RECOVERY OF A PARTIALLY DAMAGED NESTED JOB

Abstract

A method of recovering a nested printing job and a respective printing system are disclosed. The method includes determining possible recovery points for the nested printing job; identifying secured recovery points within the possible recovery points; selecting one secured recovery point when the nested printing job stops due to an error; and resuming the nested printing job at the selected recovery point.

Claims

1. A method of recovering a nested printing job, comprising the steps of: determining possible recovery points for the nested printing job; identifying secured recovery points within the possible recovery points; selecting one secured recovery point when the nested printing job stops due to an error; and resuming the nested printing job at the selected recovery point.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises automatic determining the possible recovery points based on a raster image file of the nested printing job.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of determining possible recovery points white bands are detected as possible recovery points.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein in the step of determining possible recovery points white bands are detected as possible recovery points.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of identifying secured recovery points comprises automatic identifying of the secured recovery points based on a present position of a printing medium.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of identifying secured recovery points comprises automatic identifying of the secured recovery points based on a present position of a printing medium.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of selecting one secured recovery point comprises automatic selecting of one secured recovery point based on a last secured recovery point.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: marking of the secured recovery points on the printing medium of the nested printing job, wherein the step of selecting one secured recovery point comprises optional optical selecting of the last recovery point based on the marked recovery points.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one secured recovery point comprises optional manual selecting of the last recovery point based on manual entering the last recovery point into a printing controller.

10. The method according to claim 3, wherein in the step of determining possible recovery points, white bands of at least 10 pixel length in a paper direction are detected as possible recovery points and/or white bands of at least 2 mm length in the paper direction are detected as possible recovery points.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of determining possible recovery points white bands across multiple blocks are detected as possible recovery points.

12. The method according to claim 3, wherein in the step of determining possible recovery points white bands across multiple blocks are detected as possible recovery points.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein in the step of determining possible recovery points white bands across multiple blocks are detected as possible recovery points.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of determining possible recovery points a location of the possible recovery points is made persistent as offset from a leading edge.

15. A printing controller arranged and configured for implementing the method of recovering a nested printing job according to claim 1.

16. A printing controller arranged and configured for implementing the method of recovering a nested printing job according to claim 3.

17. A printing system comprising a printing controller and a printing engine, which printing controller is arranged and configured for: determining possible recovery points for the nested printing job; identifying secured recovery points within the possible recovery points; selecting one secured recovery point when the nested printing job stops due to an error; and resuming the nested printing job at the selected recovery point.

18. (canceled)

19. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising executable program code configured to, when executed, perform the method according to claim 1.

20. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising executable program code configured to, when executed, perform the method according to claim 3.

21. The method according to claim 3, wherein in the step of determining possible recovery points, white bands of at least 20 pixel length in a paper direction are detected as possible recovery points and/or white bands of at least 10 mm length in the paper direction are detected as possible recovery points.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0075] The present invention and its technical field are subsequently explained in further detail by an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. The exemplary embodiment only conduces better understanding of the present invention and in no case is to be construed as limiting for the scope of the present invention. Particularly, it is possible to extract aspects of the subject-matter described in the figure and to combine it with other components and findings of the present description or figure, if not explicitly described differently. Equal reference signs refer to the same objects, such that explanations from other figures may be supplementally used.

[0076] FIG. 1 shows a schematic flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of possible recovery points on a printing medium according to the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of printouts after a nested printing job is recovered at one secured recovery point.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a printing system according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention as well as a printing controller according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention.

[0080] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a computer program product according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention.

[0081] FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium according to an embodiment of the fifth aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0082] In FIG. 1 an embodiment of a method 1 of recovering a nested printing job is schematically depicted.

[0083] During a nested Raster Image Printing (RIP) job possible recovery points are determined in a step of determining 2 possible recovery points. In a file of the nested RIP job white bands are automatically detected and determined as possible recovery points. A white band is an area where no coloured pixel is present. Such areas mark the space between two consecutive individual images of the nested RIP job. Here, only vertical white bands are determined as possible recovery points. A vertical white band is an area of white pixels that has a length in a paper direction or printing direction or printout direction that is smaller than its width in a direction perpendicular to the paper direction.

[0084] Additionally, a possible recovery point is defined as a coordinate in paper direction where in one section along the width of the paper, namely in a first block, at least one individual image of the nested printing job is already printed and at least one individual image of the nested printing job has not yet been printed and possibly in one or more sections along the width of the paper, namely in further blocks adjacent to the first bock in the vertical direction perpendicular to the paper direction, one or more individual images of the nested printing job are presently being printed.

