Method and apparatus for routing pages to printers in a multi-print engine as a function of print job parameters
US6606165B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 12, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for routing page data of a print job to the printers in a multi-print engine based on print job parameters associated with the page data of the print job is disclosed. 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, downloaded from a print file and having the print job parameters associated therewith, is rasterized and stored as bit-mapped images in print buffers associated with the multi-engined printing system. The bit-mapped images are distributed to select ones of the print engines based upon matching the print job parameters of each bit-mapped images with the printing characteristics of the print engine to be selected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.