(12) United States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`Rosenlund et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 18, 2004
`
`USOO6738155B1
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING
`PUBLISHING AND PRINTING SERVICES
`VIA A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Scott R. Rosenlund, Chaska, MN (US);
`Joyce E. Vogt, Waconia, MN (US);
`Jefi'rey A. Bartol, New Hope, MN
`(US); John H. Chase, Stillwater, MN
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Banta Corporation, Menasha, WI (US)
`
`(*) Notice'
`
`Subject to any disclaimer the term of this
`atent is extended or ad'usted under 35
`IJJS C 154(b) by0 days]
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/364,935
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 30, 1999
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ G06F 15/00
`(51)
`(52) US. Cl.
`...................................... 358/115; 358/118
`(58) Field of Search ........................... 358/11, 1.5, 1.9,
`358/1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18;
`707/9, 10, 100, 104
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,247,011 B1 *
`6/2001 Jecha et al.
`.................... 707/9
`6,321,231 B1 * 11/2001 Jebens et a1.
`............... 707/104
`
`5/2002 Fujisawa et a1.
`
`6,384,932 B1 *
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—Mark Wallerson
`(74) Attorney) Agent) or Firm—Foley & Lardner LLP
`
`........... 358/118
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A printing and publishing system providing prepress, con-
`tent management, infrastructure, and workflow services to
`system subscribers in real
`time using a communication
`network is disclosed herein. The printing and publishing
`system includes a central service facility and an end-user
`facility and/or a printing company facility. The end user
`facility provides page building operations allowing the
`design and construction of pages from images, text, and data
`available via said communication network. The printing
`company facility provides imposition operations allowing
`the setting of pages on a particular plate as well as posi-
`tioning and orientation of pages on said plate. The central
`service faculty provides storage, file processing, remote
`access, and content management operations. Content man-
`agement operations include the capture, organization,
`archival, retrieval, and reuse of electronic files containing
`any one of text, graphics, photos, artwork, full pages, audio,
`video, and completed projects. Content management opera-
`tions further include the organization and cataloging of file
`32:1;th for browsmg, searching, and retrievmg of files and
`
`20 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`300
`
`
`
`
`END USER
`FACILITY
`300
`
`
` 300
`
`
`
`
`
`PUBLIC
`NETWORK
`
`190
`
`PRINTING COMPANY
`
`400
`FACILITY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`400
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'
`I
`f200
`
`
`
`I
`\
`LOCAL NETWORK
`
`/ 150/
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`
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`SERVER
`
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`110/
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`l
`I
`____I121
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`
`120 — —
`I
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY
`
`100
`
`105/l
`
`T1
`
`D83
`
`D83
`
`
`
`
`
`180
`
`PRINTING INDUSTRIES OF AMERICA
`
`EXHIBIT 1201
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
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`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 6 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`’\
`
`CLIENT PROVIDES DIGITAL FILES OR TRANSPARENCIES FOR SCANNING
`J
`
`
`
`I—
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY STORES HIGH RES ON SERVER AND GENERATES LOW RES
`
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY LOGS FILES INTO DCM SERVER
`F 620
`
`
`
`610
`
`615
`
`625
`
`
`
`CLIENT BUILDS PAGE LAYOUT
`
`
`
`
`
`
` CLIENT SEARCHES DATABASE AND DRAGS & DROPS ELEMENTS INTO LAYOUT
`l
`CLIENT PRINTS POSTSCRIPT TO A SPOOLER ON THE SERVER
`I
`
`
`
`
`PDF FILE IS FORWARDED TO REMOTE PROOFING DEVICE VIA COMMUNICATION LINK
`
`
`PDF FILE IS IMAGED TO PROOFER AT CLIENT SITE
`
`
`
`
`
`SERVER AT CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SWAPS OUT LOW RES FOR HIGH
`AND GENERATES PDF FILES
`
`
`
`630
`I\ 635
`
`640
`
`l» 645
`
`650
`
`
`
`I
`
`
`
