Patent Application
20080043277
Turning now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating exemplary embodiments, and not for limiting the same,
Media source 102 is shown in
Marking system 104 includes one or more printing engines 118 in communication with media source 102 through a media transport pathway 120. It will be appreciated that the one or more printing engines can be of any suitable type or kind, and that such one or more printing engines will operate in accordance with known marking principles, such as ink jet marking or electrophotographic marking, for example.
Sheet media outlet 106 includes one or more output trays 122, and is in communication with the one or more printing engines of marking system 104 via media pathway 120. The sheet media outlet can be of any suitable type or kind, and can optionally be capable of performing one or more finishing operations of any type or kind. For example, sheet media outlet 106 could be operative to stack, collate, staple, hole punch, offset, bind, fold, insert separator sheets, and/or any combination of these or any other finishing operations.
As will be recognized by one of skill in the art, sheet media is fed from media source 102 to the one or more printing engines 118 along media pathway 120. Once output by the printing engine or engines, the marked sheet media is delivered to the sheet media outlet and can simply be stacked, or one or more optional finishing operations can be performed.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
Additionally, control system 108 can optionally include an input interface 128, which is shown in
Turning, briefly, to the topic of content sources, it will be appreciated that the same can be of any suitable type, kind and/or configuration. In the exemplary arrangement shown in
Various applications that are based on or otherwise utilize XML have been or are currently being developed. One example of such an application is commonly referred to as RSS, which can stand for Rich Site Summary, RFD Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication, depending on the version thereof that is being used. One feature of RSS is that computer files, such as files FA1-FA3, FB1-FB3 and/or FC1-FC3, for example, can be generated in a manner in which the informational content data and formatting and/or display data are separate or separable. Additionally, other data tags and/or markers can be incorporated into the data and/or information within the computer files, and such data tags or markers can be used to provide additional information regarding the disseminated content, such as date and/or time data, for example. Another feature of RSS and applications associated therewith is that the same permit new, updated or otherwise revised content to be automatically “pushed” out to users. Presently, this can be accomplish in any one of several different systems, methods and/or ways. Regardless of the application that is employed, users can be automatically notified when the content of a given content source has been updated or revised. As a result, the user does not have to repeatedly access the content source manually to check for new or updated content.
Returning, now, to printing system 100 in
Control system 108 can also include any suitable hardware, software and/or combination thereof for configuration and operation of the printing system. For example, control system 108 can include a processing device, which can be of any suitable type, kind and/or configuration, such as a microprocessor, for example, for processing data, executing software routines/programs, and other functions relating to the performance and/or operation of printing system 100. Additionally, the control system can include a memory of any suitable type, kind and/or configuration that can be used to store software, parameters, settings, inputs, data, values and/or other information for use in association with the performance and/or operation of the printing system. In the embodiment shown, controller 124 includes a microprocessor 138 and a memory 140, which is represented in
Memory 140 can store or otherwise retain any suitable data, values, settings, software, algorithms, routines, programs and/or any other information, in any suitable manner or form. For example, memory 140A can store or otherwise include content source data 142, such as data, values and/or information related to universal resource locations (URLs) of one or more content servers, for example. Additionally, memory 140A can optionally store or otherwise include content data 144, such as data, values and/or information related to retrieved content from one or more content sources, for example. Such data, values and/or information can include raw content data retrieved from a content source and/or informational content data that has been parsed or otherwise extracted from such raw content data. Furthermore, memory 140A can store or otherwise include user format data, values and/or information 146, such as may be related to user preferences for formatting and outputting printed representations of retrieved content, for example. Memory 140A can also be capable of storing or otherwise including marking data 148, such as may be suitable for communication to a marking system, such as marking system 118, for example, for generation of a printed representation of retrieved content. Additionally, memory 140A can store or otherwise include system configuration data, values and/or information 150, such as may be related to the settings, capabilities and/or operation of the printing system.
