System and method for processing multiple mailing services orders of varying quantities and address lists

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9292812-B2
Application number	US-201514605028-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2015
Priority date	Aug 17, 2012
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

Methods and systems for processing multiple mailing services orders for print items of varying quantities include filling 3-dimensional gangs configured to receive print-ready items with print-ready items in a stack-wise manner. Individual stacks can be submitted to the system for reprint without holding up remaining items in an order.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for processing multiple mailing services orders for print items of varying quantities, the multiple orders each specifying a respective print item, a respective list of addresses, a respective specified quantity to be printed, and a respective order identifier, and having associated therewith an active quantity initialized to the same number as the respective specified quantity to be printed, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a gang file, the gang file comprising a plurality of empty cells organized in a 3-dimensional grid, wherein at least one dimension corresponds to pages to be printed on a substrate and the other two dimensions correspond to positions of individual stacks to be printed;
obtaining a stack identifier corresponding to an unfilled stack having available empty content slots in the gang file;
determining a current number of available slots in the stack identified by the stack identifier;
receiving an open order having a non-zero active quantity;
creating a new fulfillment item identifier and associating the new fulfillment item identifier with the stack identifier;
determining whether the active quantity associated with the open order is less than or equal to the current number of available slots in the stack identified by the stack identifier;
if the active quantity associated with the open order is less than or equal to the current number of available slots in the stack identified by the stack identifier, obtaining a quantity of addresses associated with the mailing list associated with the open order in a quantity equal to the active quantity associated with the open order, rendering a quantity of individual print-ready files containing the print item associated with the open order with each individual print-ready file containing a different one of the obtained addresses, associating the addresses and order identifier with the fulfillment item identifier, and inserting the individual print-ready files into respective empty cells of the gang within the stack identified by the stack identifier;
if the active quantity associated with the open order is greater than the current number of available slots in the stack identified by the stack identifier, obtaining a quantity of addresses associated with the mailing list associated with the open order in a quantity equal to the current number of available slots, rendering a quantity of individual print-ready files containing the print item associated with the open order with each individual print-ready file containing a different one of the obtained addresses, associating the addresses and order identifier with the fulfillment item identifier, and inserting the individual print-ready files into respective empty cells of the gang within the stack identified by the stack identifier;
reducing the active quantity associated with the open order by a number equal to the quantity of obtained addresses; and
repeating the obtaining step through the reducing step until the existence of at least one of the gang file is filled, no more open orders are available, or a predetermined period of time passes.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
printing the gang onto a number of substrates, the number equal or greater in quantity than the dimension or the gang file which corresponds to pages to be printed;
separating the printed substrates into individual stacks, the individual stacks comprising separated individual printed items.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
mailing the respective separated individual printed items in an individual stack to the respective address printed thereon.

4. A method for processing mailing services orders, the method comprising the steps of:
accessing an unfilled gang by one or more processors, the unfilled gang having associated therewith a gang identifier, the unfilled gang comprising a plurality of uniquely identifiable cells laid out in a 3-dimensional grid, the grid partitioned into a plurality of individual stacks of cells, each stack identified by a corresponding stack identifier which corresponds to a unique position along a first and second dimension and each stack comprising all cells along the third dimension of the grid corresponding to the unique position of the stack in the first and second dimension, wherein each cell is configured to receive for insertion therein content corresponding to an individual print item to be printed,
receiving by one or more processors an unprocessed order, the order having associated thereto a respective print item, a respective list of addresses, and a respective order identifier,
selecting a stack identifier corresponding to an unfilled stack in the unfilled gang, the unfilled stack having cells that do not yet contain a print item;
determining the number of cells in the unfilled stack that are unfilled;
receiving a number of print items each uniquely rendered to combine the print item associated with the unprocessed order with a respective corresponding unique address from the list of addresses associated with the unprocessed order, the number of print items equal to or less than the determined number of unfilled cells in the unfilled stack;
inserting the received number of print items stackwise into cells corresponding to the selected stack identifier;
associating the order identifier and the unique addresses from the number of print items with a respective fulfillment identifier;
associating the respective fulfillment identifier with the gang identifier, the selected stack identifier;
if all the addresses in the list of addresses associated with the unprocessed order are associated with a fulfillment identifier, updating the unprocessed order to a processed order;
if the unfilled gang contains no unfilled stacks, updating the gang to a filled gang;
if the gang remains unfilled and the unprocessed order has not been updated to a processed order, repeating the selecting step through this present step until the unprocessed order is updated to a processed order or the unfilled gang becomes filled.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
printing the filled gang to produce a stack of substrates;
separating the stack of substrates into individual stacks corresponding to the stack identifiers in the gang.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
mailing the respective separated individual printed items in an individual stack to the respective address printed thereon.

7. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
determining whether any individual stack requires reprinting;
if an individual stack requires reprinting, de-associating, from each fulfillment identifier associated with the individual stack that requires reprinting, the order identifier and addresses associated with the respective fulfillment identifier, updating the status of the order identifier to an unprocessed order, and repeating the steps of claims 4 and 5 .

8. A print order processing system, comprising:
at least one ganging processor accessing an unfilled gang, the unfilled gang having associated therewith a gang identifier, the unfilled gang comprising a plurality of uniquely identifiable cells laid out in a 3-dimensional grid, the grid partitioned into a plurality of individual stacks of cells, each stack identified by a corresponding stack identifier which corresponds to a unique position along a first and second dimension and each stack comprising all cells along the third dimension of the grid corresponding to the unique position of the stack in the first and second dimension, wherein each cell is configured to receive for insertion therein content corresponding to an individual print item to be printed,
the at least one ganging processor receiving an unprocessed order,

Assignees

• Vistaprint Schweiz Gmbh
• Cimpress Schweiz Gmbh

Inventors

• Arpino Daniel
• Sheehan Robert
• Tanner Marc
• Shea Brendan
• Hyman Jacob
• Griego Adrian
• Nietlispach Philipp
• Marcos John
• Olson Brian

Classifications

• G06F3/1208

  resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview · CPC title

• G06F3/1262

  by grouping or ganging jobs · CPC title

• G06F3/1205

  resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets · CPC title

• G06F3/1211

  Improving printing performance · CPC title

• G06Q10/0631 Primary

  Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations · CPC title