`FINISHED PLATE-READY FILES ARE SENT TO PRINTER VIA COMM LINK
`655
`£
`PRINTING CUSTOMER FACILITY IMAGES APPROVED PAGES TO PLATE AND PRINTS JOB I\ 660
`
`I\
`
`FIG. 6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 7 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`
` PRINTING COMPANY SCANS PAGE LAYOUT IMAGES OR
`
`
`RECEIVES DIGITAL RGB IMAGES AND/OR PRINTING
`COMPANY RECEIVES DIGITAL FILES FROM ITS CLIENT
`
`
`
`710
`
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY SENDS FILES TO CENTRAL
`
`
`
`SERVICE FACILITY VIA COMMUNICATION LINK 715
`
`
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY WRITES FILES TO HSM SYSTEM AT
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY WHERE A CORRESPONDING
`
`LOW RES IMAGE IS CREATED 720
`
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY UPDATES LINKS TO LOW RES
`
`
`IMAGES PROVIDED IN LAYOUT
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY
`
`FACILITY MAKES
`I
`
`
`
`CORRECTIONS
`BASED ON PROOF
`
`
`
`
`727
`
`725
`
`PRINTING COMPANY PRINTS POSTSCRIPT FILE TO A
`SPOOLER ON CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SERVER
`730
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`I
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SWAPS OUT LOW RES FOR
`HIGH RES AND GENERATES PDF FILE
`735
`
`
`
`PDF FILE IS WRITTEN TO CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY
`SERVER AS THE FINAL PLATE-READY FILE
`740
`
`FIG. 7A
`
`TO FIG. 78
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 8 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`PDF FILE IS IMAGED TO PROOFING DEVICE AT PRINTING
`COMPANY FACILITY AND SENT VIA PACK AND SHIP
`COURIER TO ITS CLIENT
`
`745
`
`
`
`CLIENT APPROVES PROOFS OR MAKES NECESSARY
`
`750
`
`
`755
`
`CLIENT SHIPS MARKED UP PROOF BACK TO PRINTING
`
`
`
`CORRECTIONS
`COMPANY FACILITY FOR REVISION CYCLE
`
`FINISHED PLATE—READY FILES ARE GENERATED AT
`PRINTING COMPANY FACILITY
`
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY ENTERS PLATE-READY FILES
`
`INTO DCM DATABASE
`
`PDF FILES ARE DIGITALLY IMPOSED AT PRINTING
`
`
`COMPANY FACILITY AND ARE PROCESSED IN VIRTUAL
`
`
`
`PROOFING SOFTWARE (VPS) PREVIEW FILES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY IMAGES IMPOSED PREVIEW FILES
`TO INK JET PROOF AND PLATES FINAL PAGES
`WHEN APPROVED
`
`FIG. 7B
`
`765
`
`770
`
`775
`
`780
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY WRITES FILES TO HSM
`SYSTEM WHERE A CORRESPONDING LOW RES IMAGE
`IS CREATED
`
`
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 9 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
` CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SCANS PAGE LAYOUT
`
`IMAGES OR RECEIVES DIGITAL RGB IMAGES AND/OR
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY RECEIVES
`
`DIGITAL FILES FROM END USER FACILITY
`
`
`
`810
`
`815
`
`
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY UPDATES LINKS TO LOW
`RES IMAGES PROVIDED IN LAYOUT
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE
`FACILITY MAKES
`CORRECTIONS
`
`BASED ON PROOF
`
`827
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY PRINTS POSTSCRIPT
`FILE TO A SPOOLER ON SERVER
`
`
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SWAPS OUT LOW RES FOR
`HIGH RES AND GENERATES PDF FILE
`
`PDF FILE IS WRITTEN TO SERVER AS THE
`
`FINAL PLATE-READY FILE
`
`820
`
`825
`
`830
`
`835
`
`IMAGE TO PROOFING DEVICE AT END USER FACILITY
`
`
`840
`
`T0855
`
`TO 845
`
`TO FIG. BB
`
`FIG. 8A
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 10 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`IMAGE TO PROOFING DEVICE AT
`PRINTING COMPANY FACILITY
`
`
`
` END USER FACILITY RECEIVES PROOFS FROM PRINTING
`COMPANY FACILITY VIA PACK AND SHIP COURIER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`845
`
`850
`
`
`870
`
`END USER FACILITY APPROVES PROOFS AND MAKES
`
`REVISIONS TO IMAGED FILE
` 855
`
`FINISHED PLATE—READY FILES ARE GENERATED AT
`PRINTING COMPANY FACILITY
`
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY ENTERS PLATE-READY FILES
`
`INTO DCM DATABASE
` 875
`
`
`PDF FILES ARE DIGITALLY IMPOSED AT PRINTING
`
`COMPANY FACILITY AND ARE PROCESSED IN VIRTUAL
`
`
`PROOFING SOFTWARE (VPS) PREVIEW FILES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY IMAGES IMPOSED PREVIEW FILES
`TO INK JET PROOF AND PLATES FINAL PAGES
`WHEN APPROVED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PRINTING COMPANY IMAGES IMPOSED PREVIEW FILES
`TO INK JET PROOF AND PLATES FINAL PAGES
`
`WHEN APPROVED
`
