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The invention is a method and system for print stream determination. The system's method begins with the initiation of a print stream processing application to which a print stream is directed. A print job is determined from a set of characteristics resident in the print stream. The print processing

The invention is a method and system for print stream determination. The system's method begins with the initiation of a print stream processing application to which a print stream is directed. A print job is determined from a set of characteristics resident in the print stream. The print processing application will determine the optimal use of the system's peripheral devices for performing the job. The optimal use is determined by comparing each of the job's characteristics with each of the characteristics of the potential device driver. The comparison begins with determination of a value for each of the job characteristics wherein the value is representative of a desired result. A value for each of the device driver characteristics is determined wherein the value is representative of a potential result. Each of the desired results is compared to each corresponding potential result. If no corresponding potential result can be established, then an alternative peripheral device is sought. If no peripheral device is located, then the application will select a default peripheral device. The print stream will then be directed to the selected device for processing. Once the print stream has been analyzed, and the use of peripheral devices determined, the application establishes a job ticket representative of the print job and the optimal use of the one or more corresponding peripheral devices. The system can then produce one or more reports indicative of the job performance.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of print stream determination wherein said print stream is directed to a print processing application for determining a job to be performed by a print processing system, comprising the steps of:(a) initiating said print processing application;(b) directing said print stream to said print

1. A method of print stream determination wherein said print stream is directed to a print processing application for determining a job to be performed by a print processing system, comprising the steps of:(a) initiating said print processing application;(b) directing said print stream to said print processing application to determine said job from a first set of characteristics resident in said print stream;(c) determining, at said print processing application, optimal use of a set of one or more peripheral devices for performing said job;(d) determining, at said print processing application, one or more application output streams wherein each one of said one or more output streams is directed to a corresponding peripheral device comprising said set of one or more peripheral devices;(e) establishing a job ticket representative of said print job and said optimal use of said one or more corresponding peripheral devices;(f) saving said job ticket in a memory of said print processing system;(g) performing said print job in respect of said saved job ticket, wherein a set of print data is derived from a legacy application and said print processing system applies said set of print data to a set of one or more pre-determined job processes that comprises address cleansing; and(h) producing one or more reports indicative of said job performance. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said job comprises a second set of characteristics; said second set of characteristics further comprising:(a) routing instructions for routing said print stream to a corresponding peripheral device driver of a corresponding peripheral device;(b) job definition elements for defining characteristics of said job; and(c) device driver definition elements for defining characteristics and capabilities of each of said corresponding peripheral devices. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said optimal use determination is made by comparing each of said job definition elements with each of said device driver definition elements. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said comparison of said job definition elements with each of said device driver definition elements further comprises the steps of:(a) determining a first range or a first value for each of said job definition elements wherein said first range or said first value is representative of a desired result;(b) determining a second range or a second value for each of said device driver definition elements wherein said second range or said second value is representative of a potential result; and(c) comparing each of said second range s or said second values to each corresponding one of said first ranges or said first values to determine whether or not each of said desired results has a corresponding potential result; and,(i) if there is no corresponding potential result, then querying said print processing system to determine whether or not an alternative peripheral device, with a matching value or range, is a component of said system; and,(ii) if said alternative peripheral device is a component of said system, then comparing said non-corresponding potential result with said matching value for said alternative peripheral; and(iii) if no peripheral device is a component of said system, then selecting a default peripheral device. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said comparison of said job definition elements with each of said device driver definition elements further comprises the steps of:(a) determining a corresponding optimal peripheral device for performing each of said desired results; and(b) directing said print stream to said corresponding optimal peripheral device. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said corresponding optimal peripheral device is a printer. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein said corresponding optimal peripheral device is a second memory. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein said corresponding optimal peripheral device is a data processing application for further applying said application output stre am. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more reports are printed on a printer operatively associated with said print processing system. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of one or more job processes comprises postal sorting. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of one or more job processes comprises bar coding. 