Default media selection methods in a multi-media printer

• US 8,755,056 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codonics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Codonics Incorporated
• Inventors: Edwards, Richard M, Gilbert, Alan J, Keefe, Gary W, Botten, Peter O
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US13/251,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358/1.18, 358/296, 358/401, 358/449, 358/451, 358/1.8, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/424.04, 358/498, 399/16, 399/388, 347/153, 347/217, 355/407
• US Class Current: 358/1.1
• 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 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/16 Means for paper feeding or form feeding

Abstract

A multi-media print includes a decoding module, a configuration memory, and a parameter determination module. The decoding module decodes print job parameters and print job data, and outputs decoded print job parameters including decoded print job media selection parameters and the decoded print job data. The configuration memory stores default configuration parameters. The parameter determination module receives the decoded print job parameters including the decoded print job media selection parameters and the decoded print job data and also receives the default configuration parameters including the default media selection parameters from the configuration memory. The parameter determination module determines the final print job media selection parameters for the print job, utilizing the decoded print job media selection parameters and the default media selection parameters. The default media selection parameters are utilized when the print job parameters and print job data are not sufficient to select the media.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a multi-media printer comprising a print engine processor and a print subsystem for printing on a plurality of different media, the method comprising:

using the multi-media printer, receiving a print operation transmitted from a print client device over a communication network, the print operation from the print client device comprising a first media selection parameter to be utilized for selecting a first medium to be used for the print operation; and

automatically utilizing default media selection parameters for the print operation if a default media selection override parameter associated with the printer is activated, wherein the default media selection override parameter forces a default media selection configuration at the multi-media printer regardless of the first medium selected based on the first medium selection parameter, and is programmable to be remotely activated in response to receiving an activation command transmitted via the communication network and is to be utilized for selecting a second medium that is different than the first medium to be used for the print operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation command to remotely activate the default media selection override parameter is transmitted by the print client device and is included in the print operation received by the multi-media printer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the default media selection override parameter is also programmable to be activated locally by a user via an operation panel of the multi-media printer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the default media selection override parameter is also programmable via a presence of a configuration memory by the multi-media printer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the default media selection parameters include a set of grayscale default settings and a set of color default settings.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the default media selection parameters include default settings selected based on a number of images printed on a single sheet as specified in the print operation.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the default media selection parameters include default settings selected based on a size of a source image as specified in the print operation.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the default media selection parameters are selected based on a modality of the print operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second medium is an unavailable medium that is not otherwise selectable by the print client device.

10. A method of configuring a multi-media printer comprising a print engine processor and a print subsystem for printing on a plurality of different media, comprising:

using the multi-media printer, receiving a print operation from a print client device, the print operation comprising print job data defining content to be printed during the print operation and media selection parameters defining a first media type and a first media size on which the content is to be printed;

in response to receiving the print operation from the print client device, determining if the media selection parameters received from the print client device, including the first media type and the first media size, indicated in the print operation are operational; and

utilizing a default media selection parameter selected from a plurality of potential media selection parameters stored on a computer-readable medium for the print operation if one of the media selection parameters included in the print operation is not operational, wherein the default media selection parameter is programmable, and selected from among the plurality of potential media selection parameters based on a transmission by the print client device.

11. The method of claim 10, further including combining an operational media selection parameter with the default media selection parameter and determining if the combining of the operational media selection parameter with the default media selection parameter is supported.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the potential default media selection parameters include a set of grayscale print operation default settings and a set of color print operation default settings.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the potential default media selection parameters include a set of default settings selected based on a number of images printed on a single sheet as specified in the print operation.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the potential default media selection parameters include a set of default settings selected based on a size of a source image as specified in the print operation.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the potential default media selection parameters are determined based on a modality of the print client device.

16. A method of configuring a multi-media printer comprising a print engine processor and a print subsystem for printing on a plurality of different media, the method comprising:

receiving a print operation from a print client device at the multi-media printer that utilizes two printing technologies, the print operation comprising print job data and a set of media selection parameters comprising at least one of a media type parameter and a media size parameter identifying a first medium on which the print operation is to be performed;

determining if the set of media selection parameters is operational; and

utilizing a set of default media selection parameters to select a second medium that is different than the first medium and is available to the multi-media printer for the print operation if the media type parameter, the media size parameter or both the media type parameter and the media size parameter are not operational, wherein the set of default media selection parameters is programmable based on a transmission by the print client device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of default media selection parameters is programmable based on a print client indicator transmitted by the print client device and received by the multi-media printer as part of the print operation.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of default media selection parameters is programmable via an operation panel of the multi-media printer.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of default media selection parameters is programmable via a presence of a configuration memory provided to the multi-media printer.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of default media selection parameters includes a set of grayscale default settings and a set of color default settings.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of default media selection parameters includes default settings selected based on a size of a source image as specified in the print operation.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the second medium is a medium other than a selectable medium that can be expressly selected by the print client device.