Patent ID: 7953681
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: G06N

Abstract:
1. A print-related demand forecasting system for use with a print production system in which multiple print jobs are processed over a selected time interval, comprising: a data collection tool, said data collection tool collecting print demand data for each print job processed during the selected time interval; mass memory for storing the collected print demand data; and a computer implemented service manager for processing the stored print demand data to obtain a first demand series with two or more demand components and a second demand series with one demand component, each one of the two or more demand components being less than a selected variability level and the one demand component being greater than the selected variability level, said computer implemented service manager being adapted to (1) generate a first demand related forecast with a combination of the two or more demand components, and (2) generate a second demand related forecast with the one demand component, wherein the second demand related forecast is generated with a neural network, wherein the neural network includes a layer including a plurality of neurons with each one of the plurality of neurons being weighted and the weighting of each one of the plurality of neurons being optimized with respect to a set of print-related demand data collected over one or more selected time intervals, wherein the plurality of neurons correspond with a number, wherein the number of neurons is optimized to improve accuracy of forecasting and re-optimized after a selected time interval that varies as a function of a document production application dictating demand forecasting.