Abstract:
A method disclosed. The method includes a user selecting one or more attributes to be included in a print report, allocating locations for each of the selected attributes in the print report, receiving a stream of print data, collecting data from the data stream associated with each of the selected attributes and generating the print report by inserting the collected data into each of the allocated locations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to the field of computer systems, and in particular, to upgrading printing software products. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Printers are common peripheral devices attached to computers. A printer allows a computer user to make a hard copy of documents that are created in a variety of applications and programs on a computer. To function properly, a channel of communication is established (e.g., via a network connection) between the printer and the computer to enable the printer to receive commands and information from the host computer. 
         [0003]    Once a connection is established between a workstation and the printer, printing software is implemented at a print server to manage a print job from job entry and management through the complete printing process. The printing software often includes a reporting feature that generates reports for tracking various print statistics. However, reporting tools implemented in most printing software products track and display data based on attributes defined at installation. Thus, a user is prevented from customizing the data that is tracked and collected in a report. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, a mechanism to customize data collected in a report is desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one embodiment, a method includes a user selecting one or more attributes to be included in a print report, allocating locations for each of the selected attributes in the print report, receiving a stream of print data, collecting data from the data stream associated with each of the selected attributes and generating the print report by inserting the collected data into each of the allocated locations. 
         [0006]    Another embodiment discloses a print server including a printing software product having a graphical user interface (GUI) to enable a user to select one or more attributes to be included in a print report, a script to receive the selected attributes and allocate locations for each of the selected attributes in the print report, listeners to collect data associated with each of the selected attributes from a stream of received print data and a report generator to generate a print report by inserting the collected data into each of the allocated locations. 
         [0007]    A further embodiment discloses an article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations including selecting one or more attributes to be included in a print report, allocating locations for each of the selected attributes in the print report, receiving a stream of print data, collecting data from the data stream associated with each of the selected attributes and generating the print report by inserting the collected data into each of the allocated locations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained from the following detailed description in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a data processing system network; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrate screen shots of embodiments of a reporting component of a graphical user interface; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a printing software product; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a computer system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    A print job report generation mechanism is described. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the underlying principles of the present invention. 
         [0014]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a data processing system network  100 . Network  100  includes a data processing system  102 , which may be either a desktop or a mobile data processing system, coupled via communications link  104  to network  106 . In one embodiment, data processing system  102  is a conventional data processing system including a processor, local memory, nonvolatile storage, and input/output devices such as a keyboard, mouse, trackball, and the like, all in accordance with the known art. In one embodiment, data processing system  102  includes and employs the Windows operating system or a similar operating system and/or network drivers permitting data processing system  102  to communicate with network  106  for the purposes of employing resources within network  106 . 
         [0016]    Network  106  may be a local area network (LAN) or any other network over which print requests may be submitted to a remote printer or print server. Communications link  104  may be in the form of a network adapter, docking station, or the like, and supports communications between data processing system  102  and network  106  employing a network communications protocol such as Ethernet, the AS/400 Network, or the like. 
         [0017]    According to one embodiment, network  106  includes a print server  108  that serves print requests over network  106  received via communications link  110  between print server  108  and network  106 . Print server  108  subsequently transmits the print requests via communications link  110  to one of printers  109  for printing, which are coupled to network  106  via communications links  111 . 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the operating system on data processing system  102  allows a user to select the desired print server  108  and submit requests for service requests to printer  109  via print server  108  over network  106 . In a further embodiment, print server  108  includes a print queue for print jobs requested by remote data processing systems. 
         [0019]    Although described as separate entities, other embodiments may include print server  108  being incorporated in one or more of the printers  109 . However in other embodiments, the print server and printer may be physically separate entities. Therefore, the data processing system network depicted in  FIG. 1  is selected for the purposes of explaining and illustrating the present invention and is not intended to imply architectural limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various additional components may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention. 
         [0020]    According to one embodiment, print server  108  implements a printing software product that manages the printing of documents from data processing system  102  between data processing system  102  and one or more of printers  109 . In other embodiments, the printing software manages printing of documents from multiple data processing systems  102  to the one or more printers  109 . 
         [0021]    According to one embodiment, the printing software product may be implemented using either InfoPrint Manager (IPM) or InfoPrint ProcessDirector (IPPD), although other types of printing software may be used instead. In a further embodiment, data processing system  102  includes a print application that interacts with the printing software product at printer server  108  to provide for efficient transmission of print jobs. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the printing software product includes a graphical user interface (GUI)  120  that enables a system administrator (or operator) to interact with the print application. In a further embodiment, an operator at data processing system  102  implements GUI  120  to automatically submit print jobs to the printing software product at printer server  108 . 
         [0023]    In still a further embodiment, GUI  120  includes a report generator that enables a user to specify data that is to be collected from the printing software product and stored for reports. In such an embodiment, the printing software product includes attributes that may be collected and displayed. Attributes in the printing software product are used to monitor print job progress (e.g., Job status, job printing time, etc. . . . ), as well as information about the Job (e.g., form, customer name, destination, etc. . . . ). According to one embodiment, a default set of attributes may be included for report generation. These attributes may be preset by the printing software product manufacturer, or set up by a user during initial installation and configuration of the printing software product. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  is a screen shot illustrating one embodiment of a report page of GUI  120 . Basic attributes collected and displayed in  FIG. 2A  include print job ID, document number, time reprint occurred, etc. In one embodiment, GUI  120  provides a user the ability to customize a report to track additional attributes, or actually change the attributes that are tracked, as the user&#39;s business changes. In such an embodiment, the attributes collected and reported may be modified without requiring a restart to the printing software product. Thus, the user does not have to interrupt production to modify the reports and collection. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the printing software product provides a configuration file that allows a user to specify a type of report for which the user would like to add or change attributes. In this embodiment, the user fills out the configuration file by specifying the name of the attribute in the printing software product. Table 1 shows an exemplary configuration file. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 # Licensed Materials - Property of InfoPrint Solutions Company. 
               
