Methods and apparatus for managing a print job among a processor, an image producing device, and an external storage device

Abstract

Printing a print job on an image producing device by storing print data from the print job to an external storage device, retrieving the print data from the external storage device to the image producing device, and generating an image for the print job using the image producing device.

1 . A printing system comprising: 
 a processor configured to generate a rasterized print job from a print job;    a storage device coupled to the processor and configured to store the rasterized print job, said storage device located externally of the processor; and    an image producing device configured to receive the rasterized print job from the storage device, and wherein the image producing device is external of the processor and the storage device.    
     
     
         2  (cancelled).  
     
     
         3 . The printing system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage device is configured to store and retrieve a plurality of rasterized print jobs generated by said processor and said system further comprises: 
 a plurality of image producing devices, said plurality of image producing devices being in communication with a network.    
     
     
         4 . The printing system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 one or more print job generators, each print job generator being configured to generate a print job, said print job generators being in communication with a network.    
     
     
         5 . The printing system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of processors, each configured to receive a print job and generate a rasterized print job from said print job and send said rasterized print job through a network.    
     
     
         6 . The printing system of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a print server to receive a print job from the one or more print job generators and cause a rasterized print job to be sent from the storage device.    
     
     
         7 . The printing system of  claim 6 , wherein said print server is further configured to cause a new rasterized print job to be stored on the storage device.  
     
     
         8 . An image producing device comprising: 
 a processor with software configured to receive an instruction and, in response to said instruction, retrieve a print job from a storage device external to said image producing device; and    wherein said device is configured to generate a rasterized print job and send the rasterized print job to an external storage device.    
     
     
         9  (cancelled).  
     
     
         10 . The image producing device of  claim 8 , wherein said software on said processor is configured to generate instructions relating to one or more print jobs and to send said instructions to at least one of an external storage device and/or another image producing device, through a network.  
     
     
         11 . The image producing device of  claim 8 , wherein said processor is configured to merge two separate print jobs into a single print job, where at least one of said print jobs is received from an external storage device.  
     
     
         12 . A method for use in creating an image on print media said method comprising the steps of: 
 determining that a print job should be divided among multiple image producing devices; and    sending said print job to multiple image producing devices.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of: 
 sending said print job to an external storage device with an instruction for an image producing device to execute said print job;    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of: 
 dividing said print job into segments for execution in multiple steps.    
     
     
         15 . A method for use in creating an image on print media said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an unrasterized print job from a device on a network;    processing said unrasterized print job into a rasterized print job;    sending the rasterized print job to an external storage device;    retrieving the rasterized print job from the external storage device; and    generating an image from said rasterized print job using an image producing device.    
     
     
         16 - 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 receiving an instruction to retrieve a print job from an external storage device.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 determining whether a print job is stored on external storage device in rasterized form by checking a directory to determine whether the rasterized print job is stored on an external storage device.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 sending the rasterized print job to a plurality of image producing devices.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 sending data to at least an external storage device and/or a second image producing device.    
     
     
         23 . A printing system comprising: 
 means for printing including means for rasterizing a print job to produce a rasterized print job;    means for transmitting said rasterized print job externally of said means for printing;    means for storing said rasterized print job externally of said means for printing; and    means for retrieving said rasterized print job back to said means for printing.    
     
     
         24 . A printing system comprising: 
 a processor configured to generate a rasterized print job from a print job;    a storage device coupled to the processor and configured to store the rasterized print job, said storage device located externally of the processor; and    an image producing device configured to house the processor.