Electrophotography – Machine operation – Operator interface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-10-16
Grimley, Arthur T. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Operator interface
C399S391000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304732
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to image reproducing systems and more particularly to a stock library mechanism for providing visual representations of stock objects in an image reproducing system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many conventional image reproducing systems, such as copiers or printers, use multiple stocks. Stocks are printing substrates, such as paper, on which printed matter is printed. Stocks may vary as to thickness, width, length, color, material composition and other characteristics.
In conventional image reproducing systems, an operator must be aware of what stocks are available for use with the system. The operator must manually place the stocks into the paper tray for the system and program the paper tray accordingly. Often times, an operator must take a physical inventory of the stocks that are available in a given print shop in order to be aware of what stocks are available. Unfortunately, a print shop may have 1000 or more stocks. As such, identifying stocks, determining what stocks to use and programming the paper trays is often cumbersome for an operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the above-described problems of conventional image reproducing systems. In particular, the present invention provides a computerized stock library for listing available stocks that an operator may employ with an image reproducing system. In one embodiment of the present invention, attributes regarding stocks are encapsulated into objects. The objects have associated visual representations, and these visual representations are made visible to the operator to assist in selecting stocks for print jobs. The visual representations may be, for example, icons. The operator may scroll through the icons available in the stock library to determine what stocks are available. In addition, the objects may support drag and drop behavior such that the operator may drag and drop a stock icon at a destination to program a paper tray or to identify what stock is to be used in a given print job.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in an image output device that has a display that is visible to a user. A selected stock on which output is to be generated includes a number of different attributes. The attributes of the selected stock are encapsulated into an object, and a visual representation of the object is generated on the display. Other stocks may also have associated objects that encapsulate attributes of the stocks. The visual representations may be icons or other graphical representations.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in an image reproducing apparatus that has a display and an input device. A visual representation of a given stock is provided on the display. In response to a user dragging and dropping the visual representation of the stock, the image reproducing apparatus is configured to account for attributes of the stock. The configuring may entail, for example, programming a paper tray for the stock. Alternatively, the configuring may entail obtaining stocks that are to be used in printing a print job.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, an image reproducing apparatus includes a display for viewing a visual representation of a selected stock. The apparatus includes a stock control facility and an input device for use by the user. The stock control facility is used configure the apparatus to employ a selected stock in response to the user using the input device to drag and drop the visual representation of the selected stock.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, a printer includes a printer component for printing and a print station for controlling the printing component. The print station includes an input device, a display device and a stock library containing visual representations of stocks to be output on the display. The print station further includes a facility for configuring the printer in response to a user dragging and dropping one of the visual representation with the input device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5229814 (1993-07-01), Hube et al.
patent: 5949417 (1999-09-01), Calder
Dorsey Jonathan A.
Favata Kenneth C.
Hraber Richard M.
Myers Thomas Arthur
Grimley Arthur T.
Lahive & Cockfield LLP
Ngo Hoang
Xerox Corporation
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