Abstract: Provided are a method, system and program for checking and conditional processing of a print job printed with multiple transfer media. A print job indicates first print content to print using a first transfer medium and second print content to print using a second transfer medium. The first print content is printed onto a print medium with the first transfer medium. The printed first print content is read to determine whether the printed first print content satisfies a quality requirement. The second print content is printed onto the print medium with the second transfer medium in response to determining that the quality requirement is satisfied. Information is printed indicating an error on the print medium in response to determining that the print quality requirement is not satisfied.

Abstract: A printer, fax machine, copier, scanner, or any other office device used by multiple users from multiple locations is provided with improved apparatus and/or software for locking out all incoming commands from reaching the device's internal controller except for commands coming from a newly-designated primary controller used by the service technician. This lockout can be used with any type of office machine that has it's own internal controller, so it applies equally to all types of office machines and systems generally used in today's office environments.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system and program for checking and conditional processing of a print job printed with multiple transfer media. A print job indicates first print content to print using a first transfer medium and second print content to print using a second transfer medium. The first print content is printed onto a print medium with the first transfer medium. The printed first print content is read to determine whether the printed first print content satisfies a quality requirement. The second print content is printed onto the print medium with the second transfer medium in response to determining that the quality requirement is satisfied. Information is printed indicating an error on the print medium in response to determining that the print quality requirement is not satisfied.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system and program for checking and conditional processing of a print job printed with multiple transfer media. A print job indicates first print content to print using a first transfer medium and second print content to print using a second transfer medium. The first print content is printed onto a print medium with the first transfer medium. The printed first print content is read to determine whether the printed first print content satisfies a quality requirement. The second print content is printed onto the print medium with the second transfer medium in response to determining that the quality requirement is satisfied. Information is printed indicating an error on the print medium in response to determining that the print quality requirement is not satisfied.

Abstract: A printer system includes a printer engine that produces an engine power status signal and a printer controller that produces a controller power status signal. A power management interface receives the engine power status signal and the controller power status signal and alters the power status of the printer controller by generating a power management signal based on the power status of the printer controller and the printer engine. The interface preferably alters the power status of the printer controller such that the power status of the printer controller tracks the power status of the engine. The interface may assert the power management signal in response to a transition in the engine power status signal and may format the power management signal according to an industry stand such as the PCI defined PME signal. The interface may be implemented as a board inserted in a PCI connector of the printer controller.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and logic for processing pixel data. Line work data and control data is received for pixels on a sheet from at least one object. The control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel from the object. Multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel. Line work data and control data from one object are outputted indicating to use contone data or the line work data for the pixel.

Abstract: A method and system for scaling a phase lock loop (PLL) based clock, includes: selecting a clock frequency; selecting a reference frequency, multipliers, and an output divider for an output frequency of a PLL, where the output frequency is higher than the clock frequency; applying the multipliers and the output divider to the reference frequency to generate the output frequency, outputted to a programmable logic chip; and applying a counter factor to the output frequency by the programmable logic chip to generate the clock frequency. By scaling the reference frequency in more than one step, the middle ranges of the multipliers are widened, allowing for a greater granularity of control over the increments by which the reference frequency can be adjusted. Smaller frequency errors result. The printer emulator utilizing the present invention has a set of more exactly generated clock frequencies that emulate a variety of printer speeds and resolutions.

Abstract: Method, system, and program for processing pixel data. A first and second logic units each receive line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object. The control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel. Multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel. The first and second logic units output control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel. A third logic unit receives the line work and control data outputted from the first and second logic units. The third logic unit then outputs control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating at least one timer in the event of a timeout condition in a system includes circuitry that generates an indication that certain system conditions have occurred, clock circuitry, enabled by the indication, that generates a timeout counter enable signal, and a number of timer units, coupled to the clock circuitry, where each of the timer units is incremented an incrementing signal and reset by a monitored signal that represents conditions in the system. The apparatus includes comparison circuitry coupled to the timeout units, such that when at least one of the timer units reaches a predetermined count, the count, or the maximum count reached to this point, of each of the timer units is stored.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for receiving line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from objects. The control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work color data for the pixel or contone raster object for the pixel. Further, multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel. Line work and control data are simultaneously decompressed for a same set of pixels from the multiple objects and decompressed line work and control data are simultaneously aligned for a same set of pixels from the multiple objects. The simultaneously aligned line work and control data for the pixel from the multiple objects are buffered in a third buffer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for error checking raster objects including pixel information for a print job. A plurality of raster objects form the print job. A raster object is received including sequence information indicating an ordering of the raster object with respect to other raster objects in the print job. A determination is made from the sequence information as to whether the raster object is received in a correct order with respect to other raster objects in the print job. This ensures that the pixel information for the raster object is intended for a current pixel line being processed. An indication of error status is made if the sequence information indicates that the raster object was not received in the correct order with respect to the other raster objects in the print job.

