CONTROLLING MEDIA SELECTION IN PRINTING

COMMANDE DE SELECTION DE SUPPORT DANS L'IMPRESSION

English Abstract

A method (Fig. 1) for mapping logical sup-ply
IDs and physical media supplies in a printer, so that the
printer may receive a job stream and correctly select media
from the correct supplies.

For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid-ance
Notes on Codes and abbreviations" appearing at the begin-ning
of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé de mise en correspondance des identifications de fourniture logique et des fournitures de support physique dans une imprimante, de façon que cette imprimante puisse recevoir un flux de travail et sélectionner correctement le support à partir des fournitures correctes.

Claims

I CLAIM:
1. A method of operating a printer comprising the steps of:
constructing a lookup table to associate logical supply IDs with physical
media supplies of the printer;
receiving an archived print job created for an other printer;
detecting a logical supply ID request in the archived print job; and,
mapping the logical supply ID request to its associated physical media
supply utilizing the lookup table, such that the associated physical
media supply is selected for printing the archived print job.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one supply ID
request of the archived print job is based on a media supply
configuration which differs from that of the printer.
3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of mapping
the logical supply ID request to its associated physical media supply is
performed only when a change in the physical media supply is required.
4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lookup table is
dynamic based on current device and job level settings.
5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one physical
media supply of the printer is disposed within a supply module added to
the printer which otherwise lacks the capacity to provide a sufficient
variety of media.
6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mapping does not
modify the archived print job.

Description

CA 02374736 2001-11-20
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CONTROLLING MEDIA SELECTION IN PRINTING
Field of the invention
This invention relates to routines for electronic printing, and in particular
to
software for the selection of media therefor.
Background of the invention
The current PCL5 Page Description Language provides functionality to
select input media supplies via a standard escape sequence containing a
numeric
supply ID. A different supply can be used for any page in the job. This
functionality
is available on most third party PCL5 client print drivers. Each logical
supply ID
number is associated with a specific physical media supply on the respective
device.
The functionality introduces device dependence between the job stream
and the destination device because the IDs associated with the physical media
supplies change from device to device. That is, the same job may cause media
to
be pulled/output to differing physical supplies depending on the device it is
printed
on. Currently, the only way to guarantee correct results is to edit or re-
generate the
print job.
Most PCL5 print drivers supporting media supply selection support a limited
number of supply IDs, typically between I and 8. This becomes a significant
limitation when devices have more than 8 physical media supplies.
Also, when submitting a legacy (archived) job stream or mainframe
generated job to a device, it is necessary to have the physical media supplies
configured as they were when the print job was initially created. Otherwise,
incorrect supplies may be utilized for the job.
Summary of the invention
This invention provides the ability to map the logical supply ID number
specified within a job stream to any of the physical media supplies on a
destination
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device. This can be accomplished via a device level configuration tool or a
job
level command within the job stream.
The invention is achieved through a lookup table, typically embedded in
software, which maps a logical supply ID number to any respective physical
media
supply on the device. This lookup table is examined for each occurrence of the
logical supply command within the job stream. The lookup table is dynamic
based
on current device and job level settings.
The invention enables a customer to take any existing job, which contains
requests for media supplies by ID, and configure the exact behavior based on
the
current destination device physical media supply configuration, without
modifying
the original job.
The invention has the capability when appropriate to select media from
different media supply modules, each of the modules having a plurality of
available
media. For example, a supply module may be added to a printer which, in a
"standard" configuration, lacks the capacity to provide a sufficient variety
of media.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 is a flow chart setting out a process for selecting media.
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments
This invention pertains to the printing of a job originating at an input
device
such as a computer or word processor. Currently, the input device communicates
with a destination device such as an electronic marking machine or printer
using a
software job stream in a Page Description Language (PDL) such as PCL5,
providing commands which pertain to the text and format of a document.
Specifically, the format commands include instructions as to a media
source, in particular a media supply. Sometimes, it may be required that more
than one type of media may be used; media may be paper or transparency media,
and may vary according to size, color and weight, for example. Furthermore,
paper media may be supplied as sheets or from rolls. If different pages of
sections
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of a document require different media types, commands are appropriately
included
in the job stream. However, job streams are currently configured so that they
conform to a given destination device. In other words, a job configured for
one
printer cannot readily be transferred to another printer which is non-
identical. In
particular, each printer has its own source (supply) IDs. When it is attempted
to
print on a second printer a job designed for a first printer, either the job
may not be
printed or errors may occur. Hitherto, it has been necessary for an expert to
convert the software so that the second printer can accept and print the job
free of
error.
The present invention provides that a non-expert user can, with a few
keystrokes, enable the job-stream to incorporate commands necessary to print
the job error-free. A logic control unit (LCU) incorporated in the destination
device may include a digital computer, and has a stored program for
sequentially
acting on incoming commands.
In particular, the stored program includes a lookup table, which maps an
unvarying logical supply ID against to a physical media supply which can vary
according to the particular job or input device. At any point in the job-
stream
when a specific media supply needs to be identified, the lookup table is
invoked
to match the logical supply ID with the desired physical media supply. The
lookup table is then not invoked again until a change in media is required.
In simple jobs wherein a document is printed entirely from a single type of
media, only one logical supply ID and one corresponding physical media supply
are used. In jobs which require more than one type of media, the lookup table
contains an array of different logical supply lDs and their physical media
supply
counterparts. A user can key in an appropriate lookup table either at the
destination device, or at the job level wherein the table can be keyed in at
the input
device.
The invention is used as follows, as indicated in the flow chart of Figure 1.
An operator constructs the lookup table to associate logical supply IDs with
physical media supply. On the provision of a suitable command, the PCL5 job
stream is communicated to the LCU, wherein it is parsed. When a logical supply
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ID request is detected in the job stream, it is mapped to its physical media
supply
counterpart, as required by the predetermined lookup table, causing the
appropriate physical media supply to be selected.
When it is desired to employ a second non-identical destination device, the
operator constructs an appropriate lookup table, then proceeds as before. Of
course, the accuracy of the lookup table depends on the supplies being
correctly
loaded, but this is always the case with any print job.
Typically, a lookup table can be factory-installed in a printer so that it
provides for a default relationship between physical media supplies and
logical
supply IDs. This of course does not preclude the user from departing from the
default setting and a newly selected setting. For example, the factory default
table
can be:
Physical Printer Supply (6 trays) Logical Supply ID
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
and the user selected table can be:
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Physical Printer Supply (6 trays) Logical Supply ID
1 1
2 7
3 10
4 4
5 5
6 6
This user-selected table can be chosen as a new default table.
It is a great advantage of this invention that it renders unnecessary any
drastic changes to the software associated with archived jobs. This can
represent
a considerable saving of time and expense on the part of the user, as well as
greatly expanding the user's flexibility in choice of printers. If the user is
dissatisfied with a particular printer, and would prefer a new non-identical
printer,
the inclusion of the invention in the new printer obviates the necessity of
extensively modifying the software, and removes a great disincentive to
installing
the new printer.
The present invention has been described in connection with certain
embodiments, but it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the
particular form set forth; on the contrary, it is intended to cover such
alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope
of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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Representative Drawing