Abstract:
A method is disclosed. The method includes retrieving data associated with one or more printer settings to be used to print a document, encoding the printer settings data into machine readable data and printing the machine readable data on the document with print job data.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to the field of printing systems. More particularly, the invention relates to associating printer settings with printer output. 
       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]    On occasion a printer user may be dissatisfied with the quality of documents produced by a printer. On such occasions the user may send hardcopy samples to a product support group provided by the printer manufacturer. However in most instances, the various settings used to print the samples are either not supplied, or are unclear. 
         [0004]    Even when the settings are provided, they are often in the form of handwritten descriptions. However, providing handwritten descriptions is not accurate due to the probability of errors attributed to misreading the data. Even in instances where a printed list of settings are provided with each hardcopy print, they can be lost if somehow separated from the prints. Upon such an occurrence, there is no way to know which settings are applied to a particular hardcopy print. 
         [0005]    Thus, a mechanism to enable reliable verification of print settings for a print sample is desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, a method is disclosed. The method includes retrieving data associated with one or more printer settings to be used to print a document, encoding the printer settings data into machine readable data and printing the machine readable data on the document with print job data. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a printer is disclosed. The printer includes a control unit having a selection unit to retrieve data associated with one or more printer settings to be used to print a document and an encoder to encode the printer settings data into machine readable data. The printer also includes a print head to print the machine readable data on the document with print job data. 
     
    
     
       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 system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a printing system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a control unit; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a sample printout; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a computer system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    A mechanism to provide print settings with a sample printout 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. 
         [0015]    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. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system  100 , which includes a printing system  105  and a verification system  107 . Printing system  105  is a network implemented to generate a hard copy of documents created at a computer system. Verification system  107  is provided to verify settings used to generate a document at verification system  107 , as will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a printing system  105 . Printing system  105  includes a print application  210 , a server  220  and printer  230 . Printer  230  includes a control unit  250 , a print engine  260  and a graphical user interface (GUI)  270 . Print application  210  makes a request for the printing of a document. In one embodiment, print application  210  provides a Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA) data stream to print server  220 . 
         [0018]    In other embodiments print application  210  may also provide PostScript (P/S) and PDF files for printing. P/S and PDF files are printed by first passing them through a pre-processor (not shown), which creates resource separation and page independence so that the P/S or PDF file can be transformed into an Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) MO:DCA data stream prior to being passed to print server  220 . 
         [0019]    Print server  220  processes pages of output that mix all of the elements typically found in presentation documents, e.g., text in typographic fonts, electronic forms, graphics, image, lines, boxes, and barcodes. The AFP MO:DCA data stream is composed of architected, structured fields that describe each of these elements. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, print server  220  communicates with control unit  250  via an Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS). The IPDS data stream is similar to the AFP data stream, but is built specific to the destination printer in order to integrate with each printer&#39;s specific capabilities and command set, and to facilitate the interactive dialog between the print server  220  and the printer. The IPDS data stream may be built dynamically at presentation time, e.g., on-the-fly in real time. Thus, the IPDS data stream is provided according to a device-dependent bi-directional command/data stream. 
         [0021]    According to one embodiment, control unit  250  processes and renders objects received from print server  220  and provides sheet maps for printing to print engine  260 . In a further embodiment, control unit  250  is implemented to gather various print environment variables, encode the data in a machine readable format and facilitate the printing of the machine readable data on a hardcopy printout. However, in other embodiments, the data may be encoded into a text format. 
         [0022]    In such an embodiment, a system operator configures printer  230  using GUI  270  to enter a sample print mode where sample print job data is retrieved from storage (not shown) and printed at printer  230 . Although in other embodiments, the print job data may be received from print server  220 . In one embodiment, the machine readable data is printed over the print job data on the hardcopy printout. However, in other embodiments the machine readable data may be printed in the margin on the hardcopy printout. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a control unit  250 . Control unit  250  includes settings selection unit  310 , encoder  320  and overlay generator  330 . Settings selection unit  310  reads various printer settings that are to be included in a hardcopy printout. According to one embodiment, a system operator uses GUI  270  to select which printer settings are to be included in the printout. Exemplary settings may include printer firmware version, halftones, ICC profiles, print head temperature, etc. 
         [0024]    Once the desired settings are entered settings selection unit  310  retrieves the selected values. Encoder  320  encodes the settings values into a machine readable format. In one embodiment, the encoder  320  encodes the settings into a 2D barcode format. However in other embodiments, different machine readable, or barcode configurations (e.g., linear or 3D barcodes) may be implemented. 
         [0025]    Overlay generator  330  collects the machine readable settings data and generates an overlay that is inserted into a print job data stream. Thus, the machine readable data is rasterized along with the print job data to produce the hardcopy printout.  FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a sample printout  400 . Printout  400  includes print job data  410  and barcode  420  including the settings data. 
         [0026]    At some future time printout  400  is taken to verification system  107  for analysis. In one embodiment, printout  400  is analyzed for support purposes in order to assist the printer  230  owner solve print issues. However, verification system  107  may also be used for development and functional testing and archiving. In still a further embodiment, verification system  107  may be used for print quality and color science applications to perform color profiling, testing, etc. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, verification system  107  is a computer system having a reader capable of reading the machine readable format of the settings data (e.g., barcode  420 ) used to printout the print job data  410  on printout  400 . Subsequently, verification system  107  decodes the settings data read from barcode  420 . In a further embodiment, verification system  107  takes the settings data and automatically populates fields in a report to which analysis data can be added at a later time. Note that in embodiments where the printer settings are encoded and printed as a text overlay, a user may read the text and enter the settings into verification  107 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a computer system  500  on which data verification system  107  and/or server  220  may be implemented. Computer system  500  includes a system bus  520  for communicating information, and a processor  510  coupled to bus  520  for processing information. 
         [0029]    Computer system  500  further comprises a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device  525  (referred to herein as main memory), coupled to bus  520  for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor  510 . Main memory  525  also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by processor  510 . Computer system  500  also may include a read only memory (ROM) and or other static storage device  526  coupled to bus  520  for storing static information and instructions used by processor  510 . 
         [0030]    A data storage device  525  such as a magnetic disk or optical disc and its corresponding drive may also be coupled to computer system  500  for storing information and instructions. Computer system  500  can also be coupled to a second I/O bus  550  via an I/O interface  530 . A plurality of I/O devices may be coupled to I/O bus  550 , including a display device  524 , an input device (e.g., an alphanumeric input device  523  and or a cursor control device  522 ). The communication device  521  is for accessing other computers (servers or clients). The communication device  521  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. 
         [0031]    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.