Abstract: Techniques for identifying faults in a collaborative computing system including a plurality of disparate, geographically separated computing systems are described herein. An intelligent monitoring (IM) server computing system may receive data from the plurality of computing devices and may monitor the health of the collaborative computing system. The IM server computing system may analyze the data and identify one or more faults associated with a portion of the collaborative system (e.g., an associated computing device, platform, network, etc.). In some examples, the IM server computing system may be configured to identify potential future faults associated with the portion of the collaborative system. Based on the fault, the IM server computing device may determine an action to take to remedy the fault and/or prevent the potential future fault. The IM server computing device may either automatically perform the action or send a notification to the associated computing system to perform the action.

Abstract: A method of defining a performance milestone track for a planned process includes: selecting a time range relating to a repeatable process to define a set of average assessment trajectories, retrieving historical data representative of assessment data for actors in conjunction with selective assessments of the actors during performances of the repeatable process. The historical data includes an assessment parameter identifying a value for the selective assessment. The method includes processing a select time portion of the historical data using a binning algorithm to assign historical data for the select time portion across quantile range bins based on select ranges of assessment parameter values for the historical data and separately processing a select actor portion of the historical data for each quantile range bin using a smoothing algorithm to form the set of average assessment trajectories for the repeatable process. A computational device for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of defining a performance milestone track for a planned process includes: selecting a time range relating to a repeatable process to define a set of average assessment trajectories, retrieving historical data representative of assessment data for actors in conjunction with selective assessments of the actors during performances of the repeatable process. The historical data includes an assessment parameter identifying a value for the selective assessment. The method includes processing a select time portion of the historical data using a binning algorithm to assign historical data for the select time portion across quantile range bins based on select ranges of assessment parameter values for the historical data and separately processing a select actor portion of the historical data for each quantile range bin using a smoothing algorithm to form the set of average assessment trajectories for the repeatable process. A computational device for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A print shop configuration system for obtaining a print shop configuration is provided. The system includes a print shop configuration manager for determining whether a selected relationship exists between (1), one or more sets of job requirements and at least one of a set of print processing related cells or (2) two sets of print processing related cells. A possible print shop configuration may be discarded or prioritized, based on the existence of the selected relationship.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a manager and application, the manager and application working together to generate a list of at least some of all possible print shop configurations that could be formed with a selected number of cells. The cells are populated with selected pieces of equipment from the second and third sets of multiple pieces of equipment. A criterion is used to select, from the list of possible print shop configurations, the print shop configuration with the first set of equipment.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a manager and application, the manager and application working together to generate a list of at least some of all possible print shop configurations that could be formed with a selected number of cells. The cells are populated with selected pieces of equipment from the second and third sets of multiple pieces of equipment. A criterion is used to select, from the list of possible print shop configurations, the print shop configuration with the first set of equipment.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a manager and application, the manager and application working together to generate a list of at least some of all possible print shop configurations that could be formed with a selected number of cells. The cells are populated with selected pieces of equipment from the second and third sets of multiple pieces of equipment. A criterion is used to select, from the list of possible print shop configurations, the print shop configuration with the first set of equipment.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a manager and application, the manager and application working together to generate a list of at least some of all possible print shop configurations that could be formed with a selected number of cells. The cells are populated with selected pieces of equipment from the second and third sets of multiple pieces of equipment. A criterion is used to select, from the list of possible print shop configurations, the print shop configuration with the first set of equipment.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a print shop configuration manager for determining whether a selected relationship exists between (1), one or more sets of job requirements and at least one of a set of print processing related cells or (2) two sets of print processing related cells. A possible print shop configuration may be discarded or prioritized, based on the existence of the selected relationship.

