The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 25, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 21, 2009
Lewis S. Snow, La Crescenta, CA (US);
James J. Quackenbush, Vernon, NJ (US);
Brian Engle, Clinton, NY (US);
Lawrence Flusser, Palos Verdes Estates, CA (US);
Arazik Khachatrian, Pittsford, NY (US);
Lewis S. Snow, La Crescenta, CA (US);
James J. Quackenbush, Vernon, NJ (US);
Brian Engle, Clinton, NY (US);
Lawrence Flusser, Palos Verdes Estates, CA (US);
Arazik Khachatrian, Pittsford, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
A machine-implemented method receives job specifications for at least one direct mail printing job from at least one user and creates at least one workflow related to the direct mail printing job. The workflow comprises at least one job activity. The method automatically transmits requests for bids on the job activities to entities for allowing the entities to bid on performing job activities within the workflow. Bids are received on the job activities from the entities and from rate cards previously established by the entities. The method identifies the lowest bids on an individual job activity-by job activity basis from the bids received from the entities and the rate cards and outputs the lowest bids to the user. The method receives an identification of a single selected entity to perform all activities within the workflow from the user and performing the workflow to output the direct-mail printing job through the selected entity.