Patent ID: 8059292
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for assigning a plurality of print jobs in a transaction printing environment among a plurality of autonomous cells including a first autonomous cell, a second autonomous cell and a third autonomous cell, capable of completely processing a print job, the method comprising: receiving, by a print job workflow management system, a plurality of print jobs, wherein each print job has a job size; selecting, by the print job workflow management system, a first threshold value based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of print jobs by determining a maximum device utilization for the third autonomous cell at which a percentage of print jobs processed late is less than a predefined maximum late job value, wherein the first threshold value maximizes a sheet volume for the third autonomous cell and wherein the maximum device utilization the third autonomous cell based on the first threshold value is greater than a predefined minimum device utilization value; and for each print job: wherein the first threshold value is greater than the second threshold value.