DE102007010277B4 - Method, printing system and computer program for mirroring print jobs - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for mirroring print jobs containing job-related data by a reflective print server (1) of a first printing system (I) to a print server (1) of a second printing system (II), the mirror server, wherein the reflective print server (1)
- reflects the received print jobs on the mirror server,
- Created on the basis of the order accompanying data at least one mirror job ticket, and
- The mirror job ticket copied to the mirror server, wherein the mirror job ticket either specific to the printing system (II) of the mirror server is formed so that the corresponding print data with the mirror job ticket can be expressed directly to this printing system (II) , or
the mirror job ticket is designed specifically for a printing system (I) comprising the first print server (1), so that the corresponding print data can be expressed with the mirror job ticket on this printing system.

Description

The The present invention relates to a method of a printing system and a computer program for mirroring print jobs.

The Invention is for Printing environments provided with electrophotographic high-performance printer.

It It is known to mirror incoming print data to a print server. Such print servers are described in the book "Digital printing - Technology and printing techniques of Océ digital printing presses ", 9th edition, February 2005 (ISBN 3-00-001081-5) described in chapter 15. These print servers are called océ PRISMAproduction Server designated. Among other things, they provide communication between mainframes (Mainframes) and the pressure equipment. Such a print server can be made up of several different mainframes Print streams in different formats and receive them to a variety other pressure equipment hand off. The transfer the data can be over different networks take place according to different protocols.

Lots Users of such high performance electrophotographic printing systems have their mainframes focused on one or a few locations. Often the lead Operator of such mainframe the printing processes not by yourself, but send their data to be printed so called printing centers. These printing centers have one or more High-performance electrophotographic printers connected via a local network are connected. There is a print server in this local network the over another network, such. As the Internet, the print data from the mainframe receives.

To transfer the data from a mainframe a print server often uses the IBM Download protocol. This Protocol is a separately orderable feature of IBM Print Services Facility (PSF) for that on mainframe computers used operating system OS / 390. Download via automatically transfers print data over a TCP / IP network. The download log will automatically fix errors executed. If the transfer the print data could not be executed correctly, the Retransfer print data.

at on Linux systems or other Unix derivative-based print servers It is known, incoming print jobs by means of the protocol LP with the daemon lpd.perms to several for the sender and receiver specific Check parameters. For this the print job is accompanied by a separate file, the not only the address data of the sending computer and the receiving computer, but also contain several parameters to the user. It is also a parameter to the printing device listed herein.

Out Digital Printing - Technology and Printing Techniques of Digital Océ Printing Presses (a.o.) enters with the trade name Océ PRISMAproduction designated server system that processes a wide range of data streams or which are then printed on IPDS printers. The Océ PRISMAproduction Server system includes a Printjobmanager PJM (see chapter 15.2.4 and 18.2) with the print jobs generated on any client client and in this server system be edited and managed. The print job manager is also called Print job manager called.

In the not yet published German patent application DE 10 2006 044 870.7 there is described a method of receiving print data by a receiver from a transmitter, wherein the print data is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver according to a predetermined protocol. The correct receipt of a predetermined data unit of print data is acknowledged by the sender. This method is characterized in that the receiver copies the print data to a mirror server system before executing the respective acknowledgment for a particular data unit.

By the immediate copying or mirroring of the print data before they across from the sender will be assured that one after acknowledgment at the receiver occurring error have no influence on the copied print data can. Occurs, however, before acknowledging the print data an error at the receiver on, so there is no correct acknowledgment, whereby the transmitter of it assume that the print data has not been received correctly are. The sender will therefore not delete the print data and they stand for another transmission to disposal. If, however, an error occurs at the receiver after acknowledgment, It may be that the correctly received print data will be damaged. Since a copy of this print data has been created, this copy can be made resorted and editing the print data without any harm to be continued.

This Method allows a variety of options, such as the copied or mirrored print data can be used in an error case. It is also possible, to mirror the print data multiple times.

The print data is often transmitted from the sender to the receiver in a compressed form The print data can be mirrored in compressed form. This minimizes the memory required to hold the copied data and the transmission time to transmit the data from the receiver to the mirror server system, which is typically located remotely from the receiver.

