Abstract: A system and method for monitoring consumables in a document processing environment. A quota corresponding to an allotted quantity of consumables is maintained with respect to each authorized user in a document processing environment. When a document processing request is received, the user associated therewith is identified, authenticated, and the quota associated with the user is retrieved. When the quota associated with the user has already been exceeded, the document processing request is denied. When the quota has not been exceeded, the request is then analyzed to determine image parameters inclusive of size and image number, page number, printing type, scanning parameters, and the like. These image parameters are then used to calculate the amount of consumables necessary to complete the requested document processing operation. When the amount of required consumables exceeds the allotted quota, the operation is denied.

Abstract: The subject application is directed to a method and implementation of spooling electronic documents in a networked document processing environment. A print job is generated from a network client. A runtime printing component is plugged into a networking layer for a network client. Print data is captured from the print job in chunks using the continue printing component. The captured data is fed to a printer controller of a printing system without involving a native print system of a network operating system.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the startup process for a plurality of document processing services to determine if each of the process has started properly. A service startup manager initiates the startup and monitors a plurality of processes associated with a document processing device. The service startup manager then awaits the receipt of a periodic beacon, originated by each process, indicating the normal startup and operation of the process in question. When the periodic beacon associated with a process is not received by the startup manager within a predetermined period of time, the service startup manager transmits a shutdown command to the process and waits for the process to terminate. When a shutdown does not occur, the service startup manager forcibly terminates the process. The service startup manager then restarts the process.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively inserting a digital watermark into a visual rendering by an image processing device. The image processing device receives an image processing request including image data of an associated document. The request is then analyzed to determine if a watermark is to be inserted into a visual rendering of the associated document. When required, the selected watermark is then retrieved from associated memory containing a watermark repository, based upon the image processing request. The visual rendering of the associated document, incorporating the watermark, is then generated.

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 system and method for monitoring processes in a document processing peripheral. The system comprises a document processing peripheral device suitably equipped with a job manager. The job manager includes at least one state, or service object that represents a service or process to be performed on a print job. The state objects trigger services through messaging based on the workflow programmed into the objects. A core engine drives the objects and pumps the jobs to the objects. A service or processor receive the jobs via messaging and process the jobs in accordance with the service it is programmed to perform. The state objects then track the resources used by the jobs.

Abstract: A feedback component which adds on to a spooler and utilizes the spooler's connectivity with the network clients for communications. The network clients connect to the feedback component through the spooler's application programming interface (API) by making a request to register for feedback. Once the request is received, the feedback component continuously provides the network components with status of jobs in readable text and codes as the jobs progress in the underlying printing system. These status messages are not limited to just print status messages like printing, paused, printed, etc., but may include customized status messages for any device in the printing system such as scheduled, dialing, sending-fax, etc. In addition, a time delay may be introduced between messages in order to prevent excessive traffic being sent during times of heavy traffic.