Abstract: A method of imaging in an imaging device includes optically mapping a surface area of media to be imaged by the imaging device and controlling the imaging device based on the mapped surface area such that imaging occurs only on the media. Preferably, the surface area includes substantially an entire area of the media associated with at least one given scan line of the imaging device. Mapping of the surface area includes identifying peripheral bounds of the media and voids, if any, in the media. In a laser printer employing the present invention, image development is controlled by enabling and disabling the laser beam based on image data in coordination with the mapped surface area of the media.

Abstract: A dynamically loadable file, such as a dynamically loadable device driver or library, is delayed from being unloaded from memory for improved memory management and processing operations including reduced unload/load cycles. Prior to terminating execution of select functions, a dynamically loadable driver spawns a delay process that loads the driver and keeps it loaded for a period of time beyond that which it would normally be loaded. Thus, even after a calling process unloads the driver, it remains loaded for a period of time longer because of the spawned delay process and allows the operating system or an application/process to use the driver again within the delay time without requiring the driver to be re-copied into memory or re-initialized. The delay process safely increments the operating system reference count for the driver to keep the driver loaded and then monitors a delay time to subsequently unload the driver.

Abstract: Lower resolution source data is synthesized to a higher resolution format for subsequent rendering on a lower resolution output device. Synthesis occurs by selecting or generating and using a synthesis template that represents a configuration of a plurality of pixel data in the higher resolution format into which the lower resolution source data is to be synthesized. A working or active pixel is identified from the lower resolution source data, a synthesis template is selected, and then the synthesis template pixel data is substituted for the working pixel for rendering on the output device. The synthesized higher resolution data is rendered in a manner such that dots represented by the synthesized data are formed interstitially relative to scan lines of the given lower raster/resolution capability of the output device. The working pixel is identified in the lower resolution data by recognizing a configuration of a plurality of pixel data adjacent the working pixel.

Abstract: A method for reducing edge effect (white gapping) between objects formed on a photoconductive member of an imaging device includes, during processing of a given color plane, partially exposing the photoconductive member for all image data that specifies a color to be developed on at least one color plane but that specifies no color to be developed on the given color plane. As such, the partial exposing does not enable development of that image data during image processing of the given color plane. By partially exposing objects that do not include a color to be developed on the color plane currently being processed, and while normally exposing adjacent objects that include a color to be developed on the current color plane, the lateral electric field effects between the objects is reduced and, thus, toner development for the given color plane is more edge precise for reduced white gapping between the objects.

Abstract: A matte laser printer produces a photographic like image on media by repeatedly fusing the toners deposited thereon. In a preferred embodiment, repeated fusing is accomplished by utilizing a duplexing path in the printer. In an alternate embodiment, a processing flow direction of the media is selectively reversed after fusing to enable multiple fusing operations. In either case, toner forming the image on the media is more fully fused, thereby reducing light scatter, such that a photographic like image is produced.

Abstract: A demonstration page automatically resizes itself to fit a preferred media size of a printing device on which the demonstration page is printed. The demonstration page image is embedded in a printer control language (or page description language) to enable the automatic resizing of the image. The demonstration page omits control language commands that would otherwise override the preferred media size. Thus, the preferred media size stored in the printing device is used by the demonstration page for resizing and printing purposes. The demonstration page includes control language that identifies an original media size associated with the stored image and further includes control language that calculates scale factors for resizing the image to best fit the preferred media size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enhance a color or grayscale raster image in a printer by identifying a working pixel in the raster image for anti-aliasing, and then modifying luminance data of the working pixel in a luminance chrominance color space such that an anti-aliasing effect is achieved relative to the raster image. The luminance component of the raster image data is converted to a binary format to identify the working pixel using RET template matching. The luminance data of the working pixel is modified by utilizing luminance data of adjacent pixels to produce a new luminance value which is then assigned to the working pixel. One of the adjacent pixels defines an edge of the object being anti-aliased in the raster image, and the other of the adjacent pixels defines an edge of a region in the raster image that is adjacent the object.

Abstract: An imaging device and method provide memory management tasks on data of a page being composed in response to feedback generated by memory management tasks that are performed on pages in the page pipe that are waiting to be imaged. The feedback is throttled relative to memory management tasks that occur in the pipe. Advantageously, the memory management tasks are performed on the page being composed without waiting for an already composed page to finish imaging. Accordingly, page throughput of a multi-page print job is improved. The memory management tasks include compressing, relocating, and/or compressing and relocating data. Page data on which the memory management tasks are performed include raster patches, fonts, patterns, video bands, monster bands and vector bands. Atomic operations and/or a critical section locking mechanism provide collision avoidance as between the memory management tasks performed on data in the pipe and a video imaging task.

Abstract: A method of managing data in a hierarchical data storage system employing data redundancy schemes includes prioritizing a data rebuild based on a most vulnerable data redundancy scheme in the storage system. A data storage system embodying this rebuild prioritization method is also described. Prioritizing the data rebuild includes enabling a rebuild of the most vulnerable data redundancy scheme prior to enabling a rebuild of any other data redundancy scheme in the system. The most vulnerable data redundancy scheme is determined by comparing a probability of losing data that can be prevented by a rebuild for each data redundancy scheme with respect to the potential for one or more next storage device failures in the data storage system.

Abstract: An imaging device and method enable the freeing of memory during a punt (print overrun) avoidance operation and during a duplexing operation for enhanced page throughput. Specifically, if a first race condition threshold is met, being indicative of an estimated need to pre-rasterize a band from a page of image data for punt avoidance, and if after pre-rasterization it is determined pre-rasterization is not actually needed for punt avoidance, then the pre-rasterized band is evaluated relative to its display list for memory savings purposes for improved page throughput performance. Similarly, if a duplex condition threshold is met, being indicative of a band being part of a first side of a duplex page being processed and of an estimated need to save memory for processing of the second side of the duplex page, then the band is pre-rasterized and evaluated relative to its display list for memory savings purposes for improved duplex page throughput performance.

