System and method for allocating random access memory in a multifunction peripheral device

• US 7,212,306 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Klave, Daniel Leo, Chrisop, Roy Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, ANDREW H
• Application Number:
  US09/944,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,069 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.16, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/1.9, 358/1.14
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32358 using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter H04N1/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32512 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3297 Simultaneous use of a single memory for different image storage purposes

Abstract

A system and method are provided for adaptively allocating random access memory (RAM) in an multifunctional peripheral (MFP) device with a plurality of components. The method comprises: supplying an interface; and, in response to interface prompts, selecting the allocation of RAM for MFP features or components. Typically, the MFP device includes fax, scanner, printer, and copier components, and the method further comprises selecting the allocation of RAM for MFP components selected from the group including fax, scanner, printer, or copier. The method further comprises: selecting the allocation of RAM for MFP features selected from the group including post script (PS) documents, printer control language (PCL) documents, tagged image file format (TIFF) documents, or portable document format (PDF) documents.

Supplying an interface includes supplying front panel graphical user interface (GUI) to present RAM allocation options, and selecting the allocation of RAM for MFP functions in response to interface prompts includes allocating portions of RAM in response to GUI prompts. Alternately, the MFP is connected to a computer workstation with a display. Then, supplying an interface includes receiving a request from a browser loaded on the computer workstation and, from an embedded web server in the MFP, supplying a GUI to the computer workstation display, presenting RAM allocation options.

Claims

1. In a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device with a plurality of functions, a method for allocating random access memory (RAM), the method comprising:

supply an MFP user interface; and

, using the user interface for selecting a percentage of RAM allocated to a document format wherein selecting the percentage of RAM allocated for the document format includes selecting the allocation of RAM for a document format selected from the group including post script (PS) documents, printer control language (PCL) documents;

tagged image file format (TIFF) documents, and portable document format (PDF) documents.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein supplying a user interface includes supplying a graphical user interface (GUI) to present RAM allocation options;

and,

wherein selecting the percentage of RAM allocation includes allocating portions of RAM in response to GUI prompts.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the MFP has a front panel display;

and,

wherein supplying a user interface includes supplying a GUI on the MFP front panel to present RAM allocation options.

4. The method of claim 2 in which the MFP is connected to a computer workstation with a display;

wherein supplying a user interface includes;

receiving a request from a browser loaded on the computer workstation; and

,

from an embedded web server in the MFP, supplying a GUI to the computer workstation display, presenting RAM allocation options.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

establishing predetermined ranges to limit each RAM allocation; and

,

wherein selecting the percentage of RAM allocation includes allocating portions of RAM to document formats within the range of established allocation limits.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein supplying a GUI to present RAM allocation options includes presenting a memory configuration table cross-referencing document formats to their respective RAM memory allocations.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

following selecting the allocation of RAM for document formats, rebooting the MFP device to distribute the RAM memory allocations.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to user interface prompts, prioritizing the document formats; and

,

in the event of contention for RAM between document formats, allocating additional RAM to the contending document format with the higher priority.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

following the selecting of the allocation of RAM for document formats, storing the allocations as an allocation profile;

establishing a plurality of stored allocation profiles; and

,

supplying a user interface to select allocation profiles.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein supplying a user interface includes supplying a GUI to present predetermined allocation tables;

and,

wherein selecting the percentage of RAM allocation includes selecting the allocations from the presented allocation tables.

11. In a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device with a plurality of functions, a system for allocating random access memory (RAM), the system comprising:

a user interface for selecting a percentage of RAM allocated for document formats;

an allocator to allocate the selected percentage of RAM; and

, RAM allocated to the temporary storage of documents by document format wherein the user interface supplies prompts for selecting the percentage of RAM allocation for a document format selected from the group including post script (PS) documents, printer control language (PCL) documents;

tagged image file format (TIFF) documents, and portable document format (PDF) documents.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

an MFP front panel display;

wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface (GUI) to present RAM allocation options on the display; and

,

wherein the allocator allocates RAM for document formats in response to GUI prompts on the display.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a computer workstation including a browser and a display that are network-connected to the MFP; and

,

wherein the user interface includes an embedded web server in the MFP, responsive to computer workstation browser requests, to supply a GUI on the computer workstation display presenting RAM allocation options.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the allocator operates within predetermined ranges to limit each RAM allocation.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the user interface presents a memory configuration table GUI cross-referencing document formats to their respective RAM allocations;

and,

wherein the allocator allocates RAM for document formats in response to the memory configuration table GUI.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the allocator is rebooted following the allocation of RAM for document formats, to distribute the RAM allocations.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the user interface supplies prompts to prioritize the document formats;

and,

wherein the allocator allocates additional RAM to a contending document formats with the higher priority, in the event of contention for RAM between document formats.

18. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a memory to store selected RAM allocations as a plurality of allocation files; and

,

wherein the user interface supplies prompts to select stored allocation profiles from the memory.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the user interface supplies a GUI of predetermined allocation tables;

and,

wherein the allocator allocates RAM for document formats in response to allocation table interface prompts.

20. In a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device, a system for allocating random access memory (RAM), the system comprising:

a user interface to select the percentage RAM allocated to a document format;

an allocator for the allocation of RAM, responsive to the user interface selections; and

, RAM allocated to the temporary storage of documents for processing by the MFP wherein the user interface selects the allocation of RAM for a document format selected from the group including post script (PS) documents, printer control language (PCL) documents;

tagged image file format (TIFF) documents, and portable document format (PDF) documents.