Abstract: A method for processing print data to a printer, comprising processing data through an optimized tester, which transforms the data by simplifying each page image while preserving information to enable recognizing identity of each page; and sending the transformed print data to a printer. The invention results in conservation of paper and toner while testing of printing systems, and presents a uniform and general way of transforming print data by simplifying each page image.

Abstract: A method seamlessly installs, upgrades, and deletes printer and other device drivers over a network. Instead of a computer periodically searching or scanning the network, searching occurs when a user logs into a computer. If a new device is found, driver installation is carried out using seamless pop-up GUI integrated into the OS, rather than by a wizard. The method includes providing a domain controller and a user computer connected to the network; searching the network for newly added devices when detecting a user login; and installing device drivers for the found newly added devices. The method also includes optionally-silent and seamless pop-up GUI; use of scripts and WSH (Windows Scripting Host); deletion grace periods; TCP/IP and/or SNMP; automatically upgrading existing drivers if necessary; maintaining tables of currently installed, to-be-installed, and to-be-deleted devices; applying pre-defined device settings; and obtaining information of a device and applying the information to the driver.

Abstract: A method for providing release-dependant filenames for a device driver, by providing Config information and a table of the driver's component files; assigning unique, release-dependant filenames for the component files; and producing the device driver containing the release-dependant filenames. Scripts and a preprocessor are used to convert filenames and template filename references into actual names. Name conversion comprises converting by a preprocessor for compiled files and converting by scripts for other files. Unique names of files enable simultaneous operation of two versions of a device driver. Methods include encoding module name, version numbers, date, language, and OEM information into the filename; one alphanumeric-character version number and two-character language code; configuration file and automatic generation of Config information; printing device driver with major and minor version numbers; and date encoding for files that are updated more frequently than version updates.

Abstract: A method for interfacing single transfer and burst transfer components, comprising: processing transfer completion of a byte in burst transfer as an interrupt; maintaining the current state of signal lines to prevent occurrence of next interrupt; copying the transferred byte from buffer to memory; and allowing next interrupt; and enabling sending of next byte in burst transfer. This invention interfaces incompatible signaling of the components, and solves the handshake, communication and buffering problems involved.

Abstract: A method for managing a user interface (UI) string table, comprising placing a UI string table at a string table management unit; administrator(s) editing the UI string table through an administrator interface of a UI string table manager; and read-only users (ROUs) accessing the UI string table through a ROU interface of the UI string table manager. The XML-formatted string table manager tool for printers and other devices is used by administrators to maintain the string table and by software and QA engineers to access it, possibly remotely. The result is a more efficient localization process, by eliminating the manual sharing and merging of multiple string tables by the localization team.

Abstract: A method for providing a menu for a device, by providing a GUI for an administrator to select and lock-down device driver setting profiles, and providing a GUI for displaying to a user the locked-down profiles and permitting the user to select only from the listed profiles. Allowing a user to choose only from the pre-defined profiles makes for convenience and avoids waste from setting errors by novice users. The computer system detects the current system and job information (time, date, printer status, application, user information, etc.) using WMI and SNMP, applies mapping rules defined by an administrator, and displays only those profiles that are applicable to the current system and job status. Methods also include defining new profiles; alerting the user when no profiles are available, with mapping explanation and suggestion; profile detail display; and printer support.

Abstract: A method for changing operation of a device, comprising: sending target device descriptors to the device's device emulator, which processes and stores the descriptors as the current descriptors in memory, and the device emulator responding to a query from a host simulating operation of the target device. Using the method, the host recognizes the device as a different, target device, such as printers, MFPs, peripherals, digital cameras, etc. Device emulation enables installation and other testing of a new and yet unavailable target device under development. The methods also include USB device enumeration, making a print job containing extended PJL commands and sending it using a generic device driver, emulator firmware analyzing and storing the descriptors in registers, sending a line reset command to simulate device detachment and reattachment, and meeting timing requirements of USB detached and attached states.

Abstract: A method for providing a simplified menu for a device, by providing a GUI for selecting setting items for display and setting values. Those settings that are different from the standard settings are displayed more prominently, resulting in a display that enables an instantaneous confirmation of the settings. Clicking on tabs to display different menu pages is unnecessary. Those settings that are the same as the standard settings are displayed less conspicuously, such as grayed-out or invisible. Methods include displaying the custom settings as the first tab in the menu, indicating that all the settings are standard, customizing factory-default settings of a printer device, assigning profile names, searching for a profile close to the current settings, differential tree that expands only the branches containing salient settings, associating a setting with another setting, and using a scripting language to specify the setting combinations.

