Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-15
2001-01-09
Feild, Joseph H. (Department: 2776)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173295
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a job ticket that includes information describing the components and print attributes of a print job and, in particular, to a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for creating a job ticket using a graphical user interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Network printing systems generally comprise an assemblage of different printers, client computers, servers, and other components connected over a network. A print job is assembled at a client computer and transmitted over the network to a server linked to a variety of printers. The printers may have different printing capabilities. Thus, for a given submitted print job, some printers in the network may not be able to process the print job. To route print jobs through a network printing system, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides Printing Systems Manager (PSM) products that provide centralized and distributed management of a network printing system. The IBM PSM systems manage the flow of print jobs and insure that a print job is routed to a printer that can handle the job.
A print job is comprised of one or more electronically-stored files and the print attributes therefor. The print attributes inform the printer how to process the files. To assemble print jobs, prior art systems include software installed on the client computer that displays a graphical user interface (GUI). Using a mouse, keyboard, etc., the user selects from a menu of options displayed in the GUI the components and print attributes for a print job. The client computer, under control of the installed software, would then create an electronically-stored job ticket based on the information entered by the user.
Job tickets typically only define the print attributes for a single file. However, a document may be comprised of multiple files, each having one or more print attributes. In the prior art, an user putting together a document comprised of multiple files would have to manually keep track of the location of the different files and manually assemble the files for printing. Moreover, the user would have to insure that the job tickets submitted for each file include the proper print attributes. Print jobs comprised of multiple documents, which are further comprised of multiple files, only increase the complexity of the user's task. Thus, there is a need in the art for network printing systems that eliminate these problems and facilitate the printing of complex documents comprised of multiple files stored throughout the network printing system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To address the requirements described above, the present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for creating a job ticket on a computer, wherein the job ticket includes information on components and print attributes of a print job. The created job ticket includes an identification record including information identifying the job ticket, a document record including information on a document included in the print job and print attributes for the document, and an item record including information on an item that is a component of the document and print attributes for the item. The item record is arranged in a lower hierarchical relationship to the document record. Further, the print attributes for the document apply to the item. After creating the job ticket, the present invention processes the job ticket and, then, transmits the processed job ticket to a printer.
In alternative embodiments, the step of creating the job ticket may further include the step of creating a record including information on scheduling options for the print job. In still further embodiments, the item record identifies a file stored in a computer readable medium and information on the location of the file. The computer would process the job ticket and access the file based on the file location information. The computer would then transmit the processed job ticket and a copy of the accessed file over a network to a server. The server would generate a print file from the processed job ticket and transmitted file and transmit the print file to a printer.
In still further embodiments, a monitor and input device may be attached to the computer. In such case, the step of creating the job ticket would further include the steps of displaying fields on the monitor in which information on the identification of the job ticket, document, item, and print attributes thereof could be entered using the input device.
It is an object of the present invention to create a job ticket that provides an improved system for organizing the information needed to prepare a print job comprised of multiple file items having different print attributes.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a single job ticket information on the location of all files included in the print job.
It is still a further object of the present invention to arrange components of the print job in a hierarchical relationship, wherein print attributes set at one level apply to lower hierarchical levels. This aspect of the present invention further insures that component file items and groups of file items within a document having common print attributes will be printed in accordance with such common print attributes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4970554 (1990-11-01), Rourke
patent: 5450571 (1995-09-01), Rosekrans et al.
patent: 5467434 (1995-11-01), Hower, Jr. et al.
patent: 5524085 (1996-06-01), Bellucco et al.
patent: 5718520 (1998-02-01), MacKay
patent: 5760775 (1998-06-01), Sklut
IBM Print OnDemand Executive Summary and Planning Guide for RPQs 8B3967 and 8B3968 for the IBM 3900 Model DR1/DR2 High Resolution Printing System, Document No. G544-5324-00, dated Jun. 19, 1996.
IBM Print OnDemand User's Guide, Document No. G544-5325-00, Dated Jun. 20, 1996, author Dave Thomson, pp. 25-26, 39-42, and 45-46.
IBM OnDemand for AIX Using the Administrator Interface Version 2, Document No. S544-5279-00, dated May 1996.
Goertz Chris Samuel
Lahey Leonard Corning
Nielsen Robert Curt
Palmer Dwight Ross
Vigil Luana
Feild Joseph H.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Kindred Alford W.
Konrad Raynes & Victor LL
Victor David W.
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