12. A system for print stream determination wherein said print stream is directed to a data processing application resident in said system for determining a job to be performed and analyzing said job, said system comprising:(a) directing means for directing said print stream to said print processing application to determine said job from a first set of characteristics resident in said print stream;(b) a set of one or more peripheral devices for performing said job, wherein said peripheral device is a mail processing system that comprises:i. an envelope printer for printing address data on one or more envelopes;ii. a document printer for printing one or more pages;iii. a collator for collating a plurality of pages printed by said document printer; andiv. an inserter for inserting said one or more printed pages into a corresponding envelope;(c) first determining means for determining, at said print processing application, optimal use of said set of one or more peripheral devices;(d) a set of one or more application output streams, determined at said print processing, wherein each one of said one or more output streams is directed to a corresponding peripheral device comprising said set of one or more peripheral devices(e) establishing means for establishing a job ticket representative of said print job and said optimal use of said one or more corresponding peripheral devices;(f) a memory in said print processing system for saving said job ticket;(g) initiation means for initiating said print job in respect of said saved job ticket; and(h) reporting means for producing one or more reports indicative of said job performance. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said one or more reports are printed on a printer operatively associated with said print processing system. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said corresponding optimal peripheral device is a printer. 15. The system of claim 13, wherein said corresponding optimal peripheral device is a data processing application for further applying said application output stream. 16. The system of claim 12, wherein said one or more envelopes and said plurality of pages are printed on a single printer. 17. A method of producing one or more mailpieces from a print stream under direction of a print processing application resident in a print processing system, the method comprising the steps of:(a) initiating said print processing application;(b) directing said print stream to said print processing application to determine a job based upon a first set of characteristics resident in said print stream and wherein said job includes characteristics defining said one or more mailpieces, wherein said job comprises a second set of characteristics; said second set of characteristics further comprising:i. routing instructions for routing said print stream to a corresponding peripheral device driver of a corresponding peripheral device;ii. job definition elements for defining characteristics of said job; andiii. device driver definition elements for defining characteristics and capabilities of each of said corresponding peripheral devices, wherein said optimal use determination is made by comparing each of said job definition elements with each of said device driver definition elements, wherein said set of one or more job processes comprises address cleansing;(c) determining, at said print processing application, optimal use of a set of one or more peripheral devices for performing said job, wherein said set of one or more job processes comprises address cleansing;(d) determining, at said print processing application, one or more application output streams wherein eac h one of said one or more output streams is directed to a corresponding peripheral device comprising said set of one or more peripheral devices, wherein said peripheral device is a printer;(e) establishing a job ticket representative of said print job and said optimal use of said one or more corresponding peripheral devices;(f) saving said job ticket in a memory of said print processing system;(g) producing said one or more mailpieces by utilizing said one or more corresponding peripheral devices as defined by said job ticket; and(h) producing one or more reports indicative of said job. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said job definition elements define mailpiece characteristics. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said mailpiece characteristics further comprise:(a) at least one set of address data; and(b) barcode data in respect of said address data. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein said comparison of said job definition elements with each of said device driver definition elements further comprises the steps of:(a) determining a first range or a first value for each of said job definition elements wherein said first range or said first value is representative of a desired result;(b) determining a second range or a second value for each of said device driver definition elements wherein said second range or said second value is representative of a potential result; and(c) comparing each of said second ranges or said second values to each corresponding one of said first ranges or said first values to determine whether or not each of said desired results has a corresponding potential result; and,(i) if there is no corresponding potential result, then querying said print processing system to determine whether or not an alternative peripheral device, with a matching value or range, is a component of said system; and,(ii) if said alternative peripheral device is a component of said system, then comparing said non-corresponding potential result with said matching value for said alternative peripheral; and(iii) if no peripheral device is a component of said system, then selecting a default peripheral device. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said comparison of said job definition elements with each of said device driver definition elements further comprises the steps of:(a) determining a corresponding optimal peripheral device for performing each of said desired results; and(b) directing said print stream to said corresponding optimal peripheral device. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said corresponding optimal peripheral device is a second memory. 23. The method of claim 17, wherein said one or more reports are printed on a printer operatively associated with said print processing system. 24. The method of claim 17, wherein a set of print data is derived from a legacy application and said print processing system applies said set of print data to a set of one or more pre-determined job processes. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said set of one or more job processes comprise postal sorting. 26. The method of claim 24, wherein said set of one or more job processes comprises bar coding. 27. The method of claim 17, wherein said corresponding optimal peripheral device is a data processing application for further applying said application output stream.