Abstract: Methods and systems resume workflow processing of a print job at intermediate steps of a print workflow. In one embodiment, a control system initiates processing of a print job based on steps in a print workflow, where the steps identify print shop activities to perform for the print job. The control system identifies an error in executing a step of the workflow, and identifies an intermediate step in the workflow that has executed in processing the print job. The control system identifies an updated file for the print job to correct the error, and resumes the processing of the print job at the intermediate step using the update file.

Abstract: A method disclosed. The method includes generating a printer pool object that represents a pool including one or more printers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for print queue management are provided. The system performs a queue management process to identify a print job loaded in a first queue for a first printer, and to estimate a first time to print the print job on the first printer from the first queue. The system selects a second queue for a second printer, estimates a second time to print the print job on the second printer from the second queue if the print job were moved to the second queue, and calculates a difference in printing time between the first time to print and the second time to print. The system also moves the print job from the first queue to the second queue based on the calculated difference in printing time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for visually representing print jobs in a print queue. In one embodiment, a system comprising a print queue, a scheduler, and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) is disclosed. The print queue stores print jobs for a printer. The scheduler estimates a time to print each of the print jobs on the printer. The GUI displays a graphical representation of each of the print jobs in the print queue, where a size of a graphical representation of each of the print jobs is based on the estimated time to print each of the print jobs.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for scheduling multiple types of print jobs in a print queue using a pseudo job. A pseudo job is a special type of non-printing job object that is added to a print queue. In one embodiment, a system includes a print queue that stores print jobs scheduled for a printer. The print queue also stores a pseudo job that defines a boundary in the queue between print jobs having a first set of print settings and print jobs having a second set of print settings. In another embodiment, a system includes a print queue, a control system, and a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface displays options for generating a pseudo job, and receives input indicating a scheduled change to a configuration of a printer. The control system generates the pseudo job based on the input, and inserts the pseudo job in the print queue.

Abstract: Methods and systems resume workflow processing of a print job at intermediate steps of a print workflow. In one embodiment, a control system initiates processing of a print job based on steps in a print workflow, where the steps identify print shop activities to perform for the print job. The control system identifies an error in executing a step of the workflow, and identifies an intermediate step in the workflow that has executed in processing the print job. The control system identifies an updated file for the print job to correct the error, and resumes the processing of the print job at the intermediate step using the update file.

Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed provide for validating branching print workflows by segmenting the workflows into a plurality of linear sequences of steps, and validating each of the linear sequences. In one embodiment, a system receives a print workflow for a print job. The print workflow comprises steps identifying the print shop activities to perform for the print job. The system determines whether the print workflow comprises a branching workflow. If the print workflow is a branching workflow, then the system segments the branching workflow into a plurality of linear sequences of steps. The system then determines if the branching workflow is valid by analyzing each of the linear sequences based on workflow rules.

Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed provide for validating branching print workflows by segmenting the workflows into a plurality of linear sequences of steps, and validating each of the linear sequences. In one embodiment, a system receives a print workflow for a print job. The print workflow comprises steps identifying the print shop activities to perform for the print job. The system determines whether the print workflow comprises a branching workflow. If the print workflow is a branching workflow, then the system segments the branching workflow into a plurality of linear sequences of steps. The system then determines if the branching workflow is valid by analyzing each of the linear sequences based on workflow rules.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for scheduling multiple types of print jobs for a printer more efficiently by scheduling jobs together that share print settings. In one embodiment, a system includes a print queue that stores print jobs scheduled for a printer. The system also includes a scheduler that receives requests to schedule a print job for the printer. The scheduler compares the print settings of the requested print job to print settings of the print jobs already in the print queue. The scheduler then schedules the requested print job among the print jobs in the print queue that have print settings corresponding with the print settings of the requested print job.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved workflow management for a related group of jobs. A group of related jobs are received from a job source and are processed independently and in accordance with an associated job type for each job. The jobs may be processed and reprocessed independent of all other jobs in the group and may be processed substantially concurrently or in parallel. A group workflow manager assures synchronization of the jobs to generate the expected order in the output. The synchronization is defined by synchronization actions processed as part of the workflow processing. The synchronization actions may be defined in the job type of each job, or in a group job type, or defined by user interaction.

