Patent ID: 7136941

Claim:
A print management framework, embedded as computer instructions and data structures in a computer system, for managing print operations executed' by output devices having potentially multiple distinct personalities, the print management framework comprising: a print job ticket identifying a set of features to be completed during execution of a print operation; a set of filters, each of the plurality of filters being configured to perform at least one function on data consumable by the output devices, the set of filters including at least one filter supporting features identified within the print job ticket; and a print manager, interposed between the set of filters and an application that submits a print request resulting in the creation of the print job ticket, for coordinating completion of features in the print job ticket by the at least one filter included in the set of filters including at least one of: preventing performance of a first function conflicting with a performance of a second function; and selecting a single filter for performance of a duplicate function when the plurality of filters includes more than one filter configured to perform the duplicate function.