Memory 140B can optionally store or otherwise include an algorithm, routine or program 152 for determining a suitable interval for contacting a content source, such as to potentially retrieve new and/or updated data, for example, and for generating a corresponding signal or other communication having a relation to the interval determination. Memory 140B can also optionally store or otherwise include a signal receiving algorithm, routine or program 154 for receiving a communication signal, such as for indicating that new or updated content is available from a given content source, for example. Such a communication signal could be received from a content server or another system, service, or device, for example. Memory 140B can also store or otherwise include a retriever algorithm, routine or program 156 for retrieving content data, such as data 144, for example, from one or more content sources. Memory 140B also stores or otherwise includes an algorithm, routine or program 158 for parsing, extracting or otherwise interpreting informational content from content data, such as data 144, for example.
Memory 140B can optionally store or otherwise include an algorithm, routine or program 160 for formatting information content data for output based on user preferences, such as may be retained as user format data 146, for example. Memory 140B also stores or otherwise includes an algorithm, routine or program 162 for generating marking data, such as marking data 148, for example. If a formatting routine, such as may be retained in memory store 160, for example, is used, the marking data generated by routine 162 can be based on the formatted content data that may be output by the formatting routine. Otherwise, the marking data generated by routine 162 can be based on informational content data and optionally user format data, such as content data 144 and user format data 146, for example. Memory 140B can further store or otherwise include an algorithm, routine or program 164 for configuring the printing system, such as for the user entry of printer settings (e.g., configuration data 150), user preferences (e.g., user format data 146), and/or content source location information (e.g., content source data 142), for example.
It will be appreciated that the configuration and operation modules of control system 108, which are presented in this exemplary embodiment as algorithms, routines and/or programs 152-164, can be provided in any suitable manner, such as software, hardware and/or a combination of hardware and software, for example, and are not intended to be limited to the arrangement described above, which is merely exemplary. If provided in whole or in part as software, the configuration and operation modules of control system 108 can be provided and stored in any suitable manner or arrangement. For example, all of the algorithms, routines and/or programs could be integrated into a single software program in which separate sections or portions of the software code will perform the various actions and/or activities of the control system. In another embodiment, two or more independent modules (e.g., algorithms, routines and/or programs) could be used to perform the various actions and/or activities of the control system.
Microprocessor 138 is in communication with memory 140 and is operative to selectively access and/or process one or more of data, information, algorithms, routines and/or programs retained in memory stores 142-164, alone or in combination. For example, microprocessor 138 could receive data, signals or other suitable indications from an associated device or system, or from an algorithm, routine or program the microprocessor is running, such as from one of memory stores 152 or 154, for example, indicating that new or updated content may be available from a given content source, such as from one of the content servers, for example. Microprocessor 138 could then access memory store 142 to retrieve content source data (e.g., URL data) and memory store 156 to retrieve the routine for retrieving new or updated content data from the given content source. Upon retrieving the new or updated content data, the same or a portion thereof could be stored in memory store 144 for later processing. Alternately, microprocessor 138 could access memory store 158 to retrieve the routine for interpreting content data, and process the new or updated content data to parse or otherwise extract the information content therefrom.
Once the informational content is parsed or otherwise extracted, the information content data could be stored by the microprocessor in memory store 144. As one option, microprocessor 138 could access memory store 160 to retrieve a routine for formatting the content data and access memory store 146 to retrieve the user format data. The microprocessor could then generate formatted content data based thereon. In such case, microprocessor could then access memory store 162 to retrieve the routine for generating marking data. The microprocessor could then generate the marking data from the formatted content data. Alternately, the microprocessor could optionally access memory store 146 to retrieve user format data, and then generate marking data corresponding to the parsed or extracted informational content and optionally to the user format data, rather than utilizing formatting routine 160. In either case, microprocessor 138 can then output the marking data to marking system 104 for generation of a printed representation of the informational content. Additionally, the microprocessor could access memory store 148 to retrieve previously stored marking data or, alternately, the microprocessor could forward the generated marking data to memory store 148 later usage. It will be appreciated, however, that the foregoing illustrations are merely exemplary and that any other suitable processes and/or operations could alternately be performed.
