Source Selection Apparatus and Method Using Media Signatures

• US 20080123128A1
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Powers, Evan James, Schoedinger, Kevin Dean, Underwood, Mark Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1219 with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and/or apparatus for determining whether to select media for printing. This may be accomplished by identifying a media signature present in the media and identifying a data stream signature that may be printed on the media. A comparison may then be made as between the data stream signature and the media signature. Based upon the comparison media may then be selected for printing.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a media signature in one or a plurality of media;

identifying a data stream signature for one or a plurality of media;

comparing the data stream signature with the media signature; and

determining whether to select media based upon said comparing of said data stream signature to said media signature.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

said media includes one or a plurality of RFID tags and said media signature comprises information regarding at least one of the number, type or position of one or a plurality of said RFID tags located on said media;

and

said data stream signature comprises information regarding at least one of the number, type, or position of one or a plurality of RFID tags.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising selecting media based upon said comparing of the data stream signature and the media signature by identifying the presence or absence of a match as between

information in said media signature regarding at least one of the number, type or position of one or a plurality of said RFID tags located on said media;

and

information in said data stream signature regarding at least one of the number, type, or position of one or a plurality of RFID tags.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein information regarding said type of RFID tag comprises tag identifier information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying a media signature present in one or more media comprises identifying a media input tray containing said media and selecting said media input tray based upon said comparing of said data stream signature to said media signature.

6. A printing device comprising a processor capable of:

identifying a media signature in one or a plurality of media;

identifying a data stream signature for one or plurality of media;

generating a comparison of said data stream signature with said media signature; and

determining whether to select media based upon said comparison of said data stream signature to said media signature.

7. The printing device of claim 6 wherein said device includes a plurality of media input sources containing said media wherein said media input sources are capable of being accessed by said printing device.

8. The printing device of claim 7 including at least one sensor associated with said plurality of media input sources wherein said sensor is configured to sense a media signature on said media.

9. The printing device of claim 8 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of RFID transceivers, metal detectors, and optical sensors.

10. The printing device of claim 6 wherein

said media comprises one or more RFID tags and said media signature comprises information regarding at least one of the number, type or position of one or a plurality of RFID tags located on said media;

and

said data stream signature comprises information regarding at least one of the number, type, or position of one or a plurality of RFID tags.

11. The printing device of claim 10 wherein said processor is capable of selecting media based upon said comparison of the data stream signature and the media signature by identifying the presence or absence of a match as between

information in said media signature regarding at least one of the number, type or position of one or a plurality of said RFID tags located on said media;

and

information in said data stream signature regarding at least one of the number, type, or position of one or a plurality of RFID tags.

12. The printing device of claim 11 wherein said processor, upon identification of the absence of a match, is capable of one or more of the following:

(a) prompting a user for intervention;

(b) selecting default media;

or

(c) selecting media based upon information supplied in said data stream.

13. The printing device of claim 6 wherein said processor is capable of selecting media based upon said comparison of the data stream signature and the media signature including selecting a media input source containing said media.

14. The printing device of claim 6 wherein said printing device includes a display and said device is capable of generating an image of a print job based upon said data stream signature and an image of said media based upon said media signature.

15. The printing device of claim 14 wherein said printing device is capable of prompting a user for confirmation prior to printing.

16. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following:

identification of a media signature in one or a plurality of media;

identification of a data stream signature for one or a plurality of media;

generation of a comparison of the data stream signature with the media signature; and

determining whether to select media based upon said comparison of said data stream signature to said media signature.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein

said media includes one or a plurality of RFID tags and said media signature comprises identifiable information regarding at least one of the number, type or position of one or a plurality of said RFID tags located on said media;

and

said data stream signature comprises identifiable information for said media regarding at least one of the number, type, or position of one or a plurality of RFID tags and said identification of said data stream signature comprises identifying.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 comprising selecting media based upon said comparison of the data stream signature and the media signature by identifying the presence or absence of a match as between

information in said media signature regarding at least one of the number, type or position of one or a plurality of said RFID tags located on said media;

and

information in said media signature regarding at least one of the number, type, or position of one or a plurality of RFID tags.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein said medium is located in a printing device.