Printer dynamically tracking print jobs and method of tracking print jobs

• US 20080030765A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Carney, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,139,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1273 Print job history, e.g. logging, accounting, tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

A printer and method of managing print jobs in the printer. Print job locations are identified in the printer. Each print job being printed is always in at least one of the print job locations and the locations are monitored for entering and exiting jobs. The printer includes a job location mask for each print job. Each bit location in the job location mask corresponds to one of the print job locations and a set bit indicates the presence of a print job in a corresponding print job location. As a print job enters a location, the location issues a call and the job location mask is updated to reflect the presence of the print job in that location.

Claims

1. A printer comprising:

a plurality of print job locations, each print job being printed by said printer passing through ones of said plurality of print job locations;

a job location monitor monitoring each of said plurality of print job locations; and

a job location mask for said each print job, each bit location in each said job location mask indicating the presence of a print job in a corresponding one of said plurality of print job locations, said job location monitor updating said job location mask responsive to a respective print job location indicating the presence of said print job.

2. A printer as in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of print job locations indicates when a print job is entering and exiting.

3. A printer as in claim 1, further comprising a job location table including a plurality of job location masks.

4. A printer as in claim 3, further comprising a local store, said job location table being in said local store.

5. A printer as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of print job locations include an initial location, a plurality of print spools, a plurality of printer components and a plurality of physical printer locations.

6. A printer as in claim 5, wherein said plurality of print spools comprise a raw spool and a rip spool.

7. A printer as in claim 5, wherein said plurality of printer components comprise a despooling component, an interpreting component and a mechanical print component.

8. A printer as in claim 5, wherein said plurality of physical printer locations comprise a paper path and a paper stacker.

9. A printer comprising:

a plurality of print job processing locations, each print job being printed by said printer passing through ones of said plurality of print job processing locations;

means for issuing a call in each of said plurality of print job processing locations, said call indicating a print job is entering a respective print job processing location;

means for monitoring print jobs traversing said plurality of print job processing locations; and

means for storing a job location mask for said each print job, each bit location in each said job location mask indicating the presence of a print job in a corresponding one of said plurality of print job processing locations, said means for monitoring print jobs updating said job location mask responsive to a call issued from a respective print job processing location.

10. A printer as in claim 9, wherein each of said means for issuing a call further issues a call when a print job is exiting said respective print job processing location.

11. A printer as in claim 9, means for storing said job location mask further comprises means for storing a job location table including a plurality of job location masks.

12. A printer as in claim 9, wherein said plurality of print job processing locations include an initial location, a plurality of print spools, a plurality of printer components and a plurality of physical printer locations.

13. A printer as in claim 12, wherein said plurality of print spools comprise a raw spool and a rip spool.

14. A printer as in claim 12, wherein said plurality of printer components comprise a despooling component, an interpreting component and a mechanical print component.

15. A printer as in claim 12, wherein said plurality of physical printer locations comprise a paper path and a paper stacker.

16. A method of managing print jobs passing through a printer said method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring each of a plurality of printer locations in said printer for the presence of a print job;

b) setting a corresponding bit in a job location mask for a respective said print job as said respective print job enters a corresponding one of said plurality of printer locations;

c) resetting said corresponding bit as each said respective print job exits said corresponding one of said plurality of printer locations; and

d) returning to monitoring step (a).

17. A method as in claim 16, before the monitoring step (a) further comprising defining said plurality of printer locations in said printer.

18. A method as in claim 16, before the monitoring step (a) further comprising the steps of:

a1) receiving a print job;

a2) issuing a call indicating that the received said print job is in an initial location; and

a3) adding a respective said job location mask indicating that said print job is in said initial location.

19. A method as in claim 16, before the resetting step (c) further comprising the steps of:

b1) checking whether said print job is in an initial location; and

whenever said print job is in said initial location,

b2) returning to monitoring step (a).