Method of processing a job, in a printing system, with a composite job ticket

Claim 1

A method of processing a job, with an electronic composite job ticket, in a printing system with a user interface for programming the job with one or more selected inputs, the printing system being associated with a first output function executed with a first output subsystem and a second output function executed with a second output subsystem, the processing of the job being controlled by a first compound segment and a second compound segment with each compound segment corresponding with one of the one or more selected inputs and one of the first and second output functions, comprising: (a) electronically generating a first dialog having a first set of attributes, the first set of attributes corresponding with the first compound segment and including both an input attribute subset for designating a manner In which a set of image data is to be provided pursuant to job processing and an output attribute subset for designating a manner in which a representation of the image data set is to be outputted with the first output subsystem; (b) programming the electronically generated first dialog, with the user Interface, so that values are provided for selected ones of the set of attributes, the values including designated values for at least the input attribute subset and the output attribute subset; (c) capturing and storing the attribute values, programmed in said step (b), to obtain a first ticket representative of the first compound segment; (d) electronically generating a second dialog having a second set of attributes, the second set of attributes corresponding with the second compound segment and including both a second input attribute subset for designating a manner in which a second set of image data is to be provided pursuant to job processing and a second output attribute subset for designating a manner, in which a representation of the second set of image data is to be outputted with the second output subsystem; (e) programming the electronically generated second dialog, with the user interface, so that values are provided for selected ones of the second set of attributes, the values for selected ones of the second set of attributes including designated values for at least the input attribute subset and the second output attribute subset; (f) capturing and storing the attribute values, programmed in said step (e), to obtain a second ticket representative of the second compound segment; (g) linking the first and second tickets to create the electronic composite job ticket; and (h) subsequent to executing said step (g), processing both the first compound segment and the second compound segment, in accordance with the electronic composite job ticket, so that a copy of the set of image data is delivered to the first output subsystem for outputting of the representation of the set of image data at a first time and a copy of the second set of image data is delivered to the second output function for outputting of the representation of the second set of image data at a second time, wherein the second output function performed with the second output subsystem is distinct with respect to the first output function performed with the second output subsystem.

Claim 2

A method of processing a job, with an electronic composite job ticket, in a printing system with a user interface for programming the job with one or more selected inputs, the printing system being associated with a first output function executed with a first output subsystem and a second output function executed with a second output subsystem, the processing of the job being controlled by a first compound segment and a second compound segment with each compound segment corresponding with one of the one or more selected inputs and one of the first and second output functions, comprising: (a) electronically generating a first dialog having a first set of attributes, the first set of attributes corresponding with the first compound segment and including both an input attribute subset for designating a manner In which a set of image data is to be provided pursuant to job processing and an output attribute subset for designating a manner in which a representation of the image data set is to be outputted with the first output subsystem; (b) programming the electronically generated first dialog, with the user Interface, so that values are provided for selected ones of the set of attributes, the values including designated values for at least the input attribute subset and the output attribute subset; (c) capturing and storing the attribute values, programmed in said step (b), to obtain a first ticket representative of the first compound segment; (d) electronically generating a second dialog having a second set of attributes, the second set of attributes corresponding with the second compound segment and including both a second input attribute subset for designating a manner in which a second set of image data is to be provided pursuant to job processing and a second output attribute subset for designating a manner, in which a representation of the second set of image data is to be outputted with the second output subsystem; (e) programming the electronically generated second dialog, with the user interface, so that values are provided for selected ones of the second set of attributes, the values for selected ones of the second set of attributes including designated values for at least the input attribute subset and the second output attribute subset; (f) capturing and storing the attribute values, programmed in said step (e), to obtain a second ticket representative of the second compound segment; (g) linking the first and second tickets to create the electronic composite job ticket; and (h) subsequent to executing said step (g), processing both the first compound segment and the second compound segment, in accordance with the electronic composite job ticket, so that a copy of the set of image data is delivered to the first output subsystem for outputting of the representation of the set of image data at a first time and a copy of the second set of image data is delivered to the second output function for outputting of the representation of the second set of image data at a second time, wherein the second output function performed with the second output subsystem is distinct with respect to the first output function performed with the second output subsystem.