Print management system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a computer-implemented control and monitoring method and system for print shop management. The method may include monitoring multiple print servers and insertion devices for inserting printed material into envelopes. Programmed computer processing components may be used for performing steps including receiving print status data and insertion status data from multiple printing and insertion sites, and matching the print data with the insertion data for each submitted print job and integrating the print status data with the insertion data. The method additionally includes providing a user application including multiple user interfaces displaying the integrated print status data and insertion status data in an interactive format.

1 . A computer-implemented control and monitoring system for facilitating print job management and monitoring multiple geographically dispersed printers, the system monitoring at least one print server and at least one insertion device for inserting printed material into envelopes, the system comprising:
 a print data collection processor communicating with the at least one print server, the print data collection processor implementing a data collection process for collecting print status data;   insertion data collection processing components communicating with the at least one insertion device for collecting insertion status data;   data integration components for automatically integrating the collected insertion status data with the collected print status data; and   a user application including multiple user interfaces for displaying the integrated print status data and insertion status data in an interactive format, wherein the multiple user interfaces include a statement processing dashboard having multiple selectable views, the views including at least a job monitoring view, a product monitoring view, and a site monitoring view.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interfaces further include a printer map view, wherein the printer map view displays a location marker for each geographic location of the multiple geographically dispersed printers. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the printer map view provides a search function for locating a specific printer, wherein each printer can be searched by printer name, serial number, location, and IP address. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each location marker is selectable and selection of a location marker generates a printer monitoring view for printers in the selected location. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the printer monitoring view produces printer information including at least printer identifying information, location information, printer status, pages printed, and alert status. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the alert status includes one of supply alerts, advisory alerts, service errors, media path alerts, and service alerts. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product monitoring view shows completion status of both print and insertion processes for a selected product. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes an insertion floor status interface, wherein each insertion floor is viewable upon site selection. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the insertion floor user interface provides a completion status of each inserter. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , the system additionally includes at least one image capturing device interfacing with the insertion data processor for capturing device real time images of the insertion process in a given location. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented control and monitoring method for print shop management of multiple geographically dispersed printers, the method monitoring at least one print server and at least one insertion device for inserting printed material into envelopes, the method comprising: 
       implementing programmed computer processing components for performing steps including,
 communicating with the at least one print server for collecting print status data; 
 communicating with the at least one insertion device for collecting insertion status data; 
 automatically integrating the collected insertion status data with the collected print status data; and 
 providing a user application including multiple user interfaces for displaying the integrated print status data and insertion status data in an interactive format, wherein the multiple user interfaces further display multiple selectable views, the views including at least a job monitoring view, a product monitoring view, and a site monitoring view. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a printer map view, wherein the printer map view displays a location marker for each geographic location of the multiple geographically dispersed printers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a search function on the printer map view for locating a specific printer, wherein each printer can be searched by printer name, serial number, location, and IP address. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising generating selectable location markers, wherein selection of a location marker generates a printer monitoring view for printers in the selected location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising producing printer information in the printer monitoring view, wherein the printer information includes at least printer identifying information, location information, printer status, pages printed, and alert status. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing the alert status including one of supply alerts, advisory alerts, service errors, media path alerts, and service alerts. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the product monitoring view shows completion status of both print and insertion processes for the selected product. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing an insertion floor status interface, wherein each insertion floor is viewable upon site selection. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the insertion floor user interface provides a completion status of each inserter. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising implementing an at least one image capturing device interfacing with the insertion data processor for capturing real time images of the insertion process in a given location. 
     
     
         23 . A computer-implemented control and monitoring method for print shop management, the method monitoring multiple print servers and insertion devices for inserting printed material into envelopes, the method comprising:
 implementing programmed computer processing components for performing steps including,
 receiving print status data and insertion status data from the multiple printing and insertion sites; 
 matching the print data with the insertion data for each submitted print job and integrating the print status data with the insertion status data; and 
 providing a user application including multiple user interfaces displaying the integrated print status data and insertion status data in an interactive format; and 
   providing a statement processing dashboard having multiple selectable views, the views including at least a job monitoring view, a product monitoring view, and a site monitoring view.