Print quality verification system for detecting a mismatch in a printed document

A computer program product comprising a computer-readable, tangible storage device(s) and computer-readable program instructions stored on the computer-readable, tangible storage device(s) for processing a printing of content on a page to be printed, the computer-readable program instructions, when executed by a processing system, being operable for implementing a method comprising:

• printing said content on a page as said page passes through a first printing device;
• scanning printed content on said page after at least a portion of said content has been printed but before said page exits said first printing device to provide a scan image of said content as said content was actually printed by said first printing device;
• comparing said scan image to an electronically stored soft image of said content being printed;
• immediately stopping said printing at a fault point, said fault point being a point within said content where a mismatch is detected between said soft image and said scan image as a result of said comparing;
• and
• saving a location of said fault point where said mismatch was detected.

A printer device comprising:

• a processing system coupled to a main bus system;
• a storage system coupled to said main bus system;
• system memory coupled to said main bus system;
• a network access system coupled to said main bus system;
• a display system coupled to said bus system;
• a printing system coupled to said main bus system;
• and
• a scanning system coupled to said main bus system, said printer device being operable for providing a printed page by printing content on a page as said page passes through said printer device, said scanning system being operable for scanning said printed content on said page after at least a portion of said content has been printed but before said page exits said printing device to provide a scan image of said content as said content was actually printed by said printer device, said printer device further including means for comparing said scan image to an electronically stored soft image of said content being printed, said printer device being further operable for immediately stopping said printing at a fault point, said fault point being a point within said content where a mismatch is detected between said soft image and said scan image as a result of said comparing, said printer device further including means for providing notice on said display system to a user that said printing has been stopped, said printer device further including selection means responsive to a user actuation for resuming said printing at said fault point, after said stopping, or resuming said printing beginning at a top of a page containing said fault point, after said stopping, said printer device further including means for sending said scan image to a predetermined display device whereby a user is able to see an image of a print discrepancy causing said mismatch, said printer device further including means for enabling said printing to be continued from said fault point, or from a page containing said fault point, at a predetermined second printing device, wherein said content contains both text and image content.