On February 28, 2007, the applicant of the present application entitled "Method, printing system and computer program for automatically processing order-related data of a print job" as German patent application ( DE 10 2007 009 737.0 ) has been filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office. This patent application is incorporated by reference and incorporated in the present patent application.

• – Empfangen eines Druckauftrages mit Auftragsbegleitdaten von einem der Clients durch den Druckauftragsmanager,
• – Überprüfen der Auftragsbegleitdaten nach vorbestimmten Ticket-Regeln und Ausgeben eines drucksystemspezifischen Jobtickets, und
• – Weiterleiten des Druckauftrages mit dem Jobticket zum Druckserver.

The method described therein processes job-related data of a print job, which contain control parameters for controlling the print job. This method is performed in a printing system with a print job manager, one or more clients on which print jobs are generated, and a print server for feeding the print jobs to a print device and includes the following steps:

• Receiving a print job with job-related data from one of the clients by the print job manager,
• Checking the job-related data according to predetermined ticket rules and outputting a printing-system-specific job ticket, and
• - Forward the print job with the job ticket to the print server.

This Method is characterized by the fact that checking the order-accompanying data according to the predetermined ticket rules is executed centrally on the print job manager.

There the order-related data centrally and preferably exclusively on Print job manager checked or are controlled for a specific print order applied ticket rules easily comprehensible, because the ticket rules are only at one single post, namely the print job manager and not, as was the case before, present on different clients and there to investigate. Furthermore, by centrally executing the check of the job-accompanying data At the print job manager, ensure that all incoming job-related data is after checked the same ticket rules or be controlled and if necessary amended accordingly and Getting corrected.

Farther are by centrally performing the checking of the Order-related data to manage the ticket rules centrally, which they are also centrally controllable and avoids similar ones Order-related data or similar Errors in order-related data are corrected differently.

One Another advantage of checking the Job-related data is central to the print job manager, that the review of Job-related data in the process chain is very close to the concrete printing device, so this review is very specific for the respective pressure device be performed can. This can improve the quality the review considerably be increased. In the execution the review of Job-related data to the clients is the problem that the Clients communicate with different print job managers can, so that carried out a review of the Order-related data to the pressure equipment, which with the different Print job managers can be reached, must be adapted which is very difficult.

By the central administration of the ticket rules is also possible to the Operator tools available to facilitate the creation and management of ticket rules. In particular, it is appropriate to a graphical user interface (GUI) in which the ticket rules are created and managed can be and provide a software module with which the syntax of the edited Ticket rules are automatically checked for correct syntax.

From the EP 1 519 262 A1 discloses a method for storing and retrieving print data, wherein the print data of a print job from a data source block by block to at least one of several interconnected via a network print server and stored there. Control data for the respective print data transmitted to the print server are detected and stored in the network. From a central control module of the network, the further processing of the print job is assigned to a print server in such a way that the print server receives the control data. Based on the control data, the print server reads the print data in blocks from the respective print server, processes and / or temporarily stores them as required and then forwards them to a further processing device.

The invention is based on the object of developing a method, a printing system and a computer program for mirroring print jobs with job-related data from a print server receiving the print jobs to a print server of another printing system such that in the event of a failure of one of the print servers the print data is printed reliably, quickly and kor can be done directly.

The The object is achieved by a method having the features of the claim 1, a computer program with the features of claim 13 and a printing system solved with the features of claim 15 at. Advantageous embodiments The invention are specified in the respective subclaims.

• – die empfangenen Druckaufträge werden auf den Spiegelserver gespiegelt,
• – anhand der Auftragsbegleitdaten wird zumindest ein Spiegel-Jobticket erstellt, und
• – das Spiegel-Jobticket wird, auf den Spiegelserver kopiert.

In the method according to the invention for mirroring print jobs containing job-related data by a print server of a first printing system to a print server of a second printing system, the mirror server, the following steps are carried out:

• - the received print jobs are mirrored to the mirror server,
• - Based on the order accompanying data at least one mirror job ticket is created, and
• - the mirror job ticket is copied to the mirror server.

There with the inventive method the job-in-order data is created a mirror job ticket that copied to the mirror server, in case of a problem the expression the print job reliably, fast and correct on the basis of the mirrored print job and the mirrored mirror job tickets.

