Patent ID: 6587217
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of managing print files associated with a job ticket describing a plurality of print files included in a print job, wherein the print files include data representing graphical images, comprising:(a) storing print files in a first storage device in a non-volatile hierarchical storage system, wherein in the hierarchical storage system files are transferred between the first storage device and a second storage device; (b) migrating print files from the first storage device to the second storage device; (c) generating a stub file including information on a migrated print file and storing the stub file in the first storage device, wherein the stub file represents one migrated print file on the first storage device and the migrated print file is stored in the second storage device; (d) selecting print files, including a plurality of print files represented by stub files to include in the print job described in the job ticket; (e) before the print files represented by stub files are available in the first storage device, accessing reference information on the selected print files represented by stub files from the stub files representing the selected print files to include in the job ticket; (f) using the accessed reference information on the print files represented by stub files from the stub files to recall the print files migrated to the second storage device and to continue processing the job ticket before a print process requires the print files migrated to the second storage device; (g) replacing the stub files, representing the selected print files, in the first storage device with the selected print files from the second storage device; and (h) transmitting the selected print files from the first storage device to the print process to prepare the job ticket for printing.