US 7,480,068 B2
Methods and systems for page-independent spool file sheet assembly
Andrew Ferlitsch, Tigard, Oreg. (US)
Assigned to Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc., Camas, Wash. (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/894,928.
Application 09/894928 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/681409, filed on Mar. 30, 2001, abandoned.
Application 09/681409 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/681416, filed on Mar. 30, 2001, granted, now 7,046,384.
Application 09/681416 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/681208, filed on Feb. 22, 2001, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/261132, filed on Jan. 11, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2003/0007179 A1, Jan. 09, 2003
Int. Cl. G06F 15/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 358—1.16  [358/1.15; 358/1.18; 715/249] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for providing driver-independent, printer-independent page manipulation options in a printing system through a page-independent spool file index, said method comprising:
reading a spool data file for a document;
creating a Page-Independent Spool File (PISF) index file that is distinct from said spool data file, but based on data in said spool data file, wherein said PISF index file comprises a link to said spool data file, wherein said link identifies a portion of said spool data file required to print an independently-formatted page of said document;
manipulating said PISF index file, after creation of said PISF index file, to effect a document page format manipulation option, wherein said document page format manipulation option is selected from the group consisting of page order, page copies, page scaling and page placement, thereby producing a manipulated PISF index file; and
using a print processor customized to use said manipulated PISF index file, generating printer-ready data, for a modified document created via said page format manipulation, from portions of said spool data file identified by said manipulated PISF index file.