IES84937Y1 - A system and method of processing print order requests - Google Patents
A system and method of processing print order requestsInfo
- Publication number
- IES84937Y1 IES84937Y1 IE2007/0561A IE20070561A IES84937Y1 IE S84937 Y1 IES84937 Y1 IE S84937Y1 IE 2007/0561 A IE2007/0561 A IE 2007/0561A IE 20070561 A IE20070561 A IE 20070561A IE S84937 Y1 IES84937 Y1 IE S84937Y1
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- Prior art keywords
- supplier
- central
- controller
- order request
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- 230000035897 transcription Effects 0.000 description 1
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Abstract
ABSTARCT This invention relates to a system and method of processing print order requests in a print system comprising a central print controller, a plurality of remote print customers and a plurality of remote print suppliers, the central print controller being connected to the plurality of remote print customers and the plurality of remote print suppliers by way of a communications network.
Description
A system and method of processing print order reguests
Introduction
This invention relates to a system and method of processing print order requests in a
print system comprising a central print controller, a plurality of remote print customers
and a plurality of remote print suppliers, the central print controller being connected to
the plurality of remote print customers and the plurality of remote print suppliers by
way of a communications network.
When undertaking any substantial print order request, such as the printing of
business cards for all the partners of a particular firm, or printing leaflets for a
promotional campaign run by a fast food restaurant chain, or indeed the printing of
training manuals for a large number of employees, one of the most important aspects
is sourcing a suitable printer, otherwise known as a print supplier, to carry out the
print order request. It is imperative that a reputable print supplier is employed to
undertake the print order request within the desired specifications of the print
customer. Although integral to the fulfilment of any print order request, this is also
seen as an extremely time consuming and laborious task to carry out. Very often,
with Iimitéd budgets available, it is imperative to obtain the best value for the print
customer whilst at the same time ensuring that the content of the print order request
arrives in a timely manner. In other circumstances it may be imperative that the print
order request is received as a matter of urgency and cost is a less important factor.
In order to choose the most appropriate print supplier, the print customer must
contact numerous print suppliers to compare and contrast the service levels,
capacity, capability and pricing structures of each of the print suppliers before making
a choice of print supplier to carry out a particular job.
In many cases, print customers develop a pool of reliable print suppliers that are able
to carry out their printing requirements for them. However this is not always
satisfactory as in many instances the print customers will have a print order request
which has not been fulfilled by a particular print supplier previously and may not be
within the suite of services provided by that particular print supplier. In these
circumstances significant time may be lost by the print customer in transmitting an
order to their print supplier only to find that the print supplier cannot successfully
complete the order in the time frame provided or in certain circumstances would not
be able to provide the service at all. The print customer must then look to other print
suppliers to complete the job. In certain circumstances the print supplier may be able
to carry out the job but it may be beyond their normal capacity and therefore they
would be unable to carry out the job within the specified time limit. The selection of a
suitable print supplier therefore becomes an iterative process which can waste
valuable time and resources of the print customer.
It is an object therefore of the present invention to overcome at least some of these
problems and provide a method of processing print order requests in a print system
as well as a system for processing those print order requests that is efficient and
simple to operate to satisfy print order requests in accordance with the requirements
of print customers.
