Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9573406-B2
Application number	US-201414287820-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2014
Priority date	May 29, 2013
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

An information processing apparatus comprises a deciding unit which decides on a sequence for manufacturing a plurality of products using the type information of a plurality of products; and a unit which causes a print apparatus and a post-pressing apparatus to manufacture the plurality of products in accordance with the sequence decided on, wherein the deciding unit decides on the sequence such that products of the same type are manufactured consecutively by the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus, and furthermore, for each type of product, the deciding unit decides on the sequence using step information regarding steps for product manufacturing such that, among steps for manufacturing a plurality of parts that constitute each of the plurality of products of the same type that are consecutive in the print apparatus, steps for manufacturing the same type of part are consecutive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
an obtaining unit configured to obtain type information of a plurality of products to be manufactured using a print apparatus and a post-pressing apparatus;
a sequence deciding unit configured to decide on a sequence for manufacturing the plurality of products using the type information of the plurality of products; and
a control unit configured to cause the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus to manufacture the plurality of products in accordance with the sequence decided on by the sequence deciding unit,
wherein a plurality of steps for product manufacturing are different for each type of product, and
the sequence deciding unit decides on the sequence such that products of the same type are manufactured consecutively by the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus, and furthermore, for each type of product, the sequence deciding unit decides on the sequence using step information regarding a plurality of steps for product manufacturing such that, among steps for manufacturing a plurality of parts that constitute each of the plurality of products of the same type that are consecutive in the print apparatus, steps for manufacturing the same type of part are consecutive.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a managing unit configured to receive and manage an inspection result for a product manufactured by the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus,
wherein when the inspection result for the product is received, the managing unit enables collective input of the inspection result regarding other products of the same type that were manufactured consecutively with the product based on the sequence decided on by the sequence deciding unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein if a product that has been manufactured is to be manufactured once again, the sequence deciding unit decides on a sequence for manufacturing the product that is to be manufactured once again, such that products of the same type or parts of the same type are manufactured consecutively, with respect to the currently-decided sequence of performing the plurality of steps for manufacturing another product.

4. A method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:
obtaining type information of a plurality of products to be manufactured using a print apparatus and a post-pressing apparatus;
deciding on a sequence for manufacturing the plurality of products using the type information of the plurality of products; and
causing the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus to manufacture the plurality of products in accordance with the sequence decided on in the deciding step,
wherein a plurality of steps for product manufacturing are different for each type of product, and
in the deciding step, the sequence is decided on such that products of the same type are manufactured consecutively by the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus, and the sequence is furthermore decided on for each type of product using step information regarding a plurality of steps for product manufacturing such that, among steps for manufacturing a plurality of parts that constitute each of the plurality of products of the same type that are consecutive in the print apparatus, steps for manufacturing the same type of part are consecutive.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving and managing an inspection result for a product manufactured by the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus,
wherein in the managing step, when the inspection result for the product is received, collective input of the inspection result regarding the other products of the same type that were manufactured consecutively with the product based on the sequence decided on in the deciding step is enabled.

6. The method according to claim 4 ,
wherein in the sequence deciding step, if a product that has been manufactured is to be manufactured once again, the sequence for manufacturing the product that is to be manufactured once again is decided on such that products of the same type or parts of the same type are manufactured consecutively, with respect to the currently-decided sequence of performing the plurality of steps for manufacturing the other products.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as:
an obtaining unit configured to obtain type information of a plurality of products manufactured using a print apparatus and a post-pressing apparatus;
a sequence deciding unit configured to decide on a sequence for manufacturing the plurality of products using the type information of the plurality of products; and
a control unit configured to cause the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus to manufacture the plurality of products in accordance with the sequence decided on by the sequence deciding unit,
wherein a plurality of steps for product manufacturing are different for each type of product, and
the sequence deciding unit decides on the sequence such that products of the same type are manufactured consecutively by the print apparatus and the post-pressing apparatus, and furthermore, for each type of product, the sequence deciding unit decides on the sequence using step information regarding a plurality of steps for product manufacturing such that, among steps for manufacturing a plurality of parts that constitute each of the plurality of products of the same type that are consecutive in the print apparatus, steps for manufacturing the same type of part are consecutive.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Oki Mitsuo
• Uotani Kenichiro
• Uchida Yuki

Classifications

• B42C19/02 Primary

  starting with single sheets · CPC title

• G06F3/1275

  Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing · CPC title

• G06F3/1217

  achieving reduced idle time at the output device or increased asset utilization · CPC title

• G06F3/1282

  High volume printer device · CPC title