Load balancing for processing a queue of print jobs

A method for processing a print job, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• selecting a print job file in the queue;
• processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file, wherein a plurality of transform processes are executing in a plurality of processing units, wherein the data structure indicates a processing unit address and an address of the transform process executing within the processing unit;
• selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure by determining the address of the processing unit executing the selected transform process and the address of the selected transform process within the processing unit;
• indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• processing the data file associated with the selected print job with the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream.

A method for processing a print job, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file, wherein the print job file indicates a storage address of the associated data file;
• associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• selecting a print job file in the queue;
• processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file;
• selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure;
• indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• processing the data file associated with the selected print job with the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream by retrieving the data file from the storage address indicated in the selected print job file and transmitting the data file to the transform process for processing.

A method for processing a print job, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• selecting a print job file in the queue;
• processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file;
• selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure;
• indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• processing the data file associated with the selected print job with the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream by separating the data file into component parts and processing the component parts to generate printer supported output data stream for each component part, wherein the transform process fails after determining failure of the transform process of at least one of the component parts.

A system for processing a print job, comprising:

• means for generating print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• a plurality of processing units, wherein each processing unit includes at least one executing transform process for processing the data file associated with one print job with to generate a printer supported output data stream;
• program logic comprised of:
• (i) means for receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• (ii) means for associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• (iii) means for selecting a print job file in the queue;
• (iv) means for processing a data structure indicating the plurality of transform processes executing in the plurality of processing units and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file;
• (v) means for selecting an available transform process for processing the selected print job file in response to processing the data structure;
• and
• (vi) means for indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable.

A system for processing a print job, comprising:

• means for generating print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• program logic comprised of:
• (i) means for receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• (ii) means for associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• (iii) means for selecting a print job file in the queue;
• (iv) means for processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file, wherein the data structure indicates a processing unit address and an address of the transform process executing within the processing unit;
• (v) means for selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure by determining the address of the processing unit executing the selected transform process and the address of the selected transform process within the processing unit;
• and
• (vi) means for indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• a processing unit including means for processing the data file associated with the selected print job with the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream.

A system for processing a print job, comprising:

• a storage unit;
• means for generating print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• program logic comprised of:
• (i) means for receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file, and wherein the print job file indicates a storage address of the associated data file in the storage unit;
• (ii) means for associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• (iii) means for selecting a print job file in the queue;
• (iv) means for processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file;
• (v) means for selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure;
• and
• (vi) means for indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• a processing unit including means for processing the data file associated with the selected print job with the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream by retrieving the data file from the storage address indicated in the selected print job file and transmitting the data file to the transform process for processing.

An article of manufacture for use in processing a print job, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including at least one computer program embedded therein that causes a first processing unit to perform the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• selecting a print job file in the queue;
• processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes executing in a plurality of processing units and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file;
• selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure;
• indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• transmitting the data file associated with the selected print file to a second processing unit executing the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream.

An article of manufacture for use in processing a print job, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including at least one computer program embedded therein that causes a first processing unit to perform:

• receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• selecting a print job file in the queue;
• processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file, wherein a plurality of transform processes are executing in a plurality of additional processing units, and wherein the data structure indicates a processing unit address and an address of the transform process executing within the processing unit;
• selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure by determining the address of the processing unit executing the selected transform process and the address of the selected transform process within the processing unit;
• indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• transmitting the data file associated with the selected print file to the processing unit executing the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream.

An article of manufacture for use in processing a print job, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including at least one computer program embedded therein that causes a first processing unit to perform:

• receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file, wherein the print job file indicates a storage address of the associated data file;
• associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• selecting a print job file in the queue;
• processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file;
• selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure;
• indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• retrieving the data file from the storage address indicated in the selected print job file;
• and
• transmitting the data file associated with the selected print file to a second processing unit executing the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream.

An article of manufacture for use in processing a print job, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including at least one computer program embedded therein that causes a first processing unit to perform:

• receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• selecting a print job file in the queue;
• processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file;
• selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure;
• indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• transmitting the data file associated with the selected print file to a second processing unit executing the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream, wherein the transform process separates the data file into component parts and processing the component parts to generate printer supported output data streams for each component part, wherein the transform process fails after determining failure of the transform process of at least one of the component parts fails.

A memory device for access by a processing unit including data structures accessible to the processing unit when processing a print job, the memory device comprising:

• a plurality of print job data structures, wherein each print job data structure indicates at least one associated data file;
• a queue data structure representing a queue of a plurality of received print job data structures, wherein the processing unit selects a print job data structure in the queue;
• and
• a transform process data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes executing in a plurality of transform processing units and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file, wherein the processing unit processes the transform process data structure to select an available transform process and indicates in the transform process data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable, wherein the processing unit transfers the data file associated with the selected print job data structure to the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream.

A memory device for access by a first processing unit including data structures accessible to the first processing unit when processing a print job, the memory device comprising:

• a plurality of print job data structures, wherein each print job data structure indicates at least one associated data file;
• a queue data structure representing a queue of a plurality of received print job data structures, wherein the first processing unit selects a print job data structure in the queue;
• and
• a transform process data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file, wherein a plurality of transform processes are implemented in a plurality of additional processing units, wherein the transform process data structure further indicates a processing unit address and an address of the transform process executing within the processing unit, wherein the first processing unit processes the transform process data structure to select an available transform process and indicates in the transform process data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable, wherein the first processing unit determines the address of the processing unit executing the selected transform process and the address of the selected transform process within the transform processing unit, and wherein the first processing unit transfers the data file associated with the selected print job data structure to the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream.

A memory device for access by a processing unit including data structures accessible to the processing unit when processing a print job, the memory device comprising:

• a plurality of print job data structures, wherein each print job data structure indicates at least one associated data file and a storage address of the data file;
• a queue data structure representing a queue of a plurality of received print job data structures, wherein the processing unit selects a print job data structure in the queue;
• and
• a transform process data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file, wherein the processing unit processes the transform process data structure to select an available transform process and indicates in the transform process data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable, and wherein the processing unit retrieves the data file from the storage address indicated in the selected print job data structure and transmits the retrieved data file to the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream.

A system for processing a print job, comprising:

• means for generating print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• program logic comprised of:
• (i) means for receiving a plurality of print job files, wherein each print job file is associated with a data file;
• (ii) means for associating the print job files with a queue of print job files;
• (iii) means for selecting a print job file in the queue;
• (iv) means for processing a data structure indicating a plurality of transform processes and the availability of each indicated transform process to process a data file;
• (v) means for selecting an available transform process in response to processing the data structure;
• and
• (vi) means for indicating in the data structure that the selected transform process is unavailable;
• and
• a processing unit including means for processing the data file associated with the selected print job with the selected transform process to generate a printer supported output data stream by separating the data file into component parts and processing the component parts to generate printer supported output data streams for each component part, wherein the transform process fails after determining failure of the transform process of at least one of the component parts fails.