Method and apparatus for modeling print jobs

Abstract

A system and method for modeling print jobs provides a central server that is accessible to remotely located print shops. The remote print shops are able to communicate with the central server to forward print job parameters and to receive the output from a modeling program to enable the print shop to run “what-if” scenarios to maximize print shop efficiency. The central server is also provided with various other print shop tools to assist with print shop design and organization.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving modeling parameters from a remote print shop; and    executing a modeling program using the modeling parameters to generate model output data.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modeling parameters are received via the Internet.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the modeling parameters are received via a web based connection.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the modeling parameters are received via an email.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modeling parameters are received via the telephone.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modeling parameters are received via a facsimile transmission.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of forwarding the model output data to the remote print shop.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modeling parameters include print shop organization information.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the print shop organization information includes information regarding at least one of cell composition and the equipment available in each cell.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the print shop organization information includes at least one of equipment and labor resources available at the print shop, the capacity of the equipment resources, failure history of the equipment, repair history of the equipment, and the production costs per unit time used for each resource including equipment and labor and material parameters.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modeling parameters include print job requirements.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the print job requirements include at least one of information regarding the number of individual items in the job; the number of pages in each item, job name, job identifier, batch size, number of batches and inter-process buffer size.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the model output data includes at least one of identification of a bottleneck process, turnaround time for the print job, optimal batch size, cost of the print job, and optimal parameters for the control policy such as a scheduling algorithm, job prioritization data and resource allocation information.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving performance data for equipment in the print shop;    saving the performance data to a database;    retrieving the performance data from the database; and    analyzing the performance data to determine suggested print shop changes.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising forwarding the suggested print shop changes to the print shop.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of determining suggested print shop organization revisions based upon parameters for a mix of print jobs and upon the current print shop organization.  
     
     
         17 . A system comprising a server including a modeling module that receives modeling parameters from a remotely located print shop and generates model output data.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the modeling parameters include print shop organization information.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the print shop organization information includes information regarding at least one of cell composition and the equipment available in each cell.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the print shop organization information includes at least one of equipment resources available at the print shop, the capacity of the equipment resources, failure history of the equipment, repair history of the equipment, the production costs per unit time used for each resource, resource performance fluctuations, difference in performance across operators and resource material related dependencies.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the modeling parameters include print job requirements.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the print job requirements include information regarding at least one of the number of individual items in the job; the number of pages in each item, job name, job identifier, batch size, number of batches and inter-process buffer size.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the model output data includes at least one of identification of a bottleneck process, turnaround time for the print job, optimal batch size, cost of the print job, and optimal parameters for the control policy.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the server further comprises a design module adapted to receive print shop organization information and to generate suggested print shop organization revisions.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the server further comprises a reorganization module adapted to receive parameters regarding a change in print job mix at the print shop and to generate suggestions for reorganizing the print shop.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the system is adapted to receive the modeling parameters via the Internet.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the system is adapted to receive the modeling parameters via a web based connection.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the system is adapted to receive the modeling parameters via an email.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the system is adapted to receive the modeling parameters via the telephone.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the system is adapted to receive the modeling parameters via a facsimile transmission.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a design module adapted to receive performance data for equipment and operators in the print shop; and  
 a database for saving the performance data, wherein the design module is adapted to retrieve the performance data from the database and to analyze the performance data to determine suggested print shop changes.  
 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the design module is further adapted to forward the suggested print shop changes to the print shop.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a reorganization module adapted to determine suggested print shop organization revisions based upon parameters for a mix of print jobs and upon the current print shop organization.