Preferably Two mirror job tickets are created, one for each Printing systems are specific and copied to the mirror server. The mirrored print jobs and / or mirror job tickets are for a predetermined period of time locked and / or the lock is only canceled when a data connection is interrupted between the mirrored printing systems. The blockage can also be canceled manually by an authorized operator.

In a development of the invention may be two or more printing systems symmetrically mirror the print jobs, allowing all the printing systems are arranged equally side by side.

The Generation of the mirror job ticket is expediently carried out by means of central in a ticket rule module held ticket rules in one Print Job Manager. This uses default job tickets the for the printing systems and / or the incoming print jobs specifically are, d. H. that in it for the respective printing systems contain specific control parameters are.

To explain the present invention, some terms are defined below:
An entire order contains at least one document processing order, in particular a print job.

One Contains a print job at least one print file to be printed.

One Order ticket contains information about one Overall order, such as B. delivery address, order date, desired Delivery date, etc.

One Job ticket contains all data required to process a print job. These data include control parameters that are in a workflow for the Print job (job workflow) are relevant. The job ticket is in one corresponding ticket format coded.

One Contains default job ticket Standard data that is suitable for a print job that no further Contains editing information, in an existing printing system or an existing printing environment issue. Such data are control parameters and can, for. B. names or addresses of printing devices that are connected to the respective Print servers are connected.

Under A data ticket is understood to be information provided by a a job creating system, such as an MFS mainframe computer system generated print job are generated together with the print data. Of the The extent of such data is systemically very limited and you Format is not standardized, which is why they are not considered job tickets in the be considered above.

The Job-related data can both a total order ticket, a job ticket and / or a data ticket or control parameters that are attached to a print job in a different form, include. Control parameters are often in the file name of the print job inserted.

is If no job ticket is attached to the print job, then the Print Order Manager by means of the default job ticket and possibly further control parameters and the ticket rules generated a pressure system specific job ticket. If, however, a job ticket is attached to the print job, then Using the ticket rules the job ticket checks to see if it is printing system specific Jobticket is suitable and if necessary., - which is the rule - changed and in particular by pressure system-specific parameters from the default ticket added.

The The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawings shown embodiment explained. The drawing shows:

1 essential parts of two Drucksyste me to carry out the method according to the invention schematically simplified in a block diagram.

The method according to the invention is used on a print server 1 a first printing system I incoming print jobs automatically to a print server 1 a second printing system II mirrored.

The print server 1 each have a print job manager 2 (DAM), multiple clients 3 , a buffer module 4 (PM), a decompression module 5 (DE), a storage unit 6 (SP) and a spool module 7 (SM) on ( 1 ).

In the present embodiment, three different types of clients (CL) are provided, namely input modules 3.1 , a print job client 3.2 and a ticket rule client 3.3 ,

Usually there are several input modules 3.1 provided, each with one or more computers 8th (RE) for generating a print job via data lines 9 are connected. The input modules 3.1 serve to receive print data by means of protocols. Such an input module 3.1 may be formed, for example, for receiving print data by means of the download protocol or the LP protocol. Such an input module can also be a HotDir directory. The download interface is designed as a program that runs in the background, usually with no direct user intervention taking place. Such programs are called Unix and its derivatives as a daemon (Disc and Execution Monitor). In Microsoft Windows, the corresponding programs are called "Services" or "Services". A daemon can also run when no user is logged in to the computer.

Typically, the print job manager 2 and the input modules 3.1 arranged at an operator of a printing center and the computers 8th To create the print jobs are available to the customers of the operator of the printing system and transmit via a network, such as the Internet, their print jobs to the input modules.

The clients 3 and the print job manager 2 are each computer program units. They can be installed and run on a common computer. However, it is equally possible, at least the print job manager 2 and the clients 3 on at least two separate computers to install and run there.

The print job manager is also referred to as the PJM server (print job manager server). The to the print order manager 2 corresponding print job client 3.2 is with this over an interface 10 is used and that the operator of the printing system can execute already existing print jobs. Such print jobs are, for example, print jobs that could not or could not be printed correctly. The operator can use the print job client 3.2 Change the print job and in particular the job ticket of such a print job and the respective print job to the print job manager 2 submit it to a printing device 11 (DR).

