US 5,696,893 AGranted

System for generically describing and scheduling operation of modular printing machine

AssigneeXerox Corporation

InventorsMarkus P. J. Fromherz, Vijay A. Saraswat, Marc W. Webster

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A system is provided to allow for automated scheduling and completion of print jobs in a printing machine. A generic system for describing functionality of various modules forming a print engine is described. Such a module description is provided for each of a plurality of subassemblies which form the printing machine. A component communicates description information about itself to a scheduling unit once it is integrated into a complete printing machine. The scheduling unit, in turn, analyzes all functions available from various subassemblies comprising the machine. This analysis returns data representative of all available functions to the printing machines. Upon receipt of user input on one or more printing jobs, the scheduler then correlates the user information with the available properties of the printing machine to schedule an efficient completing of all printing tasks.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system for generating an automated machine operation schedule comprising:

module data acquisition means adapted for acquiring description data representative of functional characteristics of a plurality of machine modules, the description data associated with each module including data representative of a machine module structure, function or capabilities, wherein each machine module is comprised of at least one of an electro-mechanical and software component adapted for performing operations on at least one work unit, the acquired description data of each of the plurality of machine modules being independent of the structure, function, or capabilities of any other machine module;
means for acquiring setup data representative of at least one of mechanical and electrical interrelationships between the plurality of machine modules;
an input/output unit for receiving acquired description data and setup data into a generic scheduler, the generic scheduler configured to operate independent of the description data representative of the structure, function, or capabilities of the plurality of machine modules, the generic scheduler including a data storage, a processor, and an instruction storage;
and
comparison means, disposed in the generic scheduler, for analyzing the description data and the setup data to determine a set of machine functions practicable by a machine comprised of the machine modules.

2 more elements

A method of generating an automated operation schedule comprising the steps of:

acquiring description data representative of functional characteristics of a plurality of machine modules, the description data associated with each machine module including data representative of a module structure, function, or capabilities thereof, the acquired description data of a machine module being independent of the structure, function, or capabilities of any other machine module;
acquiring setup data representative of at least one of mechanical and electrical interrelationships between the plurality of machine modules;
receiving the acquired description data and setup data into a generic scheduler, the generic scheduler including a data storage, a processor, and an instruction storage, the generic scheduler configured to operate independent of the description data representative of the structure, function, or capabilities of the plurality of modules;
and
analyzing, via the generic scheduler, the description data and the setup data to determine a set of functions practicable by a machine comprised of the machine modules.

2 more elements

A method of generating an automated operation schedule comprising the steps

acquiring description data representative of functional characteristics of a plurality of printer modules, the description data associated with each printer module including data representative of a printer module structure, function, or capabilities thereof, the acquired description data of a printer module being independent of the structure, function, or capabilities of any other printer module;
acquiring setup data representative of at least one of mechanical and electrical interrelationships between the plurality of printer modules;
receiving the acquired description data and setup data into a generic scheduler, the generic scheduler including a data storage, a processor, and an instruction storage, the generic scheduler configured to operator independent of the description data representative of the structure, function or capabilities of the plurality of printer modules;
and
analyzing, via the generic scheduler, the description data and the setup data to determine a set of printer functions practicable by a printer comprised of the printer modules.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.