Abstract: A method of compressing pixel information is described. The pixel data is received in a data stream and compressed into a compressed data format by identifying a run of consecutive bytes of the data stream based on the similarity of the consecutive data bytes in the data stream. A mode bit of a compression byte is used to indicate whether a run of consecutive bytes is identified. Count bits of the compression byte are used to indicate the number of times the data bytes are repeated and zero counts may be used to indicate particular types of runs, for example, runs to the end of a scan line and the end of an object. Where a pixel byte is represented by 8 bits, the data stream may be compressed in multiples of four bytes at a time. If a pixel is represent by less than 8 bits, the compression method may look for repetitions of similar bytes one byte at a time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for error checking in a digital scanning device. An error detection pattern is written into each of a plurality of parallel data streams. Each of the data streams is then transmitted through a separate parallel data channel. The error detection patterns in the data streams are then concurrently compared to one another to check for an error condition of the data stream. If the error detection patterns are not received substantially concurrently, an error condition is considered to have occurred. The error detection pattern may comprise end of scan, end of sheet or First-In First-Out (FIFO) buffer data. While all error conditions are false, printing and data transmission continue. Printing and data transmission are terminated if any error condition is true, and an error notification message is generated.

Abstract: A method and system for decompressing image data in a digital scanning system such as a printer. A plurality of streams of digital data are received in a compressed format. The compressed format contains a control byte preceding a plurality of data bytes. A initial RLE mode bit of the control byte indicates whether the following data bytes are run length encoded or not run length encoded and subsequent bits indicate a repeat amount. If the following data bytes are run length encoded, the decompression apparatus determines the number of times the data byte(s) are to be repeated at the output of the apparatus. In special cases where the repeat count is a zero, the mode bit may indicate that the data byte is to be repeated either to an end of scan marker or to an end of object marker. The RLE mode bit may also indicate that non-run length encoded data is to be passed through as-is, preferably in multiples of a selected integer number.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracing hardware states using dynamically reconfigurable test circuits provides improved debug and troubleshooting capability for functional logic implemented within field programmable logic arrays (FPGAs). Special test logic configurations may be loaded to enhance the debugging of a system using FPGAs. Registers are used to capture snapshots of internal signals for access by a trace program and a test multiplexer is used to provide real-time output to test pins for use with external test equipment. By retrieving the hardware snapshot information with a trace program running on a system in which the FPGA is used, software and hardware debugging are coordinated, providing a sophisticated model of overall system behavior. Special test circuits are implemented within the test logic configurations to enable detection of various events and errors. Counters are used to capture count values when system processor execution reaches a hardware trace point or when events occur.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating at least one timer in the event of a timeout condition in a system includes circuitry that generates an indication that certain system conditions have occurred, clock circuitry, enabled by the indication, that generates a timeout counter enable signal, and a number of timer units, coupled to the clock circuitry, where each of the timer units is incremented an incrementing signal and reset by a monitored signal that represents conditions in the system. The apparatus includes comparison circuitry coupled to the timeout units, such that when at least one of the timer units reaches a predetermined count, the count, or the maximum count reached to this point, of each of the timer units is stored.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for shifting data from registers. Bits from N registers are shifted as input to a first set of M multiplexors. Control signals are sent into each of the first set of M multiplexors to select bits inputted from one of the registers. The selected bits are outputted to each of a second set of M multiplexors. Control signals are then sent into each of the second set of M multiplexors to select bits inputted from each of the first set of multiplexors.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device or chip enables a system interface to read multiple design level/version numbers of multiple and independent version numbers per chip to identify independently modifiable sub-sections of the chip (or module) design. The design enables one to store both creation and modification dates and/or version numbers for each sub-section or partition of the chip design, referred to herein generally as functional units. The values can be hard-coded into the design, such as in the case of an ASIC, or they can be placed in a FPGA download design and stored as part of the FPGA configuration procedure. The values can also be stored from the input pins of the integrated circuit. The readout of the version information can be performed via a hardware trace register readout through a system interface. In this manner one is enabled to implement multiple level control to separate the functional and diagnostic area of the chip.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for improving performance of adjustable printer clock signals in an electrophotographic device. A source clock signal is output having a source frequency. A first clock signal is output having a first frequency. The first frequency is substantially related to the source frequency by a ratio of n1:m1. An alignment signal is generated for adjusting a first printer clock signal with respect to a second printer clock signal. In response to the first clock signal and the alignment signal, the first printer clock signal is output having a first printer frequency. The first printer frequency is substantially related to the source clock frequency by a ratio of n1n2:m1m2.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for the modification of the timing of one of a plurality of PEL clocks included within an electrophotographic device. A first indicator is generated which is associated with a first position on a print receiving material. A second indicator is generated which is associated with a second position on the print receiving material. A first enable signal is generated for initiating a first scan. The first scan is executed utilizing a first laser beam synchronized by a first PEL clock. A second enable signal is generated for initiating a second scan. The second scan is executed utilizing a second laser beam synchronized by a second PEL clock. The first and second scans are executed approximately concurrently. An offset of the second position from the first position is determined. The timing of a second PEL clock is modified by adjusting the second enable signal utilizing the offset so that the first and second positions are approximately aligned.