At the input modules 3.1 incoming print jobs are sent to the buffer module 4 passed on and cached there. The cached print jobs reads the decompression module 5 off and decompress the data. Preferably, the decompression module is also designed with a decryption function, so that it also decrypts the data. The decompressed and decrypted print data is stored in the storage unit 6 stored.

The in the storage unit 6 Stored print jobs are received from the print job manager 2 read to the spooler module 7 to be passed on.

Of the Print job manager is used, among other things, to check that contained in the print jobs Job-related data and for generating for the respective printing system specific job tickets.

The print job manager 2 supplements the job-related data of the incoming print jobs with data, in particular control parameters, from a default job ticket. In particular, missing, but necessary in the existing printing environment control parameters are added to the job-related data. If there is a complete order ticket, the data, in particular control parameters of the total order ticket, are also added to the printing system-specific job ticket.

The print job manager 2 has a ticket rule module 12 (TRM) in which ticket rules are stored. The ticket rules are managed by the ticket rule module and executed on the print job manager.

The ticket rule module 12 has an interface 13 to the ticket rule client 3.3 on which a bidirectional communication is possible. The ticket rule client 3.3 includes a rule editor module that can edit the ticket rules stored in the ticket rule module. The rule editor module is labeled with a graphic user interface (GUI).

The ticket rule module 12 can also work with multiple ticket rule clients 3.3 be connected. However, all ticket rules are only in the ticket rule module 12 at the print order manager 2 saved. With the ticket rule clients 3.3 can only access the in the ticket rule module 12 stored ticket rules are accessed and changed there.

The Job ticket contains a list of control parameters for controlling the respective print job.

The Ticket rules include a sequence of actions that are inbound Job-related data of the received print job are applied.

The at a first printing system I incoming print jobs are sent from the buffer module 4 copied and the copy is over a data line 14 to an input module 3.1 a second printing system II transfer. This copy contains the print jobs in compressed and encrypted state. This is for the transfer from the printing system I to the printing system II advantageous because these two printing systems are usually located far away from each other and the compressed data can be transmitted much faster than uncompressed data.

Moreover, with respect to the method of mirroring the print data from the printing system I on the printing system II Reference to the German patent application DE 10 2006 044 870.7 and these are fully incorporated into the present patent application.

The mirrored print data are in the second printing system II via the input module 3.1 , the buffer module 4 , the decompression module 5 in the storage unit 6 written.

At the first printing system I The incoming print data is also from the decompression module 5 decompressed and decrypted and then into the storage unit 6 saved. The respective print jobs are taken by the print job manager 2 of the first printing system I pressure-system-specific job tickets based on order-related data. In principle, this is done in the same way as described in the German Patent Application "Method, Printing System and Computer Program for Automatically Processing Order-Related Data of a Print Job" filed on February 28, 2007, which is why reference is made to this patent application.

In a first embodiment of the invention, this is for the first printing system I specific job ticket to the print server of the second printing system II mirrored. This job ticket is then called a mirror job ticket. This is especially useful when the second printing system II the same resources and pressure equipment as the first printing system I having. Then the print job can be performed directly on the second printing system.

Mirroring the mirror job tickets are the print job managers 2 the two printing systems I and II with a data connection 15 coupled together. The data connection has interfaces to the two print job managers 2 on. Physically, this data connection is based 15 however, on the same lines as the data line 14 to mirror the incoming print data. As the second printing system II the print data is held together with the mirror-job ticket specific to the first printing system, in the event of a temporary failure of the first printing system in which the printing data stored at the first printing system is damaged, it can be used together with the mirror job ticket from the print server 1 of the second printing system II back to the print server 1 of the first printing system I be copied and on the first printing system I be carried out without further delay.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the print server 1 of the first printing system I next to the one for the first printing system I specific job ticket a second, for the second printing system II created specific job ticket. This second job ticket will be on the print server 1 of the second printing system II mirrored and thus represents a mirror job ticket dar. This is the print server I of the first printing system I one for the second printing system II specific default job ticket held whose control parameters to supplement the order-related data to create the for the second printing system II specific job tickets are used. Checking the job-related data and generating the job ticket specific to the second printing system is done by means of the in the ticket rule module 12 stored ticket rules are executed. The ticket rules can contain specific control parameters for the respective printing system, which they enter in a specific job ticket.

