System for processing print jobs
View Patent ↗A flexible and extensible job processing system is described. A print job processing server manages a plurality of data receivers and printer emulators. Data receivers receive jobs from the print job originators, such as print servers. The printer emulators convert the jobs into a plurality of intermediate output formats, with error, status and control information being available for both storage and reporting back to the print job originator. A user interface client is used to communicate with a plurality of job processing systems. The client can be used to view and possibly edit the job and device information available by the print job originator, configure the printer emulators in the system and the system itself, view the job status and error information, including printer traces, and view and possibly edit the data output of the printer emulator. The system uses the output of the printer emulators for a variety of purposes, such as driving output devices. Configurable actions are taken on the data and status information as they are generated by the printer emulators.
1. Apparatus comprising:
at least one receiver enabling communication with a print job originator and which receives print data, obtains resources and reports error and status information;
at least one printer emulator communicating with said at least one receiver to process print jobs into a plurality of output formats; and
a control server communicating with said at least one receiver to instantiate and configure said printer emulator and manage control flow therefor and other processes executed by said apparatus and respond to commands and queries, wherein the apparatus is capable of handling print jobs of arbitrary complexity, wherein a plurality of printer emulators is used to generate output data of specified structure based on the nature of a plurality of post processors, and further wherein said plurality of post processors can process the printer emulator data at full speed consistent with their respective device capabilities.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a print server functioning as the print job originator and wherein said receiver queries said print server to obtain job and device configuration data.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiver obtains job and device configuration data which is embedded into a print data stream delivered thereto.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiver retains error and/or status information.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said printer emulator is integrated with said receiver.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said printer emulator generates a plurality of output formats to user specifications having at least a selected one of different data formats, different color spaces, and different resolutions.
7. Apparatus comprising:
a system using printer emulators to process print jobs;
a control server enabled to configure at least one printer emulator; and
a client allowing a user to view and manipulate the print jobs in the system, wherein said client is enabled to configure each print emulator, wherein the apparatus is capable of handling print jobs of arbitrary complexity, wherein a plurality of said printer emulators is used to generate output data of specified structure based on the nature of a plurality of post processors, and further wherein said plurality of post processors can process the printer emulator data at full speed consistent with their respective device capabilities.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said client is enabled to communicate with a plurality of job processing systems.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said client is enabled to generate processing directives for reprocessing an original job.
10. Apparatus comprising:
an information handling system having at least one printer emulator effective to process print jobs;
at least one post processor operatively communicating with said information handling system and acting on the output of said printer emulator; and
a control system communicating with said post processor to control the configuration of the said post processor, wherein the apparatus is capable of handling print jobs of arbitrary complexity wherein a plurality of said printer emulators is used to generate output data of specified structure based on the nature of a plurality of said post processors, and further wherein said plurality of post processors can process the printer emulator data at full speed consistent with their respective device capabilities.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said post processor has backward status and error communication and further wherein output from said printer emulator output is presented to said post processor, wherein said post processor is different from a virtual printer, and wherein the virtual printer comprises a receiver and the at least one printer emulator.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said print emulator processes the entirety of a print job before submitting the print job to said post processor.
13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein where said print emulator submits a print job to said post processor during generation thereof by said print emulator.
14. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least one post processor is a printer or print server.