determining a capacity, and in response to determining that adding the determined production device to the cell will not increase a number of production devices in the cell to a value that exceeds a threshold value, adding the determined production device to the cell, and determining a recalculated capacity.

Abstract: A workflow information capture system uses a digital pen to capture handwritten information about a production process resource. The pen captures the handwritten markings from a worksheet, identifies the position of the marking, based on the position determines one or more process parameters for the marking, and saves the handwritten markings and their corresponding process parameter in a memory. The system may then use this information to generate recommendations for improving a workflow that is implemented by the process resource.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for capturing information is disclosed. The method includes emitting energy of a first wavelength from a first energy source located proximate to a first end of a digital pen and forming a first set handwritten markings on the substrate by causing the substrate to image as a result of an exposure of the substrate to the energy emitted from the first energy source. The method also includes detecting by an image-capturing sensor of the digital pen a first detected portion of a position-identifying pattern on the substrate and storing in the memory a digital document file comprising the first set of handwritten markings and the first detected portion of the position-identifying data. An apparatus and system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems of balancing job assignments to a plurality of machines are disclosed. A computing device receives multiple jobs each having a job size and determines a job order for the jobs based on each job's job size. A machine order is determined for a plurality of machines based on a setup time and a processing rate associated with each machine. The computing device assigns one or more jobs to each machine based on the job order and the machine order such that a maximum total processing time for the machines is minimized. A total processing time for each machine is determined based on the number of jobs and the cumulative job size of the jobs assigned to the machine, and the setup time and the processing time associated with the machine. The maximum total processing time is the largest of the total processing times for the machines.

Abstract: A method and system for managing print shop workflow determines whether variations in print shop workflow may be reduced by shifting one or more customers' scheduled orders to different time periods. By shifting an order from one time period to another, the system may reduce variability in demand levels over time, thus helping increase overall system efficiency. To do this, one or more customers are selected as candidates for print shop order rescheduling. The system identifies customer orders that, if moved to other time periods, will most reduce demand level variations. A user may accept the system's recommendations, or the system may present a user with several alternative load leveling options for selection. The system may then cause the orders to be printed based on the load leveling proposal and the user's selection.

Abstract: A method of assigning a job to a production device may include identifying a queue comprising a plurality of print jobs, identifying a plurality of print production devices capable of processing the plurality of print jobs, determining that one of the identified print production devices is an idle print production device, identifying a top priority print job from the queue, determining a completion time associated with processing the top priority print job by each of the identified print production devices, identifying a fastest print production device, assigning the top priority print job to the fastest print production device, determining whether the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, and in response to determining that the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, sending the top priority print job to the fastest print production device and removing the top priority print job from the queue.

Abstract: A method of determining a probability of a set of print jobs being completed within a time period may include receiving a schedule associated with a set of print jobs. The schedule may include a sequence in which the set of print jobs is to be processed, a mean processing time associated with each print job in the set, and a standard deviation of a processing time associated with each print job in the set. The method may include determining a probability that a print shop will complete processing of the set of print jobs within a time period based on the mean processing time and standard deviation associated with each of the print jobs in the set that has not been processed and displaying the probability on a display device.