Database method and structure for a finishing system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For purposes of the present invention, the following definitions shall apply: A "document component" shall mean a collection of one or more sequential sheets of media that have similar qualities or characteristics and thus would be printed or non-printed and would be finished or produced in a similar manner.
Examples of document component types are covers, bodies and inserts.
When collected together in a specific order, a collection of document components may form a complete "document".
Each document component may require its own intermediate finishing operation before its final assembly/finishing into a "document".
For instance, a cover sheet may require lamination in an intermediate finishing process before conveyance to the final assembly/finishing apparatus.
A "document" shall mean a collection of one or more document components placed in a specific order and finished in a manner that relates the various document components to each other.
A "document form" shall refer to the manner in which the various components are finished into a composite form, including such operations as folding, cutting, stitching, binding, and gluing.
Each document form requires unique image imposition, printing, finishing process requirements and physical identifying characteristics.
The structure of most typical documents can be classified into one of 7 standard "document forms": Flats: One or more sheets of media, unfolded, that are either not bound together or are bound by means of a device such as a staple or a wire that penetrates the media from one side for the first sheet to the other side of the last sheet.
Signature: One or more sheets of media that are folded.
The sheets may or may not be stitched together but if they are, they are stitched on fold from outside to inside.
The images are imposed on the printed sheets of media such that after folding the images on the sheets from pages that are in the correct order for reading (readers spread).
Perfect Bound: Individual sheets of media grouped together or gathered signatures that are commonly glue-bound to a flexible, wrap-around cover which protects the body/contents