Abstract: In a Fiber Channel Arbitrated Loop communications architecture, dynamic loop sizing includes selectively bypassing operational device ports in the loop in order to minimize overhead associated with loop size. In redundant systems with multiple loops, the system is optimized by judicious distribution of the bypassed ports among the loops. Redundancy is at no point reduced. By bypassing unused or unneeded ports off of a loop, the round trip delay of the loop is appreciably shortened. By minimizing the round trip delay, arbitration overhead and access latency is reduced, and loop bandwidth and overall performance is improved. Dynamic load sharing balances the load between the dual loops when using dual ported devices on the loops. Dynamic load sharing is accomplished by bypassing a given subset of devices off each loop to reduce round trip delay; monitoring traffic on the loops; and controlling which devices are attached to which loop in order to balance the load across the loops.

Abstract: A tool for locating a device on a network includes software for capturing information from the network or from devices on the network. The captured information includes user information relating to a user or users that use the device being located. The captured user information is cross referenced with a database having user location information. The user location information is then referenced to determine a physical location of the device. Typically, the physical location of the device is in the same general area as its users.

Abstract: A help feature for a user interface includes a help control, such as a graphical button, displayed adjacent to a control option of the user interface. The help control references the control option for obtaining help information about the control option. The help control is displayed, and remains displayed, in response to a detected noteworthy status of the control option. Specifically, the help control is displayed automatically, without user interaction, in the event the control option is disabled and noteworthy. Alternatively, the control option is displayed in the event it is enabled and noteworthy. The help control is displayed non-intrusively relative to other elements of the user interface. Importantly, when the help control is selected by the user, context-sensitive help information is displayed describing, respectively, why the control option is disabled or why it is enabled and noteworthy.

Abstract: A media input tray for an imaging device such as a laser printer is configured to heat media disposed in the tray in order to reduce potential curl of the media caused by image processing in the imaging device. In a preferred embodiment, the input tray is configured with a flexible printed circuit having conductive traces for dissipating heat in response to an electric current. The flexible circuit is coupled to a power supply in the imaging device to enable a continuous warming of media in the tray, independent of any imaging operations by the imaging device. A method of image processing includes providing a heating device in a media input tray of an image processing device, and heating the media disposed in the input tray with the heating device such that media curl, caused by image processing operations, is reduced.

Abstract: An image forming device comprises an input for receiving a print job data stream, a memory coupled to the input for storing at least a portion of the print job data stream, and detection apparatus coupled to the memory for detecting at least two classes of indicia indicative of a banner page within the at least a portion of the print job data stream. The image forming device further includes management apparatus coupled to the detection apparatus for managing usage of the banner page independent of other pages defined in the print job data stream.

Abstract: A method for reducing edge effect (white gapping) between objects formed on a photoconductive member of an imaging device includes, during processing of a given color plane, under exposing (partially exposing) the photoconductive member for image data that specifies a color to be developed on at least one color plane but specifies no color to be developed on the given color plane. Under exposing occurs relative to a development threshold for the image processing of the given color plane. As such, the under exposing does not enable development of that image data during image processing of the given color plane. The under exposing occurs relative to a high frequency halftone screen for minimizing contamination (unwanted development) during the partial exposure.

Abstract: A dynamically loadable file, such as a dynamically loadable device driver or library, is delayed from being unloaded from memory for improved memory management and processing operations including reduced unload/load cycles. Prior to terminating execution of select functions, a dynamically loadable driver spawns a delay process that loads the driver and keeps it loaded for a period of time beyond that which it would normally be loaded. Thus, even after a calling process unloads the driver, it remains loaded for a period of time longer because of the spawned delay process and allows the operating system or an application/process to use the driver again within the delay time without requiring the driver to be re-copied into memory or reinitialized. The delay process safely increments the operating system reference count for the driver to keep the driver loaded and then monitors a delay time to subsequently unload the driver.

Abstract: A method of configuring a peripheral device on a network without user intervention includes a server node receiving identification data for identifying the peripheral device on the network and, if the peripheral device is a new device on the network or a driver for the peripheral device is not registered on the server node, the server node self-installing the driver for the peripheral device. As such, newly connected peripheral devices are automatically seen on a network and a driver for the peripheral device is automatically configured on a print server without any user intervention. Additionally, a communication port and queue for the device are also automatically created. Moreover, device configurations are dynamically and automatically updated on the print server for consistent, accurate network information.

Abstract: A matte laser printer produces a photographic like image on media by repeatedly fusing the toners deposited thereon. In a preferred embodiment, repeated fusing is accomplished by utilizing a duplexing path in the printer. In an alternate embodiment, a processing flow direction of the media is selectively reversed after fusing to enable multiple fusing operations. In either case, toner forming the image on the media is more fully fused, thereby reducing light scatter, such that a photographic like image is produced.

Abstract: Hot offset of black toner is reduced or eliminated in a color electrophotographic imaging device, such as a laser printer, by applying a minimal layer of non-black toner in addition to the black toner on a print media. The non-black toner, such as cyan, magenta or yellow toner, acts as a release agent for reducing or eliminating hot offset of the black toner during fusing of the toner to the media. The non-black toner is applied as a thin layer just sufficient to reduce hot offset of the black toner and such that an appearance of a resultant image formed retains a visual perception of being a black toner only image. In an alternate embodiment, the thin layer of non-black toner is applied in response to coated media being processed, such as overhead transparencies, that are more susceptible to hot offset.