Patent ID: 7207069
Filing Date: 2007-04-17
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus that controls access to a job ticket, wherein the job ticket relates to a print job request to be executed by one or more processors coupled to a communications network, the apparatus comprising: a work flow controller coupled to the communications network, wherein the work flow controller is capable of defining a work flow corresponding to the job request, and capable of defining the job ticket, and wherein the work flow comprises one or more branches; a job ticket service that is capable of storing the job ticket and creating a job ticket reference, the job ticket service being further capable of providing the job ticket reference to multiple processors such that the multiple processors use the job ticket reference to access the stored job ticket instead of being provided with a copy of at least a portion of the job ticket, wherein the job ticket comprises a framework specifying the one or more branches, and wherein the job ticket service locks a branch when the branch is accessed by a processor; an access key, wherein the access key is provided to the processor accessing the branch, and wherein the processor provides the access key to the job ticket service to unlock the locked branch; and wherein the job ticket service comprises a key encryption system, and wherein the access key is encrypted using the key encryption system.