System and method of processing print order requests

摘要

This invention relates to a system and method of processing print order requests in a print system comprising a central print controller, a plurality of remote print customers and a plurality of remote print suppliers, the central print controller being connected to the plurality of remote print customers and the plurality of remote print suppliers by way of a communications network. Print customers transmit their print order requests to one central print controller. The central print controller will have information relating to a number of print suppliers stored in the central print controller database and can ascertain which of the print suppliers is the most suitable print supplier for executing a particular order. The central print controller is able to obtain the different protocols and data formats used in the proprietary database systems of the print supplier from its own central print controller database and may then format the print order request into a format suitable for receipt by the print supplier.