Abstract: A queue management system for managing a queue in a printing system is provided. The printing system is provided with a first set of resources for processing jobs and a job including a second set of resources required to process the job is introduced to the printing system. Additionally, a policy indicating how resource deficient jobs are to be handled by the queue management system is provided. For the situation in which the first set of resources does not correspond with the second set of resources, so that a resource mismatch exists between the first and second resource sets, the policy is used for causing the job to be either held until a preselected condition is met or discarded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prioritizing the use of multifunctional printing system's basic processing resources. The printing system employs a controller with an improved job contention manager (JCM). A plurality of basic resources of the printing system are provided with a queue. One or more job services, at desired times, signals the JCM to carry out a sub-job of a given job. The signal for each of the sub-jobs includes information about the respective sub-job and its priority. Responsive to the signal from the job service the JCM adds a corresponding basic resource sub-job to the queues of each basic resource which the sub-job will require to perform the sub-job. Each respective sub-job is ready for processing, when it is first in line in all the queues of all the basic resources required to perform the sub-job.

Abstract: A job-based accounting system for image processing includes receiving an image processing job at a multifunction image processing apparatus from a walk-up user or a computer workstation operably connected to the image processing apparatus. The image processing job is classified as one of: (i) a print job submitted from a computer workstation operably connected to the image processing apparatus; (ii) a copy job submitted by a walk-up user of the image processing apparatus; (iii) a scan job submitted by a walk-up user of the image processing apparatus; and (iv) a facsimile job submitted or received by a user of the image processing apparatus. One of a plurality of different accounting modes is selected to be used by the multifunction device when the multifunction device carries out the image processing job based upon the classification of the image processing job.

Abstract: In a graphical user interface for accessing a large number of files, such as text files, graphics files, or spreadsheets, a system allows quick glances of “thumbnails” or highly reduced versions of the files. When a folder is opened, every file in the folder is opened as a background operation and thumbnail data, such as a reduced image or text summary of the file, is derived and retained in a cache folder for quick access. When a cursor is touched, without a mouse-click, to a particular icon in the opened folder, the thumbnail for the file identified by the icon is accessed from the cache folder and displayed.

Abstract: A method for enabling a printing machine having a customer billing interface to bill the customer for different types of printing operations performed includes programming variable rates for printing operations into the printing machine. With receipt of a machine enable signal from the customer billing interface, the printing operation is initiated. The printing machine determines the type of printing operation performed and sends the corresponding billing signal to the customer interface.

Abstract: A method for enabling a printing machine having a customer billing interface to bill the customer for marking jobs having different sheet sizes includes programming different rates for different size sheets into the printing machine. With receipt of a machine enable signal from the customer billing interface, a sheet is fed and the printing machine determines the sheet size. After the printing machine performs a marking operation, the printing machine emits a signal for each sheet marked to the customer billing interface.

Abstract: In a printing system queuing jobs, some jobs are made dependent on primary jobs. If a user delete a primary job, the depending jobs are retrieved and automatically deleted.

Abstract: An electronic reprographic system and method are provided that extend the functionality of reprographic systems. The system includes an input system for converting contents of a multi-page document to a plurality of digital representations in a storage system, a processing system that generates processed digital representations in the storage system, a user interface for posting document integrity messages to a user and inputting user responses to the messages, and an output system for outputting the processed digital representations. The processing system includes a character recognition module, a reference number locator module, a page sequence integrity determinator module, a page insertion module, a page deletion module and a page reordering module. The aforementioned reference number can be a page number, column number or line number, each of which can be in any common format such as Roman numeral and alphanumeric.

Abstract: A method for enabling a printing machine having a customer billing interface to bill the customer for different types of printing operations performed includes programming variable rates for printing operations into the printing machine. With receipt of a machine enable signal from the customer billing interface, the printing operation is initiated. The printing machine determines the type of printing operation performed and sends the corresponding billing signal to the customer interface.

Abstract: A method for enabling a printing machine having a customer billing interface to bill the customer for marking jobs having different sheet sizes includes programming different rates for different size sheets into the printing machine. With receipt of a machine enable signal from the customer billing interface, a sheet is fed and the printing machine determines the sheet size. After the printing machine performs a marking operation, the printing machine emits a signal for each sheet marked to the customer billing interface.

