Patent ID: 9652184
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06Q

Claim:
1. A system comprising: a resource manager that identifies a first workflow comprising a first ordered set of print shop activities for a print job of a customer, directs resources of a print shop to perform the activities of the first workflow, detects a triggering event indicating a changed condition for the print shop that is independent of operator input, and halts processing of the first workflow responsive to detecting the triggering event; the resources, which automatically indicate their status and available activities to the resource manager, and which comprise a printer and post-printing machinery; a memory that stores rules defined for customers that describe logical relationships of activities at the print shop and that provide criteria for choosing from the available activities when generating a workflow; and a workflow generator that determines that the triggering event has resulted in a change in the available activities, accesses the memory to identify rules defined for the customer, identifies remaining activities available at the print shop after the triggering event, and generates a second workflow for the print job based on the changed condition indicated by the triggering event, the rules defined for the customer, the remaining available activities, and a job ticket of the print job, wherein the second workflow comprises: if there is no unacceptable condition for the print job, a second ordered set of print shop activities that is not a duplicate of the first ordered set of print shop activities, and if there is an unacceptable condition for the print job, a second ordered set of print shop activities that re-implements at least one previously completed activity from the first workflow, wherein the second workflow includes activities of the first workflow that have been altered based on the rules for the customer and the changed condition, the resource manager further directs the resources of the print shop to perform the activities of the second workflow for the print job, the printer prints the print job in accordance with the second workflow, and the post-printing machinery processes the print job after printing in accordance with the second workflow.