Variable data print job system
AssigneeElectronics for Imaging, Inc.
InventorRamgopal Vidyanand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable data print job system that reduces the master and variable jobs into a single job sent from the client to the printer that does not require indefinite disk storage on the printer. The first part of the job contains the master data pages and the second part of the job contains the variable data. The print job is assembled and sent to the printer which detects that the job is a two part job. It places the master data in the page buffer and copies it to another area of the page buffer so a page of the variable data can be overlaid onto the page buffer and is then sent to the print engine for printing. This process is repeated for each page of variable data.
Claims13
A method for processing a variable data print job, the method comprising:
- providing a printer description file, wherein said printer description file contains printer configuration information;
- providing a printer driver for retrieving a configuration of a specific destination printer from said printer description file;
- assembling master and variable data into a variable data print job by separating said master data from said variable data, assembling and placing each page of said master data at a first specified location in said variable data print job, and assembling and placing said variable data in a second specified location relative to said master data in said variable data print job;
- detecting that said variable data print job is special;
- disassembling said variable data print job;
- wherein said disassembling step places the master data in a memory of a destination printer;
- and
- wherein for each variable data page, said master page in said memory is copied of a page buffer and a page of said variable data is then overlaid onto the page buffer.
A method for assembling a variable data print job comprising the steps of:
- providing a printer driver;
- wherein said printer driver gathers the master and variable data for a print job;
- retrieving a configuration of a specific destination printer from a printer description file;
- assembling master and variable data into a variable data print job;
- wherein said assembling step creates said variable data print job containing multiple masters by grouping the variable data with the associated master data such that the sequential variable data pages are placed relative to their associated master pages in a serial fashion.
A method for assembling a variable data print job, comprising the steps of:
- providing a printer description file;
- providing a printer driver for retrieving a configuration of a specific destination printer from said printer description file;
- and
- assembling master and variable data into a variable data print job;
- wherein said variable data print job is created by separating said master data from said variable data;
- wherein said assembling step assembles and places each page of said master data at a first specific location in said variable data print job;
- wherein said assembling step assembles and places said variable data at one or specific locations relative to said master data in said variable data print job;
- and
- wherein each variable page contains an index indicating the master data that it is associated with.
A method for assembling a master and variable data print job comprising the steps of:
- assembling master and variable data into separate print jobs;
- wherein each page in said variable data contains an index to the associated master data and a sub-index to the associated master page in said master data;
- and
- sending the master and variable data print jobs to said destination printer.
An apparatus for assembling a variable data print job comprising:
- a printer description file;
- wherein a printer driver for retrieving a configuration of a specific destination printer from said printer description file;
- and
- a module for assembling master and variable data into a variable data print job;
- wherein said assembling module creates said variable data print job containing multiple masters by grouping the variable data with the associated master data such that the sequential variable data pages are placed proximate to their associated master pages in a serial fashion.
A apparatus for assembling a variable data print job comprising:
- a printer description file;
- a printer driver for retrieving a configuration of a specific destination printer from said printer description file;
- a module for assembling master and variable data into a variable data print job;
- wherein said variable data print job is created by separating said master data from said variable data;
- wherein said assembling module assembles and places each page of said master data a first location in said variable data print job;
- wherein said assembling module assembles and places said variable data at one or more other locations relative to said master data in said variable data print job;
- and
- wherein each variable page contains an index indicating the master data that it is associated with.
A apparatus for assembling a master and variable data print job comprising:
- a module for assembling said master and variable data into separate print jobs;
- wherein each page in said variable data contain an index to the associated master data and a sub-index to the associated master page in said master data;
- and
- a module for sending the master and variable data print jobs to a destination printer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.