(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Vogt et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`US006611349B1
`
`6,101,513 A * 8/2000 Shakib ..................... .. 707/527
`6,119,133 A * 9/2000 Nusbickel
`707/205
`200355191335 if * 33881 E?
`333????
`>1 Cited by examiner
`
`,
`
`,
`
`a ey . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . ..
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GENERATING A
`PRINTING PLATE FILE IN REAL TIME
`USING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK
`(75) Inventors: Joyce E. Vogt, Waconia, MN (US);
`J e?'rey A. Bartol, New Hope, MN
`Primary Examiner—Jerome Grant, II
`(US); John H. Chase, stillwater, MN
`(US); Scott R, Rosenlund, Chaska, MN (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Foley & Lardner
`(Us)
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`(73) Assignee: Banta Corporatiom Menasha> WI (Us)
`Aprinting and publishing system which generates a printing
`_
`_
`_
`_
`_
`_
`plate-ready ?le from data provided remotely in real time
`(*) Nonce'
`Sub]eCt.tO any (élsglalmecriithe fiermgf ?g;
`using a communication network is disclosed herein. The
`gusenct lisi?gnbs 0311;; Juste un er
`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 opera
`tions allowing the design and construction of pages from
`images, text, and data available via said communication
`network. The central service facility provides storage, ?le
`processing, remote access, and content management opera
`tions- File processing operations include generating a plate
`ready ?le from Pages designed at Said end user facility The
`plate-ready ?le has a ?le format capable of high resolution
`and is ready for creation of a printing plate. The printing
`company facility provides printing operations for producing
`a printing plate from said plate-ready ?le.
`
`*
`
`a 0 ........................ ..
`
`(21) Appl- NOJ 09/365,365
`22 Fl (12
`L 30 1999
`(
`)
`1 6
`Ju
`’
`(51) Int. Cl.7 .............................................. .. G06K 15/00
`(52) US. Cl. .................................... .. 358/115; 358/118
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 358/115, 12,
`358/112, 118
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,067,406 A * 5/2000 Van Hoof et a1. ........ .. 395/102
`
`14 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
`
`PAGE DESIGN
`
`910
`
`ESTABLISHING LINKS TO IMAGING FILES ‘\
`920
`
`CONTENT REVIEWED
`
`PAGE PRINTED TO
`"THIN" POSTSCRIPT FILE
`
`PAGE CONVERTED TO
`"FAT" POSTSCRIPT FILE
`
`PDF FILE CREATED FROM
`FAT POSTSCRIPT FILE
`
`930
`
`940
`
`950
`
`960
`
`PDF FILE CONVERTED TO POSTSCRIPT
`FILE FOR PLATE CREATION
`'\
`970
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 2
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 3
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 4
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 4 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 5
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 5 0f 19
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`US 6,611,349 B1
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 6
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 6
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`CLIENT PROVIDES DIGITAL FILES OR TRANSPARENCIES FOR SCANNING
`
`\
`610
`
`II
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY STORES HIGH RES ON SERVER AND GENERATES LOW RES \
`615
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY LOGS FILES INTO DCM SERVER
`
`I
`
`CLIENT BUILDS PAGE LAYOUT
`
`I
`
`CLIENT SEARCHES DATABASE AND DRAGS & DROPS ELEMENTS INTO LAYOUT
`
`II
`CLIENT PRINTS POSTSCRIPT TO A SPOOLER ON THE SERVER
`
`\
`620
`
`\
`625
`
`\
`630
`
`\
`635
`
`SERVER AT CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SWAPS OUT LOW RES FOR HIGH
`AND GENERATES PDF FILES
`
`\640
`
`I
`PDF FILE IS FORWARDED TO REMOTE PROOFING DEVICE VIA COMMUNICATION LINK \
`
`PDF FILE IS IMAGED TO PROOFER AT CLIENT SITE
`
`FINISHED PLATE-READY FILES ARE SENT TO PRINTER VIA COMM LINK
`
`645
`
`\
`650
`
`\
`655
`
`PRINTING CUSTOMER FACILITY IMAGES APPROVED PAGES TO PLATE AND PRINTS JOB \
`660
`
`FIG. 6
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 7 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`PRINTING COMPANY SCANS PAGE LAYOUT IMAGES OR
`RECEIVES DIGITAL RGB IMAGES AND/OR PRINTING \
`COMPANY RECEIVES DIGITAL FILES FROM ITS CLIENT
`710
`
`I
`
`PRINTING COMPANY SENDS FILES TO CENTRAL
