Web-based imaging service enabling jobs to be interrupted gracefully
First Claim
1. A method of relieving competition between processing jobs sharing a production device, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. from a first user'"'"'s browser, accessing a destination service representing a production device;
b. retrieving production data of said first user by said destination service;
c. at said first user'"'"'s browser, selecting production options from among a plurality of production options provided by said destination service for determining a first processing job for processing said first user'"'"'s production data using said production device;
d. estimating the time duration required to process said first processing job using said production device with said selected production options;
e. if said production device is not currently processing a previous processing job of a previous user, then allowing said first processing job of said first user to be processed using said production device, subject under a first condition to interruption by a subsequent processing job of a subsequent user;
otherwise f. if said production device is currently processing a previous processing job of a previous user and if said previous processing job is subject under said first condition to said interruption , then under a second condition allowing said processing said first processing job of said first user to interrupt processing of said previous processing job of said previous user by said production device, such that processing of said previous processing job resumes after said processing of said first processing job is complete.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a web-based imaging environment, a user accesses a destination service (e.g., representing a printer), which retrieves user'"'"'s imaging data and configures available production options for a processing job. The user selects desired production options, after which the destination service estimates the time duration required to process the user'"'"'s job based on the selected options. The user selects an option indicating whether subsequent copies of a current job can be interrupted. If so, a subsequent user can interrupt either manually or via the destination service, delivering a status message to the first user. The interrupted job is stored and is resumed intact after the interrupting job has processed. Subsequent output copies can be delivered into the original output tray, or can be separated in other ways. In some embodiments, if the currently processing job includes multiple output copies, then it is allowed to complete the current copy before being interrupted.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of relieving competition between processing jobs sharing a production device, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. from a first user'"'"'s browser, accessing a destination service representing a production device;
b. retrieving production data of said first user by said destination service;
c. at said first user'"'"'s browser, selecting production options from among a plurality of production options provided by said destination service for determining a first processing job for processing said first user'"'"'s production data using said production device;
d. estimating the time duration required to process said first processing job using said production device with said selected production options;
e. if said production device is not currently processing a previous processing job of a previous user, then allowing said first processing job of said first user to be processed using said production device, subject under a first condition to interruption by a subsequent processing job of a subsequent user;
otherwisef. if said production device is currently processing a previous processing job of a previous user and if said previous processing job is subject under said first condition to said interruption , then under a second condition allowing said processing said first processing job of said first user to interrupt processing of said previous processing job of said previous user by said production device, such that processing of said previous processing job resumes after said processing of said first processing job is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A destination service representing a production device, said destination service operable to:
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download content into a first user'"'"'s browser;
retrieve said first user'"'"'s production data;
select under said first user'"'"'s interactive control via said content from among production options for processing said first user'"'"'s production data using said production device;
estimate the time duration required to process said first user'"'"'s production data using said production device in accordance with said selected production options;
determine if said production device is currently processing a previous job of a previous user; and
if said production device is not currently processing said previous job, monitor said processing and allow said first user'"'"'s production data to be processed using said production device, subject under a first condition to interruption by a subsequent job of a subsequent user;
otherwiseif said production device is currently processing said previous job subject under said first condition to said interruption, monitor said processing and allow said processing of said first user'"'"'s production data subject to a second condition to interrupt processing of said previous job by said production device; and
direct a resumption of said processing of said interrupted job after said processing of said first user'"'"'s production data is complete;
otherwise offer said first user the option to process said first user'"'"'s production data by said production device following the completion of processing of said previous job. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of controlling a plurality of processing jobs at a production device, said method comprising the steps of:
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accepting a plurality of processing jobs competing for said production device;
determining the quantities of resources required for each accepted processing job;
comparing each said determination against at least one pre-established criterion to arrive at a priority level for each said processing job;
inserting an accepted processing job into a queue of accepted processing jobs according to its arrived at priority; and
interrupting an existing processing job that is currently using said production device, such that another processing job can use said production device, said another processing job having an arrived at priority different from the arrived at priority of said processing job being interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for relieving competition between processing jobs sharing a production device, said system comprising:
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a user'"'"'s browser; and
a destination service accessible from said user'"'"'s browser and operable to download content into said user'"'"'s browser, said destination service further representing a production device and operable to arrive at a priority level for each said processing job and to interrupt an existing processing job that is currently using said production device when said currently running processing job has a certain arrived at priority, such that another processing job can use said production device, said another processing job having an arrived at priority different from said processing job being interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification