US 7,870,486 B2Granted

System and method for simultaneously commencing output of disparately encoded electronic documents

AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsJianxin Wang, Hongfeng Wei, William Su

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Abstract

The subject application is directed to a system and method for simultaneously commencing output of disparately encoded electronic documents. Selection data representative of multiple electronic documents encoded in multiple disparate formats is first received. For example, the electronic documents are capable of being encoded in MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD, MICROSOFT OFFICE EXCEL, ADOBE ACROBAT formats, and the like. Each of the disparate formats is associated with a corresponding software module and then retrieved in accordance with received selection data. Next, the electronic documents are communicated to corresponding software modules, and the document processing device commences a selected document processing operation on each of the electronic documents by a corresponding software module. Each application-specific module is adapted for processing a document processing request for one or more types of documents that are associated with one specific application.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A system for simultaneously commencing output of disparately encoded electronic documents comprising:

a document processing device including a processor and associated data storage;
means adapted for receiving, into the document processing device, selection data representative of a plurality of different user-selected electronic documents, each of the plurality of documents being encoded in a unique one of a plurality of disparate formats;
association means adapted for associating each of the plurality of disparate formats with at least one software module;
means adapted for retrieving the plurality of user-selected electronic documents in accordance with received selection data;
means adapted for communicating each of the plurality of user-selected electronic documents to one of a plurality of corresponding software modules in accordance with an output of the association means;
means adapted for acquiring common document output characteristics associated with each of the plurality of user-selected electronic documents;
means adapted for communicating configuration data corresponding to acquired document output characteristics to each of a plurality of unique software modules in a format compatible thereto;
and
document processor means adapted for commencing a selected document processing operation on each of a series of the user-selected electronic documents by calling a sequence of the software modules, with each module corresponding to one of the series of user-selected electronic documents such that each module is operative in accordance with the common document output characteristics.

6 more elements

A method for simultaneously commencing output of disparately encoded electronic documents comprising the steps of:

receiving selection data representative of a plurality of different user-selected electronic documents, each of the plurality of documents being encoded in a unique one of a plurality of disparate formats;
associating each of the plurality of disparate formats with at least one software module;
retrieving the plurality of user-selected electronic documents in accordance with received selection data;
communicating each of the plurality of user-selected electronic documents to one of a plurality of corresponding software modules in accordance with an output of associating each of the plurality of formats with at least one software module;
acquiring common document output characteristics associated with each of the plurality of selected electronic documents;
and
communicating configuration data corresponding to acquired document output characteristics to each of the software modules in a format compatible thereto;
and
commencing a selected document processing operation on each of a series of the user-selected electronic documents by calling the software modules, with each module corresponding to one of the series of user-selected electronic documents in accordance with the common document output characteristics.

6 more elements

A system for simultaneously commencing output of disparately encoded electronic documents comprising:

a document processing device including a processor and associated data storage;
an input operable for receiving, into, selection data representative of a plurality of different user-selected electronic documents, each of the plurality of documents being encoded in a unique one of a plurality of disparate formats;
the processor operable for associating each of the plurality of disparate formats with at least one software module;
the processor further operable for retrieving the plurality of user-selected electronic documents in accordance with received selection data;
an output operable for communicating each of the plurality of user-selected electronic documents to one of a plurality of corresponding software modules in accordance with an output of the association;
the processor further operable for acquiring common document output characteristics associated with each of the plurality of user-selected electronic documents;
an output operable for communicating configuration data corresponding to acquired document output characteristics to each of a plurality of unique software modules in a format compatible thereto;
and
the processor further operable for commencing a selected document processing operation on each of a series of the user-selected electronic documents by calling a sequence of the software modules, with each module corresponding to one of the series of user-selected electronic documents such that each module is operative in accordance with the common document output characteristics.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/736,969Filed 18 Apr 2007 · us provisional application
Priority: 26 Jan 2007
Published: US 2008/0189610 A17 Aug 2008
Granted: 11 Jan 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G06F 3/1257
Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client: by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
G06F 3/1204
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic…
G06F 3/1205
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings,…
G06F 3/1206
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type