`SERVICE FACILITY VIA COMMUNICATION LINK \
`715
`
`I
`PRINTING COMPANY WRITES FILES TO HSM SYSTEM AT
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY WHERE A CORRESPONDING \
`LOW RES IMAGE IS CREATED
`720
`
`I
`
`PRINTING COMPANY UPDATES LINKS TO LOW RES
`IMAGES PROVIDED IN LAYOUT
`
`\
`725
`
`PRINTING COMPANY
`FACILITY MAKES
`
`
`
`CORRECTIONS BASED ON PROOF
`
`I
`
`\
`727
`
`PRINTING COMPANY PRINTS POSTSCRIPT FILE TO A
`SPOOLER ON CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SERVER \730
`
`I
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SWAPS OUT LOW RES FOR m
`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
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26,2003
`
`Sheet 8 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`I
`
`I
`
`PDF FILE IS IMAGED TO PROOFING DEVICE AT PRINTING
`COMPANY FACILITY AND SENT VIA PACK AND SHIP
`COURIER TO ITS CLIENT
`
`II
`
`CLIENT APPROVES PROOFS OR MAKES NECESSARY
`CORRECTIONS
`
`I
`
`CLIENT SHIPS MARKED UP PROOF BACK TO PRINTING
`COMPANY FACILITY FOR REVISION CYCLE
`
`FINISHED PLATE-READY FILES ARE GENERATED AT
`PRINTING COMPANY FACILITY
`
`I
`
`PRINTING COMPANY ENTERS PLATE-READY FILES
`INTO DCM DATABASE
`
`II
`PDF FILES ARE DIGITALLY IMPOSED AT PRINTING
`COMPANY FACILITY AND ARE PROCESSED IN VIRTUAL
`PROOFING SOFTWARE (VPS) PREVIEW FILES
`
`I
`PRINTING COMPANY IMAGES IMPOSED PREVIEW FILES
`TO INK JET PROOF AND PLATES FINAL PAGES
`WHEN APPROVED
`
`FIG. 78
`
`745
`
`750
`
`755
`
`765
`
`770
`
`775
`
`780
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 9 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY sCANs FAGE LAYOUT
`IMAGES oR RECEIVES DIGITAL RGB IMAGES AND/OR
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY RECEIVES
`DIGITAL FILES FROM END USER FACILITY
`
`\
`810
`
`II
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY WRITES FILES TO HSM
`SYSTEM WHERE A CORRESPONDING LOW RES IMAGE “\
`IS CREATED
`815
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY UPDATES LINKS TO LOW
`RES IMAGES PROVIDED IN LAYOUT
`
`\
`820
`
`I
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY PRINTS POSTSCRIPT
`FILE TO A SPOOLER ON SERVER
`
`\825
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE
`FACILITY MAKES
`CORRECTIONS
`BASED ON PROOF
`
`I
`
`\
`827
`
`CENTRAL SERVICE FACILITY SWAPS OUT LOW RES FOR
`HIGH RES AND GENERATES PDF FILE
`
`\830
`
`I
`
`PDF FILE IS WRITTEN TO sERvER AS THE
`FINAL PLATE-READY FILE
`
`\
`835
`
`II
`
`IMAGE TO PROOFING DEVICE AT END USER FACILITY -\
`840
`
`To 855
`I
`TO 845
`
`To FIG. 88
`
`FIG. 8A
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 10 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`IMAGE TO PROOFING DEVICE AT
`PRINTING COMPANY FACILITY
`
`END USER FACILITY RECEIVES PROOFS FROM PRINTING
`COMPANY FACILITY VIA PACK AND SHIP COURIER
`
`I
`END USER FACILITY APPROVES PROOFS AND MAKES
`REVISIONS TO IMAGED FILE
`
`I
`
`FINISHED PLATE-READY FILES ARE GENERATED AT
`PRINTING COMPANY FACILITY
`
`PRINTING COMPANY ENTERS PLATE-READY FILES
`INTO DCM DATABASE
`
`I
`PDF FILES ARE DIGITALLY IMPOSED AT PRINTING
`COMPANY FACILITY AND ARE PROCESSED IN VIRTUAL
`PROOFING SOFTWARE (VPS) PREVIEW FILES
`
`II
`PRINTING COMPANY IMAGES IMPOSED PREVIEW FILES
`TO INK JET PROOF AND PLATES FINAL PAGES
`WHEN APPROVED
`
`II
`PRINTING COMPANY IMAGES IMPOSED PREVIEW FILES
`TO INK JET PROOF AND PLATES FINAL PAGES
`WHEN APPROVED
`
`FIG. 88
`
`845
`
`850
`
`855
`
`870
`
`875
`
`880
`
`885
`
`885
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 11 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`PAGE DESIGN
`
`'\
`910
`
`ESTABLISHING LINKS TO IMAGING FILEs '\
`920
`
`I
`
`CONTENT REvIEwED
`
`\
`93o
`
`PAGE PRINTED To
`"THIN" POSTSCRIPT FILE \
`940
`
`1
`
`PAGE CONVERTED TO
`"FAT" POSTSCRIPT FILE
`
`\
`950
`
`I
`
`PDF FILE CREATED FROM
`FAT POSTSCRIPT FILE
`
`\
`960
`
`PDF FILE CONVERTED TO POSTSCRIPT
`FILE FOR PLATE CREATION
`‘\970
`
`FIG. 9
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 12 of 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 13
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 13
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 13 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`mm?
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`3: $20530
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 14 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`SIMPLE
`
`ADVANCED
`
`sIMPLE SEARCH
`