Statements of Invention
According to the invention there is provided a method of processing print order
requests in a print system comprising a central print controller, a plurality of remote
print customers and a plurality of remote print suppliers, the central print controller
being connected to the plurality of remote print customers and the plurality of
remote print suppliers by way of a communications network, the central print
controller having a central processor and a central print controller database with
service parameter data relating to each of the print suppliers stored thereon, the
service parameter data including one or more of the print supplier location, the print
supplier turnaround time, the print supplier capacity, the print supplier capability,
the print supplier stock list and the print supplier work schedule, the central print
controller database further having data relating to proprietary database systems in
operation on each of the individual print suppliers connected to the central print
controller stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of:
at least one of the remote print customers transmitting a print order request
to the central print controller over the communications network, the print
order request containing print criteria including details relating to the print
customer and details relating to the content to be printed, the details relating
to the print customer including one or more of the print customers billing
address, the print order shipment address, the print customers contact
details and the print customers order reference, the details relating to the
content to be printed including one or more of the quantity of items to be
printed, the required delivery date of the content and one or more identifiers
of the content to be printed;
on receipt of the print order request from the remote print customer, the
central print controller retrieving the service parameter data from the central
print controller database and, using the central processor, comparing the
print criteria of the print order request with the service parameter data of
each of the print suppliers and thereafter the central print controller
matching the print order request to the print supplier that best matches the
criteria of the print order request and selecting that print supplier for
fulfilment of the print order;
subsequent to selection of the appropriate print supplier, the central print
controller retrieving the data relating to the proprietary database system in
operation on the selected print supplier from the central print controller
database;
the central print controller reconfiguring the print order request received
from the print customer in the central processor into a format suitable for
transmission to the proprietary database system of the appropriately
selected print supplier over the communications network in accordance with
the proprietary database system that is in operation on the selected print
supplier and thereafter transmitting the reconfigured print order request to
the selected print supplier over the communications network;
the print supplier thereafter receiving the reconfigured print order request
and populating the print suppliers proprietary database system with the print
order request thereby scheduling the print order for execution and thereafter
printing the content of the print order request in accordance with the print
order criteria, packing the content of the print order request and shipping
the print order content to the print customer; and
at a predetermined interval, the print supplier transmitting specific print
order request information to the central print controller relating to the
completion of the print order request and the central print controller
transmitting specific print order request information to the print customer in
connection with handling the print order request.
This is seen as a particularly useful method of processing print order requests as
print customers will be able to transmit their print order requests to the one central
print controller. The central print controller will have the information relating to a
number of print suppliers stored in the central print controller database. The central
print controller can ascertain which of the print suppliers is the most suitable print
supplier for executing a particular order.
For example, a print order request may come in from a fast food chain (print
customer) requiring 100,000 leaflets to be provided in time for a new kids menu
promotion. This may be in response to a new toy craze or film release and must be
done within 5 days. The print customer does not have to spend valuable time and
resources sourcing the individual print supplier themselves but instead transmits the
order to the central print controller. The central print controller can then ascertain
from the print order criteria which of the print suppliers most suitably matches the
print order criteria. In this instance there may be only three printer suppliers who are
able to turn out over 100,000 leaflets within 5 days. The central print controller can
then narrow down the print order request to these three potential print suppliers. The
central print controller can then ascertain, based on the print order request, which of
the three print suppliers is the most suitable by determining that one of the print
suppliers is in Asia whereas the other two are in the European zone. If the print
customer is also in the European zone it may be decided that it would be possible to
provide the order with reduced shipping costs by employing one of the print suppliers
in the European zone. Finally, it may come down to a matter of price between the
individual print suppliers. In this way, the central print controller can determine the
best print supplier to execute a particular print order request. Upon selecting that
print supplier, the central print controller takes the content of the print order and
reconfigures that content into a format suitable for transmission to the print supplier.
The central print controller is able to obtain the various different protocols and data
formats used in the proprietary database systems of the print supplier from its own
central print controller database and may then format the print order request into a
format suitable for receipt by the print supplier. Once in a suitable format the central
print controller is able to transmit the print order request to the print supplier who may
in turn populate their proprietary database system directly with the print order request
and fulfil the order in accordance with the print order criteria. The print order request
may be printed, packaged and shipped to the print customer without any further
interaction by the print customer. This significantly reduces the time and effort
expended by a print customer in obtaining a suitable print supplier for their print order
request. The print customer would no longer have to trawl through countless
different print suppliers obtaining quotations from each of the individual print suppliers
and comparing them before selecting a suitable supplier. Therefore the best value
for the print customer is achieved in the shortest time possible.
In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of processing
print order requests in which the step of the central print controller comparing the
print criteria of the print order request with the service parameter data of each of
the print suppliers in the central processor and matching the print order request to
the print supplier that best matches the criteria of the print order request further
comprises the central print controller selecting the print supplier based on, in a
predetermined order of importance, the print criteria matching:
(a) the print supplier capability;
(b) the print supplier location;
(c) the print supplier turnaround time;
(d) the print supplier capacity;
(e) the print supplier stock list; and
(f) the print supplier work schedule.
This is seen as important as different weightings may be given to different factors.
