Method and apparatus for distributing print jobs among a network of image processors and print engines

Abstract

A system for distributing print jobs received from a print image data source among a set of print engines and associated image processors of the type having an input data bus; a scheduler coupled to said input data bus for receiving encoded data from a print image data source; a set of image processors and associated print engines each coupled to one another by a print engine data bus; and a distributed network bidirectional data bus having initiator and target identification capabilities coupled to the scheduler and to each image processor in parallel arrangement. The system employs the improved method comprising the steps of transferring the encoded data received in said scheduler to one of said image processors that is not currently processing received encoded data; processing the encoded data in said transferee image processor to develop a set of print engine operating data files representing print images and pages comprising a complete print job, together with data indicating the number of copies of each such image or page to be printed and the medium on which it is to be printed; identifying print engines that are free and capable of printing images or pages of the print order; and distributing the print engine operating data files on the distributed network bidirectional data bus to the free print engines through their respective image processors until all images or pages of the print order are printed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.