One example of a method 200 of automatically outputting a printed representation of XML content data from an XML content source is shown in
It will be appreciated that different XML applications will include different features and capabilities, such as whether or not content can be “pushed” out to users, for example. As such, an inquiry is made at decision box 206 as to whether notification of new or updated content is available. If a YES determination is made, method 200 proceeds to box 208 at which a notification, such as receipt of a data signal, for example, is received, which indicates that a given content source has new or updated content available. Normally, the notification signal will include sufficient content source data or information for locating or otherwise communicating with the content source to retrieve the new or updated content. Having receive a notification signal, method 200 proceeds box 210 at which the new or updated content is retrieved from the content source. Prior to retrieving the new or updated content, a retrieval routine, such as may be retained in memory store 156, for example, can be accessed, as indicated by box 212. Method 200 can then optionally store the raw content data, such as in memory store 144, for example, as indicated by box 214. Method 200 then reaches a decision box 216 at which an inquiry is made as to whether content from another content source could be retrieved. If a YES determination is made at decision box 216, method 200 can index to another content source, as indicated by box 218, and return for a further inquiry at decision box 206.
Alternately, if a NO determination is made at the earlier inquiry at decision box 206, a timing signal can be received and used to determine when to check for new or updated content, as indicated by box 220. It will be appreciated that the timing signal can be generated in any suitable manner, such as by using the program in memory store 152, for example. Once the timing signal is received, method 200 proceeds to query a content source for new or updated information, as indicated in box 222. Prior to querying the content source, content source data, such as may be retained in memory store 142, for example, can be accessed, as indicated by box 224. Method 200 can then proceed to a decision box 226 at which an inquiry is made as to whether the queried content source has been updated with new and/or revised content. If a NO determination is made, method 200 proceeds to decision box 216 to determine whether content from another content source could be retrieved. If a YES determination is made, method 200 proceeds to retrieve the new or updated content from the content source, as discussed with regard to by box 210.
Once a desired amount of content has been received, a NO determination is returned at decision box 216 and method 200 can proceed to interpret the content, as indicated by box 228, and parse or otherwise extract the informational content therefrom. Prior to interpreting the informational content data, an interpreting routine, such as may be retained in memory store 158, for example, can be accessed, as indicated by box 230. Optionally, method 200 can store the interpreted content data, as indicated by box 232. In which case, method 200 can optionally return to retrieving content data, as indicated by line 234. If the content data is not stored at box 232, method 200 can optionally proceed to format the interpreted content data for output, as indicated by box 236, such as in accordance with user preferences, for example. However, prior to formatting the interpreted content data, a formatting routine, such as may be retained in memory store 160, for example, and user format data, such a may be retained in memory store 146, for example, can be accessed, as indicated by boxes 238 and 240, respectively. Method 200 can then generate marking data based on the formatted content data. Alternately, method 200 can generate marking data directly corresponding to the informational content, as indicated by box 242. Prior to generating the marking data, a generator routine, such as may be retained in memory store 162, for example, and stored content data, such as may be retained in memory store 144, for example, can be accessed, as indicated by boxes 244 and 246, respectively. In either case, method 200 includes communicating the marking data, however generated, to a printing system, as indicated by box 248. Method 200 can then proceed to generated a printed representation of the informational content, as indicated by box 250.
Printing systems, such as printing system 100, for example, can be configured in any suitable manner for automatically generating a printed representation of XML content retrieved from an XML content source. For example, an algorithm, routine or program, such as could be retained in memory store 162, for example, could be operable as a user interface for entry of data, values and/or information, such as could be retained in memory store 150, for example, for configuring a printing system.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