First of all, the central print controller may decide that the most important factor would
be the print supplier capability or in other words, that the print supplier is capable of
printing colour brochures (if that is what the job requires). Secondly the central print
controller can determine from the print order request that it is imperative that the job
may be turned around within 5 working days for subsequent distribution by the print
customer or a third party. Accordingly, the next most important weighting may be on
the turnaround time of the print supplier. Furthermore, additional weightings may be
given to the price or the print supplier location or indeed the print supplier capacity to
ensure that the job can be done within a certain time frame or delivered in the least
expensive manner possible.
in one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of processing print
order requests in which the method further comprises the step of the print customer
specifying the order of importance of the service parameter data and determining
how the order is to be handled in accordance with those criteria.
This is seen as useful as the print customer themselves may specify the most
important criteria to them and therefore the print supplier who can satisfy these
criteria most relevant to the print customer will be selected accordingly.
in a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of processing
print order requests in which the step of reconfiguring the print order requests in
the central processor into a format suitable for submission to the appropriately
selected print supplier comprises generating at least one print ready file containing
the content to be printed and at least one print report detailing the content of the
print ready file including an inventory of the print ready file.
In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of processing
print order requests in which the print ready files are loaded directly into a print
suppliers print queue in the print supplier proprietary database system in
accordance with a predetermined set of criteria and the method comprises the
additional step of alerting the print supplier to the new print ready tiles in their print
queue.
In one embodiment of the invention the method further comprises the step of the
print supplier, on receiving a print order request, determining the content of the
print order request to be printed and ascertaining whether there is content
contained in the print order request in common with content of other print order
requests in the print supplier print queue, and on the print supplier determining that
there is content in common with content in other print order requests in the print
queue, the print supplier attempts to rearrange the print queue by batching one or
more print order requests in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria.
in this way, print order requests may be automatically inserted into the print queue
of a print supplier for handling by that print supplier. the print supplier is alerted to
the presence of the order in the queue in the usual manner. Any print order
request that contains material common with other print order requests in the queue,
as may be the case in the printing of training manuals or the like where there may
be chapters in common such as first aid courses regardless of the end customer,
these print order requests may be batched together and printed in the same print
run in order to print the material in the most economical fashion possible.
In a further embodiment of the invention, on the print supplier receiving a print
order request from the central print controller, the print order request further
comprises a shipment way bill complete with a tracking number for printing at the
print supplier.
This is seen as particularly useful as by automatically generating a shipment way
bill complete with a tracking number for the printing at the print supplier, it will be
possible to avoid the need for further human interaction on the side of the print
customer. The print jobs will be automatically inserted into the print queue of the
print supplier in a format suitable for printing by the print supplier. In addition to
this, the shipment way bill will be automatically provided thereby obviating any need
for an employee of the print supplier to insert data into an additional shipment
system. This obviates the possibility of any errors being created by the print
suppliers’ employees inserting an incorrect address into the shipment system as all
the information has been provided by the print customer themselves. Therefore
accountability for successful addressing of the print order request is on the part of
the print customer themselves. This will further enhance the usefulness of the
method and system as well as ensuring that orders may be fulfilled and transmitted
to the correct recipients in accordance with the print customers’ requests.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of processing print
order requests in which the shipment way bill is transmitted as part of a print order
content docket, the print order content docket comprising a two part docket, one
part of which being the shipment way bill which is provided with an adhesive
backing for removal from the print order content docket and subsequent
attachment to a print order package, the other part of the print order content docket
containing an itemized list of the content to be printed in the print order request.
This is seen as a particularly important part of the invention that allows successful
completion and shipment of each of the print order requests to the print customers.
By printing a two-part print order content docket a significant amount of papenrvork
may be avoided. Again, the minimum amount of interaction by the print supplier
employees is necessary. The information provided by the print customer is
transmitted via the central print controller to the print supplier. The way bill and the
itemised list of content to be printed are transmitted to the print supplier directly and
therefore the print supplier may check off this itemised list that the correct items are
being shipped with that order. Furthermore, one piece of paper may be used to
also provide the way bill which may be attached to the packaging once the items
are ready for shipping. This cuts down on the employee interaction required as
well as significantly cutting down on the amount of paperwork produced.
In a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of managing
print orders in which the step of the print supplier packing the content of the print
order further comprises the step of the print supplier peeling the shipment way bill
off the print order content docket and thereafter applying the shipment way bill to
the exterior of the packaging in which the print order is to be shipped, and checking
the content as it is packed into the packaging against the itemized list on the print
order content docket.