Abstract: A method is provided for a multifunctional printing system in which a plurality of jobs are placed in a queue in anticipation of processing the same. The queue, over time, receives jobs of at least a first user type and a second user type. In operation, first and second jobs of the first user type are placed in the queue. When a third job is ready for placement into the queue, a determination as to whether the third job is of the first user type or the second user type is made. If the third job is of the first user type, then it is processed subsequent to the processing of both the first and second jobs; however, if the third job is of the second user type, then the third job is processed ahead of at least the second job.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method include a plurality of different background suppression data acquisition modes selectable by a user in order to obtain background suppression data from a document being reproduced. The obtained background suppression data is used by an image processing unit to suppress the background region of the document being reproduced. The user is able to select one of the plurality of background suppression data acquisition modes depending upon the user's desire for high speed document reproduction versus the required quality of background suppression. In this manner, the user is able to determine whether document reproduction speed or background suppression quality is to be emphasized.

Abstract: In a multifunction digital printing apparatus, such as a copier-printer, image data from print jobs are intermingled with image data from copy jobs, such as originating from a digital scanner. Further, scanner-only functions such as electronic filing and sending facsimiles can be performed without need for printing hardware. An auditing device can decrement a user's account on a per-sheet basis regardless of whether a requested job requires the use of the scanner or printing hardware or both.

Abstract: A method is provided for a multifunctional printing system in which a first job, developed at a first service, and a second job, developed at a second service are placed in a queue for processing. A first value is assigned to the first job and a second value is assigned to the second job, with the first and second values varying in magnitude as a function of the first and second services. In practice, the first job is placed in the queue and a portion thereof is processed. Subsequently, the second job is placed in the queue and processing of the first job is interrupted by the second job if the second value is greater in magnitude than the first value.

Abstract: In a document feeding and imaging system with a document input tray for sequentially feeding a set of plural document sheets to a document imaging station to be respectively imaged with variable image processing conditions dependent on the size of the document sheet, including a document sheet size measurement system for measuring at least one dimension of the document sheets, wherein the input tray has associated document size measurement sensors, wherein the set of documents loaded into the input tray may be a mixed size set of different sheet sizes or a set of the same sheet sizes; there is provided an operator selectable input for a mixed size set providing a mixed size set control signal which actuates a special prescan document size sensing operational mode for sensing the sheet size as the document is fed past the document imaging station without its being imaged, and then automatically re-feeding that document to the imaging station to be imaged under image processing conditions controlled by the docu

Abstract: A printing system with a digital reproduction system communicating with a remote document processing station by way of a print server is provided. The printing system includes a first queue of first jobs to be executed with the digital reproduction system maintained at the print server and a second queue of second jobs to be executed with the digital reproduction system maintained at the digital reproduction system. The printing system further includes a queue process communicating with both the first and second queues for forming a composite queue to reflect an order in which the first and second jobs of the first queue and the second queues are to be executed with the digital reproduction system.

Abstract: A printing system, for merging a scanned image with a merge image to produce a composite image, is provided. The printing system includes a memory for storing the merge image, in the form of a first set of image data, and a decompression device for decompressing the first set of image data. The printing system further includes a scanner, for reading a hard-copy page to generate a second set of image data, and a annotate/merge device, the annotate/merge device electronically merging the decompressed first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image.

Abstract: A method for a sheet handling system where a controller communicates with a mailbox bin subsystem having a plurality of print receiving bins is provided. The plurality of bins are grouped into a first print receiving bin set, a second print receiving bin set and a third print receiving bin set with the first print receiving bin set including one or more print receiving bins, the second print receiving bin set including one or more print receiving bins and the third print receiving bin set including one or more print receiving bins.

Abstract: A system, with a screen display, and an application server, is provided. Preferably, the application server registers one of a plurality of metaphor elements with a set of device attributes. A status indicating metaphor or a control metaphor is developed for use with the one of the plurality of metaphor elements. When displaying a metaphorical template, including the one of the plurality of metaphors on the screen display, the status indicating or control metaphor is associated with the one of the plurality of metaphor elements for facilitating the programming of a job or controlling an output of the job.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for framing an image portion in which a size attribute of the applicable frame is inputted with a user interface and dimensions of the image portion are stored in memory. A processor determines, by reference to the inputted size attribute and the stored dimensions, whether a preselected relationship exists between the image portion and the applicable frame. When the preselected relationship does not exist, the image portion is scaled with an image processing subsystem.