Patent ID: 9292812
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: G06F,G06Q

Claim Text:
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.