Abstract: Machine-enabled methods of, and devices for, encoding color bitmap data as indexed red-green-blue (RGB) data for display.

Abstract: A context-aware printing method and system invoke contextual rendering tags to realize more flexible printing. The contextual rendering tags provide information about the nature or purpose of print elements in a document and are used to identify and selectively modify print elements in a given print instance of the document at the discretion of the user. The contextual rendering tags provide added flexibility in printing by enabling a user to make a broad array of purpose-driven modifications and enabling a document to be printed in multiple instances and in any sequence with modifications indicated by all contextual rendering tags, modifications indicated by a subset of contextual rendering tags or no context-based modifications.

Abstract: An exemplary method involves receiving a document for printing on a printing device. The document includes at least one page. The method also involves obtaining settings for printing the document. At least one preview image is displayed based on the settings. Each preview image that is displayed corresponds to a page of the document. The method also involves detecting selection by a user of at least one object from the at least one preview image. The method also involves receiving from the user at least one new setting for the at least one object selected by the user.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining processor usable idle time in a system employing a software instruction processor. The method establishes an idle task with a lowest processor priority for a processor executing application software instructions, and uses the processor to execute an idle task. The method ceases to execute the idle task in response to the processor executing application software instructions. The amount of periodic idle task execution is determined and stored in a tangible memory medium. For example, idle time amounts can be determined per a unit of time, i.e. a percentage per second. In one aspect, the method generates an idle task report. The report can be a periodic report expressing the duration of idle task execution per time period, or a course of execution report expressing idle task start times, idle task stop times, and durations between the corresponding start and stop times.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for context-based adaptive image processing wherein print job elements are processed according to context, which may be determined by segmentation and analysis of print job elements.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for executing the remote access via an MFP of one or more computing devices in a network of computing devices originating jobs for the MFP based on a database comprising the IP address and password for each job-originating computing device logged into the network.

Abstract: A system for estimating the time to print a document on a printer.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing custom scheduling policies including making alterations to internal task scheduling policies or firmware operating within the MFP throughout the lifetime of the MFP. Internal task scheduling policy alterations can be made either remotely or on-site at a customer location. Custom scheduling policies can be implemented for different periods of time. The MFP includes a task run-time controller to receive and process the internal task scheduling policy alterations. The task run-time controller includes a task tuner, which may implement the internal task scheduling policy alterations responsive to usage characteristics of the MFP.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring performance of a multifunction printer (MFP) throughout the lifetime of the MFP. The MFP may include a task run-time controller to collect performance information from the MFP and to transmit the performance information to a receiver such as a host, an MFP front panel, or a website. The task run-time controller may include a high resolution timer to collect task execution times or idle time for tasks running on the MFP. The task run-time controller may also receive internal task scheduling policy alterations based on an analysis of the performance information.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for generating rendered data for printing.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a print container with a series of resident fixed documents. The method opens a user interface (UI). Using the UI, a first plurality of elements stored in memory is selected and a print container is created. The print container preserves a second plurality of elements as separate entities in the print container. For example, a print container may have an element hierarchy of jobs in the print container, fixed documents in a job, and fixed pages in a fixed document may be created. Elements are defined as print containers, fixed documents, application-specific documents, page description language (PDL) documents, extensible markup language (XML) paper specification (XPS) fixed documents, or combinations of the above-mentioned elements. In one aspect, the selected elements are extensible markup language (XML) paper specification (XPS) fixed documents, which are preserved as separate entities in an XPS container.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, a driver for a printing device receives a print job that comprises a document. The driver generates multiple samples that simulate the appearance of at least a portion of the document with different values for at least one print setting. The driver provides a visual presentation of the multiple samples on an output medium of an output device. The output device may be a display device, a printing device, etc. The driver juxtaposes the multiple samples on the output medium. When a user selects one of the multiple samples, the driver receives notification of the sample that was selected. In response, the driver configures the at least one print setting in accordance with the selected sample.

Abstract: A method for scaling a first bitmap from a first size to a second size is disclosed. A first bitmap is accessed. The first bitmap is iterated through and the following are performed until no more size reductions are needed to scale the first bitmap to the second size. A group of pixels is identified from the first bitmap. A unique pixel is identified in the group of pixels. One or more pixels including the unique pixel are copied from the group of pixels to a second bitmap, wherein one or more pixels are not copied to the second bitmap and are not the unique pixel.

Abstract: A discrete or covert surveillance-communication device and system is disclosed that includes at least one miniature video surveillance camera and alerting-communication assemblies hidden in objects resembling office, commercial or household devices, such as a wall clock.

Abstract: A method for context-based processing of print data is provided. The method includes partitioning a document to be printed into a plurality of regions of interest. The method also includes determining context data for a first region of interest of the plurality of regions of interest. The context data may include information about how first print data corresponding to the first region of interest should be processed. The method also includes using the context data to process the first print data.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for recovering from print assembly failure in a printer with printed medium assembly capabilities. The method generates a first print set including a plurality of physical medium sheets, and stores the first print set of a first interim stacker. A second print set is generated including a plurality of physical medium sheets. Sheets are accessed sheets from the first interim stacker and assembled with sheets from the second print set, generating a final print set with a plurality of sheets in a first order. The final print set is stored in an output stacker. In the event of a first print set failure, first print set replacement sheets are generating. In one aspect, generating the final print set includes directly merging first print set replacement sheets (bypassing the interim stacker) with sheets from the second print set.

Abstract: A system for printing a book through use of booklet ganging is disclosed. The system includes a computer connected to a printer. A document is accessible on the computer and is compatible with an application running on the computer. The system includes a software component that is configured to obtain a style configuration after a print command has been executed by the application. The style configuration includes an indication of whether the document is to be ganged. The style configuration is not obtained by the application. The software component gangs booklets based on the style configuration if the indication indicates that the document is to be ganged. The book is then printed through use of the booklet ganging.

Abstract: A system for printing a book through use of booklet ganging is disclosed. The system includes a computer connected to a printer. A document is accessible on the computer and is compatible with an application running on the computer. The system includes a software component that is configured to obtain a style configuration after a print command has been executed by the application. The style configuration includes an indication of whether the document is to be ganged. The style configuration is not obtained by the application. The software component gangs booklets based on the style configuration if the indication indicates that the document is to be ganged. The book is then printed through use of the booklet ganging.

Abstract: A method for context-based processing of print data is provided. The method includes partitioning a document to be printed into a plurality of regions of interest. The method also includes determining context data for a first region of interest of the plurality of regions of interest. The context data may include information about how first print data corresponding to the first region of interest should be processed. The method also includes using the context data to process the first print data.

Abstract: A method for including a barcode as part of a print job. A user is presented an option to encode and print at least one property of the document as a barcode. Data representative of a document to be printed is rendered. Rendering and encoding may take place in serial or in parallel, with either one of the steps occurring prior to the other. The document to be printed is printed. If the user selects to print the barcodes, the barcodes are then printed.