Automatic access to high-level explanations of scheduling conflicts in print engine schedules

A method comprising:

• receiving, into a computerized device, scheduling constraints for processing sheets of print media of one multi-sheet print job through a printing device having processing components;
• preparing a sheet timing schedule for each of said sheets of print media of said multi-sheet print job based on said scheduling constraints, using said computerized device, said sheet timing schedule having different locations of different sheets of said multi-sheet print job relative to different ones of said processing components of said printing device and relative to a linear time scale to depict a series of sheet schedules along said linear time scale and show different successive printer operations applied to said different sheets of said multi-sheet print job at different times along said linear time scale at different times along said linear time scale;
• augmenting said sheet timing schedule to produce an augmented sheet timing schedule by adding explanatory text to said sheet timing schedule using said computerized device, said explanatory text describing different intended locations of said different sheets of said multi-sheet print job with respect to different ones of said processing components of said printing device at different times along said linear time scale, and said explanatory text describing a different processing activity for said different sheets of said multi-sheet print job occurring at a corresponding point along said linear time scale;
• outputting, from said computerized device, a bar graph corresponding to said linear time scale;
• receiving, into said computerized device, user input selecting a portion of said bar graph;
• and
• outputting, from said computerized device in response to said user input selecting said portion of said bar graph, corresponding portions of said explanatory text corresponding to a location on said linear time scale represented by said portion of said bar graph.

A computerized device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a printing device operatively connected to said processor,
• said printing device comprising processing components,
• said processor receiving scheduling constraints for processing sheets of print media of one multi-sheet print job through said printing device using said processing components,
• said processor preparing a sheet timing schedule for each of said sheets of print media of said multi-sheet print job based on said scheduling constraints,
• said sheet timing schedule having different locations of different sheets of said multi-sheet print job relative to different ones of said processing components of said printing device and relative to a linear time scale to depict a series of sheet schedules along said linear time scale and show different successive printer operations applied to said different sheets of said multi-sheet print job,
• said processor augmenting said sheet timing schedule to produce an augmented sheet timing schedule by adding explanatory text to said sheet timing schedule, said explanatory text describing different intended locations of different said sheets of said multi-sheet print job with respect to different ones of said processing components of said printing device at different times along said linear time scale, and said explanatory text describing a different processing activity for said different sheets of said multi-sheet print job occurring at a corresponding point along said linear time scale,
• said processor receiving user input selecting a portion of said augmented sheet timing schedule, and
• said processor outputting, in response to said user input selecting said portion of said augmented sheet timing schedule, corresponding portions of said explanatory text corresponding to a location on said linear time scale represented by said portion of said augmented sheet timing schedule.