公开(公告)号：US20020184000A1

公开(公告)日：2002-12-05

申请号：US10160248

申请日：2002-06-04

Applicant: HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY

Inventor： Athena Christodoulou ,  Richard Taylor ,  Christopher Tofts

IPC: G06F009/45

CPC classification number: G06Q10/10 ,  Y10S707/99932

Abstract: A computer network comprises first, second, and third computer systems connected to first, second, third and fourth print devices by means of a network connection. Each computer system comprises at least one application program capable of generating print data for output to one or more of the print devices. A server is also connected to the network connection, the server comprising a workflow management program which monitors and controls the flow of print jobs which are sent by the first, second, third and computer systems. The workflow management program maintains a computer model representing the up-to-date state of the system. In response to a new event occurring in the system, such as a hardware failure or a new print job, the program makes a plurality of copies of the computer model and assigns to each copy an alternative event management operation. The program generates a set of prediction data from each copy of the computer model, each set of prediction data representing the predicted future state of the system resulting from applying each respective event management operation. Next, a preferred event management operation is selected based on comparing each set of prediction data with a reference set of prediction data.

Abstract translation: 计算机网络包括通过网络连接连接到第一，第二，第三和第四打印设备的第一，第二和第三计算机系统。 每个计算机系统包括能够生成用于输出到一个或多个打印设备的打印数据的至少一个应用程序。 服务器还连接到网络连接，服务器包括工作流管理程序，其监视和控制由第一，第二，第三和计算机系统发送的打印作业的流程。 工作流管理程序维护代表系统的最新状态的计算机模型。 响应于在系统中发生的新事件（例如硬件故障或新的打印作业），程序产生计算机模型的多个副本，并为每个副本分配备用事件管理操作。 该程序从计算机模型的每个副本生成一组预测数据，每组预测数据表示由应用每个相应的事件管理操作而导致的系统的预测将来状态。 接下来，基于将每组预测数据与预测数据的参考集进行比较来选择优选事件管理操作。

公开(公告)号：US20020181019A1

公开(公告)日：2002-12-05

申请号：US10160185

申请日：2002-06-04

Applicant: HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY

Inventor： Athena Christodoulou ,  Richard Taylor ,  Christopher Tofts

IPC: G06F015/00 ,  B41F001/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/1212 ,  G06F3/1214 ,  G06F3/1265 ,  G06F3/1267 ,  G06F3/1285

Abstract: A computer network 1 comprises first, second, and third computer systems 3, 5, 7 connected to first, second, and third print devices 9, 11, 13 by means of a network 15. Each computer system 3, 5, 7 comprises at least one application program capable of generating print data for output to one or more of the print devices 9, 11, 13. The print data is output from each application program and stored on a on a print spooler (not shown) forming part of each computer system 3, 5, 7. Each print device 9, 11, 13 comprises a daemon 23 and a local memory 19, the data control module being configured to monitor, via the network 15, print data relating to a print job stored on a computer system, the print data including job timing information relating to the preferred time at which the print job is to be processed. The daemon 23 is also configured to retrieve a copy of the print data as soon as the data link becomes available to transfer the print data, and to store the print data on the local memory 19, the retrieval and storage operations being performed prior to the time specified in the job timing information. Accordingly, each print device 9, 11, 13 maintains a local storage of print data, the print data being retrieved and stored prior to the time specified in the job timing information at a time when the data link between the print device and a computer to which it is connected is capable of allowing the transfer, i.e. when the network traffic is low.