If a problem occurs on the first printing system I on, so can on the second printing system II the print job's printout with that for the second printing system II specific mirror job ticket can be made without delay.

In a third embodiment of the present The invention will be both a for the first printing system I specific mirror job ticket as well as one for the second printing system II specific mirror job ticket at the first printing system I generated and both on the print server 1 of the second printing system II mirrored. If there is a problem with the print server 1 In the case of the first printing system, it is possible to copy the print data back to the first printing system with the corresponding job ticket or the print data directly to the second printing system II print. In this embodiment, it is also advantageous, albeit at the print server of the first printing system I both mirror job tickets are stored ge, since then on both printing systems all the data to perform an expression on any of the two printing systems I and II available.

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the print server 1 of the first printing system I extract the job-related data from the print data and either directly to the print server 1 of the second printing system II or after preprocessing to the print server of the second printing system II transmitted. At the print server 1 of the second printing system II then becomes from this order accompanying data for the second printing system II generated specific job ticket. The extraction of order-related data can be done simply by copying the order-related data available as a file in the form of a data ticket. The extraction may, however, also include the collection of job-related data from different sources, in particular the file name of the print job and files containing one or more job-accompanying data. The preprocessing of this order accompanying data may, for. B. summarizing the data from different sources in a common file. However, this preprocessing can also be the generation of the for the first printing system I specific job tickets sent to the print server 1 of the second printing system II is forwarded and there in a for the second printing system II specific job ticket is implemented. The second printing system II generated and for the second printing system II specific job ticket can turn on the print server 1 of the first printing system I be mirrored. Similarly, it is appropriate for the first printing system I specific job ticket to the second printing system II to copy.

All embodiments described above have in common that the mirrored print jobs and the corresponding job tickets on the second printing system II are disabled until the data connection between the mirrored printing systems is interrupted or if the blocking is manually canceled, are locked so that they can not be carried out there during the blocking. Only after expiration of this period can an operator of the second printing system II start printing the respective print job or the corresponding print data together with the corresponding job ticket back to the first printing system I to transfer. This must be started manually to avoid accidentally running a print job on two different printing systems simultaneously, which would result in significant overheads. The operator can inform himself about the condition of the respective printing systems before starting the mirrored print job.

Since the mirrored print data in a conventional manner via the input module 3.1 the second printing system II are supplied, and the information that the print data is locked, already in the buffer module 4 of the first printing system I the print data is added, the print server needs I of the second printing system II not specifically configured for use as a mirror server. He processes those from the print server 1 of the first printing system I incoming mirrored print data as well as all other incoming print data. At the second print server II is only at the print job manager to perform the mirroring process 2 an interface to the data connection 15 educated. However, this interface is equally at the print job manager 2 the first print server 1 arranged. It is also possible that the print servers of the two printing systems mirror each other's respective print jobs, and this can also be done simultaneously. However, locked print jobs are not mirrored, otherwise the two print servers would block each other with a single print job due to the permanent back and forth mirroring of a print job.

It is possible, too, mirroring from one source print server to multiple mirror print servers perform, to each of which a copy of the print data and the corresponding specific or non-specific job tickets.

At the first printing system I the print data contained in the print jobs are processed. This processing can be different processing operations such. B. the rasterizing of the print data contained in the print jobs, the adaptation of the print page arrangement according to the connected to the printing system Nachverarbeitungsgeräte.

Screening the print data is a very labor-intensive process that can take a long time. It is therefore expedient that, depending on the processing progress, a new job ticket is generated, which is to be processed specifically for the others Processing steps contains information or contains information that indicates the already processed part. For example, in such a job ticket information can be stored, which parts of a print job that require a raster process (RIP) in the print server, such. For example, post-script data has already been processed. This job ticket reflecting the progress of processing is expediently used as a mirror job ticket on the print server 1 of the second printing system II mirrored. Preferably, the already processed print data on the print server 1 of the second printing system II copied. This makes it possible in case of a problem with the first printing system I the processing of the respective print job with the already achieved processing progress on the second printing system II continue.

Basically, the print jobs are located on the print server 1 of the first printing system I in the execution state, whereas those on the print server 1 of the mirror printing system II mirrored print jobs are in the hibernate state. These two print servers 1 are synchronized with each other so that when a print job in the execution state is deleted by the operator, the corresponding mirrored print job is also automatically deleted, this synchronization is canceled when the data line 14 or the data connection 15 between the two printing system I . II is interrupted. Such an interruption will cause the blocking of the mirrored print job in the mirror printing system.