Abstract: A print job is received in a complex printing environment. The print job is decomposed optimal batch sizes by into method and system processing a print job by identifying a total processing time T(b) for each of multiple batch sizes, and the total processing time for each of the batch sizes are compared to determine which of the batch sizes is optimal for the printing environment.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for image segmentation to produce a mixed raster content (MRC) image with constant foreground layers. The invention extracts uniform text and other uniform color objects that carry detail information. The method includes four primary steps. First, the objects are extracted from the image. Next, the objects are tested for color consistency and other features to decide if they should be chosen for coding to the MRC foreground layers. The objects that are chosen are then clustered in color space. The image is finally segmented such that each foreground layer codes the objects from the same color cluster.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a manager and application, the manager and application working together to generate a list of at least some of all possible print shop configurations that could be formed with a selected number of cells. The cells are populated with selected pieces of equipment from the second and third sets of multiple pieces of equipment. A criterion is used to select, from the list of possible print shop configurations, the print shop configuration with the first set of equipment.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a manager and application, the manager and application working together to generate a list of at least some of all possible print shop configurations that could be formed with a selected number of cells. The cells are populated with selected pieces of equipment from the second and third sets of multiple pieces of equipment. A criterion is used to select, from the list of possible print shop configurations, the print shop configuration with the first set of equipment.

Abstract: A print shop configuration system for obtaining a print shop configuration is provided. The system includes a print shop configuration manager for determining whether a selected relationship exists between (1), one or more sets of job requirements and at least one of a set of print processing related cells or (2) two sets of print processing related cells. A possible print shop configuration may be discarded or prioritized, based on the existence of the selected relationship.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a print shop configuration manager for determining whether a selected relationship exists between (1), one or more sets of job requirements and at least one of a set of print processing related cells or (2) two sets of print processing related cells. A possible print shop configuration may be discarded or prioritized, based on the existence of the selected relationship.

Abstract: A method of compressing a document includes: acquiring an image of the document, the image represented by pixels; segmenting the image into Mixed Raster Content (MRC) planes including a foreground plane (12) that receives a first portion of the pixels, a background plane (14) that receives a second portion of the pixels, and a selector plane (16) that identifies which of the foreground and background planes the pixels belong to; identifying a geometric shape in at least one of the MRC planes; determining if the identified geometric shape has a substantially uniform color; and, replacing the identified shape when it is determined to have a substantially uniform color with a vector graphic representation of the geometric shape.

Abstract: A method for classifying pixels into one of a neutral category and a non-neutral category inputs a group of pixels within an image into a memory device. A color of each of the pixels is represented by a respective color identifier. An average color identifier is determined as a function of the color identifiers of the pixels in the group. One of the pixels within the group are classified into one of the neutral category and the non-neutral category as a function of the average color identifier.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus allowing the application of two or more distinct halftone types in the rendering of a single image. The invention employs a halftone selector of a threshold type, or as an alternative a segmenter type. The halftone selector determines which areas of an image will receive which type of grayscale halftone treatment on a pixel by pixel basis. Examples of various halftone types include stochastic, clustered dot, line screen, and other high addressability types. Each pixel of data is treated by the appropriate halftoner circuit which in response outputs digital data. A controller circuit remaps the digital data into the appropriate width and position signals for a pulse width position modulator, including any other signals as needed for any additional inverter circuitry. The pulse width position modulator generates a video signal which may be inverted by the inverter circuit as responsive to the controller circuit remapping determination.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus allowing the application of two or more distinct halftone types in the rendering of a single image. The invention employs a halftone selector of a threshold type, or as an alternative a segmenter type. The halftone selector determines which areas of an image will receive which type of grayscale halftone treatment on a pixel by pixel basis. Examples of various halftone types include stochastic, clustered dot, line screen, and other high addressability types. Each pixel of data is treated by the appropriate halftoner circuit which in response outputs digital data. A controller circuit remaps the digital data into the appropriate width and position signals for a pulse width position modulator, including any other signals as needed for any additional inverter circuitry. The pulse width position modulator generates a video signal which may be inverted by the inverter circuit as responsive to the controller circuit remapping determination.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus allowing the application of two or more distinct halftone types in the rendering of a single image. The invention employs a halftone selector of a threshold type, or as an alternative a segmenter type. The halftone selector determines which areas of an image will receive which type of grayscale halftone treatment on a pixel by pixel basis. Examples of various halftone types include stochastic, clustered dot, line screen, and other high addressability types. Each pixel of data is treated by the appropriate halftoner circuit which in response outputs digital data. A controller circuit remaps the digital data into the appropriate width and position signals for a pulse width position modulator, including any other signals as needed for any additional inverter circuitry. The pulse width position modulator generates a video signal which may be inverted by the inverter circuit as responsive to the controller circuit remapping determination.