Patent ID: 7331052

Claim:
In a printing system that includes a computer device, a method for providing a universal print assist, the method comprising the steps for: loading a print processor into an address space of a spooler; link-editing an application program interface of the print processor at run-time, comprising the step for relinking an unbound call to the application program interface in a dynamic link library of the print processor to a substitution library; providing a print data stream; despooling the print data stream to a print provider, wherein the despooling is performed by one of: (i) the spooler; and (ii) the print processor; intercepting the despooled print data stream; and performing an action on the despooled print data stream, wherein the steps for intercepting the print data stream and performing an action on the print data stream are performed by a print assist that is a separate component from the spooler and the print processor.