Printer job visualization

• US 20080137914A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Minhas, Rajinderjeet S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,223,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10008 from scanner, fax or copier
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30144 Printing quality
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/001 using an image reference approach
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00015 Reproducing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00031 Testing, i.e. determining the result of a trial H04N1/00029 takes precedence; using test signals for transmission mode changing H04N2201/33371
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00045 using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00053 out of service, i.e. outside of normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00063 using at least a part of the apparatus itself, e.g. self-testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00074 Indicating or reporting details of user-machine interface H04N1/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6011 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer H04N1/622 takes precedence; matching two or more picture reproducers H04N1/6052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A system for visualizing a print job includes a print job simulator which applies a print job model to print job image data to generate an image which simulates a rendered image of the print job if the print job were to be printed on a specific marking device. The system also includes a display in communication with the print job simulator for displaying the simulation image. The modified image data displayed on the display enables a customer to see a defect in the print job which would appear if the print job were to be rendered on the specific marking device. The print job model may be derived, at least in part, from information derived from the marking device, such as information derived from image data acquired by scanning a test image which has been rendered by the marking device.

Claims

1. a system for visualizing a print job comprising:

a print job simulator which applies a print job model to print job image data to generate an image which simulates a rendered image of the print job if the print job were to be printed on a specific marking device; and

a display in communication with the print job simulator for displaying the simulation image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the print job model is derived at least in part from image data acquired by a sensor associated with the marking device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the print job model is derived at least in part from a diagnostic engine which diagnoses a cause of an image defect.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising memory in communication with the print job simulator which stores the print job model.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory stores a plurality of print job models for a plurality of marking devices and wherein the print job simulator applies a model for a selected one of the marking devices.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the print job model is updated at intervals to reflect a change in the specific marking device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the print job model simulates a print defect of a rendered image of the print job if the print job were to be printed on the specific marking device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the defect comprises at least one of banding and streaking.

9. A printing system comprising the system for visualizing of claim 1 and at least one marking device for rendering print jobs on print media.

10. The printing system of claim 9, further comprising a sensor which acquires image data from an image rendered by the marking device, the model being based in part on the acquired image data.

11. The printing system of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a spectrophotometer and a glossmeter.

12. The printing system of claim 9, further comprising a print model generator which generates the model based, at least in part, on the acquired image data.

13. A method of visualizing a print job comprising:

applying a print job model to print job image data to generate an image which simulates a rendered image of the print job if the print job were to be printed on a specific marking device; and

displaying the image which simulates the rendered image.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the displaying is performed prior to printing the print job on the specific marking device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating the print job model.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the generation of the print job model includes acquiring image data from a test image rendered by the specific marking device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising acquiring a diagnosis of a cause of a defect in the acquired image data, the model being based at least in part on the diagnosis.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising retrieving a selected one of a plurality of print job models stored in memory.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a first of the print job models is for a first marking engine and a second of the print job models is for a second marking engine.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the specific marking engine exhibits at least one print defect and wherein the model simulates the print defect.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the defect comprises at least one of banding and streaking.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising, prior to the applying, retrieving an updated model for the specific marking device which reflects a change in the specific marking device.

23. A tangible computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to implement the method of claim 13.

24. A printing system comprising:

at least one marking device, each of the marking devices being configured for rendering a print job on print media;

a model generator which, for each of the marking devices, generates a print job model based, at least in part, on image data acquired by scanning a test image rendered by the marking device, and

a print job simulator which applies at least one of the generated models to print job image data, whereby when the print job image data to which the model has been applied is displayed on a display, a defect in the print job which would appear if the print job were to be rendered on the at least one marking device is visualized.