Abstract: A method for processing a print page, by detecting if the page contains black areas exceeding a user-customizable coverage percentage, and providing a GUI for canceling, printing, and converting the print page. Printing presentation slides, for example, sometimes results in too many unattractive solid black sections, wasting toner or ink. When such a print page is detected, a user is alerted and allowed to convert the black areas, by inversion, dot-meshing, uniformly lightening page, lightening black regions, boundary preservation, and graduated lightening to lighten centers of solid black areas while leaving the contours intact. Methods also include specifying pixel blackness percentage based on grayscale and RGB values, previewing displaying contiguous black areas prominently, second detection step for contiguous areas, and processing PDL print objects by detecting and converting pen and brush colors.

Abstract: Method for efficient printing of large-volume documents to multiple printers, comprising GUI for administrators to configure a virtual port associated with physical and virtual printers; print job to a virtual printer spooled to the associated virtual port; and administrators sending spooled print job to the associated physical printers. Options include Spool without printing, Spool and print immediately, and Spool and print at a scheduled time. Printing policies include Tandem (the same copies to printers), Direct (to one printer), Broadcast (specified copies to printers), and Cluster (a print job is divided into pieces at page boundaries). Cluster dividing subpolicies match color, paper size, media type, and finishing characteristics of the pieces with the printer characteristics, and sending subpolicies optimize based on printer speeds and distribute equal number of pages.

Abstract: A system for printing to recycled paper sheets, by scanning a sheet for existing marks, comparing them with the intended output, and printing upon determining the suitability of printing the intended output to the sheet. When recycled paper is used for printing, the intended output is sometimes printed on the wrong side of the sheet, resulting in wasted paper, toner, and other resources. This system avoids printing to the wrong side of sheets, and enables adjustment of intended output for better result. Sheets can be reversed, rotated, and discarded, and the intended output can be adjusted by shrinking, moving, and rotating.

Abstract: A method for managing printer driver settings using application-based profiles, comprising: applying the print settings for the application using application-profile name table and print settings table, and applying selective lock-in print settings process based on the user's administrative privilege status. Profile generation by statistical tracking of use of printing features comprises recording application name and settings in effect for a print job into user's PC registry, the administrator collecting and analyzing this data for all relevant users, and specifying new profiles using this data.

Abstract: A method for managing a user interface (UI) string table, comprising placing a UI string table at a string table management unit; administrator(s) editing the UI string table through an administrator interface of a UI string table manager; and read-only users (ROUs) accessing the UI string table through a ROU interface of the UI string table manager. The XML-formatted string table manager tool for printers and other devices is used by administrators to maintain the string table and by software and QA engineers to access it, possibly remotely. The result is a more efficient localization process, by eliminating the manual sharing and merging of multiple string tables by the localization team.

Abstract: A method for interfacing single transfer and burst transfer components, comprising: processing transfer completion of a byte in burst transfer as an interrupt; maintaining the current state of signal lines to prevent occurrence of next interrupt; copying the transferred byte from buffer to memory; and allowing next interrupt; and enabling sending of next byte in burst transfer. This invention interfaces incompatible signaling of the components, and solves the handshake, communication and buffering problems involved.

Abstract: A method for processing print data to a printer, comprising processing data through an optimized tester, which transforms the data by simplifying each page image while preserving information to enable recognizing identity of each page; and sending the transformed print data to a printer. The invention results in conservation of paper and toner while testing of printing systems, and presents a uniform and general way of transforming print data by simplifying each page image.

Abstract: A method for secure communication and printing, comprising: user entering user and destination information to host; authentication server producing, saving encryption key for the job, user, and destination information into database, and sending to host; host encrypting the job using encryption key and sending job to destination; user entering user and destination information to device; authentication server retrieving encryption key from database, and sending to device; and device decrypting the job using encryption key and releasing job. Authentication at both host and MFP sides disables unauthorized, malicious attack to a user's mailbox, and results in jobs to a mailbox having different dynamic encryption keys, and no password or mailbox PIN trafficking on network. Furthermore, host and MFP can be at different domains. Methods also include secrecy encrypting encryption key; hashing key generator using SHA1, MD5, etc.