Patent ID: 7787135
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A system for forming a print shop configuration for a first print shop, the print shop configuration being capable of processing print jobs with each print job corresponding with a set of print job processing requirements, comprising: (A) a first set of multiple pieces of equipment, wherein the first set of multiple pieces of equipment is compiled from a second set of multiple pieces of equipment and a third set of multiple pieces of equipment, the second set of multiple pieces of equipment having been corresponded with the first print shop prior to said compilation, and the third set of equipment having been corresponded with a second print shop; (B) a set of multiple print shop cells to be used in forming the print shop configuration, each print shop cell being associated with at least one piece of equipment from the first set of multiple pieces of equipment; (C) a memory, wherein a value corresponding with the multiple print shop cells to be used in forming the print shop configuration is stored in said memory; and (D) a print shop configuration development manager communicating with said memory and including an application, said print shop configuration development manager and said application functioning cooperatively to (1) generate a list of two or more possible print shop configurations that could be formed with the multiple print shop cells to be used in forming the print shop configuration and at least some of the pieces of equipment from one or both the second set of multiple pieces of equipment and the third set of multiple pieces of equipment, (2) determine for one of the two or more possible print shop configurations, whether a selected relationship exists between one or more sets of print job requirements and at least one of the multiple print shop cells to be used in forming the print shop configuration, and (3) delete the one of the two or more possible print shop configurations from the list when the selected relationship does not exist, in which C number of print cells are used with S number of pieces of equipment, wherein the list of two or more possible print shop configurations includes (C +1)