Resource management profiles

• US 8,218,177 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Lazarus, Lewis J
• Primary Examiner(s): Worku, Negussie
• Application Number:
  US11/937,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.14, 358/442, 358/402, 358/448, 715/104, 715/764, 718/104, 379/100.17, 709/228, 709/218
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5011 the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals

Abstract

A resource management graphical user interface for a computer-controlled printing system in a networked environment enables an operator to create, modify, and apply resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the printing system. The user interface displays a current resource management profile, which includes printing system resource allocations associated with specific tasks. A resource profile list includes at least one profile name, corresponding to a task type. Profiles associated with the task type are presented and controls are provided to enable the operator to set allocations for component resource usage. The operator is also presented with operational options, including deleting a profile, approving a profile, applying a profile to a print job or series of print jobs, saving a new profile, replacing an existing profile, and canceling a profile modification. The user interface transmits instructions to apply a profile to a printing system for processing of print jobs.

Claims

1. In a computer-controlled printing system in a networked environment, a resource management graphical user interface, which, when accessed and utilized by an operator, causes the computer to perform method steps for controlling the printing system to enable an operator to create, modify, and apply resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the printing system, the method comprising:

displaying, upon receiving a request, at least one current resource management profile, wherein said resource management profile comprises printing system resource allocations associated with specific tasks;

providing a resource profile list, wherein said profile list includes at least one profile name, wherein said profile name comprises a task type;

presenting jobs associated with said task type, wherein controls are provided to enable the operator, to set allocations for component resource usage;

providing a summary of said component resource allocations for said task type, wherein said component resource allocations are modifiable;

presenting operational options to the operator, wherein said operational options include at least one member of the group comprising delete a profile, approve a profile, apply a profile to a print job or series of print jobs, save a new profile, replace an existing profile, and cancel a profile modification; and

transmitting an instruction to apply said profile to a printing system for processing of at least one print job.

2. The graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein said component allocations include at least one member selected from the group comprising IPDS, LCDS, PostScript, PCL, PPML, Variable Information Caching, DFA (document feeding and finishing architecture) support, and Online Channel interface.

3. The graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein said component allocations are modified by setting percentages per job type or by use of a weighting scheme.

4. The graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface may be accessed through at least one member selected from the group comprising a printer interface, a remote computer, a print server, a host computer, an internet device, and a wireless internet device.

5. A method for computer control of collaborating devices in a networked environment to enable an operator to access a resource management graphical user interface to create, modify, and apply resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation among the collaborating devices, the method comprising:

navigating to the resource management graphical user interface;

reviewing a current resource management profile, wherein said profile includes collaborating device resource allocation settings associated with specific tasks;

determining whether said current profile settings are adequate to efficiently perform a job;

if said current profile settings are adequate to efficiently perform said at least one job, instructing the collaborating device to apply said profile to the specifications for said job, wherein said instruction causes said collaborating device to free previously allocated resources, determine component resource allotments based on said selected profile, allocate resources for components based on said resource allotments, and perform said at least one job using said selected profile based resource allocations;

if said current profile settings are not adequate to efficiently perform said at least one job, identifying an alternate profile, comprising;

requesting a profile list display, wherein said profile list display includes at least one profile name, wherein said profile name comprises a task type;

reviewing selected profiles associated with said profile name;

determining if at least one profile associated with said profile name satisfies profile setting requirements for said at least one job;

selecting said profile that satisfies said profile setting requirements; and

instructing the collaborating device to apply said selected profile to the specifications for said at least one job, wherein said instruction causes said collaborating device to free previously allocated resources, determine component resource allotments based on said selected profile, allocate resources for components based on said resource allotments, and perform said at least one job using said selected profile based resource allocations; and

if at least one profile associated with said profile name does not satisfy said profile setting requirements for said at least one job, creating a new profile.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said collaborating device comprises a printing system.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the resource management graphical user interface may be accessed through at least one member selected from the group comprising a printer interface, a remote computer, a print server, a host computer, an internet device, and a wireless internet device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said remote computer is operating proprietary remote access software or publicly available graphical user interface access software.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said print server provides the resource management graphical user interface.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising switching resource profiles among print jobs.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein switching resource profiles among print jobs comprises:

creating a first printing system profile for a first job type;

creating a second printing system profile for a second job type;

accessing the profile selection capability on the resource management graphical user interface;

selecting said first printing system profile, wherein said selection causes said printing system to reallocate resources based on said first printing system profile and process said first job based on said first printing system profile;

re-accessing said profile selection capability on the resource management graphical user interface; and

selecting said second printing system profile, wherein said selection causes said printing system to reallocate resources based on said second printing system profile and process said second job based on said second printing system profile.

