Abstract: In a print processing section (12), print commands are converted into the form of a packet, and a header indicative of a print-end position is attached to the packet. The packet with the header attached thereto is stored into a command file section (13). A command transmitting section (14) reads out, whenever occasion calls, the packets (print commands) from the command file section (13), and sends them to a printing device (2). In the event that a print interrupt instruction is input during the printing operation, the command transmitting section (14) takes the following action on the basis of the contents of the headers of the packets. It passes the print commands of other packets than those being currently processed till a print-end position is reached, and sends only the print commands necessary for the process execution to the printing device.

Abstract: The present invention includes an image forming system and method of operating an image forming system. According to one aspect, the present invention provides an image forming system including an accessory device including a processor configured to control at least one operation of the accessory device; an image forming device coupled with the accessory device and including a storage device; and wherein the storage device of the image forming device is configured to store operational data useable by the accessory device, and the image forming device is configured to output the operational data and the accessory device is configured to receive the operational data, and the processor is configured to control the at least one operation of the accessory device responsive to the operational data.

Abstract: A method for reverse order printing. The control instructions that direct printing of a document on a printer are used to create journal files of the document, with each page of the document having its own journal file. The journal files are then accessed in reverse order and sent to the printer to produce the document in reverse order. In one embodiment, a frontend is used to trap the control instructions and then a player accesses the journal files. In another, the graphic device interface and the printer driver are used.

Abstract: An ink jet printer enabling dual-way printing has a head that can create different types of dots having different diameters. The printer creates small dots in the course of the backward movement of the head, and medium dots in the course of the forward movement of the head. This arrangement effectively prevents the positional misalignment of each type of dots in the main scanning direction. The positional misalignment of the dots in the main scanning direction significantly affects the picture quality in the case of a vertical ruled line formed with only the large dots or in the case of a low tone are expressed with only the small dots.

Abstract: It is an object to allow a plurality of printers to print a document without disordering a page order. When a plurality of printers are allowed to print the document, print data is transferred to the plurality of printers so as not to disorder the page order.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using a duplex printer to print indicia on the back side of a printed page to provide privacy for confidential information appearing on the front side and/or indicia to indicate that information which previously appeared on the back side of a printed sheet is not relevant to the information appearing on the front side of the printed sheet.

Abstract: A system and method of backprinting image prints in which an order is received specifying one or more recipients and, for each specified recipient, a set of one or more images associated with that recipient. For each recipient specified by the order, the images associated with the recipient are separated into at least one printable unit of images, and, for each printable unit, each image in the printable unit is printed on a first side of an image print. Backprinting information is backprinted on the other side of one or more of the image prints. The backprinting information can be received from a user and backprinted onto one or images.

Abstract: Disclosed is a progress indicator generated on a computer display. Program logic in a computer system monitors the execution of a plurality of tasks, such as the transmission of print jobs, and determines progress status information for each of the executing tasks. The program logic may be used to select one of the executing tasks and display on a computer display a graphical representation of the progress status information of the selected executing task.

Abstract: A multiple print engine configuration allows a plurality of workstations (10) to create individual print jobs and then transfer them to a distributing processor (14). The distributing processor (14) is operable to spool the jobs in a print spooler (20) and then perform a software RIP on the print jobs. The RIP process divides the jobs into multiple individual jobs which are stored in the page buffer (24). An image task manager (26) in conjunction with an engine manager (28) are then operable to selectively distribute the pages to multiple print engines (16). They are distributed in such a manner that they are placed in the output bins (40) in the order that the pages were received in the print jobs.

Abstract: A print system has: a client apparatus for outputting print data; a printer server apparatus for receiving the print data from the client apparatus, and controlling an output of the print data received from the client apparatus in time; and a printer apparatus for receiving the print data from the printer server apparatus, converting the print data received from the printer server apparatus and printing the converted print data. The printer apparatus has a print property and converts and prints the print data received from the printer server apparatus according to the print property.

Abstract: A print model is provided that supports job submission to either physical or logical printer objects while preserving job defaulting, validation, and scheduling. According to one aspect of the present invention physical printers, e.g., objects representing the capabilities of associated output devices, may be the target of print job submissions. When a print job is received at a physical printer, an association is created between the print job and the physical printer. Then, the print job is routed from the physical printer to a predetermined logical printer, e.g., an object representing an abstract set of job and output device capabilities. According to another aspect of the present invention, an improved print server includes multiple physical printer objects that may serve as targets of print job submissions.

