Abstract: The Device Model Agent (DMA), the device side technology module in Device Centric Services (DCS) system, is the main focus of this invention. DMA is a thin, efficient applications/services execution environment. DMA provides an embedded services platform for enabling system management applications and services. This allows a flexible, extensible, dynamic services management module allowing networked services to be designed, added, and managed within the system without modifications to devices, DCS system, or DMA itself. While this invention specifically describes the integration of benefits from DMA into document system devices, the concepts are equally applicable in other domains. The DMA runtime environment is a thin software interface layer that resides on a document system device between the Java runtime environment and embedded web server.

Abstract: The Device Model Agent (DMA), the device side technology module in Device Centric Services (DCS) system, is the main focus of this invention. DMA is a thin, efficient applications/services execution environment. DMA provides an embedded services platform for enabling system management applications and services. This allows a flexible, extensible, dynamic services management module allowing networked services to be designed, added, and managed within the system without modifications to devices, DCS system, or DMA itself. While this invention specifically describes the integration of benefits from DMA into document system devices, the concepts are equally applicable in other domains. The DMA runtime environment is a thin software interface layer that resides on a document system device between the Java runtime environment and embedded web server.

Abstract: The Device Model Agent (DMA), the device side technology module in Device Centric Services (DCS) system, is the main focus of this invention. DMA is a thin, efficient applications/services execution environment. DMA provides an embedded services platform for enabling system management applications and services. This allows a flexible, extensible, dynamic services management module allowing networked services to be designed, added, and managed within the system without modifications to devices, DCS system, or DMA itself. While this invention specifically describes the integration of benefits from DMA into document system devices, the concepts are equally applicable in other domains. The DMA runtime environment is a thin software interface layer that resides on a document system device between the Java runtime environment and embedded web server.

Abstract: An electronic image processing apparatus has a controller and a plurality of resources in an arbitrary configuration. Each of the resources includes an associated processor storing data related to operational constraints of the associated resource and a bus interconnects the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the resources. The controller is adapted to operate independent of a particular configuration of the plurality of resources by receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated resource and interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the resources.

Abstract: An electronic image processing apparatus has a controller and a plurality of resources in an arbitrary configuration. Each of the resources includes an associated processor storing data related to operational constraints of the associated resource and a bus interconnects the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the resources. The controller is adapted to operate independent of a particular configuration of the plurality of resources by receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated resource and interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the resources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an electronic reprographic system providing for the storing of information in the system of the status of all jobs in the system, monitoring the system for faults, providing for crash recovery wherein communication between processing units of the system enables the system to recommence printing at the point at which a crash occurred, and allowing the system to tie a fault discovered in the system with a job containing a faulted feature so that the printing jobs may be completed sequentially up to a job requiring a faulted feature. Additionally, the system is capable of permitting a higher priority job to interrupt a currently printed job in order to be printed non-sequentially.

Abstract: The handling of copy sensitive jobs in an electronic reprographic printing system comprises a unique bindexer sheet routing operation to ensure job integrity when printing copy sensitive jobs using multiset scheduling. A bindexer bin fill pattern is used which is unidirectional and begins at the same bin for each sheet of the set. Job recovery for copy sensitive jobs can include purging and remarking sets and partial sets to a greater extent for copy sensitive jobs than that required for non-copy sensitive jobs. The unique jobs recovery preserves the uniqueness of the copy sensitive jobs while improving the overall job recovery productivity for non-copy sensitive jobs.

Abstract: A printer dynamic job recovery operation in an electronic reprographic system includes automatic detection of a printed sheet having an image thereon with a relative loss of integrity. Specified sheets are automatically purged to a specified location in response to such detection. The purging can begin at the first detected sheet or up to three sheets in advance of the detected sheet. Job recovery for job completion can be initiated immediately without cycling down the printer.

Abstract: The handling of copy sensitive jobs in an electronic reprographic printing system comprises a unique bindexer sheet routing operation to ensure job integrity when printing copy sensitive jobs using multiset scheduling. A bindexer bin fill pattern is used which is unidirectional and begins at the same bin for each sheet of the set. Job recovery for copy sensitive jobs can include purging and remaking sets and partial sets to a greater extent for copy sensitive jobs than that required for noncopy sensitive jobs. The unique job recovery preserves the uniqueness of the copy sensitive jobs while improving the overall job recovery productivity for non-copy sensitive jobs.

Abstract: Printer job recovery for use in an electronic reprographic system includes the detection of faults affecting printer operation. If such a fault is detected, fault recovery is effected and operation continues. It is then determined whether the jobs are incomplete. If not, recovery is skipped and normal operation continues. If, however, it is determined that there are incomplete jobs, it is then determined whether there are any partially complete jobs. If not, normal system operation continues. Upon determination that there are partially complete jobs, the system recovers the oldest partially complete job. It is again determined whether there are any partially complete jobs. The cycle continues until it is determined that there are no partially complete jobs.

Abstract: Methods for scheduling sheets in an imaging system having an endless duplex paper path loop are disclosed. Preferably, the duplex loop includes a single sheet inverter without a buffer tray so as to eliminate the problems associated therewith. The basic method involves consecutively inserting copy sheets to be imaged into the duplex loop without placing any skipped pitches therebetween regardless of set or job boundaries. Duplex side ones from subsequent sets or jobs are used to fill any gaps which exist in the duplex side one sheet stream of earlier sets or jobs. Additional refinements include using simplex sheets to fill potential skipped pitches in a duplex side one sheet stream by converting simplex sheets located immediately subsequent to the duplex sheets into duplex sheets having a blank back side and scheduling the side one imaging of the now-converted duplex sheets into the potential skipped pitches.

Abstract: Productivity in electronic printer incorporating finishing activities and operating in a job streaming mode are enhanced by utilizing software to calculate and predict the minimum delay corresponding to minimum skip pitches) in successive jobs requiring finishing activities such as binding and stapling. Printing and collating of sets of original scanned documents are controlled so that collated sets are successively presented by the printer to the finisher nearly coincident with conclusion of the finishing activity being accomplished for a current job. Additional software innovations allow job scheduling for jobs involving complex pitch time delays created by scanning simplex and duplex documents returned in random order. For this case optimum delay time is the cumulative finishing hardware delays as well as imaging/paper path delays.