Abstract: A version compatibility method may identify an interface provided by a first version of an operating system and identify an interface provided by a second version of the operating system. A monitoring module generates difference information between the first version and the second version of the operating system. A compatibility module on a host machine determines, using the difference information, whether a computer application program running on the host machine can resolve an interface dependency if an operating system running on the host machine is changed from the first version to the second version.

Abstract: A consumption data monitoring method may identify an interface provided by an operating system running on a server. A monitoring module populates an operating system database with information on the identified interface. The monitoring module populates a host database with consumption details received from a host machine, the consumption details comprising one or more interfaces of an operating system on the host machine used by a computer application program running on the host machine. The monitoring module compares the host database to the operating system database to determine if the interface provided by the operating system running on the server matches the one or more interfaces of the operating system on the host machine.

Abstract: A method implemented in a print shop management system that includes a data processing apparatus having a non-transitory memory for storing a computer software program and a processor for executing the software program, wherein the program includes a program code configured to cause the data processing apparatus to execute a process for customizing a print-on-demand (POD) driver, which process includes the steps of accessing a configuration file of the POD driver having a plurality of fields with respective values; and modifying values of the configuration file fields to customize available user interfaces and print job settings editing options of the POD driver.

Abstract: A method implemented in a print shop management system that includes a data processing apparatus having a non-transitory memory for storing a computer software program and a processor for executing the software program, wherein the program includes a program code configured to cause the data processing apparatus to execute a process for customizing color or black and white (B/W) printing of a document containing color and B/W pages, which process includes the steps of analyzing the document to obtain its original color page data which specifies color pages of the document that are originally set to be printed in color, providing a user interface for editing the color page data of the document by allowing input of individual page numbers designating which color pages of the document will indeed be printed in color, and printing the document according to the edited color page data by printing color pages of the document in color if they are also designated to be printed in color, and printing color pages of the

Abstract: A method is described for managing a print shop system in which a plurality of printers are connected to and managed by a server. When a document to be printed contains both color and black and white pages, the server splits the print job into a color and a black and white sub-job. Each print job includes a job ticket containing a plurality of parameters and the document to be printed. The server splits the original print job by generating a color sub-document and a black and white sub-document based the color characteristics of the pages of the original document, and generating a color sub-job ticket and a black and white sub-job ticket based on the original job-ticket parameters, by suitably retaining some original parameters, overriding some, deleting some, retaining some with page shifting, and adding some parameters. The two sub-jobs are printed by two different printers and then merged.

Abstract: A method is described for managing a print shop system in which a plurality of printers are connected to and managed by a server. The server receives a print job including a job ticket and source document to be printed, and generates two or more sub-jobs each including a sub-job ticket and a sub-document by analyzing the job ticket and the content of the source document. The two or more sub-jobs are submitted to a plurality of printers and/or finishing devices in accordance with the sub-job tickets. One particular example is color split printing where black and white pages and color pages of a source document are split into two sub-jobs to be printed by a black and white printer and a color printer, respectively.

Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of pint jobs is implemented in a print job management apparatus connected to printers. The method includes receiving print job, and visually presenting a display screen to a user, the display screen including first, second and third panels for classifying the received print jobs according to processing phase thereof, the first panel being provided for listing print jobs that are awaiting assignment of printers thereto for processing the print jobs, the second panel being provided for listing print jobs that have been assigned to printers and that have not been completed by the assigned printers, the third panel being provided for listing at least one of first and second categories of print jobs, the first category including print jobs that have been completed, the second category including print jobs that have been cancelled.

Abstract: A method for managing printers, implemented in a print job management apparatus, is provided. The method includes determining availability of each of the printers in accordance with a pre-defined criteria, and displaying a list of the printers together with the availabilities of the printers on a display monitor.

Abstract: A method implemented in a print job management apparatus for processing print jobs in a multiple-printer print shop environment is described. When an operator manually assigns a print job to a printer, the print job requirements are compared with capabilities of the printer to detect any constraints (i.e. incompatibilities between printer capabilities and print job requirements). The job is printed if no constraint is detected. If a constraint of a first category is detected (e.g. incompatible color capabilities, paper size and type, layout, etc.), printing will not proceed and an error message is displayed. If a constraint of a second category is detected (e.g. inadequate finishing capabilities), a warning message is displayed with a request for operator instruction regarding whether to proceed with printing. If the operator chooses to proceed, the job will be printed, and a banner page containing instructions regarding uncompleted job requirements is generated.

Abstract: A method implemented in a print job management apparatus for processing print jobs in a multiple-printer print shop environment is described. Each print job specifies job ticket parameters representing printing requirements. Each received job is processed by comparing the printing requirements of the job with capabilities of the printers. If a printer cannot satisfy all printing requirements of the job, it is eliminated as a candidate printer. Then, from all printers that can satisfy all printing requirements of the job, one printer is selected based on a pre-defined priority preference and the job is submitted to the selected printer. The printer priority preference is created by the operator based on cost and other factors. The operator can also select an alternative execution mode where, among all printers that can satisfy all requirements of the job, the one with minimum wait time is selected.

