Patent ID: 6565607
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A process of printing images of labels on multiple sets of a document using a network system including a printer means capable of printing and saving documents in such a way that each page is rendered according to the printer means instructions then stored as an image file, with the document description and properties stored in one or more related files, at least one computer with a monitor, software installed on said computer capable of displaying image files created by saving documents on said printer means and capable of creating printer instructions, and a storage means accessible by said computer and by said printer means by way of a communication medium coupled to said computer and to said printer means, comprising the steps of:sending a main document comprising a plurality of pages to said printer means with instructions to save on said storage means as a stored image file for each page of said main document, sending a label document comprising a plurality of labels to said printer means with instructions to save on said storage means as a stored image file for each page of said label document, using said software to select a saved label image file representing a page of said label document, having labels thereon, displaying said selected label image file on said monitor of said computer, defining the layout of said labels and storing said layout, storing label document information including name, saved location, layout information, number of labels per page of said label document and the number of pages of said label document, determining a page of said main document on which a label should appear, selecting a document image file representing a page of said main document, displaying said selected document image file on said monitor of said computer, defining the location of a label on said page of said main document, creating printer instructions that when sent to said printer means will create multiple sets of a document each having a unique label thereon by carrying out the following steps at the printer means for each set: (a) retrieving said stored image file for a page of said set of said main document, (b) if the main document page from step (a) contains a label, retrieving said label image file, (c) if the main document page from step (a) contains a label, positioning said label image file such that a given label image is at said defined location, (d) if the main document page from step (a) contains a label, removing any part of said label image file that does not represent the given label, (e) printing a page of said retrieved main document, if the main document page from step (a) contains a label, with a unique label at said defined location, repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d) (e) to generate several sets of said document with a different label image located at a defined location.