               
                 # 
               
               
                 # Package: com.ibm.aiw (reprint_doc.cfg) 
               
               
                 # 
               
               
                 # Copyright InfoPrint Solutions Company 2009. All rights reserved. 
               
               
                 # 
               
               
                 # NOTE: This program sample is provided on an as-is basis. 
               
               
                 # The licensee of the product is free to copy, revise, modify, and make 
               
               
                 # derivative works of this program sample as they see fit. 
               
               
                 # ===================================================== 
               
               
                 #Doc.Insert.Status=Document Insert Status 
               
               
                 Doc.Custom.number=Check number − Added by customer 
               
               
                 Doc.Custom.checkpayee=Check payee − Added by customer 
               
               
                 Doc.Custom.ID=ID number − Added by customer 
               
               
                 Doc.Custom.amount=Check amount − Added by customer 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0026]    As shown in Table 1, a user specifies in the configuration file for add check number, check payee, ID number and check amount attributes to be included in a report. However in another embodiment, GUI  120  includes a list of attributes in which a user has the ability to select attributes that are to be included in a report by selecting a box next to an attribute. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of components of a printing software product  300  that provide for customized reports. Printing software product  300  includes script  310 , listeners  320 , report generator  330  and database  340 . Script  310  receives the list of attributes and allocates locations for the selected attributes in the report. For instance, script  310  may create new rows in the proper tables in database  340 . However, if the attribute is already included (e.g., an old attribute that is being added back or one already existing) no new row is created. Instead, an old row is used and any data previously tracked can be viewed again. 
         [0028]    Script  310  also notifies listeners  320  to begin listening and requesting information about these attributes. According to one embodiment, listeners  320  read properties within Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) data streams received at print server  108  in order to collect data on the attributes specified to be included in the customized report. 
         [0029]    Report generator  330  generates the customized reports. In one embodiment, the reports view is updated so that the new attributes will be present in the report the next time the report is displayed.  FIG. 2B  is a screen shot illustrating one embodiment of a report page after the new attributes have been included. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the report includes data corresponding to the user added attributes. In one embodiment, a Reports Property feature is included to enable users to group and filter added/new attributes by updating group and filter choices for the report type. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, printing software product  300  does not clear out data that is removed from collection. An example is that a user configures a report that tracks Doc.Check_Number. A few weeks later the user changes the report to track on Doc.Account_Number and Doc.Name and removes tracking on Doc.Check_Number. If after working with the new report the user realizes that Doc.Check_Number is needed, the user can add it back and all of the previous data will still be there. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a computer system  400  on which data processing system  102  and/or server  108  may be implemented. Computer system  400  includes a system bus  420  for communicating information, and a processor  410  coupled to bus  420  for processing information. 
         [0032]    Computer system  400  further comprises a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device  425  (referred to herein as main memory), coupled to bus  420  for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor  410 . Main memory  425  also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by processor  410 . Computer system  400  also may include a read only memory (ROM) and or other static storage device  426  coupled to bus  420  for storing static information and instructions used by processor  410 . 
         [0033]    A data storage device  425  such as a magnetic disk or optical disc and its corresponding drive may also be coupled to computer system  400  for storing information and instructions. Computer system  400  can also be coupled to a second I/O bus  450  via an I/O interface  430 . A plurality of I/O devices may be coupled to I/O bus  450 , including a display device  424 , an input device (e.g., an alphanumeric input device  423  and or a cursor control device  422 ). The communication device  421  is for accessing other computers (servers or clients). The communication device  421  may comprise a modem, a network interface card, or other well-known interface device, such as those used for coupling to Ethernet, token ring, or other types of networks. 
         [0034]    The above-described mechanism enables users to dynamically specify data that is to be collected from a printing software product and stored for customizing reports. 
         [0035]    Embodiments of the invention may include various steps as set forth above. The steps may be embodied in machine-executable instructions. The instructions can be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to perform certain steps. Alternatively, these steps may be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components. 
         [0036]    Elements of the present invention may also be provided as a machine-readable medium for storing the machine-executable instructions. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, propagation media or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. For example, the present invention may be downloaded as a computer program which may be transferred from a remote computer (e.g., a server) to a requesting computer (e.g., a client) by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link (e.g., a modem or network connection). 
         [0037]    Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which in themselves recite only those features regarded as essential to the invention.