Patent ID: 9639310
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06Q

Claim:
1. A method of processing and printing a print job comprising: evaluating a most recent print job processed with specialized printing and finishing machines located in different printing sites to calculate current residual capacity for each of said different printing sites, said current residual capacity being determined and maintained by a computerized server that is in communication with, and separate from, said different printing sites over a wide area network; receiving said print job into said computerized server; calculating a turnaround time of said print job for each of said different printing sites based on said current residual capacity; calculating a cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites based on historical cost information maintained by said computerized server; receiving user preferences from users supplying said print job; determining user-preference based weighting factors based on said user preferences; applying said user-preference based weighting factors to said turnaround time and said cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites to change said turnaround time and said cost of said print job into a weighted turnaround time and weighted cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites, said user preferences determining how said user-preference based weighting factors change said turnaround time and said cost of said print job when producing said weighted turnaround time and said weighted cost of said print job; and summing said weighted turnaround time and said weighted cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites to generate a weighted sum of said turnaround time and said cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites; receiving changes to said user preferences from said users; determining different weighting factors based on said changes to said user preferences; repeating said applying and said summing, using said different weighting factors; selecting one of said different printing sites as a selected printing site based on a relatively lowest weighted sum for said print job; and assigning said print job to said selected printing site over said wide area network to cause said selected printing site to process said print job using said specialized printing and finishing machines.