`FIG. BB
`
`880
`
`885
`
`385
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 11 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`PAGE DESIGN
`910
`
`ESTABLISHING LINKS TO IMAGING FILES
`
`920
`
`930
`
`CONTENT REVIEWED
`
`PAGE PRINTED TO
`"THIN" POSTSCRIPT FILE
`
`940
`970
`
`
`
`PAGE CONVERTED TO
`"FAT" POSTSCRIPT FILE
`
`950
`
`PDF FILE CREATED FROM
`FAT POSTSCRIPT FILE
`960
`
`PDF FILE CONVERTED TO POSTSCRIPT
`FILE FOR PLATE CREATION
`
`FIG. 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 12 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
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`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 13 0f 19
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`US 6,738,155 B1
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`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 14 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 15 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
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`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 16 0f 19
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`US 6,738,155 B1
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 17 0f 19
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`US 6,738,155 B1
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`IGS10224
`I10-24
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`— CREATED
`USER NOTES —_ COLORS —
`HOOPS
`SIZES
`PRODUCT
`SELECTD PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
`STANDARD HOOPS
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`SELECTD PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
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`SORT BY: FILE NAME
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`fl
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`FIG. 15
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 18 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`
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`IDENTIFY ASSETS OR FILES
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`CATALOG OR IMPORT ASSETS OR FILES
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`
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`ESTABLISH METADATA FIELDS
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`POPU LATE METADATA FIELDS
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`1604
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`1606
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`1608
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`1612
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`1614
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`DETERMINE USERS, PERMISSIONS, AND PRIVILEGES
`1610
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`ESTABLISH SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES
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`ESTABLISH ASSET DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURES
`
`FIG. 16
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 19 0f 19
`
`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`LOG ON
`
`
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`INITIALIZE END USER BROWSER
`
`INITIALIZE SEARCH
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`
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`CONFIGURE BROWSER FOR SEARCH
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`CREATE QUERY
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`RETURN QUERY RESULTS
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`FIG. 17
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`

`

`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING
`PUBLISHING AND PRINTING SERVICES
`VIAA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present system relates generally to the field of pub-
`lishing and printing. More particularly, the present invention
`relates to a system and method of providing publishing and
`printing services via a communications network.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Key steps for producing printed materials using a plate
`process include (1) preparing copy elements for
`reproduction, (2) prepress production, (3) platemaking, (4)
`printing, and (5) binding, finishing and distribution.
`In this printing production process, an “end user”, such as,
`publishers, direct marketers, advertising agencies, and cor-
`porate communication departments, prepares copy elements
`for reproduction.
