Abstract: An embodiment is a method of presenting options for printing a document. A computing system receives data descriptive of a document to be printed. The computing system identifies one or more preview thumbnail profiles indicative of graphical parameters for rendering a portion of the document to be printed into preview thumbnail images. The computing system renders a portion of the document to be printed, based at least in part on the graphical parameters of the one or more preview thumbnail profiles, to generate one or more preview thumbnail images. The computing system displays the one or more preview thumbnail images on a printer driver user interface in conjunction with one or more printing options. The preview thumbnail images display predicted appearances of the portion of the document corresponding to the printing options.

Abstract: A method of generating a personalized universal printer driver for use with a printing device is provided. The method includes presenting a checklist of printing devices supported by a personalization service; allowing a development user to select or deselect each of the printing devices on the checklist; generating a printing feature list, the printing feature list containing printing features of the selected printing devices, the printing feature list having options for each of the printing features on the printing feature list; presenting the printing feature list to the development user; allowing the development user to create personalizations by selecting among the printing features on the printing features list and among the options for each of the selected printing features on the printing feature list; and generating a driver installation package that includes the personalized universal printer driver including the personalizations.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using a printer driver to create and manage barcodes are provided. The printer driver can apply barcodes to printed copies of documents without modifying the documents in their original form. The printer driver can perform methods that include receiving print data descriptive of a document to be printed, selecting a barcode to be embedded, embedding the barcode in the print data to generate modified print data, generating print commands based on the modified print data, and transmitting the print commands to an output device, where the output device generates a printed copy of the document that includes the barcode. The barcode can include an n-dimensional barcode such as a QR code.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method of presenting options for printing a document. A computing system receives data descriptive of a document to be printed. The computing system identifies one or more preview thumbnail profiles indicative of graphical parameters for rendering a portion of the document to be printed into preview thumbnail images. The computing system renders a portion of the document to be printed, based at least in part on the graphical parameters of the one or more preview thumbnail profiles, to generate one or more preview thumbnail images. The computing system displays the one or more preview thumbnail images on a printer driver user interface in conjunction with one or more printing options. The preview thumbnail images display predicted appearances of the portion of the document corresponding to the printing options.

Abstract: A system for interfacing a universal print driver with a print device after the universal print driver is deployed. The system includes a universal print driver interfaced with a network and at least one associated print device. A repository stores a set of device compatibility packs (DCPs) for each of the at least one associated print device interfaced with the universal print driver. The universal print driver is adapted to search the repository for a DCP if the associated print device is unsupported by the print driver.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods of controlling operation of a printer, apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments control operation of a printer by receiving a print command for printing from a user, and displaying a print user interface including selectable document settings and context based restrictions. Context based restrictions allows a system administrator to flexibly manage users access to a device features and capabilities. A variety of restrictions can be specified including time-based, capacity-based, and application-based. This invention also prevents the user from submitting a job with a restricted feature. Advantages are a clear, understandable presentation of restrictions to the user so the user knows what features the user cannot access.

Abstract: A printer driver enables a user to determine whether the features that are required to print a specified job are available to a selected network printer. The printer driver queries the selected printer to acquire the current status and other relevant information for each feature that is required to print the job, then provides the results of the query at a user interface. Accordingly, if any of the required features are unavailable to the selected printer, the user can print the job using another printer or take some other appropriate action.

Abstract: A system for managing job tickets includes a first device that is in communication with a server. The first device is adapted to receive as input job parameters for managing a print job. The image forming device is further adapted to encode the job parameters into a job ticket. The first device is further adapted to send the job ticket to the server. The server is adapted to store the job ticket in a folder and obtain the job ticket from the folder when a request for a print job is received at the server. The server is further adapted to apply the job ticket to the print job and transmit a print file including the print job and the job ticket to an image forming device when a print job request is received.

Abstract: A system for managing job tickets includes a first device that is in communication with a server. The first device is adapted to receive as input job parameters for managing a print job. The image forming device is further adapted to encode the job parameters into a job ticket. The first device is further adapted to send the job ticket to the server. The server is adapted to store the job ticket in a folder and obtain the job ticket from the folder when a request for a print job is received at the server. The server is further adapted to apply the job ticket to the print job and transmit a print file including the print job and the job ticket to an image forming device when a print job request is received.

