Customer-configurable print workflow system

A system for workflow processing, the system comprising:

• a network storage system adapted to include a database for storing one or more workflow models and for storing job information relating to AFP print jobs to be processed in accordance with a corresponding workflow model;
• and
• a server coupled to the network storage system and adapted to display one or more configurable templates stored in the database, wherein each of the configurable templates comprises one of:
• a configurable phase template, a configurable process template, or a configurable step template, wherein each configurable phase template comprises one or more configurable process templates, and wherein each configurable process template comprises one or more step templates,
• wherein the server is further adapted to receive user input selecting one of the one or more configurable templates, is further adapted to receive user input to alter an attribute value and/or a parameter value of the selected configurable template to generate a new configurable template, and is further adapted to add the new configurable template in the database as one of the one or more configurable templates,
• wherein the server is further adapted to define constraints associated with the one or more configurable step templates, wherein the constraints include:
• a phase-step constraint defining a placement within a phase for a step defined in the step template;
• and
• an attribute constraint defining that an attribute in the step template that has a user-defined value,
• wherein the server is further adapted to validate the configurable step template of the workflow model by applying the defined constraints,
• wherein the server is further adapted to execute AFP print jobs using the job information in the database and the workflow model in the database, and is further adapted to generate and modify workflow models stored in the database,
• wherein the server is further adapted to generate the workflow models from the one or more configurable templates,
• wherein the workflow model is a print model,
• wherein the configurable phase template defines one or more phases of printing the print job,
• wherein the configurable process template defines one or more processes of the one or more phases of printing the print job,
• wherein the configurable step template represents one or more steps in the one or more processes of printing the print job, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• displaying, by operation of the server, a current status of the AFP print job using job information in the database, wherein the current status is indicated as a current phase for the AFP print job and a current step for the AFP print job,
• wherein each phase generated from a configurable phase template is a phase selected from a group consisting of:
• receive phase, prepare phase, enhance phase, print phase, insert phase, reconcile phase, and complete phase.

A computer implemented method for workflow processing, the method comprising:

• displaying, by operation of a server, one or more configurable templates stored in the database, wherein each of the configurable templates comprises one of:
• a configurable phase template, a configurable process template, or a configurable step template, wherein each configurable phase template comprises one or more configurable process templates, and wherein each configurable process template comprises one or more configurable step templates;
• receiving, by operation of the server, user input selecting one of the one or more configurable templates;
• receiving, by operation of the server, user input to alter an attribute value and/or a parameter value of the selected configurable template to generate a new configurable template;
• adding, by operation of the server, the new configurable template in the database as one of the one or more configurable templates;
• configuring, by operation of a server, a workflow model based on the one or more configurable templates;
• storing, by operation of the server, the configured workflow model in a database;
• generating, by operation of the server, job information about AFP print job wherein the AFP print job is associated with the generated workflow model;
• storing, by operation of the server, the job information in the database;
• defining constraints associated with the one or more configurable step templates, wherein the constraints include:
• a phase-step constraint defining a placement within a phase for a step defined in the step template;
• and
• an attribute constraint defining that an attribute in the step template that has a user-defined value;
• validating the configurable step template in the workflow model by applying the defined constraints;
• and
• executing the AFP print job using the job information in the database and using the workflow model in the database,
• wherein the workflow model is a print model,
• wherein the configurable phase template defines one or more phases of printing the print job,
• wherein the configurable process template defines one or more processes of the one or more phases of printing the print job,
• wherein the configurable step template represents one or more steps in the one or more processes of printing the print job, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• displaying, by operation of the server, a current status of the AFP print job using job information in the database, wherein the current status is indicated as a current phase for the AFP print job and a current step for the AFP print job,
• wherein each phase generated from a configurable phase template is a phase selected from a group consisting of:
• receive phase, prepare phase, enhance phase, print phase, insert phase, reconcile phase, and complete phase.