System-generated resource management profiles

• US 8,271,988 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• 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): Truong, Camquy
• Application Number:
  US11/937,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5011 the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals

Abstract

A method for computer control of collaborating devices enables automatic generation of resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the collaborating device. The method includes utilization of a graphical user interface to select an initial resource management profile and instruct the device to automatically generate a resource profile. Timing is specified for creation of the automatically generated optimized resource profile. The optimized resource profile is developed from statistics maintained, collected, and interpreted about the demand for resources within each component of the collaborating device. An operator may elect to automatically invoke the most recently generated optimized profile after a specified period of collaborating device idleness or to invoke it upon an instruction from the operator. The optimized resource profile may be saved for future use or discarded.

Claims

1. 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 instruct at least one collaborating device to automatically generate resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the collaborating device, the method comprising:

navigating to the resource management graphical user interface;

selecting at least one resource management profile, wherein the resource management profile includes information related to a type and an amount of resources of the at least one collaborating device to be used for execution of a particular job and wherein said resource management profile comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising at least one default resource management profile delivered with the collaborating device, at least one existing resource management profile, and at least one new resource management profile, wherein said resource management profile includes collaborating device resource allocation settings associated with the particular job;

instructing the collaborating device to automatically generate at least one resource management profile through activation of a feature on said graphical user interface;

specifying timing for the collaborating device to provide said automatically generated resource management profile;

determining whether to invoke the most recent generated resource management profile after a specified period of collaborating device idleness;

maintaining statistics about a demand for resources within each component of the collaborating device;

collecting and interpreting said statistics, wherein said statistics are used to create an optimized resource management profile;

instructing the collaborating device to apply said optimized resource management profile to the particular job, wherein said instruction causes said collaborating device to perform said particular job using said optimized resource management profile; and

determining whether to save or discard said optimized resource management profile.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collaborating device comprises a printing system.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said resource management profile is selected from a drop down list.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said new resource management profile is created by the operator through adjustment of resource utilization, wherein said utilization may be expressed as percentages or through a weighting scheme.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein expression of said utilization is accomplished through the use of at least one member selected from the group comprising slider controls, dials, radio buttons, spin boxes, arrows, and resizable boxes.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein activating said feature is accomplished by use of at least one member selected from the group comprising highlighting an option, selecting an icon, selecting a button, and selecting an item from a drop down menu.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said timing for the collaborating device to provide said automatically generated resource management profile includes at least one member selected from the group comprising expiration of a time period, in response to an operator'"'"'s request, and at the completion of at least one job.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said time period is specified by the operator or by the collaborating device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said time period specified by the operator is accomplished through at least one member selected from the group comprising check boxes, spin boxes, drop downs, and type-in fields.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator specifies an amount of time that must pass before said most recent generated resource management profile is invoked.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said optimized resource management profile may be applied automatically by the collaborating device, after a specified period of collaborating device idleness, or at the instruction of the operator.

12. A system for computer control of collaborating devices in a networked environment, wherein the system includes a resource management graphical user interface that causes the computer to perform method steps for controlling at least one collaborating device to automatically generate resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the collaborating device when the graphical user interface is accessed and utilized by an operator, the system comprising:

a processor in communication with a computer-readable memory;

the resource management graphical user interface comprising;

a mechanism operable to navigate to the resource management graphical user interface;

a mechanism operable to select at least one resource management profile, wherein the resource management profile includes information related to a type and an amount of resources of the at least one collaborating device to be used for execution of a particular job and wherein said resource management profile comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising at least one default resource management profile delivered with the collaborating device, at least one existing resource management profile, and at least one new resource management profile, wherein said resource management profile includes collaborating device resource allocation settings associated with said particular job;

a mechanism operable to instruct the collaborating device to automatically generate at least one resource management profile through activation of a feature on said graphical user interface;

a mechanism operable to specify timing for the collaborating device to provide said automatically generated resource management profile;

a mechanism operable to determine whether to invoke the most recent generated resource management profile after a specified period of collaborating device idleness;

a mechanism operable to maintain statistics about a demand for resources within each component of the collaborating device;

a mechanism operable to collect and interpret said statistics, wherein said statistics are used to create an optimized resource management profile;

a mechanism operable to instruct the collaborating device to apply said optimized resource management profile to said particular job, wherein said instruction causes said collaborating device to perform said particular job using said optimized resource management profile; and

a mechanism operable to determine whether to save or discard said optimized resource management profile.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said collaborating device comprises a printing system.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said optimized resource management profile may be applied automatically by the print system, after a specified period of print system idleness, or at the instruction of the operator.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein said resource management profile is selected from a drop down list.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein said new resource management profile is created by the operator through adjustment of resource utilization, wherein said utilization may be expressed as percentages or through a weighting scheme.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein expression of said utilization is accomplished through the use of at least one member selected from the group comprising slider controls, dials, radio buttons, spin boxes, arrows, and resizable boxes.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein activating said feature is accomplished by use of at least one member selected from the group comprising highlighting an option, selecting an icon, selecting a button, and selecting an item from a drop down menu.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein said timing for the printing system to provide said automatically generated resource management profile includes at least one member selected from the group comprising expiration of a time period, in response to an operator'"'"'s request, and at the completion of at least one print job.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said time period is specified by the operator or by the print system.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said time period specified by the operator is accomplished through at least one member selected from the group comprising check boxes, spin boxes, drop downs, and type-in fields.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein the operator specifies an amount of time that must pass before said most recent generated resource management profile is invoked.

23. A resource management graphical user interface included in a computer-controlled printing system causes the computer to perform method steps for controlling the printing system to automatically generate resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the printing system when the graphical user interface is accessed and utilized by an operator, the method comprising:

displaying at least one current resource management profile, wherein the resource management profile includes information related to a type and an amount of resources of the at least one collaborating device to be used for execution of a particular print job and wherein said current resource management profile comprises printing system resource allocations associated with specific said particular print jobs;

providing a resource management profile list, wherein said resource management profile list includes at least one profile name, wherein said profile name identifies a job type;

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

providing an option to instruct the printing system to generate at least one the current resource management profile automatically;

providing an option to instruct the printing system to apply said generated resource management profile automatically;

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

transmitting said instruction to apply at least one of the resource management profile, the new resource management profile and the existing resource management profile to a printing system for processing of at least one said particular print job.

24. The graphical user interface according to claim 23, wherein said job types comprise page description language job types.

25. The graphical user interface according to claim 23, wherein said controls enabling the operator to set allocations for resource usage include at least one member selected from the group comprising slider controls, dials, radio buttons, spin boxes, arrows, and resizable boxes.