Abstract: An apparatus for masking text in a rendered copy of an original document includes a text modification system which is configured to receive a print job from an application and modify the print job in accordance with a print job description, whereby when rendered on an output device, a selected text element is masked. A user interface is configured to receive instructions from a user to build the print job description including instructions for selecting text elements to be masked.

Abstract: A system for interfacing a universal print driver with a print device after the universal print driver is deployed. The system includes a universal print driver interfaced with a network and at least one associated print device. A repository stores a set of device compatibility packs (DCPs) for each of the at least one associated print device interfaced with the universal print driver. The universal print driver is adapted to search the repository for a DCP if the associated print device is unsupported by the print driver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple platform architecture data reporting system for managing attribute data. The system comprises: a system manager for collecting attribute data from multiple platforms and a user interface connected to the system manager for displaying the collected attribute data to a user. Also disclosed is a method for managing attribute data in a multiple platform architecture comprising the steps of polling at least two platforms for attribute data, collecting the attribute data from the at least two platforms in response to the step of polling, and then displaying the collected attribute data on a user display.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and for requiring external authorization for a job prior to processing includes determining for a job if external authorization for at least one is item is approved and processing the job if the determining if external authorization is approved determines that the external authorization for the at least one item is approved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a plug connector sensing apparatus for determining whether a transmission line is present within a receptacle. A reprographic printing system including this apparatus is disclosed. The method of using this plug sensing apparatus comprises determining, with the plug connector sensor, whether the plug connector is present within the receptacle and determining, with a separate signal detector, whether a signal is being communicated through the transmission line.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods of controlling operation of a printer, apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments control operation of a printer by receiving a print command for printing from a user, and displaying a print user interface including selectable document settings and context based restrictions. Context based restrictions allows a system administrator to flexibly manage users access to a device features and capabilities. A variety of restrictions can be specified including time-based, capacity-based, and application-based. This invention also prevents the user from submitting a job with a restricted feature. Advantages are a clear, understandable presentation of restrictions to the user so the user knows what features the user cannot access.

Abstract: In a printing method, a user at a user terminal (10) having a physically connected mobile device (20) including non-volatile storage constructs an incomplete print job envelope (32) and completing data (34). The completing data (34) are stored on the non-volatile storage of the mobile device (20). The incomplete print job envelope (32) is communicated to a printing device (12). The mobile device (20) is physically disconnected from the user terminal (10), and physically connected with the printing device (12) to reconstruct the print job at the printing device (12) from the incomplete print job envelope (32) and the completing data (34).

Abstract: At a user terminal (10) operatively connected with a mobile device (20), a print job is formed into an incomplete print job envelope (32) and completing data (34, 40) including at least print job accounting information (40). The completing data (34, 40) including at least the print job accounting information (40) is stored on the mobile device (20). The incomplete print job envelope (32) is transmitted to a printing device (12). The mobile device (20) is operatively disconnected the from the user terminal (10), and is operatively connected with the printing device (12). After the operative connecting, the print job is re-constructed at the printing device (12), and the re-constructed print job is printed using the printing device (12). A cost of the printing is accounted for based on the print job accounting information (40) stored on the operatively connected mobile device (20).

Abstract: In a printing method, content of a print job is split into a main portion and a completing portion at a user terminal (10). The main portion is encrypted using the user terminal. The encrypted main portion (32) is sent to a printing device (12). The completing portion is encrypted using a mobile device (20) operatively connected with the user terminal. The encrypted completing portion (34) is stored on the operatively connected mobile device. The mobile device is operatively disconnected from the user terminal, and is operatively connected with the printing device. After the operative connecting: (i) the encrypted main portion is decrypted using the printing device and the completing portion is decrypted using the mobile device; (ii) the decrypted main portion and the decrypted completing portion are combined to reconstruct the print job; and (iii) the reconstructed print job is executed using the printing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for masking text in a rendered copy of an original document includes a text modification system which is configured to receive a print job from an application and modify the print job in accordance with a print job description, whereby when rendered on an output device, a selected text element is masked. A user interface is configured to receive instructions from a user to build the print job description including instructions for selecting text elements to be masked.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a plug connector sensing apparatus for determining whether a transmission line is present within a receptacle. A reprographic printing system including this apparatus is disclosed. The method of using this plug sensing apparatus comprises determining, with the plug connector sensor, whether the plug connector is present within the receptacle and determining, with a separate signal detector, whether a signal is being communicated through the transmission line.