Print model that allows direct job submission to physical printer objects while preserving job defaulting, validation and scheduling
First Claim
1. A method of processing print jobs comprising the steps of:
- receiving a print job at a physical printer, the physical printer representing capabilities of an associated output device;
creating an association between the print job and the physical printer; and
routing the print job from the physical printer to a predetermined logical printer representing an abstract set of job and output device capabilities.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A print model is provided that supports job submission to either physical or logical printer objects while preserving job defaulting, validation, and scheduling. According to one aspect of the present invention physical printers, e.g., objects representing the capabilities of associated output devices, may be the target of print job submissions. When a print job is received at a physical printer, an association is created between the print job and the physical printer. Then, the print job is routed from the physical printer to a predetermined logical printer, e.g., an object representing an abstract set of job and output device capabilities. According to another aspect of the present invention, an improved print server includes multiple physical printer objects that may serve as targets of print job submissions. The physical printer objects each correspond to an associated output device and each include an attribute that identifies a logical printer object, if any, through which print jobs may flow to the physical printer object. Additionally, each physical printer object is configured to create an association between print jobs submitted to the physical printer object and the physical printer object. Furthermore, each physical printer object is configured to transfer the print jobs to the logical printer object identified by the attribute. The print server also includes one or more logical printer objects. The logical printer objects are coupled to the physical printer objects and are configured to schedule the print jobs on the physical printer objects with which the print jobs are associated.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of processing print jobs comprising the steps of:
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receiving a print job at a physical printer, the physical printer representing capabilities of an associated output device;
creating an association between the print job and the physical printer; and
routing the print job from the physical printer to a predetermined logical printer representing an abstract set of job and output device capabilities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
the physical printer querying the queue for the information indicative of the logical printer; and
the physical printer transferring the print job to the logical printer.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein a mapping is maintained which contains information indicative of a logical printer, if any, through which jobs may flow to the physical printer and wherein the step of routing the print job from the physical printer to a predetermined logical printer comprises the physical printer transferring the print job to the logical printer based upon the mapping.
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10. The method of claim 1, wherein the print job includes an attribute that identifies one or more physical printers as candidates for printing the job, and wherein the step of creating an association between the print job and the physical printer comprises setting the attribute in the print job to a name of the physical printer.
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11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of validating the print job by comparing one or more attribute values associated with the print job with attributes values supported by the predetermined logical printer and the physical printer.
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12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of assigning values to one or more job attributes or document attributes that are unspecified, the values based upon information associated with the predetermined logical printer.
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13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of transferring the print job to a queue for scheduling.
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14. The method of claim 13, wherein the output device comprises a hard copy printer, and wherein the method further comprising the steps of:
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receiving the print job at the physical printer; and
preparing a document associated with the print job for output by creating a data stream supported by the hard copy printer.
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15. A method of processing a print job comprising the steps of:
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receiving a print job at a physical printer, the physical printer representing capabilities of an associated output device, the physical printer including an attribute that identifies a logical printer to which the physical printer is assigned, if any;
creating an association between the print job and the physical printer;
routing the print job to the logical printer identified by the attribute of the physical printer;
validating the print job; and
transferring the print job to a queue for scheduling. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A print server comprising:
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a plurality of physical printer objects each corresponding to an associated output device, each of the physical printer objects including an attribute that identifies a logical printer object, if any, through which print jobs may flow to the physical printer object, each of the physical printer objects are configured to create an association between print jobs submitted to the physical printer object and the physical printer object and configured to transfer the print jobs to the logical printer object identified by the attribute; and
one or more logical printer objects coupled to the plurality of physical printer objects, the one or more logical printer objects configured to schedule the print jobs on the physical printer object with which the print jobs are associated. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, said sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to perform the steps of:
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receiving a print job at a physical printer, the physical printer representing capabilities of an associated output device;
creating an association between the print job and the physical printer; and
routing the print job from the physical printer to a predetermined logical printer representing an abstract set of job and output device capabilities. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
receiving the print job at the physical printer; and
preparing a document associated with the print job for output by creating a data stream supported by the hard copy printer.
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32. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, said sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to perform the steps of:
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receiving a print job at a physical printer, the physical printer representing capabilities of an associated output device, the physical printer including an attribute that identifies a logical printer, if any, through which print jobs may flow to the physical printer;
creating an association between the print job and the physical printer;
routing the print job to the logical printer identified by the attribute of the physical printer;
validating the print job; and
transferring the print job to a queue for scheduling. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification