Method and apparatus for processing and printing documents
US5867633A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/1247
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and system for efficient image handling. The invention includes an image server with which image files are registered. The image processing requests are sent to the image server to produce image data representing the processed image file. In one embodiment of the invention, a document processing application obtains an image file for printing. The application registers the image with the image server. The image server returns an identifier identifying the image file which is used for subsequent image processing requests. The application initiates a print job, sending the image identifier and selected print parameters to a printer driver. In response, the printer driver negotiates image processing requests with the image server to modify the image file in accordance with the selected print parameters. Finally, the processed image data is retrieved from the image server and sent to the printer. The image server and printer driver may be separate and independently executing processes. In an alternate embodiment, the application, image server and printer driver are loaded on two or more networked computers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.