By packing the content of the print order request in this manner significant time and
effort would be saved by the print supplier as they do not have to provide their own
shipment docket or indeed do not have to provide an itemised list themselves. This
is automatically generated by the system once they receive the print order. Of
course this information has also been provided by the print customer and modified
in a format acceptable to the print supplier by the central print controller. This
further enhances the probability of correct orders being sent to the correct
customers in a timely fashion.
In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of processing
print order requests in which the shipment way bill is transmitted to a logistics
company by the central print controller along with a collection due date.
In a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of processing
print order requests in which all print order requests sent by a print customer for a
predetermined billing period are grouped together and a billing charge is
determined by the central print controller based on the content of the entire number
of print order requests given by that print customer over that billing period.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The invention will now be more clearly understood from the following description of
an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system in which the method according to
the invention may be implemented.
Referring to the drawing there is shown a system indicated generally by the
reference numeral 1 comprising a central print controller 3, a plurality of print
customers 5 and a plurality of print suppliers 7. all connected by way of a
communications network, in this instance, the internet 9. The central print
controller 3 further comprises a central print controller database 11 having service
parameter data relating to each of the print suppliers 7 stored thereon, the service
parameter data including one or more of the print supplier location, the print
supplier turnaround time, the print supplier capacity, the print supplier capability,
the print supplier stock list and the print supplier work schedule. Each of the print
suppliers 7 further comprises a proprietary database system 14. The central print
controller further comprising a central processor 12. The central print controller
database 11 furtherhaving data relating to each of the proprietary database
systems 14 in operation on each of the individual print suppliers 7.
In use, one of the remote print customers 5 transmits a print order request (not
shown) via the communications network 9 to the central print controller 3. The
central print controller 3, on receiving the print order request retrieves service
parameter data relating to each of the individual print suppliers 7 from central print
controller database 11 and thereafter the central print controller matches the print
order request to the print supplier that best matches the criteria of the print order
request using the central processor 12. The central print controller 3 then selects
the best suited print supplier 7 for the job and retrieves data relating to any
proprietary database system 14 in operation on the selected print supplier from
central print controller database 11. The central print controller then reconfigures
the print order request received from the print customer into a format suitable for
transmission to the chosen print supplier and thereafter transmits the reconfigured
print order request to the selected print supplier 7 over the communications
network 9. On receipt of the print order request, the print supplier populates their
proprietary database system (not shown) with the print order request thereby
scheduling the print order request for execution and subsequently prints the
content of the print order request in accordance with the print order criteria. The
content of the print order request is then packed and shipped to the print customer
directly. The print supplier, at a predetermined interval, transmits specific print
order request information to the central print controller relating to the completion of
the print order request and the central print controller transmits specific print order
request information to the print customer.
The print supplier service parameter data includes the print supplier capability, the
print supplier location, the print supplier turnaround time, the print supplier capacity,
the print supplier stock list and the print supplier work schedule. The print supplier
capability relates to the ability of the print supplier to provide certain materials. For
instance, whether the print supplier is able to provide large scale colour printing
pamphlets, hologrammatic imaging, hardback binding and the like. The print
supplier location relates to the geographic location of a print supplier and may be
important when considering the shipment times required to transmit an order to a
print customer. The print supplier turnaround time is set by each individual print
supplier that they will guarantee that any print order request received of a particular
size will be printed and sent out within a print order request turnaround time.
Usually this is calculated in a number of days and is important so that the system
can determine that a print order request can be printed and transmitted within a
suitable time frame. The print supplier pricing structure may also be provided and
shows the individual pricing lists for different jobs and may vary from supplier to
supplier depending on the size of the job, the type of job i.e. colour, black and
white, colour paper, paper weight and the like. This is important to allow the
system to obtain the best value for the print customers. The print supplier capacity
relates to the maximum size of order that may be handled by a print supplier within
their print supplier turnaround time for example a print supplier may determine that
it is only possibly to run their printing presses at maximum capacity for 20 hours a
day which would allow them print 200,000 leaflets a day therefore, it is important to
know the capacity of each individual print supplier so that this is not exceeded by
any individual order and if so a flag may be sent to the system that a particular print
order turnaround time is no longer applicable. The print supplier's stock list allows
the central print controller to determine whether stock items such as small card
used in the production of business cards are available or a particular colour or
weight of paper is available as these may effect the turnaround time as well as the
capability to carry out a print order request by any chosen supplier. Finally, the
print supplier work schedule is useful as it is possible to determine whether a
particular print supplier has exceeded its capacity or is likely to exceed its capacity
based on receiving an additional print order request and if so the implications for
that print order request and whether it is more suitable to send it to an othenwise
less desirable print supplier to ensure that the print order request is fulfilled
according to the set criteria.