`SEARCH TYPE: NEW SEARCH ?
`
`[UNI]
`
`BROWSE
`SELECTION
`VIEW
`SLCT ALL
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`L AD
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`DELETE
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`FILE NAME
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`FILE LOCATION
`SKU
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`PRODUCT NAME
`PRODUCT DSCRPT
`
`FIG. 12
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 15 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`\
`
`TILE vlEw
`
`SINGLE CLMN i PREVIEW
`
`UPDATE SELECTION
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`QIEEEIED
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`{1310
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`FILE NAME SKU RLTDSKU PRODUCT IMGSTOWEB
`U Gs10222 10-22
`10-223
`Beanbags 2
`[1 es10224
`1024 6510-230 Beanbags 3
`[:1 (58102281
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`5 05102202 1029 saw-229 Beanbags a
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`1
`‘:l GS10232 10234 GB10-233 DanceKit 0
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`FIG. 13
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`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 16 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`[UNI
`
`TILE VIEW
`
`SINGLE CLMN TEXT VIEW
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`PREVIEW
`
`1400
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`4
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 17 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`I
`
`ID |I:I
`
`TILE vIEw SINGLE CLMN TEXT vIEw
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`PREVIEW
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`1502
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`LONG NAME
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`10-22
`sIzE/ INFO
`RLTD SKU
`10-2235
`CREATED
`IMGS To WEB 3
`COLORS
`USER NOTES
`BEANBAGS sIzEs
`PRODUCT
`SELECTU PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
`NYLON BEANBAGS
`1508
`1516 1518
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`FILE NAME I Cs10224
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`10-224
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`\1528
`
`5583915
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`15 0
`
`1522
`1524
`1526
`
`FIG. 15
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 26, 2003
`
`Sheet 18 0f 19
`
`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`IDENTIFY ASSETS OR FILES
`
`_\
`1602
`
`CATALOG OR IMPORT ASSETS OR FILES
`
`ESTABLISH METADATA FIELDS
`
`I
`
`POPULATE METADATA FIELDS
`
`I
`
`DETERMINE USERS, PERMISSIONS, AND PRIVILEGES
`
`1604
`
`\
`1606
`
`1608
`
`1610
`
`I
`
`ESTABLISH SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES \ 2
`161
`
`ESTABLISH ASSET DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURES
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 19
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 26, 2003
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`Sheet 19 0f 19
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`US 6,611,349 B1
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`LOG ON
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`INITIALIZE END USER BROWSER
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`INITIALIZE SEARCH
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`l
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`CONFIGURE BROWSER FOR SEARCH
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`l
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`CREATE QUERY
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`RETURN QUERY RESULTS
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 20
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`

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`US 6,611,349 B1
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`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GENERATING A
`PRINTING PLATE FILE IN REAL TIME
`USING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK
`
`FIEI D OF TTIE 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 TIIE INVENTION
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`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
`orientation. Imposition is particularly important in the cre-
`ation 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 “workflow”.
