Patent ID: 6762857
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for prioritizing the use of multifunctional printing system's basic processing resources to enable a job service to process a sub-job for multiple video capabilities coordinated by a video control module, said system employing a controller with a job contention manager (JCM), said method comprising:a) providing a plurality of basic resources of the printing system with each of said basic resources having a job queue; b) one or more job services, at a desired time, sending a signal to said JCM to carry out a sub-job of a given job, said signal, for each of said sub-jobs, including information about the respective sub-job and its job service and priority; c) responsive to said signal, said JCM adding, for a first video capability coordinated by the video control module and required by a first sub-job, a corresponding first basic job resource to the queues of each basic resource which said first video capability will require in order to perform said first sub-job; d) placing said first basic job resources for said first sub-job in an â€œActiveâ€  state ready for processing, if said first basic job resources for said first sub-job are at the top of all of the queues, of all the basic resources, required by said first video capability; e) responsive to said signal, said JCM adding, for a second. video capability coordinated by the video control module and required by said first sub-job, a corresponding second basic job resource sub-job to the queues of each basic resource which said second video capability will require in order to perform said first sub-job; and f) placing said second basic job resources, which follow said first basic job resource in a basic resource queue, in an â€œActiveâ€  state ready for processing after said first basic job resource, if the first and second basic job resources in said queue are submitted by the same job service and if the second basic job resource is for the same sub-job as the first basic job resource's sub-job.