# US 2008/0313653 A1 · Printer data stream tunneling for print workcell device control

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- Number: US 2008/0313653 A1
- Document ID: US20080313653A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/138,663
- Filed: 2008-06-13
- Published: 2008-12-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-06-14
- Assignees: DST Output
- Inventors: Kevin T. Malone; Frank W. Delfer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080313653A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/1206: {resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type}
- G06F 3/1275: {Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing}
- G06F 3/1282: {High volume printer device}
- G06F 3/1288: {in client-server-printer device configuration}
- G06F 3/1205: {resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets}
- G06F 3/1243: {Variable data printing, e.g. document forms, templates, labels, coupons, advertisements, logos, watermarks, transactional printing, fixed content versioning}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for a printing system that embeds tunneled messages into a data stream transferred along a data path. The embedded messages direct the operation of an associated system or device along the data path. The embedded messages are inserted No Operation or similar commands embedded by a preprocessor into the data stream and then emitted in a printing workcell for controlling the printer or associated system or device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printing system, comprising:
a. means for embedding a tunneled message into a data stream transferred along a data path, wherein said embedded message directs the operation of an associated system along said data path and
b. means for emitting said tunneled message in a printing workcell for controlling said associated system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A printing system according to claim 1, wherein a preprocessor embeds said tunneled message into said data stream.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A printing system according to claim 1, wherein said tunneled messages is embedded in a No Operation (NOP) command.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A printing system according to claim 1, wherein said associated system is selected from a group consisting of a printer, a printhead, and a print quality system.

### Claim 5

A printing system, comprising:
a. means for embedding tunneled messages into a data stream transferred along a data path, wherein said embedded messages direct the operation of associated systems along said data path and
b. means for emitting said tunneled messages in a printing workcell for controlling said associated systems.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A printing system according to claim 5, wherein a preprocessor embeds said tunneled messages into said data stream.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A printing system according to claim 5, wherein said tunneled messages is embedded in a No Operation (NOP) command.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A printing system according to claim 5, wherein said associated systems are selected from a group consisting of a printer, a printhead, and a print quality system.

### Claim 9

A printing system, comprising:
a. means for embedding tunneled messages into a data stream transferred along a data path, wherein said embedded messages direct the operation of an associated system along said data path and comprise No Operation commands and
b. means for emitting said tunneled messages in a printing workcell for controlling the associated system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A printing system according to claim 9, wherein a preprocessor embeds said No Operation commands into said data stream.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A printing system according to claim 9, wherein said associated system is selected from a group consisting of a printer, a printhead, and a print quality system.

### Claim 12

A printing system that embeds tunneled messages into a data stream transferred along a data path, wherein said embedded messages direct the operation of an associated system along the data path, comprising No Operation commands embedded by a preprocessor into the data stream and then emitted in a printing workcell for controlling the associated system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A printing system according to claim 12, wherein said associated system is selected from a group consisting of a printer, a printhead, and a print quality system.

### Claim 14

A printing system that embeds tunneled messages into a data stream transferred along a data path, wherein said embedded messages direct the operation of an associated device along the data path, comprising No Operation commands embedded by a preprocessor into the data stream and then emitted in a printing workcell for controlling the associated device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A printing system according to claim 14, wherein said associated device is selected from a group consisting of a printer, a printhead, and a print quality system.

### Claim 16

A method for controlling the operation of a printing system, comprising:
a. embedding a tunneled message into a data stream transferred along a data path, wherein said embedded message directs the operation of an associated system along said data path and
b. emitting said tunneled message in a printing workcell for controlling said associated system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A printing system method according to claim 16, wherein a preprocessor embeds said tunneled message into said data stream.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

A printing system according to claim 16, wherein said tunneled messages is embedded in a No Operation (NOP) command.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

A printing system according to claim 16, wherein said associated system is selected from a group consisting of a printer, a printhead, and a print quality system.

### Claim 20

A method for controlling a printing system, comprising the steps:
a. embedding a tunneled message into a data stream, wherein said embedded tunneled message is intended for controlling an associated system along said data path;
b. using No Operation commands embedded by a preprocessor into said data stream to carry said tunneled message; and
c. emitting said message in a printer workcell for controlling said associated system.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

A printing system method according to claim 20, wherein said associated system is selected from a group consisting of a printer, a printhead, and a print quality system.

### Claim 22

A method of printer and peripheral device control in a printing system, comprising the steps:
a. embedding tunneled messages into a data stream, wherein said embedded tunneled messages are intended for controlling operation of the printer and the peripheral device along said data path;
b. using No Operation commands embedded by a preprocessor into said data stream to carry said tunneled messages; and
c. emitting said messages in a printer workcell for controlling the printer and peripheral device.