Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing delays in printing print jobs use a RIP or a digital front end generally, to maintain an inventory of pre-ripped ready to print work that can be sent to the print engine to prevent an engine shutdown due to the RIPs inability to keep up with the engine. The systems and methods for reducing delays in printing print jobs can track performance in real time and automatically switch to printing jobs from post-RIP content archive if it is determined that the print engine is at risk of outpacing the RIP or DFE such that printing will be interrupted at the print engine.

Abstract: A system for accounting for a print job includes a print device having a database, and a server having a database. The print device and the server communicate via a network. The print device and/or the server have means for dynamically updating accounting information for the print job that communicates with the print device and the server via the network. The accounting information resides in the database of the print device and/or the database of the server. A method for accounting for a print job includes providing at least one print device having at least one database and at least one server having at least one database. The method includes communicating between the print devices and the servers via a network for dynamically updating accounting information for the print job stored on the databases of the print devices and/or the databases of the servers.

Abstract: A method for enhanced location sensing based on topology constraints. A potential position value and a corresponding probability value with respect to an observed position data of an object within a structure can be calculated utilizing a normal probability distribution function. Thereafter, an optimal route between adjacent observed time periods may be calculated utilizing a heuristic search algorithm. The potential position value and the optimal route can be calculated by accessing a pre-installed topology data associated with the structure. An optimization problem can then be solved to refine the observed position data. The position between a pair of observed time periods can be interpolated and the position of the object before a next observed time can be predicted by interpolation based on the spatial constraints.

Abstract: Engine response curves (RCs) can be used for streak compensation for printed documents. A feedback control paradigm can be included to effect RC compensation. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) can be used to represent each RC in the collection of spatial RC data as a linear combination of basis vectors. RCs are approximated by selecting the first few basis vectors, the approximation aiding in noise rejection and reducing computation in the controller by reducing dimensionality of the RC data from gray levels to the number of SVD bases selected. An optimal subset of RCs is selectable from the set of approximated RCs by clustering the SVD weights, the clustered SVD weights producing TRCs that span all engine response RCs generated by a printer. Compensation RCs are constructible using reduced number of bases and clustered SVD weights.

Abstract: A fluttering illumination system and method for encoding the appearance of a moving subject includes an image capturing device, a lens, a shutter, an illumination source, and a device to control illumination triggering and power. The image capturing device may be configured in a bulb shutter mode to integrate light patterns from the object upon the sensor via the shutter until a shutter release is open. The control device may be invoked to trigger several illuminations of varying power in a predetermined sequence by rapidly turning the illumination source on and off when the shutter release is open. The shutter release may then be closed following the firing of a last illumination in order to invertibly encode the appearance of the moving subject in a single image. Data indicative of a motion blur associated with the image may be estimated and the image processed to recover a sharp image without noise and ringing artifacts.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the darkness level of image data to assist in output matching between dissimilar rendering devices. Image source information from a source file can be interpreted by a rendering decomposer in order to generate halftone source image data. The decomposition of the image can be repeated in response to a request by an operator for an additional darkening level via a user input file. The additional layers can be shifted in an opposing direction and then a clockwise direction from the original position until the additional darkening level is attained. The required darkening level can be stored in a storage unit or memory so that the required darkening level can be later triggered by a source document name to employ the same darkening approach. The darkening level can be selected from an array of darkening levels to assist in output matching without major modifications to the utilized rendering device(s).

Abstract: A system and method for enabling production of larger books utilizing a multi-substrate hinged media. A media definition for a specialty media can be enhanced to include information about multiple variants that contain varying sizes of hinge sections related to a specific media and a page assignment rule. The set of hinged media variants can be treated as a single media type and the properties of the media type determine sheet thresholds for each variant. The specific media variants can be assigned to specific document pages based on the page assignment rule. The pages in the center of the book utilize larger hinges to allow the pages to lie flat, while pages at the beginning and end of the book utilize smaller hinges to prevent imaging on the hinge area.

Abstract: A print management system and method for optimizing cost associated with one or more rendering devices (e.g., printers) in a customer environment. A service cost associated with a rendering device can be included in the print management system so that end-users can have the option to perform rendering at a lower service cost rendering device when rendering a complex print document. The service cost and the rendered volume can be recorded by an asset management unit and a helpdesk unit. A real time feedback related to an alternate rendering device can be provided so that the end-user can cancel the current print job and resubmit the print document at the lower cost, comparable, reliable rendering device. Also, automatic job redirection can also be provided by automatically redirecting the rendering job to the lower cost reliable rendering device based on end-user approval or pre-approval.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for characterizing color separation misregistration associated with marking a substrate. The method includes providing an input image having a plurality of patches, each patch having a pattern using a first and second color; marking a substrate with a copy of the input image using a first and second color separation to correspond to the first and second colors, respectively; and measuring a color characteristic of markings of respective copied patches of the copied plurality of patches and generating corresponding colorimetric values. Misregistration of the first color separation markings relative to the second color separation markings is characterized based on the measured calorimetric values.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating an adaptive user interface for a plurality of appliances within a physical environment. Appliance description specifications of the appliances are generated from provided appliance functionality information and semantic information of related appliances and/or related environment information. The appliance description specifications can be analyzed to construct a semantic functionality relationship among the appliances and the adaptive user interface can be rendered based on an interface elements relationship which is a transformation of the semantic functionality relationship. The system has a user interface rendering module, which when run on a controller, implements the aforesaid appliance description specification generation and analysis, and adaptor modules, which when run on the appliances, maintain the appliance description specifications and allow exchange of same between the controller and appliances.

