Printing in a distributed communications network

Abstract

A method and system is provided for printing jobs received from enterprise customers through a global printing network. One aspect relates to an architecture that interfaces customers, communication service firms (CSFs), and downstream digital print service providers (PSPs) in a global communications network. Such an architecture permits last-mile production functions that allow the distribution of print jobs to be optimized, containing costs, maintaining quality, and performing billing functions that improve the quality of such networks and make a global print network feasible. As a result, Enterprise customers benefit from lower costs and global sourcing while print service providers and graphics service firms benefit from increased revenue due to increased utilization of the overall global network.7

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for printing in a distributed communications network, the network comprising a plurality of enterprise customers capable of printing to a plurality of color printer types, the method comprising acts of:
 determining a color reference;   determining a respective output associated with each of the plurality of color printer types; and   comparing the color reference to each respective output; and   determining, for each of the plurality of color printer types, a deviation in response to the act of comparing.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of measuring the respective output of each of the plurality of color printer types. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the act of determining a color reference includes an act of determining a color space that represents a potential output of each of the plurality of color printer types. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of determining a correction based on the determined deviation. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of color printer types are located among a plurality of print service providers distributed in a global network, and wherein the act of determining a color reference includes an act of determining a global color reference. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising an act of using the global color reference in a global printing network comprising the plurality of print service providers. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of displaying information regarding the deviation on a display of a computer system. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising an act of displaying the information regarding the deviation to a user. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of determining, based on the determined deviation, whether a print service provider is printing a product in accordance with a service level agreement. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising an act of determining a specific color reference for a particular color printer and comparing the specific color reference for the particular color printer with a desired output of a print job. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising an act of comparing the specific color reference with the desired color output as referenced in a file associated with the print job. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising modifying the file associated with the print job in response to the act of comparing. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the file associated with the print file is a JDF-formatted file, and the act of modifying the file includes modifying the JDF file for the particular color printer. 
     
     
         14 . A method for printing in a distributed communications network, the network comprising a plurality of enterprise customers that are capable of submitting at least one print job to a global network, the method comprising acts of
 receiving the print job form at least one of the plurality of enterprise customers;   allocating at least one first portion of the print job to a first service provider;   allocating at least one second portion of the print job to a second print service provider.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the acts of allocating are performed transparently to the at least one of the plurality of enterprise customers. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to pricing information provided by the first service provider. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to an act of determining a shipping zone associated with the at least one first portion of the print job. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to an act of determining an availability of the first service provider to produce the at least one first portion of the print job. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to an act of determining a relative location of the first service provider to a destination of the at least one first portion of the print job. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the act of allocating the at least one first portion of the print job is in response to an act of determining a shipping time for shipping the at least one first portion of the print job to a destination. 
     
     
         21 . A system for printing in a distributed communications network, the system comprising:
 a distributed print management system including a plurality of computer systems, at least one of which is located at a print service provider location, wherein the at least one computer system is adapted to perform acts of receiving a plurality of jobs through the distributed communications network from a plurality of enterprise customers, manage a local print process performed by the print service provider, and provide status information to at least one enterprise customer.   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the distributed print management system is adapted to receive at least one print job from a web-to-print provider. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the distributed print management system is adapted to perform quality monitoring of an output produced by the print service provider. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the distributed print management system is adapted to evaluate a service level agreement with the print service provider. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one job is submitted using an Internet-based customer center. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one print job is fulfilled by more than one print service provider. 
     
     
         27 . A system for printing in a distributed communications network connecting enterprise customers of a graphic service firm and a plurality of print service providers, the system comprising:
 a financial component configured to charge a graphic service firm a service fee based on at least one global print job which is referred to at least one of the plurality of print service providers.   
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 27 , wherein the financial component is configured to charge a service fee to the at least one of the plurality of print service providers for the referral of the at least one global print job. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 27 , wherein the financial component is adapted to receive payment for the at least one global print job through one or more financial institutions. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the financial component is adapted to provide payment to the at least one of the plurality of print service providers upon completion of the at least one global print job. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 28 , further comprising a pricing component adapted to minimize a production price of the at least one global print job. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the pricing component is responsive to prices provided by the plurality of print service providers. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the provided prices include pricing associated with attributes of a printed product. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the pricing component is responsive to shipping prices provided by at least one shipping provider. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 28 , further comprising a management component adapted to monitor a quality of color output from at least one printer of the print service provider. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the management component maintains a color reference to which outputs of a plurality of color printer types in the distributed communications network are compared.