It is envisaged that the print customer may specify the order of importance of the
service parameter data and therefore determine how the print order request is to be
handled in accordance with those criteria. For instance, it may be the normal
scenario that price is the most important factor for a particular company when
placing their print order requests and they wish to receive the lowest cost material
possible. This company may not be particularly concerned with the speed in which
it receives the print order requests as long as they are relatively inexpensive. This
is particularly the case if an order is being made several months in advance of the
due date such as headed note paper for a large corporation where there are
sufficient stocks in reserve to tie the corporation over until the print order request
material arrives. In other circumstances it may be necessary to obtain the material
in a very short space of time with cost as a less important criteria. For instance, if a
new employee is introduced into the company. for example a sales man, it may be
imperative to obtain business cards for that sales man in a short space of time so
that the sales man may get to work as soon as possible without delay. In this
instance the print customer may specify that turnaround time is. of utmost
importance in the service parameter data.
The central print controller, when reconfiguring a print order request for the chosen
print supplier, generates a print ready file containing the content to be printed as
well as a print report detailing the content of the print ready file including an
inventory of the print ready file. In this way, the print supplier is able to check that
all the materials in the print order request have been properly accounted for and
have been printed. Furthermore, it is possible to separate the actual content to be
printed itself from the documentation required for administrative purposes such as
the mailing address for the print order request. The print ready file may be
provided in a standard format such as in a Microsoft Publisher type file (Microsoft
is a Registered Trade Mark), whereas the delivery information may be in a separate
file which is suitable for integration into an existing proprietary database system of
the print supplier such as in an XML message, comma separated file or other
format suitable for integration into the proprietary database system. This ensures
that all the information may be integrated into the proprietary database system in a
seamless manner.
Each of the print ready files are loaded directly into the print supplier’s print queue
and the print supplier is alerted to the new print ready files in the print queue. Once
the print ready file has been inserted into the print queue of the supplier it is
possible to determine whether that print order request may be batched with other
print order requests in the print queue in order to provide the most efficient printing
for the print supplier. For instance, in the circumstance where they are printing a
number of training manuals for IBM (Registered Trade Mark), they may also
receive an order to print training manuals for Cisco (Registered Trade Mark). Both
of these training manuals may contain a first aid section and a section relating to
In this
circumstance, it may be possible to batch the two print order requests together so
proper behaviour in the workplace that are identical to each other.
that the pair of common sections may be printed in the same print run thereby
providing a more economic solution for the print supplier themselves by printing the
material in a longer print run. This is made possible by having the print order
request separated into a print ready file and print report as the items of each print
order request are carefully documented and identified and may be clearly combined
together.
One further particularly attractive aspect of the present invention is the fact that the
print order request may contain the way bill for a shipment company including
tracking number already inserted thereon. This way, the central print controller
may be able to provide the tracking number to the customer as well as a tracking
number to the print supplier that all three parties are able to use for traceability and
accountability. The customer may view the progress of their print order request as
it is being handled by the print supplier and may check that everything is on course.
Furthermore, the pn'nt customer can see when their print order request is ready for
shipment and when it is being shipped.
The tracking number and way bill are preferably sent as part of the print order
content docket which includes an itemised list of contents to be packed. This print
order content docket is transmitted to the print supplier along with the print order
requests as part of the print order request. The print order content docket is
printed out by the print supplier so that the items of the print order request may be
checked as they are being packaged against the itemised list of the print order
content docket. As soon as all the contents have been confirmed and packed
away in the suitable packaging, the way bill which is provided with an adhesive
backing is separated off the print order content docket and affixed to the outside of
-14..
the packaging. In this way, there is no human interaction required for inserting
information into proprietary systems in the print supplier thereby reducing the man
hours required, streamlining their systems and avoiding the possibility of any
mistakes being made in transcription. Essentially therefore the customer
themselves is providing their own billing address and shipment documentation by
producing the print order request in the first place. The shipment way bill tracking
number may be transmitted to a logistics company by the central print controller
along with the collection due date. Again, no further insertion of data is required
into a proprietary system and this is carried out in a seamless manner.