Abstract translation: 计算机网络1包括通过网络15连接到第一，第二和第三打印设备9,11,13的第一，第二和第三计算机系统3,5,7。每个计算机系统3,5,7包括 至少一个应用程序能够产生用于输出到一个或多个打印设备9,11,13的打印数据。打印数据从每个应用程序输出并存储在形成每个应用程序的一部分的打印后台处理程序（未示出）上 计算机系统3,5,7。每个打印设备9,11,13包括守护进程23和本地存储器19，数据控制模块被配置为经由网络15来监视与存储在 计算机系统，打印数据包括与要处理打印作业的优选时间相关的作业定时信息。 守护程序23还被配置为一旦数据链路变得可用于传送打印数据并且将打印数据存储在本地存储器19上时，检索打印数据的副本，则检索和存储操作在 在作业定时信息中指定的时间。 因此，每个打印设备9,11,13保持打印数据的本地存储，打印数据在打印设备和计算机之间的数据链接之间在作业定时信息中指定的时间之前被检索和存储， 它连接的能够允许传输，即当网络流量低时。

公开(公告)号：US20020102119A1

公开(公告)日：2002-08-01

申请号：US09947841

申请日：2001-09-06

Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY

Inventor： Athena Christodoulou ,  Richard Taylor ,  Christopher Tofts

IPC: G06K003/00

CPC classification number: G06K15/02 ,  G06F3/1204 ,  G06F3/122 ,  G06F3/126 ,  G06F3/1261 ,  G06F3/1277 ,  G06F3/1285

Abstract: An information technology network comprises a plurality of printers and at least one computing entity which serves as a print manager. The print manager is adapted to process print jobs by distributing the ripping process between two or more different printers, and then returning disparately ripped data to a single printer for physical marking of documents with indicia in accordance with the ripped data.

Abstract translation: 信息技术网络包括多个打印机和用作打印管理器的至少一个计算实体。 打印管理器适于通过在两个或更多个不同的打印机之间分配翻录处理来处理打印作业，然后将不同的撕开的数据返回到单个打印机，以便根据撕开的数据对具有标记的文档进行物理标记。

公开(公告)号：US20030142347A1

公开(公告)日：2003-07-31

申请号：US10303122

申请日：2002-11-21

Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY

Inventor： Athena Christodoulou ,  Richard Taylor ,  Christopher Tofts

IPC: G06F015/00 ,  B41J001/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/1208 ,  G06F3/1211 ,  G06F3/1229 ,  G06F3/126 ,  G06F3/1285

Abstract: An information technology network includes a plurality of printers, at least two of which run a distributed print management programme. The programme operates to monitor all network traffic by snooping, and on the basis of monitored network traffic maintains a log of network printers, their capabilities and status. In addition the programme repeatedly checks for print job notices placed on a spooler, determines on the basis of the updated log which printer under its management is most appropriate to perform the outstanding job, and that printer to retrieve the outstanding job notice and perform the job. Conflicts between different printers retrieving the same job are either resolved by leader election, or preventing conflict by invoking the use within the spooler of a processor instruction known as TEST/SET.

Abstract translation: 信息技术网络包括多个打印机，其中至少两个运行分布式打印管理程序。 该程序通过窥探监视所有网络流量，并且在受监控的网络流量的基础上维护网络打印机的日志，其能力和状态。 此外，程序重复检查放置在假脱机程序上的打印作业通知，根据更新的日志确定其管理下的哪个打印机最适合执行未完成的作业，并且该打印机检索未完成的作业通知并执行该作业 。 检索相同作业的不同打印机之间的冲突，可以通过领导者选举来解决，也可以通过调用被称为TEST / SET的处理器指令的假脱机程序中的使用来防止冲突。

公开(公告)号：US20020159092A1

公开(公告)日：2002-10-31

申请号：US10134179

申请日：2002-04-25

Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY

Inventor： Athena Christodoulou ,  Richard Taylor ,  Christopher Tofts

IPC: G06F015/00 ,  B41B001/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/1204 ,  G06F3/1219 ,  G06F3/1239 ,  G06F3/126 ,  G06F3/1285

Abstract: An information technology network comprises a plurality of printers and at least one computing entity which serves as a print manager. Print jobs are distributed speculatively to a plurality of printers, which determine locally whether to proceed with the allocated job. Duplication of a job, by two or more printers is prevented by an appropriate communication protocol between printers.

