Document-specific workflow histories for multi-document print jobs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9600218-B2
Application number	US-201514675519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for generating document-specific histories for multi-document print jobs. One system is a workflow server with an interface and a controller. The interface receives a print job that defines multiple documents, and the controller directs devices of a print shop in accordance with a print workflow. The controller identifies properties of each of the documents to track while the print job is being processed in the workflow, receives progress information from the devices, and analyzes the progress information to detect a triggering event indicating that a document in the workflow has transitioned to a new state at an activity. When recording criteria direct the controller to update the history, the controller adds an entry to a history file while the document is in the workflow. The entry indicates values of the properties of the document, as well as a current workflow activity for the document.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a workflow server comprising:
an interface configured to receive a print job that defines multiple documents; and
a controller, implemented by a processor and memory, configured to direct devices of a print shop in accordance with a print workflow that comprises an ordered set of activities to perform upon the documents, wherein each activity has a queued state, a processing state, and a complete state,
wherein the controller is configured to identify properties of each of the documents to track while the print job is being processed in the workflow, to receive progress information from the devices, and to analyze the progress information to detect a triggering event indicating that a document in the workflow has transitioned to a new state at an activity,
wherein the controller is configured to analyze recording criteria for the document to determine whether to update a history for the document in response to the triggering event, and when the criteria direct the controller to update the history, the controller is configured to add an entry to a history file for the document while the document is in the workflow, wherein the entry indicates values of the properties of the document during the triggering event, and a current workflow activity for the document during the triggering event.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the properties indicate the new state for the document and include a time stamp defining when the new state was reached.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the controller is configured to analyze the progress information by identifying a current page of the print job indicated by the progress information, and correlating the current page with a document of the print job.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
when the criteria direct the controller to update the history, the controller is configured to generate a snapshot file that indicates additional properties of the document during the triggering event.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the controller is configured to continuously monitor the properties for each of the documents.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the controller is configured to detect multiple triggering events, and to add an entry to the history file for the document each time a triggering event is detected.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the recording criteria define multiple conditions, linked by one or more logical operators, wherein each condition refers to a specific workflow activity.

8. A method comprising:
receiving a print job that defines multiple documents;
directing devices of a print shop in accordance with a print workflow that comprises an ordered set of activities to perform upon the documents, wherein each activity has a queued state, a processing state, and a complete state,
identifying properties of each of the documents to track while the print job is being processed in the workflow;
receiving progress information from the devices;
analyzing the progress information to detect a triggering event indicating that a documents in the workflow has transitioned to a new state at an activity,
analyzing recording criteria for the document to determine whether to update a history for the document in response to the triggering event; and
when the criteria indicate an update to the history, adding an entry to a history file for the document while the document is in the workflow, wherein the entry indicates values of the properties of the document during the triggering event, and a current workflow activity for the document during the triggering event.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the properties indicate the new state for the document and include a time stamp defining when the new state was reached.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
analyzing the progress information by identifying a current page of the print job indicated by the progress information, and correlating the current page with a document of the print job.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein:
when the criteria indicate an update to the history, generating a snapshot file that indicates additional properties of the document during the triggering event.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
continuously monitoring the properties for each of the documents.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
detecting multiple triggering events; and
adding an entry to the history file for the document each time a triggering event is detected.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the recording criteria define multiple conditions, linked by one or more logical operators, wherein each condition refers to a specific workflow activity.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method comprising:
receiving a print job that defines multiple documents;
directing devices of a print shop in accordance with a print workflow that comprises an ordered set of activities to perform upon the documents, wherein each activity has a queued state, a processing state, and a complete state,
identifying properties of each of the documents to track while the print job is being processed in the workflow;
receiving progress information from the devices;
analyzing the progress information to detect a triggering event indicating that a documents in the workflow has transitioned to a new state at an activity,
analyzing recording criteria for the document to determine whether to update a history for the document; in response to the triggering event; and
when the criteria indicate an update to the history, adding an entry to a history file for the document while the document is in the workflow, wherein the entry indicates values of the properties of the document during the triggering event, and a current workflow activity for the document during the triggering event.

16. The medium of claim 15 wherein:
the properties indicate the new state for the document and include a time stamp defining when the new state was reached.

17. The medium of claim 16 wherein:
analyzing the progress information by identifying a current page of the print job indicated by the progress information, and correlating the current page with a document of the print job.

18. The medium of claim 15 wherein:
when the criteria indicate an update to the history, generating a snapshot file that indicates additional properties of the document during the triggering event.

19. The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
continuously monitoring the properties for each of the documents.

20. The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
detecting multiple triggering events; and
adding an entry to the history file for the document each time a triggering event is detected.

Assignees

• Liebelt Linda Sue
• Lotz Michael Glen
• Manning Kyle P
• Waller Marquis G
• Watkins Amber Joy
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Liebelt Linda Sue
• Lotz Michael Glen
• Manning Kyle P
• Waller Marquis G
• Watkins Amber Joy

Classifications

• G06F3/1263

  based on job priority, e.g. re-arranging the order of jobs, e.g. the printing sequence · CPC title

• G06F3/1296

  Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling · CPC title

• G06F3/1273 Primary

  Print job history, e.g. logging, accounting, tracking · CPC title

• G06F3/1275

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

• G06F3/1204

  resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data · CPC title