Abstract: Methods and apparatuses described herein are configured to calculate the instantaneous bit rate of a network connection. According to certain aspects, conventional solutions measure average bit rate of a network, whereas the techniques described herein are configured to measure the instantaneous bit rate. According to further aspects, structurally, conventional solutions require external devices (hosts or servers) and a plurality of data packets for measurement, whereas the present invention is self-referenced and requires, in principle, only two network packets, of any type, for measuring the instantaneous bit rate. The instantaneous bit rate can then be used to adjust the transmission bit rate of network packets to optimize the network connection such that the bandwidth of the network connection is fully utilized and packet loss is avoided.

Abstract: A multi-layer workflow architecture for a print shop is disclosed. The workflow architecture includes a workflow front end, service bus, and service providers. The workflow front end provides an interface to print shop operators. The service providers are each associated with a device in the print shop. The service bus represents the layer between the workflow front end and the service providers. In operation, the service providers report device capabilities for devices to the service bus. The workflow front end receives the device capabilities from the service bus, and provides the device capabilities to a user to allow the user to define a job ticket based on the device capabilities. The service bus identifies the processes defined in the job ticket, and identifies the service providers operable to provide the processes. The service bus then routes process messages to the identified service providers to execute the processes on the devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses described herein are configured to calculate the instantaneous bit rate of a network connection. According to certain aspects, conventional solutions measure average bit rate of a network, whereas the techniques described herein are configured to measure the instantaneous bit rate. According to further aspects, structurally, conventional solutions require external devices (hosts or servers) and a plurality of data packets for measurement, whereas the present invention is self-referenced and requires, in principle, only two network packets, of any type, for measuring the instantaneous bit rate. The instantaneous bit rate can then be used to adjust the transmission bit rate of network packets to optimize the network connection such that the bandwidth of the network connection is fully utilized and packet loss is avoided.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises, in a print application management computer program that enables a user to generate a printed application using one or more document processing devices: identifying a plug-in that extends one or more capabilities of the print application management computer program; extending the print application management computer program to include the identified plug-in, including reconfiguring a graphical user interface of the print application management computer program to include one or more GUI widgets associated with the identified plug-in.

Abstract: Print job management information, including management actions performed by a press operator, is collected from a print job manager. An evaluator evaluates the collected print job management information using an evaluation algorithm to generate a predicted press-operator job release sequence of one or more of the print jobs. The evaluation algorithm may be adapted to predict print job release behavior of the press operator. A print job is selected in accordance with the predicted press-operator job release sequence. Print job preprocessing of the selected print job is initiated in the printing system, prior to actual release of the print job by the press operator. Actual print-job release information may be compared with a predicted job release sequence to revise the evaluation algorithm.

Abstract: A standard input for a regression test is processed in a printing system in a first (standard) configuration to generate a standard output. The standard output may include a standard PDL output and a standard bitmap. The standard input is processed in the printing system in a second configuration to be tested to generate regression test output. The regression test output may include a test PDL output and test bitmap. The regression test output and the standard output are compared to determine if changes included in the second configuration of the printing system produce an undesirable effect. Each standard input and corresponding standard output is identified by a unique test identifier and is stored.

Abstract: A standard input for a regression test is processed in a printing system in a first (standard) configuration to generate a standard output. The standard output may include a standard PDL output and a standard bitmap. The standard input is processed in the printing system in a second configuration to be tested to generate regression test output. The regression test output may include a test PDL output and test bitmap. The regression test output and the standard output are compared to determine if changes included in the second configuration of the printing system produce an undesirable effect. Each standard input and corresponding standard output is identified by a unique test identifier and is stored.

Abstract: Print job management information, including management actions performed by a press operator, is collected from a print job manager. An evaluator evaluates the collected print job management information using an evaluation algorithm to generate a predicted press-operator job release sequence of one or more of the print jobs. The evaluation algorithm may be adapted to predict print job release behavior of the press operator. A print job is selected in accordance with the predicted press-operator job release sequence. Print job preprocessing of the selected print job is initiated in the printing system, prior to actual release of the print job by the press operator. Actual print-job release information may be compared with a predicted job release sequence to revise the evaluation algorithm.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises, in a print application management computer program that enables a user to generate a printed application using one or more document processing devices: identifying a plug-in that extends one or more capabilities of the print application management computer program; extending the print application management computer program to include the identified plug-in, including reconfiguring a graphical user interface of the print application management computer program to include one or more GUI widgets associated with the identified plug-in.

Abstract: A graphical job editor for creating jobs in a multi-layer workflow architecture for a print shop is disclosed. The graphical job editor presents to a user a graphical representation of every device and activity available in the print shop as provided by the service bus layer of the workflow architecture. Further, the present information regarding the capabilities of each such device and activity so presented may then be defined by the user through simple, graphical user interface objects and techniques. The graphical job editor uses the present information in the device capabilities presented by the service bus. The present device capability information of each device and activity in a job may be updated as each activity is added to the job being defined to thus assure creation of a valid job that may be processed in a particular workflow architecture.

Abstract: A multi-layer workflow architecture for a print shop is disclosed. The workflow architecture includes a workflow front end, service bus, and service providers. The workflow front end provides an interface to print shop operators. The service providers are each associated with a device in the print shop. The service bus represents the layer between the workflow front end and the service providers. In operation, the service providers report device capabilities for devices to the service bus. The workflow front end receives the device capabilities from the service bus, and provides the device capabilities to a user to allow the user to define a job ticket based on the device capabilities. The service bus identifies the processes defined in the job ticket, and identifies the service providers operable to provide the processes. The service bus then routes process messages to the identified service providers to execute the processes on the devices.