Abstract: A method used in a print shop for collecting and tracking the amount of resources used for a print job is described. The print shop includes a plurality of copy production devices such as printers and finishing devices and a server for managing them. Each copy production device collects information regarding actual resource usage for a copy production job, such as the amount of paper used, the amount of toner used, the number of staples used, etc., and provides the information to the server after the job is executed. The server generates total resource usage information for executing the job, and stores the information. The actual perjob resource usage information may be analyzed to enable the print shop to set a price structure that more accurately reflects and ultimately recaptures the cost incurred.

Abstract: A method for managing a print shop system having a plurality of printers connected to a management server is described. A paper name database is maintained on the server and each printer, and contains a plurality of paper name definitions each associating a paper name to a plurality of paper attributes such as paper size, weight, etc. The paper name databases are synchronized with each other. When creating a job ticket on the server, the operator specifies the paper name but does not need to specify the paper attributes. The server generates a job ticket containing the paper name and/or the paper attributes (retrieved from the paper name database using the paper name entered by the operator). When a printer receives a job ticket that contains a papa name, it retrieves the paper attributes associated with the paper name from the local paper name database and executes the job.

Abstract: A print shop management system for automatically handling overage for customer print or copy jobs is described. An overage refers to extra copies of a customer job produced for internal use at the print shop. The print shop management system allows the operator to create overage formulas, each formula specifying a set of criteria and an overage value for customer jobs meeting the criteria. The system then automatically applies the overage formulas to each customer job to print the requested number of copies and the extra copies.

Abstract: An efficient and effective method for managing a plurality of print jobs is implemented on a print job management apparatus. The method includes receiving a plurality of print jobs, prescribing grouping criteria, grouping the plurality of print jobs into one or more of groups in accordance with the grouping criteria, the grouping being performed without user intervention, and transmitting a result of the grouping.

Abstract: Print management apparatus and method for managing a print shop system are described. A server defines one or more virtual queues as a virtual printing device to which print jobs may be submitted. Each virtual queue designates a physical printer and has a set of pre-defined job parameters (parameters that define how a print job will be printed) associated with it. Each print job managed by the server also has a set of job parameters associated with it to define how the print job is to be printed. When a print job is submitted to a virtual queue for printing, the server overrides the job parameters of the submitted print job, and prints the job on the printer designated by the virtual queue using the job parameters associated with the virtual queue. A warning message may be displayed before the server proceeds with the printing to alert the operator.

Abstract: A method is described for managing a print shop system in which a plurality of printers are connected to and managed by a server. When a document to be printed contains both color pages and black and white pages, the server makes a determination as to whether to submit the entire print job to a color printer, or to split the print job into two sub-jobs by submitting the color pages to a color printer and the black and white pages to a black and white printer. The server preferably makes the decision based on a cost calculation so as to minimize the total cost of printing the entire job, but can also made the decision based on some other considerations.

Abstract: A useful method for analyzing a print job in a multiple-printer environment is provided. The method includes receiving a print job, the print job specifying values of job parameters, reading out values of the job parameters specified in the print job, determining whether the printer settings of the plurality of printers conform to said read out values of the job parameters of the print job, and communicating a result of the conformity determination to a user.

Abstract: A method is described for managing a print shop system in which a plurality of printers are connected to and managed by a server. The server receives a print job including a job ticket and source document to be printed, and generates two or more sub-jobs each including a sub-job ticket and a sub-document by analyzing the job ticket and the content of the source document. The two or more sub-jobs are submitted to a plurality of printers and/or finishing devices in accordance with the sub-job tickets. One particular example is color split printing where black and white pages and color pages of a source document are split into two sub-jobs to be printed by a black and white printer and a color printer, respectively.

Abstract: A method is described for managing a print shop system in which a plurality of printers are connected to and managed by a server. When a document to be printed contains both color and black and white pages, the server splits the print job into a color and a black and white sub-job. Each print job includes a job ticket containing a plurality of parameters and the document to be printed. The server splits the original print job by generating a color sub-document and a black and white sub-document based the color characteristics of the pages of the original document, and generating a color sub-job ticket and a black and white sub-job ticket based on the original job-ticket parameters, by suitably retaining some original parameters, overriding some, deleting some, retaining some with page shifting, and adding some parameters. The two sub-jobs are printed by two different printers and then merged.

Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of pint jobs is implemented in a print job management apparatus connected to printers. The method includes receiving print job, and visually presenting a display screen to a user, the display screen including first, second and third panels for classifying the received print jobs according to processing phase thereof, the first panel being provided for listing print jobs that are awaiting assignment of printers thereto for processing the print jobs, the second panel being provided for listing print jobs that have been assigned to printers and that have not been completed by the assigned printers, the third panel being provided for listing at least one of first and second categories of print jobs, the first category including print jobs that have been completed, the second category including print jobs that have been cancelled.