• (1) Abbruch der Datenübertragung vom sendenden Druckserver zum empfangenden Druckserver, wenn ein Fehler beim Kopieren auf dem Druckserver des Spiegeldrucksystems auftritt.
• (2) Fortsetzen der Datenübertragung vom sendenden Druckserver zum empfangenden Druckserver, selbst bei einem Fehler auf dem empfangenden Druckserver.
• (3) Fortsetzen der Datenübertragung vom sendenden Druckserver zum empfangenden Druckserver nur wenn n Kopien der zu sichernden Daten erfolgreich auf anderen Druckservern erstellt worden sind.
• (4) Umschalten des Kopiervorgangs auf ein vorbestimmtes anderes Spiegel-Drucksystem, wenn ein Fehler an den eigentlich empfangenden Druckserver des Spiegel-Drucksystems auftritt.

Furthermore, it is possible that in the buffer module 4 configure mirror processes differently. This configuration takes place in the buffer module of the mirroring print server. This configuration sets how the buffer engine continues mirroring when an error occurs while transmitting the mirrored data or when receiving the mirrored data through the mirrored printing system. The following rules can be set here:

• (1) Stop data transfer from the sending print server to the receiving print server if a copy error occurs on the print server of the mirror printing system.
• (2) Continue the data transfer from the sending print server to the receiving print server even if there is an error on the receiving print server.
• (3) Resuming data transfer from the sending print server to the receiving print server only if n copies of the data to be backed up have been successfully created on other print servers.
• (4) Switching the copying operation to a predetermined other mirror printing system when an error occurs to the actual receiving print server of the mirror printing system.

in the Error case there are two possibilities how to fix a bug on a mirror printing system (Error recovery). On the one hand, you can try all the print data or data units that have been received at the receiver since the error occurred have been copied to the mirror printing system. On the other hand For example, the reflective printing system may also be configured such that not the print data received since the error occurred more are copied to this mirror printing system.

In the method according to the invention, the incoming print data are first directly mirrored. This is done in the buffer module 4 , However, this can also be done in one of the input modules 3.1 be executed. All print data, ie the print data to be printed as well as the job-related data are mirrored. It is essential for the invention that specific job tickets are additionally generated from the job-accompanying data for the printing systems, which are then also mirrored immediately. Job tickets are created by applying ticket rules to the incoming order-related data. These ticket rules link the order-related data with standard job tickets. The default job tickets are specific to each printing system.

The default job tickets are also specific to the different input modules 3.1 so that, for example, in the case of three different input modules and two different printing systems, a total of six different default job tickets are to be provided.

• (1) Die Ticket-Regeln werden vom Inputmodul bei der Weiterleitung der Druckaufträge aufgerufen, wobei das Inputmodul mit dem Aufruf einen Parameter weitergibt, der angibt, welche Ticket-Regel auf den jeweiligen Druckauftrag bzw. dessen Auftragsbegleitdaten angewandt wird.
• (2) In Abhängigkeit von dem Inputmodul, über das der Druckauftrag empfangen wird, wird automatisch eine bestimmte Ticket-Regel ausgeführt.
• (3) In Abhängigkeit vom Spiegel-Verfahren im Puffermodul 4 wird eine bestimmte Ticket-Regel zum Erstellen eines oder mehrerer Spiegel-Jobtickets aufgerufen.

The ticket rules can be called in different ways:

• (1) The ticket rules are called by the input module when the print jobs are forwarded, with the input module passing on a parameter with the call, which specifies which ticket rule is applied to the respective print job or its job-related data.
• (2) Depending on the input module via which the print job is received, a certain ticket rule is automatically executed.
• (3) Depending on the mirror method in the buffer module 4 A specific ticket rule is called to create one or more mirror job tickets.

Consequently can Also several ticket rules for creating each one specific Job tickets independent be called from each other.

With the inventive method who Thus, the conventionally known mirroring method extended by a processing stage in which the order-related data continues to be processed to the respective printing system specific job tickets, which are then also mirrored.

