Printer configuration control system

• US 5,129,639 A
• Filed: 12/17/1990
• Issued: 07/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: DeHority, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newholm, Therese M.
• Application Number:
  US07/628,309
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 270/1.1, 270/37, 270/53, 270/58, 270/52, 271/9, 271/259, 271/258, 355/311, 355/313, 355/314, 355/321-326
• US Class Current: 270/1.01
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00586 duplex mode
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00827 Stapler
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00877 Folding device
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0089 Shifting jobs
• 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 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1255 Settings incompatibility, e.g. constraints, user requirements vs. device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function

Abstract

The present invention is a system which compares the print job requirements to the printer capability and determines the best match therebetween. When a mismatch occurs, the system determines the best match between size, color, weight and type by determining a mismatch magnitude between the job paper requirements and the printer'"'"'s paper capabilities or stocks. The paper with the lowest mismatch magnitude is designated. The system also determines the best match between the job requirements and the printer capability for stapling, folding, duplexing and stacking. The operator is given an opportunity to correct any mismatches and the best match is used to configure the printer for the job if the user has specified a best match print strategy.

Claims

1. A method of printing including matching print job requirements of a user sent from a remote location along with a print document to printer capabilities, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether a mismatch exists between the job requirements from the remote location and the printer capabilities;

(b) determining the best match between the job requirements from the remote location and the printer capabilities when the mismatch exists;

printing the document unattended by the user, responsive to the best match;

(c) setting the job requirements to the best match when the mismatch exists, including;

(c1) setting job paper requirements to the best paper match;

(c2) setting job stapling requirements to no stapling when stapling does not exist in the printer capabilities;

(c3) rotating the image and setting job stapling requirements to an available stapling capability when rotation and stapling will satisfy the job stapling requirements;

c4) setting job duplex requirements to simplex when duplex capability does not exist in the printer capabilities;

(c5) setting job offset requirements to no offset when offset capability does not exist in the printer capabilities; and

(c6) setting job folding requirements to no folding when folding capability does not exits in the printer; and

(d) printing the document unattended by the user responsive to the best match.

2. A method of printing including matching print job requirements printer capabilities where a document and the print job requirements are sent from a remote location by a user, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether a mismatch exists between the job requirements from the remote location and the printer capabilities;

(b) determining the best match between the job requirements from the remote location and the printer capabilities when the mismatch exists, comprising;

(b1) determining for all paper supplies a mismatch magnitude of a mismatch between paper requirements and paper capability including;

(i) determining a dimension magnitude of paper dimension differences, a weighty magnitude of paper dimension differences, a color mismatch magnitude of color differences and a type mismatch of type differences; and

(ii) summing the dimension, weight, color mismatch and type mismatch magnitudes to obtain the mismatch magnitude; and

(b2) selecting a one of the paper supplies with a smallest mismatch magnitude;

(c) allowing the operator to change the printer capabilities;

(d) setting the job requirements to the best match when the mismatch still exists, comprising;

(d1) setting job paper requirements to the best paper match;

(d2) setting job stapling requirements to no stapling when stapling does not edit in the printer capabilities;

(d3) rotating the image and setting job stapling requirements to an available stapling ability when rotation and stapling will satisfy the job stapling requirements;

(d4) setting job duplex requirements to simplex when duplex capability does not exist in the printer capabilities;

(d5) setting job offset requirements to no offset when offset capability does not exit in the printer capabilities; and

(d6) setting job folding requirements to no folding when folding capability does not exist in the printer; and

(e) printing the document, unattended by the user, responsive to the best match.