The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 03, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 29, 1999
James C. Smith, Escondido, CA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention includes a method and apparatus for identifying a media type to be printed upon and communicating the identification to a printer. The method includes the steps of: reading data printed on a leading edge of the media to at least identify the media type; storing the data and employing information from the data to establish printer control parameters; removing the leading portion of the media which contains the data and thereafter printing on the media, as required. Upon occurrence of a later event, data identifying the media is reprinted on a leading edge of the media, which data is derived from data that was stored when the data from the media was initially read. The data printed on the leading edge, in addition to identifying the media type, preferably indicates a remaining length of media available for printing.