Abstract: An interchangeable battery pack apparatus and method are disclosed which includes a top housing having a printed circuit board and a connector for electrically connecting a pair of batteries in order to provide an electrical power with respect to an external device. A bottom housing having a number of battery components for connecting the batteries can be coupled to the top housing via a fastener to form a battery pack in order to secure the batteries from a humid and corrosive environment. The battery pack can be interchangeably utilized as a replaceable battery pack and/or a ruggedized potted battery pack.

Abstract: A distributed data mining system and method for determining root cause of problems associated with a MFD cloud. The MFD cloud may be configured to include a fleet of networked MFDs within an enterprise firewall to perform data analytics in real time. High frequency data with describing the state of each MFD can be captured and stored locally in a file system (distributed or not). The high frequency data may be acquired at regular intervals and/or in response to a specific event with a much higher cadence and finer granularity than currently practiced. A distributed data mining module associated with the enterprise firewall may then continuously analyze the data stored within the cloud to identify actual, pending or, difficult to detect problems based on available computational cycles of idle MFDs in the network. The data associated with the problems may then be securely transmitted to a back-end unit to verify and propagate the results of the analysis of the problems more rapidly.

Abstract: A method and system for modeling a three-dimensional smoke propagation animation system. The animation system can be configured to include a particle system manager, a compartment manager, a state variable manager, a three-dimensional space outline rendering module, and a three-dimensional smoke animation rendering module. The particle system manager creates and updates an existing particle system based on an input script and data from the state variable manager. The state variable manager loads smoke propagation data and provides smoke information to the particle system manager to create and update the particle system and space outline. The compartment manager creates a three-dimensional outline with respect to each compartment space from a compartment data and updates the status of the existing three-dimensional outlines based on information from the state variable manager. A final three-dimensional smoke propagation animation can then be rendered by the three-dimensional smoke animation rendering module.

Abstract: A dimensionality reduction method and system for efficient color transform compression is disclosed. A multi-dimensional color transform with an n-dimensional input color space can be received. A projection operator can be derived and applied to the n-dimensional input color space to form a k-dimensional input color space. A functional approximation can be designed to the n-dimensional input color space and can be evaluated on the k-dimensional input color space to form an m-dimensional output color space. The projection operator and the approximation function can be combined to form a compressed transform by mapping the n-dimensional input color space to m-dimensional output color space. Such an approach provides a significant reduction in size of the color profile with respect to storage and speeds-up real-time computation.

Abstract: A method and system for applying one or more variable finishing parameters to a rendering job associated with VI transactional printing process. A set of rules can be specified by a user for determining the finishing attributes for the rendering job based on characteristics of the job being rendered. The rendering job can be received for execution and the discrete VI records associated with the rendering job can be discerned. The variable finishing parameters can be applied to the rendering job based on the properties required to determine a correct finishing for a given record, a job ticket resolution, and a post RIP job ticket resolution. The dynamically selected finishing attributes can be applied to the entire document and/or individual records associated with the VI data stream.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting dividers in a rendering job. A group of individual files can be compiled into a single document. The individual files can then be arranged in a preferred order. One or more dividers can then be inserted in-between each of the individual files in order to thereafter generate a template that includes a print layout associated therewith and render a complete document, which includes the individual files in the preferred order with the divider(s) automatically inserted therein and including text strings thereof.

Abstract: A system automatically processes current capacity and optimal capacity for at least one printing system for use in deterring current billing, optimal billing and operating cost. A data-processing apparatus (CPU) associated with a printer and an optimization module operable together to optimize current capacity and optimal capacity, and determine current billing, optimal billing and operating cost information. Information is optimized for use at a client (local or remote) and for display in a single graphical user interface. Data is used to optimize print system usage.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for distinctively displaying selected floors with sufficient details in a three-dimensional building model includes graphical metaphors that permit a selected or highlighted floor and their respective elements to be absolutely clear and distinct from the floors immediately above and below. The graphically displayed metaphors comprise “drawers”, “wireframe”, “expansion/compression”, “projected floor”, “sliding unselected floors”, “turning the pages”, “big map-small map”, and “fisheye” graphical configurations. Such graphically displayed metaphors can be utilized to highlight a selected floor, separate it from adjacent floors, and provide a graphical effect of depicting the floor's vertical position within a building.

Abstract: A resonant nanosensor apparatus associated with a functionalized monolayer for detecting carbon dioxide and a method of forming the same. A wafer including a sensing vibrating beam and a reference vibrating beam may be functionalized with a functional group in order to form a sensing self monolayer. The sensing self assembled monolayer may be configured by bridging oxygen or carbon atoms covalently bonded with respect to the vibrating beams. A liquid solution of hydrochloric acid may then be applied to the sensing self assembled monolayer at the surface of the reference beam by a direct printing process to obtain a reference monolayer. The liquid solution of HCl transforms the functional groups responsible for the carbon dioxide detection into protonated groups, which do not react with carbon dioxide, but possess visco-elastic properties similar to that of the sensing monolayer.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring a lead edge and/or a trail edge media curl utilizing a dual cross beam sensor. The dual cross beam sensor includes one or more pairs of emitters (e.g., a pair to two pairs of emitters) and one or more detectors positioned sequentially in a media path so that a media passes via dual cross beams. Timing data with respect to the media can be measured as the media crosses via the dual cross beam sensor from a leading edge and/or trailing edge. A true instantaneous media speed and a curl height (i.e., media tip height or media curvature) can be simultaneously calculated from the timing data associated with the lead edge/trail edge with respect to each single cross beams of the dual cross beam sensor. An average curl height can be then calculated to enhance the accuracy of the media curl measurement.