The application can be briefly summarized as follows:
The present invention relates to a method, a printing system and a computer program for mirroring print jobs.

At the inventive method The incoming print jobs at a mirroring printing system are switched on another mirror printing system mirrored. This process draws This is due to the fact that the accompanying printing system uses job accompanying data for the Printing systems specific job tickets are generated also be mirrored. This makes it possible in the event of an error to process the print jobs quickly and correctly.

1

print server

2

Print Job Manager

3

client

4

buffer module

5

decompression

6

storage unit

7

Spulmodul

8th

computer

9

data line

10

interface

11

printing device

12

Ticket control module

13

interface

14

data line

15

Data Connection

Claims (16)

Method for mirroring print jobs containing job-related data by a mirroring print server ( 1 ) of a first printing system ( I ) to a print server ( 1 ) of a second printing system ( II ), the mirror server, whereby the mirroring print server ( 1 ) - reflects the received print jobs on the mirror server, - creates at least one mirror job ticket based on the job-related data, and - copies the mirror job ticket to the mirror server, whereby the mirror job ticket is either specific to the printing system ( II ) of the mirror server is formed, so that the corresponding print data with the mirror job ticket directly to this printing system ( II ), or the mirror job ticket specific to the first print server ( 1 ) comprehensive printing system ( I ), so that the corresponding print data can be expressed with the mirror job ticket on that printing system. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at the first print server ( 1 ) two mirror job tickets are created, wherein one of the two mirror job tickets is designed specifically for the first printing system, so that the corresponding print job with the mirror job ticket directly on the first printing system ( I ) and that the other mirror job ticket is specifically designed for the second printing system, so that the corresponding print job with the mirror job ticket on the second printing system ( II ) can be expressed. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the print data are processed at the mirroring print server, the processing of the print data may in particular include a rasterizing of the print data, and depending on the processing progress created one or more new mirror job tickets and on the print server ( 1 ) of the second printing system. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reflective print server ( 1 ) creates a job ticket based on the job-related data that is specific to the first printing system ( I ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized that the mirrored print job and / or the second printing system copied mirror job tickets for be locked for a predetermined period of time. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized that the mirror job tickets or the job ticket based on a template job ticket be created with the order accompanying data of the respective Linked to a print job becomes. Method according to Claim 6, characterized that when linking the order-related data with the template job ticket either information entered from the order-related data into the template job ticket and use this as a mirror job ticket or as a job ticket or a job ticket contained in the job-related data is supplemented by information from the template job ticket. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a plurality of submission job tickets are used, which with for each print system and / or for a respective input module ( 3.2 ) are provided with specific control parameters. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the reflective print server ( 1 ) Reflects print jobs on print servers of different printing systems. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized that the print servers of the printing systems each incoming data mirror each other. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the mirrored print jobs and / or mirrored mirror job tickets are released when a data connection ( 14 . 15 ) is interrupted between the respective printing systems. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the preparation for the respective printing systems specific mirror job tickets by means of centrally on a print server, in particular to a print job manager ( 2 ) executable ticket rules. Computer program, characterized in that it to run of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is formed. Computer program according to claim 13, characterized that the computer program is stored on a data medium. Printing system for carrying out a method according to one of Claims 1 to 12, having a print server ( 1 ) comprising - at least one input module ( 3.1 ) for receiving print jobs, - a buffer module ( 4 ) for temporarily storing the print jobs received from the input modules and for mirroring the print jobs to a print server ( 1 ) of another printing system ( 2 ), - a storage unit ( 6 ) for storing the incoming print jobs, - a print job manager ( 2 ) for creating job tickets specific to the printing systems, wherein the print job manager ( 2 ) for mirroring such a job ticket, referred to as a mirror job ticket, to the print server of the further printing system, the mirror job ticket being either specific to the printing system ( II ) of the mirror server is formed, so that the corresponding print data with the mirror job ticket directly to this printing system ( II ), or the mirror job ticket specific to the first print server ( 1 ) comprehensive printing system ( I ), so that the corresponding print data can be expressed with the mirror job ticket on that printing system. Printing system according to claim 15, characterized in that the print order manager ( 2 ) a ticket rule module ( 12 ), which is used to centrally manage ticket rules and send them to the print job manager ( 2 ) to create job tickets.