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Deferred printing

  • US 5,881,213 A
  • Filed: 10/29/1997
  • Issued: 03/09/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a computer system having a computer running a program and a printer configured to receive print jobs in a device-specific format for executing print jobs, the program for directing print jobs each to a particular printer, a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

  • (a) in response to a first user request to print on the printer that identifies the printer among a plurality of printers, initiating a first print job from the program to print on the printer;

    (b) when the first print job is initiated, recognizing that the printer is coupled to the computer such that the computer can communicate with the printer;

    (c) in response to steps (a) and (b), spooling the print job to the printer in a device-specific format;

    (d) in response to a second user request to print on the printer that identifies the printer among a plurality of printers, initiating a second print job from the program to print on the printer;

    (e) when the second print job is initiated, recognizing that the printer is decoupled from the computer such that the computer cannot communicate with the printer; and

    (f) in response to steps (d) and (e), spooling the print job in a device-independent format rather than the device-specific format for later despooling when the printer is coupled to the computer.

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