`In this “design” stage of the printing
`process, the end user provides images and data using slides
`or computer files to create one or more “pages”. Pages can
`be designed using computer programs such as QuarkXpress
`or other publishing software packages. Slides or computer
`disks containing pages to be printed are sent (via mail or
`express carrier) to be prepared for creation of a plate.
`In the prepress production stage, the end user input (or
`“copy”) is transformed into a medium that is reproducible
`for printing. Typically, prepress involves typesetting,
`illustration, page building and design, image capture, image
`color correction, file conversion, RIPing, trapping, proofing,
`imposition,
`filmsetting, and platesetting. “Proofing”
`involves producing a proof, or sample, of what the printed
`product will look like. The proof is sent by mail or express
`carrier to the end user for review and approval. After
`alterations are made, new proofs are sent to the end user.
`Once approval of the proof is given by the end user, a
`medium, such as a computer to plate (CTP) file is produced
`and sent to the printer. “Imposition” involves the set of pages
`on a particular plate as well as their positioning and orien-
`tation. Imposition is particularly important in the creation of
`booklets or catalogs, where pages are positioned using
`register marks to assist
`in the stripping, collating, and
`folding of the printed product.
`In the platemaking stage, a “printer” manufactures a
`printing plate using the medium created during prepress.
`Where a CTP file is used, the printer converts the CTP file
`into a printing plate or goes directly to a digital press. In the
`printing stage, the printer uses the printing plate to create the
`printed product. In the binding, finishing and distribution
`stage, the printed product is prepared in its final form.
`Each step in the printing production process described
`briefly above can be accomplished using a variety of dif-
`ferent known systems and techniques. Nevertheless, such
`conventional systems have many delays, particularly in the
`transporting of pages and proofs to and from the end user
`and prepress provider. Due to delays and the fragmented
`nature of conventional printing production systems, errors
`often occur. Further, typical printing production systems are
`limited in their ability to re-purpose data, manage content of
`pages, and piece together individual processes or tasks to
`establish an efficient production system or “workfiow”.
`Indeed, no conventional system combines prepress, content
`management, infrastructure (server, storage & distribution)
`and workfiow services.
`
`Conventional printing and publishing systems generally
`include Macintosh computers or workstations which com-
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`municate with each other using the AppleTalk protocol.
`AppleTalk protocol cannot however be communicated over
`switched networks such as the Internet and private networks
`where nodes in the network have IP (Internet Protocol)
`addresses. As such, conventional systems cannot merely be
`coupled to a communication network for remotely control-
`ling design, prepress and print processes.
`There is a need for a system which combines design,
`prepress, content management, infrastructure (server, stor-
`age & distribution) and workfiow. For end users in
`particular, there is a need for a system and a method to gain
`control of the design, prepress, and print processes. To save
`time and costs, there is a need to eliminate manual shipping
`of proofs back and forth to a prepress provider. Further, there
`is a need for a prepress capability at a local facility without
`the time and costs of shipping proofs back and forth to a
`prepress provider. Even further, there is a need for a system
`and method to provide plate-ready files over a communica-
`tions network for delivery to a CTP device. Moreover, for
`commercial printers, there is a need for a system and method
`to remotely drive a plate-setting device located at a printer’s
`facility. Further, there is a need to decrease the amount of
`time necessary to generate printing plates after processing of
`the pages (i.e., the cycle time). Even further, there is a need
`for providing access to the functionality of high-end server,
`storage, and networking equipment to the printer facility
`without the associated capital investments.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a solution for communi-
`cating and managing printing and publishing services. The
`technique is preferably implemented in a system architecture
`which allows remote printing and publishing services in real
`time. System components are installed at an end user facility,
`a printing company facility, and a central service facility.
`These components may include hardware, firmware, and
`software components which facilitate the exchange,
`management, and adaptation of data for the printing and
`publishing services provided.
