Method and apparatus for optimizing scheduling in imaging devices
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsMing Yang, Injae Choi, Tsai C. Soong
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Abstract
A method of scheduling a job in an imaging system includes detecting criteria of the job, determining applicable constraints based upon one or more of the criteria, inputs entered into the imaging system and/or operating the imaging system to output the job such that the constraints are satisfied, thereby maximizing output. Each job includes a plurality of images to be processed by the imaging system, which includes at least one imaging device. As a result, the scheduling of jobs is carried out in an effective and efficient manner.
Claims37
A method of scheduling an image processing job in an imaging system that includes at least one imaging device having associated device-related parameters, said job including a plurality of images to be processed by said imaging system, said images having associated image-related parameters, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting criteria of said job;
- determining a set of applicable constraints based upon at least one of said criteria, inputs entered into said system and said at least one imaging device, said set of constraints including device-based constraints that are influenced by said device-related parameters, image-based constraints that are influenced by said image-related parameters, and image sequence constraints which express fundamental recording medium handling rules and which are independent of said device-related parameters;
- constructing a mathematic model based on said set of constraints to represent the entire image processing job;
- and
- scheduling said job such that each of the plurality of images in said job can be processed in accordance with said set of constraints and such that all constraints in said model are satisfied substantially simultaneously.
A scheduler for scheduling an image processing job in an imaging system that includes at least one imaging device having associated device-related parameters, said job including a plurality of images to be processed by said imaging system, said images having associated image-related parameters, said scheduler comprising:
- a determining device that detects criteria of said job and determines a set of constraints based on at least one of said criteria, inputs entered into said system, and said at least one imaging device, said set of constraints including device-based constraints that are influenced by said device-related parameters, image-based constraints that are influenced by said image-related parameters, and image sequence constraints which express fundamental recording medium handling rules and which are independent of said device-related parameters, said determining device further constructing a mathematic model using said set of constraints to represent the entire image processing job and solving said model to maximize a productivity value;
- and
- a controller that controls said at least one imaging device to output said job in accordance with the set of constraints determined by said determining device.
A synchronizer that synchronizes the processing of a mixed simplex/duplex job in an imaging device, said imaging device having a copy paper path that begins at a copy paper entry point, continues through a photoreceptor, and divides at a branch point into a simplex copy paper path and a duplex copy paper path, said simplex copy paper path extending from said branch point through a set of exit rollers to a copy paper exit point, said duplex copy paper path extending from said branch point to an inverter, from said inverter to a duplex loop and from said duplex loop to said set of exit rollers and said copy paper exit point, said synchronizer comprising:
- a delay device disposed adjacent to said simplex copy paper path and between said branch point and said copy paper exit point, said delay device selectively decreasing the speed at which a simplex copy sheet travels along said simplex copy paper path such that, if said simplex sheet follows a duplex sheet, said delay device operates to delay said simplex sheet so that said duplex sheet reaches said copy paper path exit point before said simplex sheet.
A scheduler for scheduling an image processing job in an imaging system that includes at least two imaging devices connected to said scheduler, said imaging devices having associated device-related parameters, said job including a plurality of images to be processed in at least one task by said imaging system, said images having associated image-related parameters, said scheduler comprising:
- a determining device that detects criteria of said job and determines a set of constraints, based on at least one of said criteria and inputs entered into said imaging system, to maximize a productivity value, said set of constraints including device-based constraints that are influenced by said device-related parameters, image-based constraints that are influenced by said image-related parameters, and image sequence constraints which express fundamental recording medium handling rules and which are independent of said device-related parameters;
- a constraint module coupled to said determining device and to each of said at least two imaging devices, said constraint module having a device selector that signals which of said at least two imaging devices are connected within said imaging system;
- and
- a controller coupled to said determining device and to said constraint module, said controller controlling said imaging devices to output said job in accordance with said set of constraints determined by said determining device, said controller delegating said at least one task to one of said imaging devices connected within said imaging system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.