Patent Application
20050125094
The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling a plurality of jobs or orders among a plurality of output devices. The present invention is particularly adapted in managing a plurality of various print orders among a plurality of image output devices in a photofinishing environment.
In photofinishing labs that handle thousands of print orders daily from a variety of customers, it is important that the job orders be quickly and efficiently sent through the system. For example, the lab must be prepared to make a variety of different size image product. For example, 4×6; 5×7; 8×10 and poster size prints. In addition, the lab often is required to provide different type finishes such as glossy and mat. An important aspect requirement of high volume photofinishing labs is the need to return the order to the customer within a relatively short period of time. Quite often delivery is required within one or two days. This may involve shipping of the order by a variety of different shipping methods in order to accommodate appropriate time requirement for fulfillment of the order. In addition, many photofinishing labs are associated with various different retailers which require different notations, packing slips and various other associated items to be provided with the order. As a result, in order to have the ability to provide many different products to the variety of different customers in an efficient manner, there is usually required a number of different pieces of output devices to produce the many various products.
A problem with many various prior art systems is that there is no way of knowing if there is a problem in one area of the lab and there is a relatively complex method for rerouting of orders to accommodate difficulties in the current system.
The present invention is directed to providing an efficient system whereby job orders can be routed automatically to the most efficient output device and provide means for allowing quick and easy rerouting of orders in the event that there is a problem with certain output devices.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for controlling operation of a photofinishing lab having a plurality of output devices for producing a plurality of different output products for a plurality of different job orders, each of the output devices capable of outputting one or more of the plurality of different output products, comprising:
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling operation of a photofinishing lab having a plurality of output devices for producing a plurality of different output products for a plurality of different job orders and a controller for distributing job orders to the plurality of devices, each of the output devices capable of outputting one or more of the plurality of different output products, comprising the steps of:
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling operation of a photofinishing lab having a plurality of output devices for producing a plurality of different output products for a plurality of different job orders, each of the output devices capable of outputting one or more of the plurality of different output products, comprising the steps of:
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for controlling operation of a photofinishing lab having a plurality of output devices for producing a plurality of different output products for a plurality of different job orders, each of the output devices capable of outputting one or more of the plurality of different output products, comprising:
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer software program for use in a computer for controlling operation of a photofinishing lab having a plurality of output devices for producing a plurality of different output products for a plurality of different job orders and a controller for distributing job orders to the plurality of devices, each of the output devices capable of outputting one or more of the plurality of different output products, the software program when loaded on the computer will cause the computer to perform the steps of:
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer software program for use in a computer for controlling operation of a photofinishing lab having a plurality of output devices for producing a plurality of different output products for a plurality of different job orders and a controller for distributing job orders to the plurality of devices, each of the output devices capable of outputting one or more of the plurality of different output products, the software program when loaded on the computer will cause the computer to perform the steps of:
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling operation of a photofinishing lab having a plurality of output devices for producing a plurality of different output products for a plurality of different job orders, a controller for distributing job orders to the plurality of devices, each of the output devices capable of outputting one or more of the plurality of different output products, and a prep device for preparing job order for assignment by the controller, comprising the steps of:
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
Referring to
The various rows 90, 91, 93, 94, 95 and 96 illustrate various features of the various type output products. For example, 90 illustrates the number of printable jobs. Row 91 illustrates the number of printable prints. Row 92 illustrates the print time to complete the last job. Row 93 illustrates the time to complete the job. Row 94 illustrates the number of unprintable jobs and row 95 illustrates the number of busy jobs. In addition, it can be seen that there are a number of check marks throughout the entire display. The checks in section 48, illustrate the current configuration capabilities of each of the output devices. The check marks under shipping methods illustrate the capabilities of the prints being shipped from those devices and the check marks on the affiliate section illustrates which printers are capable of producing products for a particular associate.
