Patent Application
20080037048
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for performing on-the-fly diagnostic printing. Advantages of the current method include the ability to immediately print test samples requested by an operator or service person, regardless of the current print job that may be in progress. No interruption to the host communication path is incurred, and pending work or work stored in memory is maintained. The printer control system of the preferred embodiment is highly resource efficient with respect to cost and speed, and does not use an addition Raster Image process or large amounts of additional memory.
With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference to
Printer controller 100 contains a first memory 102, a second memory 112, a third memory 132, and an engine controller (labeled engine control 124). Additionally, a system controller (labeled system control 116) and engine control 124 receive commands 118 and 122 from GUI 120. GUI 120 is an interface, which is embodied as a graphical user interface, though non-graphical embodiments also fall within the scope of the present invention, that provides an operator control over printer controller 100. GUI 120 includes controls to start or stop the printing process, print test samples, and to advance continuous form paper. System control 116 is the main system control for printer controller 100. Whether acting based on input from GUI 120 or acting autonomously, system control 116 may perform system functions such as stopping print engine 136, connecting or disconnecting printer controller 100 from host computer 104, or purging all internal memory work areas within first memory 102, second memory 112, and third memory 132.
Engine control 124 of print controller 100 sends an instruction stream 134 to print engine 136, from which print engine 136 creates printed output 138. Engine Control 124 is responsible for operating the mechanism of print engine 136. Engine Control 124 sends commands and transfers bitmap data of buffered BMP stream 114 to print engine 136 in instruction stream 134. Print engine 136 physically attaches the bitmap dot pattern of instruction stream 134 to output print media (e.g., toner on paper, ink on paper, etc.) to create printed output 138.
Buffered output 108 from first memory 102 is then delivered to a Raster Image Processor (labeled RIP 128). RIP 128 processes buffered output 108 on the basis of the format of the data. Print data formats may consist of high-level printer languages such as Adobe's PostScript, IBM's Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS), or many others. RIP 128 converts buffered output 108 into machine printable raster (e.g., dot patterns) bitmaps (BMPs) 110. RIP 128 contains intelligence for sizing the printable data within BMP 110 to match the output medium (paper size) so that the BMP 110 fits on the final output medium.
RIP 128 sends a BMP 110 to second memory buffer within second memory 112, for storage until engine control 124 is ready to accommodate additional data. Second memory 112 sends a buffered BMP stream 114 to engine control 124. Third memory 132 sends operator test samples 130 as BMPs to engine control 124. Engine control 124 provides the interface mechanism that interconnects the printer controller 100 to print engine 136 through the internal interface connection of print engine 136. Engine control 124 is generally responsible for commanding and sending (in order) bitmap data to print engine 136. Each of first memory 102, second memory 112, and third memory 132 can be embodied as RAM or permanent storage media such as hard drive, floppy disk or a USB memory key. First memory 102 is used to buffer and hold print data stream 106 from host computer 104. Second memory 112 is used to buffer hold rasterized data as BMPs 110 to be printed in an ordered manner. Third memory 132 is used to hold selected rasterized (bitmap) data for operator test samples 130.
For continuous form printers, the present invention provides operator controls available on the operator interface of GUI 120, including “Non-Process Run Out” (NPRO). This operator control is used by operators to move forms (blank paper) through the print engine device. Continuous form print engine 136 devices typically need to be “threaded” with paper by an operator, much like movie projectors must be threaded with a reel of film. The NPRO control is provided for operators of these devices to cause paper to be fed through the device. Typically, other devices are connected to these printers (to re-roll the printed output, or fold the printed output, or cut the printed output). These external devices must also be threaded with paper, so that the NPRO function is also needed to push additional blank paper to the output devices.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, engine control 124 and GUI 120 implement an enhanced Non-Process Run Out (NPRO) function to allow the NPRO to be implanted with test operator test samples 130. The reconfiguration of NPRO in engine control 124 creates a new ‘printed paper advance’ where only a blank paper advance existed previously. Operator test samples 130 are created from “pre-RIP'd” or “canned” bitmaps and stored by engine control 124 on third memory 132. Because the present invention avoids use of RIP 128, there is no effect on any current job in process and the work in process is not lost. Very little additional system resource consumption is required under the present invention.
Internally, the present invention allows system control 116 to treat printing of operator test samples 130 as if a conventional NPRO (blank paper advance) is occurring, and no counts or charges are made against the current print job in progress. From the perspective of an operator, nothing was changed. The operator simply stops print engine 136, even in the middle of a print job, and selects operator test samples 130 to be printed. When finished, the operator can restart print engine 136 and resume printing at the point of interruption, just as if a conventional routine NPRO (blank paper advance) had been performed.
Turning now to
The process next moves to step 210, which illustrates print controller 100 determining whether GUI 120 has received an instruction representing an operator interrupt. If printer controller 100 determines that GUI 120 has not received an instruction representing an operator interrupt, then the process proceeds to step 212. Step 212 illustrates printer controller 100 determining whether print engine 136 has concluded printing. If printer controller 100 determines that print engine 136 has concluded printing, then the process returns to step 202, which is described above. If printer controller 100 determining that print engine 136 has not concluded printing, then the process returns to step 208, which is described above.
Returning to step 210, if printer controller 100 determines that GUI 120 has received an instruction representing an operator interrupt, then the process proceeds to step 216, which illustrates printer controller 100 determining whether a command for a test print operation has been received from GUI 120. If printer controller 100 determines that a command for a test print operation has not been received from GUI 120, then the process returns to step 212, which is described above. If printer controller 100 determines that a command for a test print operation has been received from GUI 120, then the process next moves to step 218. Step 218 illustrates printer controller 100 performing a print of operator test samples 130 by sending operator test samples 130 to engine control 124 from third memory 132. In a preferred embodiment, the process simultaneously proceeds to step 220, which illustrates printer controller 100 invoking an NPRO function to hold the status of any other print jobs in the pipeline of printer controller 100. One skilled in the relevant art will quickly realize that, in alternative embodiments, step 220 and step 218 will be performed sequentially, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The process then returns to step 212, which is described above.
The methodology described provided benefits in speed of testing, provides the required ease of use (immediate test sample printing) for the operator, and maintains host communication while leaving the internal RIP/work areas unaffected.
While the invention has been particularly shown as described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is also important to note that although the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functional computer system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the present invention are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of signal bearing media include, without limitation, recordable type media such as floppy disks or CD ROMs and transmission type media such as analog or digital communication links.
