Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a system and method for submitting a series of complementary queries to a selected database in order to retrieve data associated with such queries. The method begins by receiving parameter data representing at least one parameter, which defines a plurality of entries in an associated database. Query data is then generated from the parameter data. The query data is comprised of a series of complementary queries structured to aggregate so as to correspond to all possible entries associated with the parameter data. The query data is then communicated to an associated search engine coupled to query the associated database. Result data is then received from the associated search engine. The result data is comprised of a series of responses corresponding to each of the series of complementary queries. The result data is then communicated to an associated user.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively outsourcing document processing operations from a document processing device. The document processing device analyzes a submitted document processing job from a user and determines whether external devices are available and capable of performing some or all of the requested document processing operations. When external devices are available and capable, the document processing device performs any necessary local preprocessing and forwards information related to the document processing job to one of the external devices. The external device then processes the data and returns the processed data to the document processing device. The document processing device then performs any remaining document processing operations and the job is thereupon output according to the selected document processing operation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for the job management of document processing wherein job management is divided into a pipeline assembly phase and a job processing phase. The job manager is heavily involved in the pipeline assembly phase. The job processing phase involves only the job processors, which were identified during the pipeline assembly phase. The processors signal the job manager when they start or finish processing of a job. The job manager controls resource consumption by controlling the amount of data in the pipes by parameterizing connector elements. For example, the job manager will preferably input data relating to stapling operations into the pipeline after data relating to collating operations is feed into the pipeline. The job manager assembles partial data or operations into the pipeline in the event that all resources needed are not available.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating the toner usage of a multifunction peripheral device using software and the compressed form of the raster image without uncompressing the image. The method enables the calculation of toner usage based on the statistics of actual colorant consumption while minimizing the approximation error. The compressed image data includes encoded data representing an image mapped onto a first color space. The received compressed image is analyzed to generate a pixel count of each color associated with the image corresponding to a color in the first color space. In the event of a different device color space, the pixel count is translated to a second color space, and an aggregate pixel count is calculated. When statistical data from actual operations is available, table data on the earlier usage is compared with the pixel count calculated, resulting in an approximate toner usage having low approximation error.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for implementing native code directly in C++ with object structure very closely resembling the object structure of Java. The method provides for the mapping of Java to C++ objects and invoking the Java Native Interface, mapping C++ objects to Java and returning a corresponding Java object, retrieving and returning a class factory by class name, and collecting garbage in both the C++ and Java environments.