[0085] The first block may span the whole width of the printing medium. Further, the first block must have at least a predetermined minimum width, wherein the predetermined width is 25% of the width of the printing medium. Consequently when there is a T-shaped white band present, also the coordinate in paper direction of the vertical part in the direction perpendicular to the paper direction of this T-shaped white band can be used as possible recovery point. The determined possible recovery points are stored for later use.

[0086] In a step of identifying 3 secured recovery points the position or coordinate in paper direction of each of the determined possible recovery points is compared with a current coordinate in paper direction of the printing medium during progress of the nested RIP job. If the possible recovery point is before or at the current coordinate (downstream) in paper direction, then the recovery point could be used and is identified as secured recovery point. If the possible recovery point is after the current coordinate (upstream) in paper direction, then the recovery point could not yet be used and is not identified as secured recovery point yet.

[0087] However, possible recovery points that are based on a T-shaped white band can only be identified and selected as secured recovery points as soon as any individual image in a further block adjacent to the respective white band in vertical direction has been completely printed.

[0088] When a possible recovery point is identified as secured recovery point, said secured recovery point is marked on the printing medium with a consecutive numbering and a unique QR-code (said recovery points based on a T-shaped white band are nevertheless marked as soon as they pass the current position of the printing medium in paper direction although they cannot immediately be selected as secured recovery points).

[0089] In case an error during progress of the nested printing job occurs, in the step of selecting 4 one secured recovery point the one secured recovery point is selected from all the secured recovery points identified up to now. The step of selecting comprises an automatic selecting 4.1, an optical selecting 4.2 and a manual selecting 4.3 of the one secured recovery point. In automatic selecting 4.1 of the one secured recovery point, always the last secured recovery point, which has been identified as secured recovery point at last and is, thus, next to the current position/coordinate in paper direction of the printing medium, is automatically selected as the one secured recovery point. Note that in the case of recovery points identified by finding white bands that do not cover the full paper width (T-shaped whitebands), the last recovery point that has already been printed is not necessarily a secured recovery point.

[0090] Optionally, the one secured recovery point can be optically selected by scanning the respective QR-code on the printing medium with the camera of a smartphone and sending the information about the optically selected secured recovery point to a printing controller of a respective printing system which has been stopped due to the error in the nested RIP job. Any automatically selected secured recovery point (automatic selecting 4.1) is replaced with the optically selected secured recovery point as the one secured recovery point.

[0091] Further, the one secured recovery point can also be manually selected in manual selecting 4.3 of the one secured recovery point. Thereto, one of the secured recovery points is manually selected based on its number (consecutive numbering) or based on its coordinate in paper direction. A user manually enters the number/coordinate in paper direction of the desired secured recovery point in a User Interface (UI) of the printing system. The manually selected recovery point replaces any optically or automatically selected recovery point as the one selected recovery point.

[0092] After the error has been rectified, the nested RIP job is resumed at the selected one secured recovery point in the step of resuming 5 the nested RIP job. By not having to restart the whole nested RIP job, printing medium, ink and time can be saved.

[0093] The nested RIP job progressing on the printing system is permanently observed for possible errors in a step of observing 6 the nested printing job. Only in case an error is detected and the nested RIP job has to be stopped the method 1 advances to the step of selecting 4 one secured recovery point.

[0094] After the one secured recovery point has been selected and the error of the nested printing job or the printing system has been rectified in a step of rectifying 7 the error, and a check 8 whether the rectifying was successful is positive, the nested printing job is resumed in the step of resuming 5 the nested printing job.

[0095] In FIG. 2, a schematic illustration of possible recovery points on a printing medium 10 is depicted. Several individual images A-G are printed on the printing medium 10 (e.g. sheet of paper, web of paper etc.). Here, the images B, D and F are printed in a first block along the printing medium and the images C and E are printed in a further block vertically above the first block.

[0096] The printing medium is printed by moving the paper in a direction 11. After the individual image A has been completely printed, the secured recovery point RP1 is identified and marked on the printing medium with a consecutive number and a QR-code (not depicted). In the same manner, the secured recovery points RP2-RP6 are identified and marked after the respective individual image B-F is completely printed. RP5 is however only secured after RP6 is also secured and hence not marked on the printing medium. Here, two T-shaped white bands are determined as possible recovery points RP2 and RP4, respectively for the images in the first block.

