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US 7,114,863 B2Granted
Method and system for performing large scale distributed printing using a relational database
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRonald L. Heiney, Anthony F. Stuart, John S. Walker, Douglas I. Ward
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for providing distributed printing is disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of printers, at least one print spooler, and at least one relational database coupled with the print spooler. The print spooler(s) are for managing printing operations. The relational database(s) are coupled with the print spooler. The relational database also includes a plurality of tables that store a plurality of print objects.
Claims22
A system for providing distributed printing in an enterprise, the system comprising:
- a plurality of printers;
- at least one print spooler for managing printing operations of the plurality of printers;
- and at least one relational database coupled with the print spooler, the relational database including a plurality of tables, the plurality of tables storing a plurality of print objects to be used in distributed printing, a portion of the plurality of print objects corresponding to the plurality of printers, the print objects corresponding to the plurality of printers including a plurality of attributes for each of the plurality of printers, and the plurality of print objects each having a hierarchical name identifying a location of the print object in the enterprise;
- wherein the at least one print spooler is configured to utilize the at least one relational database to perform scheduling print jobs based on a plurality of factors including the hierarchical name of the plurality of print objects, a priority of the print job, an availability of at least one of the plurality of printers, and authorized users of at least one of the plurality of printers.
1 more element
A system for providing distributed printing in an enterprise, the system comprising:
- a plurality of printers;
- at least one print spooler for managing printing operations;
- and
- at least one relational database coupled with the print spooler, the relational database including a plurality of tables for storing a plurality of print objects to be used in distributed printing, a portion of the plurality of print objects corresponding to the plurality of printers, the print objects corresponding to the plurality of printers including a plurality of attributes for each of the plurality of printers, each print object having a hierarchical name identifying a location of the print object in the enterprise, the plurality of tables includes a printer table for the plurality of printers, a jobs table for a plurality of print jobs, an accounts table for a plurality of users, and a history table for a plurality of print events and wherein the plurality of objects includes the plurality of printers, the plurality of print jobs, the plurality of users, and the plurality of print events;
- wherein the at least one print spooler is configured to utilize the at least one relational database to perform scheduling print jobs based on a plurality of factors including the hierarchical name of the plurality of print objects, a priority of the print job, an availability of at least one of the plurality of printers, and authorized users of at least one of the plurality of printers.
2 more elements
A method for performing distributed printing in an enterprise, the method comprising:
- (a) using at least one print spooler to access at least one relational database including a plurality of tables to schedule at least one print job to be used in distributed printing, the plurality of tables storing a plurality of print objects, a portion of the plurality of print objects corresponding to the plurality of printers, the print objects corresponding to the plurality of printers including a plurality of attributes for each of the plurality of printers, each print object having a hierarchical name identifying a location of the print object in the enterprise, the using the at least one print job including utilizing the at least one print spooler and the at least one relational database to perform scheduling the at least one print job based on a plurality of factors including the hierarchical name of the plurality of print objects, a priority of the plurality of print jobs, an availability of at least one of the plurality of printers, and authorized users of at least one of the plurality of printers;
- and
- (b) printing the at least one print job to at least one of the plurality of printers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.