12. The method according to claim 5, wherein said host computer provides the resource management graphical user interface for management of profiles.

13. The method according to claim 5, wherein said wireless internet device comprises at least one device capable of providing information through voice or text messaging for the system being configured.

14. The method, according to claim 5, wherein said internet device comprises at least one device capable of providing information through a web browser interface for the system being configured.

15. The method according to claim 5, wherein said profile list display comprises profiles from at least one library of preconfigured resource allocations for defined tasks.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said resource allocations relate to various collaborating device operations.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said resource allocations comprise at least one member selected from the group comprising time slices allotted to specific processes, memory allocations based on various task types, and access to processors allocated according to task priority.

18. The method according to claim 5, wherein creating a new profile comprises:

navigating to the resource management graphical user interface;

reviewing at least one list of available profiles displayed on the graphical user interface;

determining if a suitable profile already exists;

if a suitable profile exists, applying said suitable profile; and

if a suitable profile does not already exist, creating a new profile, comprising;

accessing the profile editor on the resource management graphical user interface;

reviewing a representation of recognized resources or activity types displayed on the resource management graphical user interface;

setting a value for each resource or activity type to create a set of values, wherein said value comprises a percentage or weighting for each resource or activity type;

saving said set of values as a new profile; and

storing said new profile.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said new profile is stored in an independent file or as part of a larger configuration file.

20. A system for computer control of collaborating devices in a networked environment to enable an operator to access a resource management graphical user interface to create, modify, and apply resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation among the collaborating devices, the system comprising:

means for navigating to the resource management graphical user interface;

means for reviewing a current resource management profile, wherein said profile includes device resource allocation settings associated with specific tasks;

means for determining whether said current profile settings are adequate to efficiently perform at least one job;

if said current profile settings are adequate to efficiently perform said at least one job, means for instructing the collaborating devices to apply said profile to the specifications for said job, wherein said instruction causes said collaborating devices to free previously allocated resources, determine component resource allotments based on said selected profile, allocate resources for components based on said resource allotments, and perform said at least one job using said selected profile based resource allocations;

if said current profile settings are not adequate to efficiently perform said at least one job, means for identifying an alternate profile, comprising;

means for requesting a profile list display, wherein said profile list display includes at least one profile name, wherein said profile name comprises a task type;

means for reviewing selected profiles associated with said profile name;

means for determining if at least one profile associated with said profile name satisfies profile setting requirements for said at least one job;

means for selecting said profile that satisfies said profile setting requirements; and

means for instructing the collaborating devices to apply said selected profile to the specifications for said at least one job, wherein said instruction causes said collaborating devices to free previously allocated resources, determine component resource allotments based on said selected profile, allocate resources for components based on said resource allotments, and perform said at least one job using said selected profile based resource allocations; and

if at least one profile associated with said profile name does not satisfy said profile setting requirements for said at least one job, means for creating a new profile.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said collaborating device comprises a printing system.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising means for switching resource profiles among print jobs.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein means for switching resource profiles among print jobs comprises:

means for creating a first printing system profile for a first job type;

means for creating a second printing system profile for a second job type;

means for accessing the profile selection capability on the resource management graphical user interface;

means for selecting said first printing system profile, wherein said selection causes said printing system to reallocate resources based on said first printing system profile and process said first job based on said first printing system profile;

means for re-accessing said profile selection capability on the resource management graphical user interface; and

means for selecting said second printing system profile, wherein said selection causes said printing system to reallocate resources based on said second printing system profile and process said second job based on said second printing system profile.

24. The system according to claim 20, wherein means for creating a new profile comprises:

means for navigating to the resource management graphical user interface;

means for reviewing at least one list of available profiles displayed on the graphical user interface;

means for determining if a suitable profile already exists;

if a suitable profile exists, means for applying said suitable profile; and

if a suitable profile does not already exist, means for creating a new profile, comprising;

means for accessing the profile editor on the resource management graphical user interface;

means for reviewing a representation of recognized resources or activity types displayed on the resource management graphical user interface;

means for setting a value for each resource or activity type to create a set of values, wherein said value comprises a percentage or weighting for each resource or activity type;

means for saving said set of values as a new profile in memory; and

means for storing said new profile.

25. The system according to claim 20, wherein the resource management graphical user interface may be accessed through at least one member selected from the group comprising a collaborating device interface, a remote computer, a device server, a host computer, an internet device, and a wireless internet device.