Abstract translation: 信息技术网络包括多个打印机和用作打印管理器的至少一个计算实体。 打印作业被推测地分布到多个打印机，这些打印机在本地确定是否继续分配的作业。 由打印机之间的适当通信协议防止由两台或多台打印机复制作业。

公开(公告)号：US20030025937A1

公开(公告)日：2003-02-06

申请号：US10207068

申请日：2002-07-30

Applicant: HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY

Inventor： Athena Christodoulou ,  Richard Taylor ,  Christopher Tofts

IPC: B41J001/00 ,  G06F015/00

CPC classification number: G06K15/02 ,  G06K15/002 ,  G06K15/1823

Abstract: A method and associated control apparatus are used to control the operation of a plurality of independent printing devices each having at least one holder. The control apparatus is arranged to store information relating to one or more print jobs scheduled to be performed by each of said plurality of printing devices. This information includes the quantity of media required to complete each of the print jobs. The control apparatus learns an initial or current quantity of media held in one or more of said printing devices and estimates or otherwise determines the quantity of media remaining in a media holder of a printing device during the performance of a print job. The control apparatus generates an alert when said quantity of media reaches a predetermined minimum value indicating that more media will be required to accommodate a particular print job.

Abstract translation: 一种方法和相关的控制装置用于控制多个独立的打印装置的操作，每个打印装置具有至少一个支架。 该控制装置被配置为存储与被安排为由所述多个打印装置中的每一个执行的一个或多个打印作业有关的信息。 此信息包括完成每个打印作业所需的媒体数量。 控制装置学习在一个或多个所述打印装置中保持的初始或当前数量的介质，并估计或以其他方式确定在执行打印作业期间在打印装置的介质保持器中残留的介质的数量。 当所述媒体量达到预定的最小值时，所述控制装置产生警报，该预定的最小值指示需要更多的媒体来容纳特定的打印作业。

公开(公告)号：US20030016388A1

公开(公告)日：2003-01-23

申请号：US10198843

申请日：2002-07-18

Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY

Inventor： Athena Christodoulou ,  Richard Taylor ,  Christopher Tofts

IPC: G06F015/00 ,  B41J001/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/1204 ,  G06F3/1226 ,  G06F3/1229 ,  G06F3/126 ,  G06F3/1273 ,  G06F3/1285

Abstract: Print jobs requested are scheduled to be performed during available time slots, and on suitable printers having lowest associated overhead cost. In the event that no technically suitable printer is available a print services management programme determines whether it is economically viable to cancel one or more pre-scheduled print jobs in favour of the requested job, taking into account, for example, the price of the requested job and scheduled jobs. In a development a bidding routine establishes at what price it is viable to cancel a scheduled job in favour of a requested job, and that price is then offered to a customer. Future work inflow is predicted and represented in the form of virtual jobs which are scheduled in the same manner as actual jobs, but whose value is representative of the likelihood of the job maturing into an actual job. In a further development, demand on printer hardware arising from the scheduling of virtual jobs is used to monitor predicted future hardware requirements, and when virtual demand exceeds a threshold, an order is placed for procurement of further hardware.

Abstract translation: 计划在可用时隙期间执行所请求的打印作业，以及具有最低相关架构成本的合适的打印机。 在没有技术上合适的打印机可用的情况下，打印服务管理程序确定在考虑到所请求的工作的价格的情况下，取消一个或多个预先列印的打印作业以有利于所请求的作业是否具有经济可行性 工作和预定工作。 在一个发展中，招标程序确定以什么样的价格取消预定的工作以支持所要求的工作，然后向客户提供该价格。 未来的工作流入被预测并以与实际工作相同的虚拟工作的形式表示，但其价值代表了工作成熟为实际工作的可能性。 在进一步的发展中，由虚拟作业调度产生的对打印机硬件的需求被用于监视未来的预测硬件需求，并且当虚拟需求超过阈值时，订购进一步的硬件。