Abstract: A method of imaging an item is provided comprising the steps of determining a media type of a first portion of an item to be imaged, determining a media type of a supply of media for an imaging device, determining if the first portion media type is compatible with the first supply media type based on a criterion, and imaging the first portion on one or more sheets of the first supply media type using the imaging device if the first portion media type is compatible with the first supply media type. At least one of the determining steps is performed by sensing for multiple media types. Sensing the media type is preferably performed by at least one sensor.

Abstract: Trace information showing a fact that an illegal output request has been issued from any one of data processing apparatuses is managed. Under an output environment such that an output apparatus is shared from a plurality of data processing apparatuses, when it is detected that a kind of data received by a CPU is specific data such that an output is legally limited, information to identify a transfer source side of the specific data or the received data is preserved and managed in a RAM or the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing page data of a print job to the printers in a multi-print engine based on print job parameters associated with the page data of the print job is disclosed. One or more virtual printers are configured, each with a plurality of individual print engines, each having associated printing characteristics. Page data of the print job, downloaded from a print file and having the print job parameters associated therewith, is rasterized and stored as bit-mapped images in print buffers associated with the multi-engined printing system. The bit-mapped images are distributed to select ones of the print engines based upon matching the print job parameters of each bit-mapped images with the printing characteristics of the print engine to be selected.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus for analyzing and processing an input print job that includes printing management data for managing the print job and print data. Header information identifying the printing management data has been added to the printing management data and header information identifying the print data and indicating a data size of the print data has been added to the print data. Header information of input data is analyzed and input data determined to be printing management data in accordance with the header information is stored in a management information storage medium and input data determined to be print data in accordance with the head information is stored in a print data storage medium on the basis of the data size indicated in the header information, without analyzing the print data.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a printer or reader receives a data stream from a memory, such as from an RF or photonic memory, and compares portions of the data stream to a table of data. If a portion of the data matches an entry in the table, a corresponding entry in the table causes the apparatus to be automatically configured. Alternatively, an apparatus receives a data stream to be written, such as in a bar code symbol or tag memory. The apparatus analyzes portions of the data, comparing portions of the data to a reference table. If the apparatus identifies a match, the apparatus adjusts the writing of such data. For example, the printer writes a portion of the incoming data stream to both fields in a bar code symbol and in a portion of the memory in an adjacent RF readable tag.

Abstract: Compression apparatus is described that operates to select an optimum compression procedure to apply to received image data. The compression apparatus can be employed in a page printer having a print engine that must be provided with video data at a constant rate in order to avoid a print underrun. The page printer operates to receive print data and to convert the received print data into rasterized page strips. Some or all of these rasteized page strips can then be compressed by the compression apparatus for later conversion to video data. The compression apparatus operates to compress each received rasterized page strip by selecting a compression procedure that results in a compressed strip that will provide optimum print quality while not causing a print underrun and that is below a threshold data size.

Abstract: An output apparatus comprises: a plurality of interface sections for inputting data which is supplied from an upper apparatus such as a host computer; an input buffer section to store the input data; an analyzing section for analyzing the input data and for forming predetermined image data; and an output section such as a laser beam printer or the like for outputting or printing the image data. The output apparatus further includes a judging section for judging whether the data inputted from which one of the plurality of interface sections should be deleted, a deleting section for deleting by a predetermined method the data of the input buffer section in which the data to be deleted has been stored, and a notifying section to notify the interface which is deleting at present to the operator. When the designated interface section differs from the interface section which is printing at present, it is judged that the data in the input buffer section should be deleted.

Abstract: A printing system has a printing apparatus and a host apparatus. Print data or control data is transferred between the printing apparatus and the host apparatus in accordance with at least two transfer methods. Upon detecting that a specific state has passed, the printing apparatus or the host apparatus predicts a change of the transfer method when (or immediately after) the specific state has passed. An analysis is conducted to determine whether the transfer method has been changed for the data subsequently transferred. If it is found that the transfer method used in the printing apparatus or the host apparatus has been changed, the other apparatus accordingly changes the transfer method. On the other hand, if the transferred data is based on the currently used method, the method is not changed, but is maintained.

Abstract: When a monitor display is to be printed by a color printer, the present invention transforms the monitor colors to compensate for chromatic adaption while mapping the monitor's neutral axis with the printer's neutral axis so neutral colors remain neutral. In the preferred embodiment, it is assumed that there is only partial chromatic adaption by the viewer. The result is that printing the transformed monitor colors using a color printer causes printed colors to appear to the human eye to be similar to the displayed monitor colors, while preserving neutral colors, once the human eye has adapted to the displayed monitor colors and the printed colors.