`In a preferred configuration, software included in the
`system architecture facilitates creation of pages at the end
`user facility and final printing of the created pages at a
`printing company facility. Digital files, including graphics,
`images, text, and art used in the creation of these pages, are
`stored at the central service facility and are accessible at the
`end user facility. Management software facilitates the man-
`agement and organization of data files throughout the sys-
`tem. The technique may also facilitate the integration of
`other services into the system.
`One embodiment of the invention relates to a printing and
`publishing system providing prepress, content management,
`infrastructure, and workfiow services to system subscribers
`in real time using a communication network. The printing
`and publishing system includes a central service facility and
`an end-user facility and/or a printing company facility. The
`end user facility provides page building operations allowing
`the design and construction of pages from images, text, and
`data available via said communication network. The printing
`company facility provide imposition operations allowing the
`setting of pages on a particular plate as well as positioning
`and orientation of pages on said plate. The central service
`facility provides storage, file processing, remote access, and
`content management operations. Content management
`operations include the capture, organization, archival,
`retrieval, and reuse of electronic files containing any one of
`text, graphics, photos, artwork, full pages, audio, video, and
`
`

`

`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`3
`completed projects. Content management operations further
`include the organization and cataloging of file content for
`browsing, searching, and retrieving of files and data.
`Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method
`of providing printing and publishing services to a remote
`client in real time using a communication network. The
`method includes storing files on a computer server, provid-
`ing said files to a remote client for the designing of a page
`layout, generating a portable document format (PDF) file
`from the designed page layout, generating a plate-ready file
`from said PDF file, and providing said plate-ready file to a
`remote printer. The files contain information relating to
`images, text, art, and data.
`Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method
`of providing printing and publishing services to a remote
`client performing any one of page layout designing and plate
`press printing where said printing and publishing services
`are provided in real time using a wide area communication
`network. The method includes storing high resolution files
`on a computer server, generating low resolution files corre-
`sponding to said high resolution files, providing said low
`resolution files to a remote client for the designing of a page
`layout, generating a portable document format (PDF) file
`from the page layout designed by said remote client, pro-
`viding said PDF file to said remote client, and providing a
`plate-ready file to a remote printer.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical representation of a series of
`printing and publishing systems coupled together via a
`communication network for providing prepress, content
`management, infrastructure, and workfiow within one inter-
`connected printing and publishing system;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing and publishing
`system shown in FIG. 1,
`illustrating certain functional
`components of an exemplary embodiment of the end user
`facility and the central service facility;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printing and publishing
`system shown in FIG. 1,
`illustrating certain functional
`components of a second exemplary embodiment of the end
`user facility and the central service facility;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the printing and publishing
`system shown in FIG. 1,
`illustrating certain functional
`components of an exemplary embodiment of the printing
`company facility and the central service facility;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the printing and publishing
`system shown in FIG. 1,
`illustrating certain operational
`components of an exemplary embodiment of the end user
`facility, the printing company facility, and the central service
`facility;
`FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process of
`the printing and publishing system shown in FIG. 1, where
`prepress operations are performed at the end user facility;
`FIGS. 7A and 7B are a flow chart illustrating an exem-
`plary process of the printing and publishing system shown in
`FIG. 1, where prepress operations are performed at
`the
`printing company facility;
`FIGS. 8A and 8B are a flow chart illustrating a second
`exemplary process of the printing and publishing system
`shown in FIG. 1, where prepress operations are performed at
`the central service facility;
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary production
`workfiow of the printing and publishing system shown in
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the hierarchical storage
`management system (HSM) of the central service facility of
`FIG. 3;
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`FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the digital content man-
`agement (DCM) system of the central service facility of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 12 is an interface page for selecting one or more
`attributes used for conducting a search of the DCM system
`of FIG. 11;
`FIG. 13 is an interface page for displaying search results
`to the end user after an exemplary search of the DCM system
`of FIG. 11 is conducted;
`FIG. 14 is an interface page for displaying a “tile” view
`of search results identified by attributes in the search of the
`DCM system of FIG. 11, including a thumbnail representa-
`tion of the graphics file identified by the search;
`FIG. 15 is an interface page of a search result after an
`exemplary search of the DCM system of FIG. 11, including
`metadata and a thumbnail representation of the associated
`graphics file;
`FIG. 16 illustrates the process of creating and populating
`the DCM content management system; and
`FIG. 17 illustrates a method of connecting to the central
`service facility, and searching for files on the DCM.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Turning now to the appended drawings, and referring first
`to FIG. 1, a printing and publishing system 100 is illustrated
`which integrates prepress, content management,
`infrastructure, and workfiow processes into one real time
`system. Printing and publishing system 100 includes a
`central service facility 105, an end user facility 300, and a
`printing company facility 400, all of which are intercon-
`nected via a private network 160 or a public network 190.
