Abstract: A method and system is provided for splitting a print job into its preamble and at least one chunk. The splitter maintains a collection of RIP node addresses to which chunks of the job currently being split have already been sent. When a new chunk is about to be sent, the splitter checks whether each RIP node address has already received a chunk. If the RIP node has not already received a chunk, the splitter sends the preamble as well as the chunk to an available RIP associated with the RIP node. If, however, the RIP node address has already received a chunk, only the portion of the chunk after the preamble is sent to an available RIP associated with the RIP node and communicate the location of the preamble to the available RIP node. The preamble may contain common content for each job.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for splitting a print job into its preamble and at least one chunk. The splitter maintains a collection of RIP node addresses to which chunks of the job currently being split have already been sent. When a new chunk is about to be sent, the splitter checks whether each RIP node address has already received a chunk. If the RIP node has not already received a chunk, the splitter sends the preamble as well as the chunk to an available RIP associated with the RIP node. If, however, the RIP node address has already received a chunk, only the portion of the chunk after the preamble is sent to an available RIP associated with the RIP node and communicate the location of the preamble to the available RIP node. The preamble may contain common content for each job.