Abstract: A method of managing a printing system in which print jobs are disposed with a print queue, wherein a so-called “acting object”, is provided within the print queue to behave as a separate job, and is operative for specifying one or more system commands, without further specifying a actual print job. When the acting object reaches the top of the print queue, its system command is executed. Examples of such system commands are an interruption of the print queue processing or a change of default printing and/or printer parameters.

Abstract: A method of managing a printing system in which print jobs are disposed with a print queue, wherein a so-called “acting object”, is provided within the print queue to behave as a separate job, and is operative for specifying one or more system commands, without further specifying a actual print job. When the acting object reaches the top of the print queue, its system command is executed. Examples of such system commands are an interruption of the print queue processing or a change of default printing and/or printer parameters.

Abstract: A combined digital reproduction apparatus suitable for making prints in response to actuation of keys on an operating panel (e.g. copies of documents scanned with a scanner) and making prints on its own initiative (prints in accordance with a digital print file received from a network). In this apparatus, a user present at the apparatus for a print order is given priority. The control process of the apparatus for this purpose executes any print orders arriving via the network only if it does not detect any signs indicative of the fact that a user is preparing or executing a reproduction process at the apparatus. Such signs may, for example, be in the form of actuation of a key on the operating panel or the actual execution of a copying order. If the control process detects such signs, it does not start the print orders received via the network. If the control process does not detect such signs, it announces the print order first for a predetermined time period, e.g.

Abstract: A digital copying/printing machine and method by which a set of images can be assembled from document images input in separate actions. This set can then be printed as a whole. Document images can be input by a scanner (physical documents) or via a connection to a digital environment, such as a network (digital document images). For digital document images, a storage unit is provided in which different images can be stored and which is provided with a selection function for selecting the required image for inclusion in the set. A separate input key is provided on the operating panel for starting an input action. Individual adjustments for the printed product can be made for each input action, e.g., for lighter or darker or single or double-sided printing. An image input in this manner is included in a set file in the memory of the machine. In response to actuation of a print key on the operating panel, the entire set file is printed.

Abstract: A system for repeatedly processing, in a production run, a set of original images to form at least two disparate sets of copies of the originals in accordance with a job specification, the job specification including at least two disparate copy set specifications corresponding to the two disparate copy sets to be formed. The system produces the required disparate copy sets, each in accordance with its own copy set specification, independently of an operator's intervention.