Patent EP0778523A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0778523A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of operation for an image processing apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1996-12-04
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2016-12-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method of operation of an image processing apparatus having a controller (74) and a plurality of resources (104,106,108) arranged in an arbitrary configuration. Each of the resources (104,106,108) provides an associated processor storing data related to operational capabilities of the associated resource. The controller (74) is adapted to dynamically configure the image processing apparatus to operate in accordance with the operational capabilities of each of the processors by defining job requirements as a combination of images defining a set of sheets and specifying compilations of sheets. The job requirement is converted into an assembly tree relationship for merging into additional assembly trees for formulating the job requirement. The controller (74) responds to the data related to the operational capabilities of each of the modules (104,106,108) and to the assembly tree relationship of images, copy sheets, and compilations of copy sheets for providing a production tree relationship of the operational capabilities of the modules (104,106,108) including timing relationships for operating the image processing apparatus. The production tree relationship further permits arbitrary definition of a job requirement into a first segment independent of the capabilities of the modules and a second segment dependent upon selected capabilities of selected modules to allow the image processing apparatus to be partially configured based upon operator entered constraints. This technique further allows adaptive control of selective diagnostics.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc W. Webster
- 👤 David W. Covert
- 👤 Douglas T. Rabjohns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:32
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0421; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/22; G05B2219/2216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of operation of an electronic image processing apparatus in a diagnostic mode, the electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller (74) and a plurality of machine modules (104,106,108), each of which includes an associated processor electrically connected to the controller (74), each of the processors storing data related to operational capabilities of the associated module, including: receiving in the controller (74) a diagnostic requirement having a module independent element and a module specific element, interrogating the machine modules (104,106,108) to determine the interconnection and capabilities of each of the machine modules (104,106,108), setting up the modules identified by the module specific element, converting the module independent element into a selection of modules to support the modules identified by the module specific element, and coordinating the machine modules to complete the diagnostic requirement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module independent and module specific elements are converted into a capability and timing format for driving the machine modules.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of initiating a diagnostic procedure on an electronic image processing apparatus, the electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller (74) and a plurality of modules (104,106,108), each of the modules including an associated processor, each of the processors storing data related to operational constraints of the associated module, a bus for interconnecting the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the modules, including: receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated module, defining each of the modules with inputs and outputs having said constraints, interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the modules, and responding to the data related to the operational constraints of each of the processors and to the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the modules for providing a timed sequence of matched inputs and outputs between modules to initiate the diagnostic procedure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the constraints include attribute constraints and/or time constraints.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the step of initiating the diagnostic procedure is independent of a particular configuration of the plurality of modules, and/or wherein the step of providing a timed sequence of matched inputs and outputs between modules includes the step of providing electrical and mechanical events to accomplish the matched inputs and outputs.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of initiating a diagnostic routine in an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of machine modules, each of the modules including an associated processor electrically connected to the controller, each of the processors storing data related to operational capabilities of the associated module, including: identifying a given diagnostic routine in an untimed format, interrogating the machine modules to determine the interconnection and operational capabilities of each of the machine modules, including receiving data related to the operational constraints of each associated module, analyzing the diagnostic routine in the untimed format and the operational constraints of each associated module, converting the diagnostic routine in the untimed format into a timed relationship of a selected set of modules to initiate the diagnostic routine, and coordinating the operation of the selected set of modules to complete the diagnostic routine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, including the step of defining each of the modules with inputs and outputs with said constraints and, optionally, providing a timed sequence of matched inputs and outputs between modules.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of operation of the image processing apparatus in a diagnostic mode, the image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of machine modules, each of the modules including an associated processor electrically connected to the controller, each of the processors storing data related to operational constraints of the associated module, including: receiving in the controller a diagnostic requirement having a module independent element and a module specific element, interrogating the machine modules to determine the interconnection of each of the machine modules, converting the module independent and module specific elements into a selection of time compatible modules to support the diagnostic requirement and coordinating the machine modules to complete the diagnostic requirement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the module independent and module specific elements are converted into a constraint and timing format for driving the machine modules.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of operation of the image processing apparatus to complete a given diagnostic request, the electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of modules, each of the modules including an associated processor, each of the processors storing data related to operational constraints of the associated module, a bus for interconnecting the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the modules, including: receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated module, interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the modules, and responding to the diagnostic request and to the data related to the operational constraints of each of the processors for selecting a set of modules to complete the diagnostic request.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5363175A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.