`System 100 preferably includes a communication routing
`device 200, such as, routers and switches. Communication
`routing devices are included at central service facility 105,
`end user facility 300, and printing company facility 400.
`Routers include multiple interfaces to handle the variety of
`network connections in system 100. Routers and switches
`provide for internet and extranet connections. In general,
`switches switch traffic using ATM cells and Ethernet frames.
`Routers route TCP/IP data packets between the different IP
`networks. Routers are commercially available components,
`such as, the 3Com Netbuilder II and CISCO 7500.
`Communication routing device 200 includes an internal
`firewall which authenticates data traffic incoming from
`private network 160 or public network 190. In the exemplary
`embodiment, communication routing device 200 directs data
`traffic utilizing the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
`Protocol (TCP/IP) communication scheme. In alternative
`embodiments, communication routing device 200 commu-
`nicates using any of a variety of communication protocols.
`While communication routing device 200 includes a
`firewall capability, printing and publishing system 100 can
`also include a separate firewall 170. Firewall 170 is a
`security barrier which stops all data traffic incoming from
`public network 190 and checks conditions and authentica-
`tion of the data traffic for security purposes.
`Private network 160 is a network of subscribers to print-
`ing and publishing system 100 with communication links to
`central service facility 105. Private network 160 is an
`asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a synchronous
`optical network (SONET), or any packet or cell switched
`network. In the exemplary embodiment, communication
`links to network 160 include DS3 lines, T-1 lines, Bonded
`T1 lines, and any other dedicated network connection.
`Considerations for the type of network connection used are
`
`

`

`US 6,738,155 B1
`
`5
`related to data capacity or speed. DS3 lines, for example,
`provide for an operational speed of 44.736 MBps.
`Alternatively, OC3, OC12, or any other communication
`lines can be coupled to local network 150 to provide high
`speed dedicated network connections. Other communication
`connections to local network 150 can include ISDN lines.
`
`ISDN lines provide between 128 k to 1.544 MBps data
`capacity or speed.
`Public network 190 is a network of subscribers and
`
`non-subscribers to printing and publishing system 100. In an
`exemplary embodiment, public network 190 is the Internet.
`Public network 160 is connected to central service facility
`105 via a firewall 170. Subscribers to printing and publish-
`ing system 100 in external network 190 are allowed access
`to a cached copy of their archived files via firewall 170. In
`the exemplary embodiment, firewall 170 is the commer-
`cially available Checkpoint Firewall-1. Subscribers to net-
`work 190 can also have a firewall at end user facility 300 or
`printing company facility 400 for data traffic incoming from
`public network 190.
`Data may be exchanged between central service facility
`105 and either private network 160 or public network 190 in
`any suitable format, such as in accordance with the Internet
`Protocol (IP), the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), or
`other known protocols. Moreover, certain of the data may be
`transmitted or formatted via markup languages such as the
`HyperText Markup Language (HTML), or other standard
`languages.
