Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating workflows for printing systems. The system includes a memory that stores requirements for sequencing each of multiple activities available at a print shop into workflows. The system also includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI) able to graphically present a workflow. The workflow includes an ordered subset of the activities to perform for processing a print job. The GUI is further able to graphically present the available activities, and to enable a user to drag the available activities onto the workflow to alter the workflow. The system also includes a processing system able to detect an activity being dragged by a user, to determine locations in the workflow where requirements for the activity are met, and to operate the GUI to highlight the determined locations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying conflicts between the requirements of an incoming print job and the configuration of a printer that has been requested to print the job. The system receives a request to move a print job to a queue for a printer and identifies a requirement of the print job. The system analyzes a current and a scheduled configuration of the printer to determine whether the current configuration or the scheduled configuration of the printer can handle the print setting. Responsive to determining that the current and scheduled configuration of the printer cannot handle the print setting, the system analyzes configurations of at least one other printer to identify another printer having a current configuration or a scheduled configuration that can handle the print setting. Further, the system provides information identifying the other printer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for notifying operators of tasks to perform on printers by inserting operator instructions onto separator pages that are placed between print jobs. One embodiment is a print server that includes a control system and a page generator. The control system is operable to identify a print job, and to identify an operator instruction for the print job indicating a physical task for an operator to perform on a printer before the print job is printed. Also, the control system holds the print job responsive to identifying the operator instruction. The page generator generates a separator page comprising the operator instruction that indicates the physical task to perform on the printer, and transmits the separator page for printing to inform the operator of the task before the print job is printed.

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 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 associated structure for displaying the status of a plurality of print jobs using a graphical user interface to present a broad overview of the status of the print jobs. Status information regarding the plurality of print jobs is received from one or more print servers. The status of each job is analyzed to associate a top-level category with each job and a status sub-category with each job. A graphical object is presented to the user to represent each of the top-level categories and each of the sub-categories within each top-level category. A count of the number of jobs associated with each graphical object may be presented to the user as a number associated with the graphical object. The graphical objects may be color-coded to indicate the level of operator intervention (if any) required for the print jobs associated with the corresponding top-level category or sub-category.

Abstract: A color adjustment interface includes an original image thumbnail representing a version of an image prior to modification, a current image thumbnail representing a version of an image after a modification and a color polygon including a multitude of variation image thumbnails each representing a color variation. Each selection of a variation image thumbnail modifies the current image thumbnail in an adjustment towards a color represented by the selected variation image.

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 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: Systems and methods for identifying conflicts between the requirements of an incoming print job and the configuration of a printer that has been requested to print the job. The system receives a request to move a print job to a queue for a printer and identifies a requirement of the print job. The system analyzes a current and a scheduled configuration of the printer to determine whether the current configuration or the scheduled configuration of the printer can handle the print setting. Responsive to determining that the current and scheduled configuration of the printer cannot handle the print setting, the system analyzes configurations of at least one other printer to identify another printer having a current configuration or a scheduled configuration that can handle the print setting. Further, the system provides information identifying the other printer.

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: 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: Systems and methods are provided for notifying operators of tasks to perform on printers by inserting operator instructions onto separator pages that are placed between print jobs. One embodiment is a print server that includes a control system and a page generator. The control system is operable to identify a print job, and to identify an operator instruction for the print job indicating a physical task for an operator to perform on a printer before the print job is printed. Also, the control system holds the print job responsive to identifying the operator instruction. The page generator generates a separator page comprising the operator instruction that indicates the physical task to perform on the printer, and transmits the separator page for printing to inform the operator of the task before the print job is printed.

Abstract: Methods and associated structure for displaying the status of a plurality of print jobs using a graphical user interface to present a broad overview of the status of the print jobs. Status information regarding the plurality of print jobs is received from one or more print servers. The status of each job is analyzed to associate a top-level category with each job and a status sub-category with each job. A graphical object is presented to the user to represent each of the top-level categories and each of the sub-categories within each top-level category. A count of the number of jobs associated with each graphical object may be presented to the user as a number associated with the graphical object. The graphical objects may be color-coded to indicate the level of operator intervention (if any) required for the print jobs associated with the corresponding top-level category or sub-category.

Abstract: A color adjustment interface includes an original image thumbnail representing a version of an image prior to modification, a current image thumbnail representing a version of an image after a modification and a color polygon including a multitude of variation image thumbnails each representing a color variation. Each selection of a variation image thumbnail modifies the current image thumbnail in an adjustment towards a color represented by the selected variation image.

Abstract: A user interface is provided to receive electronic mail addresses for printer alert notification recipients. The alert notifications to be received by each individual recipient are designated based on the underlying alert condition prompting the alert. Once all desired recipients and corresponding alert notifications have been specified, this alert notification configuration is implemented for one or more printers within a group of monitored printers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for configuring a plurality of devices linked to a network, such as printers or any other network device, with a computer also linked to the network. A computer determines from the devices a source device. The computer then determines a set of features from features implemented in the source device. At least one value is set for each feature in the source device. The computer also determines at least one target device. For each target device, the computer then determines features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing. The computer then transmits to each target device via the network the values for the determined features the target device is capable of implementing. If there are multiple target devices, then different sets of values from the determined set of features may be transmitted to different target devices when the target devices have different capabilities with respect to the determined set of features.

Abstract: Disclosed is an application program for revising a list of textual values, wherein the application is controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing the application program. The application includes means for selecting a first window showing a user list box displaying a plurality of textual values. A first pushbutton may be selected from the first window to cause the display of a second window in which the user may enter a new textual value that is different from the plurality of textual values displayed in the first window. Another pushbutton in the second window may be used to display the first window with the textual values displayed including the new textual value. A pushbutton from the first window may be used to display a second value identical to the first textual value.