Abstract: The systems and methods presented herein provide for delivery of a set of capabilities that encompasses system-level capabilities and device capabilities via a print protocol of a physical printer. For example, a printer object may respond to a print protocol request for capabilities of a physical printer with a set of capabilities that differs from the actual capabilities of the physical printer than would be typically delivered in response to such a request. The printer object comprises the capabilities of the physical printer. The capabilities of the physical printer are accessible via the print protocol of the physical printer. The printer object processes a request from the client system via the print protocol and in turn provides a set of capabilities that is different from the capabilities of the physical printer in response to the request.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for improved ease and flexibility in defining attribute values for jobs in a workflow processing system. The job attributes are presented to a user grouped or organized by their relationship to various elements of the workflow model used to process the job type. Further, default values for job attributes may be flexibly defined based on elements of the workflow model that utilize the job attribute and/or based on dynamic computations of functions involving the various job attributes and other parameters.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for flexible, configurable job workflow processing. Features and aspects hereof provide for generating workflow models from configurable templates. The workflow models may include one or more phases, each comprising one or more processes, each process comprising one or more steps. The Phases, processes, and steps may all be defined by configuring parameters of corresponding templates. Information defining the workflow models and all job information for jobs to be executed are entries in an integrated database such that creation and update of workflow model information and job information is performed as simple database queries and updates.

Abstract: The systems and methods presented herein provide correction of job tickets by replacing impermissible missing values with default values or null values when needed. For example, certain components within a printing system described herein may determine whether a job ticket is allowed to have a missing value within one of the printing parameters. If not, the printing system replaces with missing value with a null value and a database of the printing system updates all other necessary components within the printing system (e.g., print server components, such as a printer object, a scheduler, etc.) with the updated job ticket.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for flexible, configurable job workflow processing. Features and aspects hereof provide for generating workflow models from configurable templates. The workflow models may include one or more phases, each comprising one or more processes, each process comprising one or more steps. The Phases, processes, and steps may all be defined by configuring parameters of corresponding templates. Information defining the workflow models and all job information for jobs to be executed are entries in an integrated database such that creation and update of workflow model information and job information is performed as simple database queries and updates.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for scheduling multiple types of print jobs in a print queue using a pseudo job. A pseudo job is a special type of non-printing job object that is added to a print queue. In one embodiment, a system includes a print queue that stores print jobs scheduled for a printer. The print queue also stores a pseudo job that defines a boundary in the queue between print jobs having a first set of print settings and print jobs having a second set of print settings. In another embodiment, a system includes a print queue, a control system, and a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface displays options for generating a pseudo job, and receives input indicating a scheduled change to a configuration of a printer. The control system generates the pseudo job based on the input, and inserts the pseudo job in the print queue.

Abstract: The systems and methods presented herein provide for seamless printer accessibility to clients regardless of the print protocols being used in their respective print jobs. A printing system includes a physical printer and a print process device operable to process a print job from a client system. The print processing device includes a virtual printer operable to detect a print protocol associated with the print job, determine that the print protocol associated with the print job conflicts with the print capabilities of the physical printer, configure the print job with the print protocol of the physical printer based on the print protocol associated with the print job, and process the print job according to the print protocol of the physical printer. In doing so, a protocol converter may map printer commands of the print protocol of the print job to printer commands of the print protocol of the printer.

Abstract: The systems and methods presented herein provide correction of job tickets by replacing impermissible missing values with default values or null values when needed. For example, certain components within a printing system described herein may determine whether a job ticket is allowed to have a missing value within one of the printing parameters. If not, the printing system replaces with missing value with a null value and a database of the printing system updates all other necessary components within the printing system (e.g., print server components, such as a printer object, a scheduler, etc.) with the updated job ticket.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for scheduling multiple types of print jobs for a printer more efficiently by scheduling jobs together that share print settings. In one embodiment, a system includes a print queue that stores print jobs scheduled for a printer. The system also includes a scheduler that receives requests to schedule a print job for the printer. The scheduler compares the print settings of the requested print job to print settings of the print jobs already in the print queue. The scheduler then schedules the requested print job among the print jobs in the print queue that have print settings corresponding with the print settings of the requested print job.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for visually representing print jobs in a print queue. In one embodiment, a system comprising a print queue, a scheduler, and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) is disclosed. The print queue stores print jobs for a printer. The scheduler estimates a time to print each of the print jobs on the printer. The GUI displays a graphical representation of each of the print jobs in the print queue, where a size of a graphical representation of each of the print jobs is based on the estimated time to print each of the print jobs.