Abstract: Digital processing of images (i.e. scanning or printing) in a network system including digital image processing devices provided with operating means and a display may be impeded or even be impossible, when a device selected for processing a job does not have the capabilities required for processing that job in accordance with the job settings. If such a situation arises, the selected device automatically checks if any of the other devices can process the job in accordance with the job settings and if so, it displays advice on at least one of such devices on its display, so that an operator is informed, where he can have his job done properly.

Abstract: A network system for printing digital print files, including personal workstations of users and a plurality of printers. The system further includes a print service and a print file storage service, that may be implemented in several ways. A user may submit a print file without specifying a particular printer on which the file must be printed. Then, he can walk up to any of the printers and start the print process for his print file there. In operation, the print service receives the print file, extracts metadata specifying job information from the file, and stores the file in the print file storage service. The metadata of the file are transmitted to the printers, which include the metadata in local print selection mechanisms resident in said printers. The user may select his print file at the operating panel of any one of the printers and start the printing process. In response, that printer fetches the print image data of the selected file from the print file storage service and prints the file.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program for distributed printing of digital print files in a network system including a print service and a plurality of printers adapted for interactive printing are provided. An interactive printing involves printing a print file only upon selection thereof and entering a print command through the local user interface of the printer. In a first step of the method, the print service receives a print file, stores it and distributes information on the stored print file to a plurality of the printers. In a second step, a print process for the print file is started, locally or remotely, in one of the printers and, while this print process is active, a print process for the same print file is started locally in one or more of the other printers. During the printing, the print service controls the printers to print together the required number of copies.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program for distributed printing of digital print files in a network system including a print service and a plurality of printers adapted for interactive printing are provided. An interactive printing involves printing a print file only upon selection thereof and entering a print command through the local user interface of the printer. In a first step of the method, the print service receives a print file, stores it and distributes information on the stored print file to a plurality of the printers. In a second step, a print process for the print file is started, locally or remotely, in one of the printers and, while this print process is active, a print process for the same print file is started locally in one or more of the other printers. During the printing, the print service controls the printers to print together the required number of copies.

Abstract: Digital processing of images (i.e. scanning or printing) in a network system including digital image processing devices provided with operating means and a display may be impeded or even be impossible, when a device selected for processing a job does not have the capabilities required for processing that job in accordance with the job settings. If such a situation arises, the selected device automatically checks if any of the other devices can process the job in accordance with the job settings and if so, it displays advice on at least one of such devices on its display, so that an operator is informed, where he can have his job done properly.

Abstract: A network system for printing digital print files, including personal workstations of users and a plurality of printers. The system further includes a print service and a print file storage service, that may be implemented in several ways. A user may submit a print file without specifying a particular printer on which the file must be printed. Then, he can walk up to any of the printers and start the print process for his print file there. In operation, the print service receives the print file, extracts metadata specifying job information from the file, and stores the file in the print file storage service. The metadata of the file are transmitted to the printers, which include the metadata in local print selection mechanisms resident in said printers. The user may select his print file at the operating panel of any one of the printers and start the printing process. In response, that printer fetches the print image data of the selected file from the print file storage service and prints the file.