[0097] In case an error in the nested RIP job occurs while either image B or C is not completely printed (section between RP1 and RP 3) the nested RIP job can be resumed/recovered at the recovery point RP1. After the image C has been completely printed, the nested RIP job can be resumed/recovered at the recovery point RP2 in case an error in the nested RIP job occurs while Image D is not completely printed (section between RP3 and RP4). After the image D has been completely printed, the nested RIP job could be resumed at the recovery point RP3 in case the nested RIP job has an error while the image E is not completely printed (section between RP4 and RP5).

[0098] In case an error occurs in the nested RIP job while the image F is not completely printed but the image E has already been completely printed (section between RP5 and RP6) the nested Rip job could be resumed/recovered at the recovery point RP4. After the image F has completely been printed and an error occurs in the nested RIP job while the image G is currently being printed, the nested RIP job could be recovered at the recovery point RP6. The possible recovery point RP5 will not be automatically selected here, because it is not a secured recovery point until also RP6 is a secured recovery point. Also no optical selection is possible, as no marking with a QR-code is present for the possible recovery point RP5. Yet, the recovery point RP5 or rather its coordinate in paper direction could be manually selected by manually entering the respective coordinate via the UI of the printing system.

[0099] In FIG. 3, a schematic illustration of printing media (10, 12) after a nested printing job is recovered at one secured recovery point is depicted. The two left-hand pictures illustrate how the printing of the nested RIP job is resumed (lower left picture) on a printing medium 12 of the recovered nested printing job at recovery point RP3 after an error (shaded area) has occurred while image F was currently being printed on the printing medium 10 (upper left picture). The two right-hand pictures illustrate how the nested RIP job is resumed (lower right picture) on the printing medium 12 of the recovered nested printing job at RP1 (not RP2, as image C is not completely printed, yet) after an error has occurred while printing image E and image C were being printed on the printing medium 10 (upper right picture).

[0100] Note that as the printing of image D was completed when the error occurred, the printing of image D adjacent to image C could be optionally suppressed, for example by suppressing depositing marking material while the image forming unit moves through the area of image D. This would lead to additional saving of ink (and possibly printing media if the blank part could be reused for other purposes).

[0101] In FIG. 4 an embodiment of a printing system 100 arranged and configured for implementing the method of recovering a nested printing job according to FIG. 1 is schematically depicted. The printing system 100 comprises a printing controller 150 arranged and configured to implement the method according to FIG. 1.

[0102] A printing engine 170 is configured to execute the nested RIP job and to provide the current position/coordinate in paper direction of the printing medium. A user can interact with the printing system 100 via the UI 190 and also manually select one secured recovery point in case an error occurs in the nested RIP job. The printing system 100 further comprises a storage (not depicted) for storing the nested printing job and the determined possible recovery points and/or the identified secured recovery points as well as the selected one secured recovery point.

[0103] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a computer program product 200 according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention. The computer program product 200 comprises executable code 250 configured to, when executed, perform the method according to an embodiment of the first aspect, e.g. as described with respect to the printing system 100, or the method described with respect to any of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and/or according to any of the variants and modifications of the printing system 100, the printing controller 150 and/or of the method described herein.

[0104] FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium 300 according to an embodiment of the fifth aspect of the present invention. The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium 300 comprises executable code 350 configured to, when executed, perform the method according to an embodiment of the first aspect, e.g. as described with respect to the printing system 100, the printing controller 150, or the method described with respect to any of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and/or according to any of the variants and modifications of the printing system 100, the printing controller 150 and/or of the method described herein.

[0105] The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium 300 may, specifically, be formed as a CD or a CD-ROM, a DVD or a DVD-ROM, a BluRay disc or a BluRay-ROM disc, a magnetic hard drive, a solid state disk (SSD) hard drive, a USB memory device and so on.

[0106] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0107] In the foregoing detailed description, various features are grouped together in one or more examples for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention. Many other examples will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reviewing the above specification.

[0108] Specific nomenclature used in the foregoing specification is used to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of the specification provided herein that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Throughout the specification, the terms including and in which are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms comprising and wherein, respectively. Moreover, the terms first, second, and third, etc., are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects. In the context of the present description and claims the conjunction or is to be understood as including (and/or) and not exclusive (either . . . or).