System and method for sequencing pages in a document processing device

Abstract

A system and method for sequencing pages in a document processing device which is capable of implementation on any type of document processing device. The method begins with the receipt of document data representing a series of pages for output by an associated document rendering device, device data representing document output capabilities corresponding to the document rendering device, and instruction data representing duplex, collating and number of copies associated the document data. Page sequencing data is then generated, via a page sequencer, for associating each page of received document data with a document face in an output thereof by the associated document rendering device in accordance with the document data. Face sequencing data is also generated, via a face sequencer, for relative association of document faces in pages of an output of the associated document rendering device in accordance with received instruction data. In addition, sheet sequencing data is generated, via a sheet sequencer, for ordering output of sheets in the associated document rendering device in accordance with received device data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for sequencing pages according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating page sequencing data according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating face sequencing data according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating sheet sequencing data according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A page sequencing system comprising: means adapted for receiving document data representative of a series of pages for output by an associated document rendering device;means adapted for receiving device data representative of document output capabilities of the associated document rendering device;means adapted for receiving instruction data representative of at least one of duplex, collating and number of copies associated the document data;a page sequencer, the page sequencer including means adapted for generating page sequencing data for associating each page of received document data with a document face in an output thereof by the associated document rendering device in accordance with the document data;a face sequencer, the face sequencer including means adapted for generating face sequencing data for relative association of document faces in pages of an output of the associated document rendering device in accordance with received instruction data; anda sheet sequencer, the sheet sequencer including means adapted for generating sheet sequencing data for ordering output of sheets in the associated document rendering device in accordance with received device data.

2. The page sequencing system of claim 1 further comprising metadata means adapted for receiving metadata to at least one of the page sequencer and the face sequencer so as to facilitate respective generation of the page sequencing data and the face sequencing data.

3. The page sequencing system of claim 2 wherein the face sequencer includes means adapted for updating metadata.

4. The page sequencing system of claim 1 wherein the page sequencer includes means adapted for generating the page sequencing data in accordance with at least one of an N-up sort algorithm and a magazine sort algorithm.

5. The page sequencing system of claim 1 wherein the face sequencer includes means adapted for generating face sequencing data in accordance with at least one of data representative of collation operations, number of copies generated, and duplexing operations.

6. The page sequencing system of claim 1 wherein the sheet sequencer includes means adapted for generating parameter data, which parameter data is used in generating the sheet sequencing data in accordance with a plurality of document rendering devices.

7. The page sequencing system of claim 6 wherein the sheet sequencer includes means adapted for generating the sheet sequencing data in accordance with at least one of data representative of input trays, output trays, finishing operations, and capacity of the associated document rendering device.

8. A page sequencing method comprising the steps of: receiving document data representative of a series of pages for output by an associated document rendering device;receiving device data representative of document output capabilities of the associated document rendering device;receiving instruction data representative of at least one of duplex, collating and number of copies associated the document data;generating page sequencing data, via a page sequencer, for associating each page of received document data with a document face in an output thereof by the associated document rendering device in accordance with the document data;generating face sequencing data, via a face sequencer, for relative association of document faces in pages of an output of the associated document rendering device in accordance with received instruction data; andgenerating sheet sequencing data, via a sheet sequencer, for ordering output of sheets in the associated document rendering device in accordance with received device data.

9. The page sequencing method of claim 8 further comprising the step of receiving metadata to at least one of the page sequencer and the face sequencer so as to facilitate respective generation of the page sequencing data and the face sequencing data.

10. The page sequencing method of claim 9 further comprising the step of updating metadata.

11. The page sequencing method of claim 8 wherein the page sequencing data is generated in accordance with at least one of an N-up sort algorithm and a magazine sort algorithm.

12. The page sequencing method of claim 8 wherein the face sequencing data is generated in accordance with at least one of data representative of collation operations, number of copies generated, and duplexing operations.

13. The page sequencing method of claim 8 further comprising the step of generating parameter data, which parameter data is used in generating the sheet sequencing data in accordance with a plurality of document rendering devices.

14. The page sequencing method of claim 13 wherein sheet sequencing data is generated in accordance with at least one of data representative of input trays, output trays, finishing operations, and capacity of the associated document rendering device.

15. A computer-implemented method for page sequencing comprising the steps of: receiving document data representative of a series of pages for output by an associated document rendering device;receiving device data representative of document output capabilities of the associated document rendering device;receiving instruction data representative of at least one of duplex, collating and number of copies associated the document data;generating page sequencing data, via a page sequencer, for associating each page of received document data with a document face in an output thereof by the associated document rendering device in accordance with the document data;generating face sequencing data, via a face sequencer, for relative association of document faces in pages of an output of the associated document rendering device in accordance with received instruction data; andgenerating sheet sequencing data, via a sheet sequencer, for ordering output of sheets in the associated document rendering device in accordance with received device data.

16. The computer-implemented method for page sequencing of claim 15 further comprising the step of receiving metadata to at least one of the page sequencer and the face sequencer so as to facilitate respective generation of the page sequencing data and the face sequencing data.

17. The computer-implemented method for page sequencing of claim 16 further comprising the step of updating metadata.

18. The computer-implemented method for page sequencing of claim 15 wherein the page sequencing data is generated in accordance with at least one of an N-up sort algorithm and a magazine sort algorithm.

19. The computer-implemented method for page sequencing of claim 15 wherein the face sequencing data is generated in accordance with at least one of data representative of collation operations, number of copies generated, and duplexing operations.

20. The computer-implemented method for page sequencing of claim 15 further comprising the step of generating parameter data, which parameter data is used in generating the sheet sequencing data in accordance with a plurality of document rendering devices.

21. The computer-implemented method for page sequencing of claim 20 wherein sheet sequencing data is generated in accordance with at least one of data representative of input trays, output trays, finishing operations, and capacity of the associated document rendering device.