`Printing and publishing system 100 can also include an
`offsite storage facility 180 coupled to central service facility
`105. Offsite storage facility 180 provides a remote archival
`system for disaster contingency purposes. Offsite storage
`facility 180 preferably includes digital linear tape (DLT)
`which secures storage of files also stored at central service
`facility 105. Offsite storage facility 180 is preferably con-
`nected via a minimum of a DS3 communication connection.
`
`In the exemplary embodiment, backups of files are created
`at offsite storage facility 180 within minutes of creation at
`central service facility 105.
`In the exemplary embodiment, central service facility 105
`includes a server 110, a hierarchical storage management
`(HSM) system 120, a digital content management (DCM)
`system 130, a network access device (NAD) 140, a local
`network 150, and firewall 170. Alternatively, system com-
`ponents located at central service facility 105 can be
`installed at end user facility 300 or printing company facility
`400. For example, while the exemplary embodiment illus-
`trates DCM system 130 at central service facility 105, with
`access at end user facility 300.
`the
`Server 110 is a computer server, such as,
`commercially-available Sun Microsystems E6500 Enter-
`prise server. Server 110 includes multiple input/output (I/O)
`boards and runs a software application, such as FullPress,
`commercially-available from Xinet. Server 110 also
`includes redundant and hot-swappable hardware, allowing
`failed equipment to be replaced without interruption. That is,
`replacement can be accomplished without turning power off.
`While the exemplary embodiment
`includes a particular
`computer server and software, server 110 is alternatively any
`scalable, enterprise computer server and can run any of a
`variety of application programs. For example, while server
`110 preferably operates using FullPress software, any open
`prepress interface (OPI) software can be used. OPI software
`provides Macintosh desktop computers or other types of
`computers which are connected to remote network 160 with
`access to server 110. OPI software also swaps low resolution
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`files to larger high resolution files. Other types of OPI
`software include IPT and Helios, both of which are available
`commercially.
`In general, HSM system 120 provides multi-tiered storage
`and automatic archiving and backup of electronic files
`communicated across private network 160 or public network
`190. In one embodiment, HSM system 120 includes redun-
`dant arrays of inexpensive disks (RAID) fiber channel
`storage, which is highly scaleable and storage area network
`(SAN) capable.
`In this embodiment, HSM system 120
`includes a capacity of greater than a Terabyte of RAID
`storage. Advantageously, the speed and high capacity of the
`RAID storage in HSM system 120 provides for storage and
`retrieval of high resolution images and other large files.
`In the exemplary embodiment, HSM system 120 also
`includes a magneto-optical jukebox and digital linear tape
`(DLT), which provide additional storage capacity. Both are
`commercially available. The magneto-optical jukebox and
`the DLT provide redundancy of files stored in RAID storage.
`That is, electronic files stored in RAID storage are copied
`into the magneto-optical jukebox and DLT. Such redun-
`dancy provides for a low risk of lost files. The DLT has
`slower access speed in comparison to other storage struc-
`tures in the exemplary embodiment of HSM system 120.
`HSM system 120 is illustrated and described in greater detail
`with reference to FIGS. 3 and 10.
`
`Digital content management (DCM) system 130 includes
`a computer server 131 running software which manages the
`digital files communicated to and from local network 150. In
`the exemplary embodiment, DCM system 130 includes two
`Sun MicroSystem Solaris servers: an Ultra2 and a Sparc
`1000. DCM system 130 provides multi processing, multi-
`user access, high input/output capabilities, security, and
`stability. In an alternative embodiment, DCM system 130
`employs server 110 as one main server. In the exemplary
`embodiment, DCM server 131 is separate from the main
`server and enables additional
`testing, maintenance, and
`upgrades without affecting mission critical production
`requirements. DCM server 131 operates using a variety of
`image and database management software tools, including
`Oracle, Telescope, FullPress, Web Native, and Java.
`DCM server 131 preferably utilizes the operating system
`known as Solaris, a widely-used version of the UNIX
`operating system. In alternative embodiments, DCM server
`131 operates using a Microsoft NT server. DCM system 130
`is coupled t