The display 44 is also color coded so as to provide information as to the status in job orders. For example, the color code green could indicate that the printer is up and running or it has enough jobs to continue operating and that all jobs are printable. The color yellow could indicate that there are not enough jobs for that particular section. The color red could indicate that there are either no jobs or no jobs that are printable and is an indication that items in that area may need to be reviewed for further processing either by another output device or that there is something potentially wrong with the device. The color gray could indicate that certain functions are not capable of being provided or that no jobs are present. Rows 62, 63, 64 are of particular importance in that they provide information relating to the amount of time that the oldest job is printed and provide the quantity as to the number of print jobs present and the prints to be produced. The time is set forth in hours and minutes, however, the time may be displayed in any units desirable. In certain areas for example, the producing of 4×5 and/or 5×7 prints, it is desirable that they maintain the time as short as possible. Whereas, in prints that are being produced by 8×10 prints, it may be acceptable to have longer times for the oldest job. These can be set based on the expected delivery time and the type of shipping method to be produced. If and when a value in one of these locations exceeds a predetermined value, an alarm either visually and/or audibly may be produced to alert an operator that something has gone beyond a desired set limit. In which case, the operator may decide that images of a particular device should be rerouted to another device or the reconfiguration of another device be set up so that the work load can be properly balanced. The operator would then manually enter the desired instructions to the controller 14 to effectuate the desired action.
In order to better understand the present invention, a description of workflow through the system will now be described.
Referring to
Customer orders may comprise a variety of different products, for example, a number of 4×6 prints in addition to one or more 8×10 prints. Of course, any customer order may comprise a single type print or any combination thereof image products. The customer order is then broken down into job orders that are to be performed by various output devices.
The controller 14, in accordance with its programmed software, puts the various job orders in a queue at step 104. The job orders in the queue are there for the various output devices 20-39. Each device is designed to maintain a particular number of job orders in its own buffer sufficient for it to run continuously. When a device determines that the job orders in its buffer are insufficient for maintaining a continuous mode operation, the device will go to the controller 14 to obtain appropriate additional jobs that are in queue for that particular device for printing. It is preferred that the buffer at each of the output devices be as small as possible so that throughput in the system is most efficient. Thus, it is desirable to maintain the amount of job orders at each of the printers as minimal as possible. The controller 14, at predetermined periodic time intervals, analyzes the job orders in queue to determine the status of the job orders and redistribute the job orders among the various devices in order to maintain efficiency in the system and/or meet predetermined criteria for producing of job orders. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the periodic time interval is about two (2) minutes, however this time interval may be as short or long as appropriate to maintain the desired efficiency or predetermined criteria for producing job orders. An example of a predetermined criterion is that the order must be printed and shipped by a particular time. Thus, in order to meet this criterion, a particular job order can be moved up in the queue for a particular device or sent to a different device that can complete the job sooner. Another criterion could be the type of shipping method selected for a product to be produced and that a particular device is better suited to provide this type of shipment. Another criterion could simply be the balancing of the workload for the various output devices. Yet another example is that the controller determined that the output of a particular device has been interrupted, the job orders in queue for that particular device can be redistributed among the other devices that are operating. It is, of course, understood that any criteria may be programmed into controller 14 in which to distribute and/or redistribute the various job orders in the queue.
As the job order in the buffer of the device goes below a minimum value, the output devices access the controller 14 at step 108 which will then release the appropriate job orders in queue for that particular device to the requesting output device. At step 110, the output device produces the desired output product.
In another scenario, the queue for a particular output device may not have enough jobs available for the controller 14 to assign to it before there is a risk that the output device may need to shutdown. In this case, the controller 14 is aware of these situations and will accelerate the process of image prep 40 for customer orders that meet the output device's configuration. The image prep 40 operation will produce job orders ready for printing and assignment to an output device queue. In this way, not only does the controller 14 balance the job orders assigned to all of the output devices for optimum efficiency, but also provides scheduling for the image prep 40 operation as part of the optimization method.
Referring to
Another important feature is an automatic override when a predetermined criterion exists. As previously discussed, there are situations where a customer order may need to be delivered within a described time period. For example, within 24 hours. In which case, the queue at the controller 14 during its periodic analysis, may be readjusted such that a priority job order is placed to a particular machine as soon as possible and has the appropriate shipping requirements to allow the output product to be shipped within the described period. For example, a job order may be routed to a particular printing device that has capabilities for overnight shipping in order to allow a job order to be sent to a particular printer, in order for a particular quality or special handling capabilities provided by that particular output device. The controller 14 may also automatically readjust the job orders among the output devices by redistributing job orders already in queue. If the controller 14 determines that a job order can be more efficiently fulfilled at a different device, then the job order could be moved to the queue of the different output device for fulfillment. As previously noted, any appropriate criterion may be used for readjusting the job orders in queue among the various devices in the system.
It is to be understood that various other automatic features may be set up whereby the controller will either reroute or provide an appropriate visual and/or audible alarms so that the operator and/or controller may take appropriate action.
It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular illustrated and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, the present invention being defined by the following claims.
