Electronics for Imaging Gmbh

Margaret Motamed

Ravindranath Gunturu

Ravi Someshwar

Chew Yan Kong

Ghilad Dziesietnik

Alon Segal

Ramgopal Vidyanand

James K Schwarz, Jr

Haresh Joshi

Nick Hartzel

Toby Weiss

Antony Joseph Peter

Minh Vo

Techniques are provided for generating and using automated production and performance dashboards. For example, an automated production dashboard is generated and used that includes, but is not limited to, defining production performance metrics, job stats, trends, red/green/yellow with health check, and risks. As well, an automated upkeep dashboard is generated and used that includes, but is not limited to, defining supplies, maintenance, trends, next service appointments, red/green/yellow with health check, and risks. Such techniques may include a remote view of such dashboards, e.g. via native mobile applications in addition to web/client, etc.

Automated printer's dashboard

A method and system for scanning documents in a network environment and merging the resulting scan files with other documents into a printing workflow provides a user interface in which the user merges a scan file and a document file on a page basis by selecting thumbnail images of the desired pages and dragging and dropping the thumbnails so that a new merged document results. An alternative embodiment allows the user to apply predefined merge templates to the selected pages. The predefined merge templates may include printing and formatting instructions such as color settings and a page layout.

Method and system for merging scan files into a color workflow

Apparatus and methods for raster image processing are provided that include a networked computer coupled to a plurality of networked printers, the networked computer adapted to receive a print job, parse the print job into one or more print pieces, load balance the print pieces among the printers based on color use and print speed, and provide a list of the printers that received the print pieces.

Systems and methods for multiple raster image processing

An automatic scanner calibration method and apparatus is disclosed in which a calibration target, such as a Kodak&#xae; gray strip, is attached to a scanning surface of a scanner. During a normal scan, the calibration target area can be ignored or scanned depending on user selection. If the calibration target is scanned, then the resulting information is used to calibrate the scanner automatically. Such calibration is more accurate than an older in time or preset default calibration. Another embodiment of the invention actuates a print of a printer calibration target on a printer on a scheduled basis. Thereafter, the user can take the printer calibration target and place it on the scanner and perform a calibration of a scanner/printer system.

Methods and apparatus for automatic scanner calibration

The invention is relates to a simple, inexpensive high capacity output catch tray for copiers and other document production machines. The output tray automatically increases in capacity as the stack of copies in it accumulates, without external power source or control.

Simple and inexpensive high capacity output catch tray for document production machines

A method for dynamically managing printers comprises a mechanism for printing from a network of printers that belong to a virtual printer group to meet the user's request for printing. The invention does this by requesting an options and capabilities file from each printer and then generating a virtual printer group, such that when a user wants to print a file, the invention looks for the best suited printer for the user and sends a file to that printer for printing. The invention has the capability to keep track of each printer's printing capabilities dynamically and to communicate to the user about the status of printing and printer location, and of informing a system administrator for manual intervention should the need arise.

Method and apparatus for automatically managing capabilities in a virtual printer group

The invention is relates to a simple, inexpensive high capacity output catch tray for copiers and other document production machines. The output tray automatically increases in capacity as the stack of copies in it accumulates, without external power source or control, while maintaining a relatively constant elevation relative to the copier output port, and automatically returns to its original position when partially or completely unloaded.

Simple and inexpensive high-capacity output catch tray for document production machines

An automatic scanner calibration method and apparatus is disclosed in which a calibrated target, such as a Kodak&#xae; gray strip, is attached to a scanning surface of a scanner. The target is thin and has a width or length of platen of a scanner. During a normal scan, the calibration target area can be ignored or scanned depending on user selection. If the strip is scanned, then the resulting information is used to calibrate the scanner automatically. Such calibration is more accurate than an older in time or preset default calibration. Another embodiment of the invention actuates a print of a printer calibration target on a printer on a scheduled basis. Thereafter, the user can take the printer calibration target and place it on the scanner and perform a calibration of a scanner/printer system.

Automatic scanner calibration

Methods and apparatus are provided for print load balancing, cluster printing and color and black-and-white page splitting. Print load balancing methods and apparatus route print jobs to the most available printer or split printing over more than one printer. Cluster printing methods and apparatus specify a group of printers from which a print job can be performed. Color and black-and-white page splitting methods and apparatus split a print job, and send non-color pages to black-and-white printers and pages with color to color printers.

Automatic print load balancing

A method and system for scanning documents in a network environment and merging the resulting scan files with other documents into a printing workflow provides a user interface in which the user merges a scan file and a document file on a page basis by selecting thumbnail images of the desired pages and dragging and dropping the thumbnails so that a new merged document results. An alternative embodiment allows the user to apply predefined merge templates to the selected pages. The predefined merge templates may include printing and formatting instructions such as color settings and a page layout. The system architecture provides a color print server and a client workstation in communication with the color print server. A scanning device, which may be a dedicated scanner or the platen of a copying machine is connected to the color print server or the client workstation. The scanning software, resident on either the color print server or the workstation allows the user to customize the scan and apply modifications to the image after scanning. Scanned images may be retrieved by email or over the World Wide Web. The color print server and the attached scanning device may also function as a color copier.

The invention provides a printing method and apparatus, comprising a software application that works with proprietary printing utilities, and that may include one or more additional software components for adding additional printing technology. The invention also comprises an automatic print load-balancing component in a centralized or distributed raster image processing (RIP) printing environment that enables faster system performance over single or multiple processors.

Printing method and apparatus having multiple raster image processors

A multiple raster image processor ('RIP') system is described that enables faster system performance over multiple processors, and includes a zero RIP feature consisting of a language interpreter sub-RIP that interprets a print instruction file but does not process the graphics rendering steps or the post-language processing operators. A skip RIP interprets selected pages in a way that skips all or most of the processing for that page. Pages to be skipped are scheduled for a different processor, thereby saving processing time and enabling the provision of a multiple processor RIP.

The invention is relates to a simple, inexpensive high capacity output catch tray for copiers and other document production machines. The output tray automatically increases in capacity as the stack of copies in it accumulates, without external power source or control, while maintaining a relatively constant elevation relative to the copier output port, and automatically returns to its original position when partially or completely unloaded. The invention uses a trampoline-type arrangement that suspends a stack support platform by springs around its perimeter from a frame removeably attached to the copier. As copies accumulate on the platform the weight of the copies causes the springs to stretch and increases the capacity of the output tray. The springs act as energy-storing biasing elements which return the platform to its unloaded position when the stack of copies is removed from the tray, and may also act as variable length alignment surfaces to keep the accumulating stack neat and square.

Growing community of inventors

Foster City, CA, United States of America

Margaret Motamed