Automated remote correction of preflight defects

A method of automatic correction of defects located in print jobs submitted by print buyers through the Internet to a print vendor having a preflight system, the method comprising:

• the preflight system assigning a job ID to the print job;
• the preflight system determining the format of the print job files;
• the preflight system comparing the print job files to the file formats supported by the preflight system;
• the preflight system determining whether the print job files are non-compliant with an associated file format supported by the preflight system in a manner that can be automatically corrected;
• wherein if the print job file content is non-compliant with the associated file format in a manner that can be automatically corrected:
• the preflight system creates a new auto-corrected print job file conforming the structure of the non-compliant print job file with the associated file format;
• the preflight system queries the print buyer to accept the auto-corrected print job file;
• and
• the preflight system terminates the print job if the print buyer does not accept the auto-corrected print job file;
• the preflight system querying whether the print job file is missing any resources;
• wherein if the print job file is missing resources:
• the preflight system queries the print buyer's computer for the missing resources;
• the preflight system prompts the print buyer to allow the print buyer's computer to upload the missing resource, if the missing resource is located on the print buyer's computer;
• or
• the preflight system prompts the print buyer to find the missing resources, if the missing resource is not located on the print buyer's computer;
• the preflight system querying whether the print job files include defects that can be manually corrected;
• wherein if the print job files include defects that can be manually corrected:
• the preflight system determining whether the preflight system supports the print job file format;
• and
• the preflight system terminating the print job if the print job file format is not supported by the preflight system;
• or
• the preflight system generating print job and application specific scripts to correct the defects if the print job file format is supported by the preflight system;
• and
• the preflight system sending the print job to the printer if no manual corrections are required.

A preflight system comprising:

• a computer that stores print jobs submitted by print buyers;
• a source application format database stored in the computer, the database containing data on source application file formats supported by the preflight system;
• an analyzer that
• assigns a job ID to each print job;
• compares the print job files to the file formats supported by the preflight system;
• determines whether the print job files are non-compliant with an associated file format supported by the preflight system in a manner that can be automatically corrected;
• automatically corrects the print job files if the print job file content is non-compliant with the associated file format in a manner that can be automatically corrected;
• queries whether the print job file is missing any resources;
• obtains resources if the print job file is missing resources;
• queries whether the print job files include defects that can be manually corrected;
• generates print job and application specific scripts to correct the defects that can be manually corrected;
• and
• sends the print job to the printer workflow if no manual corrections are required.