In order to avoid any confusion, this invention relates solely to the field of large scale
printing or so-called industrial printing of items such as leaflets, pamphlets, business
cards, periodicals and the like and does not in any way concern printing carried out
in small scale computer networks such as those found in a typical office or small
business environment. Any reference to a remote print supplier is not intended to
include individual printing machines such as those found in an office environment but
in fact relates to large scale industrial printing companies that are in the business of
providing print media to their customers. Similarly, the central print controller is not to
be seen simply as a network hub or other device in a small scale office environment
but is limited to an intermediary between large scale printing outfits and their print
customers.
In the specification the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprised” and
“comprising” and the terms “include”, “includes”. “included” and “including” are all
deemed totally interchangeable and should be afforded the widest possible
interpretation.
The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but
may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the claims.
Claims (1)
- Claims A method of processing print order requests in a print system comprising a central print controller, a plurality of remote print customers and a plurality of remote print suppliers, the central print controller being connected to the plurality of remote print customers and the plurality of remote print suppliers by way of a communications network, the central print controller having a central processor and a central print controller database with service parameter data relating to each of the print suppliers stored thereon, the service parameter data including one or more of the print supplier location, the print supplier turnaround time, the print supplier capacity, the print supplier capability, the print supplier stock list and the print supplier work schedule, the central print controller database further having data relating to proprietary database systems in operation on each of the individual print suppliers connected to the central print controller stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of: at least one of the remote print customers transmitting a print order request to the central print controller over the communications network, the print order request containing print criteria including details relating to the print customer and details relating to the content to be printed, the details relating to the print customer including one or more of the print customers billing address, the print order shipment address, the print customers contact details and the print customers order reference, the details relating to the content to be printed including one or more of the quantity of items to be printed, the required delivery date of the content and one or more identifiers of the content to be printed; on receipt of the print order request from the remote print customer, the central print controller retrieving the service parameter data from the central print controller database and using the central processor. comparing the print criteria of the print order request with the service parameter data of each of the print suppliers and thereafter the central print controller matching the print order request to the print supplier that best matches the criteria of the print order request and selecting that print supplier for fulfilment of the print order; subsequent to selection of the appropriate print supplier, the central print controller retrieving the data relating to the proprietary database system in operation on the selected print supplier from the central print controller database; the central print controller reconfiguring the print order request received from the print customer in the central processor into a format suitable for transmission to the proprietary database system of the appropriately selected print supplier over the communications network in accordance with the proprietary database system that is in operation on the selected print supplier and thereafter transmitting the reconfigured print order request to the selected print supplier over the communications network; the print supplier thereafter receiving the reconfigured print order request and populating the print suppliers proprietary database system with the print order request thereby scheduling the print order for execution and thereafter printing the content of the print order request in accordance with the print order criteria, packing the content of the print order request and shipping the print order content to the print customer; at a predetermined interval, the print supplier transmitting specific print order request information to the central print controller relating to the completion of the print order request and the central print controller transmitting specific print order request information to the print customer in connection with handling the print order request: and in which all print order requests sent by a print customer for a predetermined billing period are grouped together and a billing charge is determined by the central print controller based on the content of the entire number of print order requests given by that print customer over that billing period. A method of processing print order requests as claimed in claim 1 in which the step of the central print controller comparing the print criteria of the print order request with the service parameter data of each of the print suppliers in the central processor and matching the print order request to the print supplier that best matches the criteria of the print order request further comprises the central print controller selecting the print supplier based on, in a predetermined order of importance, the print criteria matching: (a) the print supplier capability; (b) the print supplier location; (c) the print supplier turnaround time; (d) the print supplier capacity; (e) the print supplier stock list; and (f) the print supplier work schedule. A method of processing print order requests as claimed in claim 2 in which the method further comprises the step of the print customer specifying the order of importance of the service parameter data and determining how the order is to be handled in accordance with those criteria. A method of processing print order requests as claimed in any preceding claim in which the step of reconfiguring the print order requests in the central processor into a format suitable for submission to the appropriately selected print supplier comprises generating at least one print ready file containing the content to be printed and at least one print report detailing the content of the print ready file including an inventory of the print ready file. A method of processing print order requests substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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IES84937Y1 true IES84937Y1 (en) | 2008-08-06 |
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