US 6,618,163 B1Granted

System and method for symbolically displaying printer status information

AssigneeOce-Technologies B.V.

InventorsMonica M. W. M. Roosen, Theodoor J. M. Wilbers, Janine D. Van Herwaarden, Johannes F. M. E. Geelen, Rene F. A. Collard

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Abstract

In an information-processing system having workstations and at least one printer interconnected by a digital network, the current state of the printer or printers is presented on the screen of a workstation in the form of an icon. The printers are of a type which can carry out printing processes in an autonomous mode, in which a print job sent from a workstation is executed directly, and in a command-controlled mode in which a reproduction process, including a copying process, must be started from an operator control panel on the printer. When the printer is “occupied” in the autonomous mode, a different icon is displayed from that displayed when the printer is “occupied” in the command-controlled mode.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An information-processing system comprising:

at least one workstation in which a processor unit, a screen, and an operator-control device are operatively connected;
at least one printer provided with a control unit and an operator control panel;
and
a network to which said workstation and said printer are connected,
wherein said workstation is provided with a program for communication with said printer for sending print jobs to said printer and for calling up or receiving status information concerning said printer,
said program including means for displaying current status information concerning said printer on the workstation screen in the form of a symbolic illustration or icon,
said control unit adapted to execute print jobs in an autonomous mode or a command-controlled mode,
said control unit, in the autonomous mode, starting the execution of a print order on its own initiative
said control unit, in the command-controlled mode, starting the execution of a reproduction process, including a print order, in response to a start command from the operator control panel of the printer,
said program displaying different icons for the cases in which said printer is active in the autonomous mode and in which the printer is active in the command-controlled mode.

7 more elements

A method of symbolically displaying printer status information of a printer connected to an information processing system having at least one workstation in which a processor unit, a screen, and an operator-control device are operatively connected;

the printer being provided with a control unit and an operator control panel, the control unit being adapted to execute print jobs in an autonomous mode or a command-controlled mode;
the control unit, in the autonomous mode, starting the execution of a print order on its own initiative;
the control unit, in the command-controlled mode, starting the execution of a reproduction process, including a print order, in response to a start command from the operator control panel of the printer;
and a network to which the workstation and the printer are operatively connected, the method comprising:
sending print jobs to the printer and calling up or receiving status information concerning the printer;
displaying current status information concerning the printer on the workstation screen in the form of a symbolic illustration or icon;
and
displaying different icons for the cases in which said printer is active in the autonomous mode and in which the printer is active in the command-controlled mode.

5 more elements

An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer-usable medium including computer-readable program code means, embodied therein, for symbolically displaying printer status information of a printer connected to an information processing system having at least one workstation in which a processor unit, a screen, and an operator-control device are operatively connected;
the printer being provided with a control unit and an operator control panel, the control unit being adapted to execute print jobs in an autonomous mode or a command-controlled mode;
the control unit, in the autonomous mode, starting the execution of a print order on its own initiative;
the control unit, in the command-controlled mode, starting the execution of a reproduction process, including a print order, in response to a start command from the operator control panel of the printer;
and a network to which the workstation and the printer are operatively connected, the computer-readable program code means including:
computer-readable program code means for sending print jobs to the printer and calling up or receiving status information concerning the printer;
computer-readable program code means for displaying current status information concerning the printer on the workstation screen in the form of a symbolic illustration or icon;
and
computer-readable program code means for displaying different icons for the cases in which the printer is active in the autonomous mode and in which the printer is active in the command-controlled mode.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/272,558Filed 19 Mar 1999
Priority: NL 100865920 Mar 1998
Granted: 9 Sep 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G06F 3/1207
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
G06F 3/1259
Print job management: print job monitoring, e.g. job status
G06F 3/1285
Specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure: remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
G06F 3/121
Specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect: facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted