Method and apparatus for automatically managing capabilities in a virtual printer group

• US 20020116439A1
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiery LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronics For Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Hartzel, Nick, Vidyanand, Ramgopal, Motamed, Margaret, Someshwar, Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1276 within a printer driver, e.g. driver resides either on a server or on a client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

A method for dynamically managing printers comprises a mechanism for printing from a network of printers that belong to a virtual printer group to meet the user'"'"'s request for printing. The invention does this by requesting an options and capabilities file from each printer and then generating a virtual printer group, such that when a user wants to print a file, the invention looks for the best suited printer for the user and sends a file to that printer for printing. The invention has the capability to keep track of each printer'"'"'s printing capabilities dynamically and to communicate to the user about the status of printing and printer location, and of informing a system administrator for manual intervention should the need arise.

Claims

1. A software implemented method for dynamic management of a work flow in a system for printing documents, comprising:

accessing a multiplicity of printers for a printer capabilities file, describing capabilities and/or status that is unique to each printer, said printers being part of a virtual printer group;

merging said printer capabilities to create a super print capabilities file;

said client sending a print command to said virtual printer group with a set of printing options;

said software matching said print options from said client to said super print capabilities file of said printers in said virtual printer group; and

said software executing said print command on one or more appropriate printers.

2. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said accessing a multiplicity of printers for printer capabilities file comprises invoking a printing protocol.

3. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said accessing a multiplicity of printers for printer capabilities file comprises obtaining a Printer Postscript Definition file.

4. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said accessing a multiplicity of printers for printer capabilities file comprises obtaining a list of printer options.

5. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said accessing a multiplicity of printers for printer capabilities file comprises obtaining a Job Definition File.

6. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said accessing a multiplicity of printers for printer capabilities file comprises obtaining a Printer Job Language File.

7. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining printer tuning options.

8. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining media size options.

9. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining tray selection options.

10. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining color rendering options.

11. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining staple options.

12. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining split sheet options.

13. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining a bypass tray option to put cards.

14. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining orientation options.

15. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining cover insert options.

16. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining color brightness options.

17. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining toner reduction options.

18. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining number of copies options.

19. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining page range options.

20. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining page order options.

21. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining liner per inch options.

22. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining job fonts options.

23. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining duplex options.

24. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining scale to fit option.

25. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining scale to percent options.

26. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining rotate options.

27. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining face down option.

28. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining glossy adjust options.

29. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining gradation smoothing options.

30. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining ink separation options.

31. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining screening parameters option.

32. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining calibration of printer options.

33. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining calibration of monitor options.

34. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining folding options.

35. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining binding options.

36. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining collating options.

37. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining booklet options.

38. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining slip-sheet options.

39. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining drilling options.

40. A software implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein obtaining

a list of printer options comprises obtaining trimming options.

41. A software implemented method for dynamic management of a work flow for printing documents, comprising:

accessing a multiplicity of printers for printer capabilities file, said printers being part of a virtual printer group;

merging said printer capabilities to create a super print capabilities file;

a client sending a print command to said virtual printer group with a set of printing options;

said software matching said print options from said client to said super print capabilities file of said printers in said virtual printer group;

said software executing said print command; and

said software checking an internal database should printer of a known printer type not respond with said printer capabilities file.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising said software matching said known printer type with a known Printer Postscript Definition file should the printer of said known printer type not respond with said printer capabilities file.

43. A method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising said software checking with an administrator to use a default capabilities file should the printer of said known printer type not respond with said printer capabilities file.

44. A software implemented method for dynamic management of work flow for printing documents comprising:

accessing a multiplicity of printers for printer capabilities file, said printers being part of a virtual printer group;

merging said printer capabilities to create a super print capabilities file;

said client sending a print command to said virtual printer group with a set of printing options;

said software matching said print options from said client to said super print capabilities file of said printers in said virtual printer group;

said software executing said print command; and

said software sending an electronic message to the client when printing is completed.

45. A software implemented method as in claim 44, further comprising said

software sending an electronic message to the client about a location of the printer where said printing is executed.

46. A software implemented method as in claim 45, further comprising said

software sending an electronic message to the client about any changes in job status.

47. An apparatus for handling a plurality of print jobs from a plurality of clients, comprising:

a job accessing module for accessing a multiplicity of printers have a capabilities file for each printer'"'"'s capabilities file, said printers being part of a virtual printer group;

a job merging module for merging said printer capabilities to create a super print capabilities file;

a printer manager for sending print commands to said virtual printer group with a set of printing options; and

a matching module for matching said print options to said super print capabilities file of said printers in said virtual printer group;

wherein one or more printers in said virtual printer group which match said print optionsexecuting said print command.