Methods and apparatus for routing pages to printers in a multi-print engine as a function of print job parameters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A printing method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of bit-mapped pages, each page comprising an associated print job parameter, the plurality of bit-mapped pages including a first bit-mapped page from a first document and a second bit-mapped page from a second document;
creating a virtual job stack comprising the first bit-mapped page;
merging the second bit-mapped page into the virtual job stack to create a single virtual print job; and
distributing the bit-mapped images from the single virtual print job to a plurality of print engines for printing.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are described for routing page data of a print job to printers in a multi-engine printing system based on print job parameters associated with the page data. One or more virtual printers are configured, each with a plurality of individual print engines, each having associated printing characteristics. Page data of the print job are rasterized and stored as bit-mapped images in print buffers associated with the multi-engine printing system. The bit-mapped images are distributed to select ones of the print engines based on matching the print job parameters of each bit-mapped image with the printing characteristics of the print engines to be selected.
140 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A printing method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of bit-mapped pages, each page comprising an associated print job parameter, the plurality of bit-mapped pages including a first bit-mapped page from a first document and a second bit-mapped page from a second document; creating a virtual job stack comprising the first bit-mapped page; merging the second bit-mapped page into the virtual job stack to create a single virtual print job; and distributing the bit-mapped images from the single virtual print job to a plurality of print engines for printing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A printing system comprising:
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a memory comprising a plurality of bit-mapped pages, each page comprising an associated print job parameter, the plurality of bit-mapped pages including a first bit-mapped page from a first document and a second bit-mapped page from a second document; a means for creating a virtual job stack comprising the first bit-mapped page; a means for merging the second bit-mapped page into the virtual job stack to create a single virtual print job; and a means for distributing the bit-mapped images from the single virtual print job to a plurality of print engines for printing. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification