Variable data print job system

Abstract

This invention relates to variable data print job systems. In particular, this invention relates to variable data print job systems that reduce the master and variable jobs to a single job that does not require indefinite disk storage on a printer. A first part of the job contains the master data pages and a 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. The printer places the master data in the page buffer and copies it to another area of the page buffer so that a page of the variable data can be overlaid on the page buffer, which is then sent to the print engine for printing.

1 . A method for providing a variable data print job, the method comprising: 
 providing master data and variable data;    placing the master data at a beginning of the variable data print job; and    placing the variable data at an end of the variable data print job.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending the variable data print job to a printer.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising raster image processing the master data and storing the processed master data in a page buffer.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising overlaying the variable data onto the page buffer.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the printer comprises a hard disk.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the printer comprises a diskless printer.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the master data comprises a single master job.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the master data comprises a plurality of master jobs.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the variable data comprises a plurality of variable data jobs, wherein each variable data job is associated with a corresponding master job.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each variable data job is placed in the variable data print job after the associated master job.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus for providing a variable data print job, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for providing master data and variable data;    means for placing the master data at a beginning of the variable data print job; and    means for placing the variable data at an end of the variable data print job.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising means for sending the variable data print job to a printer.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising means for raster image processing the master data and storing the processed master data in a page buffer.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising means for overlaying the variable data onto the page buffer.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the printer comprises a hard disk.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the printer comprises a diskless printer.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the master data comprises a single master job.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the master data comprises a plurality of master jobs.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the variable data comprises a plurality of variable data jobs, wherein each variable data job is associated with a corresponding master job.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein each variable data job is placed in the variable data print job after the associated master job.