`Indeed, no conventional system combines prepress, content
`management, infrastructure (server, storage & distribution)
`and workflow services.
`
`Conventional printing and publishing systems generally
`include Macintosh computers or workstations which COIH-
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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 lP (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 workflow. 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. llu rther, 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 acoessible 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 which generates a printing plate-ready file
`from data provided remotely in real time using a commu-
`nication 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 central service facility
`provides storage, file processing, remote access, and content
`management operations. File processing operations include
`generating a plate-ready file from pages designed at said end
`user facility. The plate—ready file has a file format capable of
`high resolution and is ready for creation of a printing plate.
`The printing company facility provides printing operations
`for producing a printing plate from said plate-ready file.
`Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method
`of generating a plate-re ady file configured for the creation of
`
`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 21
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 21
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`

`

`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`3
`a printing plate, said plate—ready file being associated with
`page layouts and being provided in real time from a remote
`location using a communication network. The method
`includes remotely providing access to imaging files for
`searching and retrieving images used in the design of a page
`layout by a remote user; establishing links to said imaging
`files, thereby creating a thin Postscript file from the page
`layout design by the remote user; parsing said thin Postscript
`file to extract data associated with low resolution images and
`replace with high resolution data, thereby forming a fat
`Postscript file; creating a portable document format (PDF)
`file from said fat Postscript file; and converting said PDF file
`to a file in plate—ready format.
`Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method
`of generating a plate-ready file configured for the creation of
`a printing plate, said plate-ready file being associated with
`page layouts and being provided in real time from a remote
`location using a communication network. The method
`includes storing high resolution files on a computer server,
`generating low resolution files corresponding to said high
`resolution files, providing said low resolution file to a remote
`client so that the designing of the page layout via a com-
`munication network, generating a plate—ready file from the
`page layout design by said remote client, and providing said
`plate-ready file to a remote printer.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`4
`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 workflow 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 'l‘CP/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 [60 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—l
`lines, Bonded
`T1 lines, and any other dedicated network connection.
`Considerations for the type of network connection used are
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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 22
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`FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical representation of a series of
`printing and publishing systems coupled together via a
`communication network for providing prepress, conten
`management, infrastructure, and workfiow within one inter—
`connected printing and publishing system;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing anc pu31ishing
`system shown in FIG. 1,
`illustrating certain functiona
`components of an exemplary embodiment of tie end user
`facility and the central service facility;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printing anc pu31ishing
`system shown in FIG. 1,
`illustrating certain functiona
`components of a second exemplary embodiment of the enc
`user facility and the central service facility;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the printing anc pu31ishing
`system shown in FIG. 1,
`illustrating certain functiona
`components of an exemplary embodiment of he printing
`company facility and the central service facility;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the printing anc pu31ishing
`system shown in FIG. 1,
`illustrating certain operationa
`components of an exemplary embodiment of tie end user
`facility, the printing company facility, and the centra 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
`workflow 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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`PETITIONERS Ex. 1001, p. 22
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`

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`US 6,611,349 B1
`
`5
`related to data capacity or speed. DS3 lines, for example,
`provide for an operational speed of 44.736 MBps.
`Alternatively, 0C}, 0C12, 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-l. 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 (IF), 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. Olfsite 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 cori-
`nected via a minimum of a DS3 communication connection.
`
`In the exemplary embodiment, backups of files are created
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`at 0 site 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 Microsystenls E6500 Enter-
`prise server. Server 110 includes multiple input/output (I/O)
`boards and runs a software application, such as FullPress,
`cornrnercially-available froni Xinet. Server 110 also
`includes redundant and hotswappable 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 DI_T 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 DL'l' has
`slower access speed in comparison to other storage struc—
`tures in the exemplary embodiment of HSM system 120.
`llSM system 120 is