Abstract:
Methods and systems for generating a proof set of a digital print job and delaying the completion of the print job until the proof set is approved are presented. The invention further includes generation of a proof set that includes print feature information on a page basis printed on the proof set in a watermark font.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of digital imaging. More particularly, it relates digital imaging for the purpose of printing documents and images and apparatus and methods for improving the efficiency of such printing.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    High speed digital printers are in common use today for many production processes ranging from printing of a single document to large scale production of multiple copies of documents. In a typical system, the document or image to be printed is represented by digital data. This data can be created either through scanning or digital generation of the document or the image via a computer. This data is typically supplied to a printer over a network connection. The data is then processed by a raster imaging processor (RIP) associated with the printer and converted to a format usable by the printer to recreate the image.  
           [0003]    Historically, once a print job was sent to a printer, it had to run its course, resulting in the job going to completion even if errors were detected before the print was complete. Prior art printers included mechanisms by which an operator could cancel a print job, but typically these mechanisms require an unusually high degree of operator involvement in the print job. Thus, often print jobs had to be printed multiple times because of problems later found in the print job. This is especially troublesome in large print jobs with multiple copies of a document being printed, as the need to rerun the print job was expensive and wasteful.  
           [0004]    Some of the newer printers allow for the generation of a proof set to allow the operator to check the print job before multiple copies are run. The printer receives a print job from the RIP and prints a proof set. The print job is then put into a hold queue while an operator reviews the proof set for accuracy before running the entire production run. Such proofing is an effective method for conserving resources and decreasing costs by avoiding the generation of multiple copies of a job with errors. If the operator uncovers errors in the proof set, then steps are taken to correct the errors before further expense or waste is incurred. At times, however, the correction of the errors is a very arduous and time consuming task. This is in large part due to a lack of information on the part of the operator. He often lacks sufficient information about the job to key back into the job and make appropriate corrections. As an example, if a page in the proof is not printing as expected or desired, it becomes necessary to ascertain what the features are that are associated with that page to determine why it printed the way it did. The features while known by the printer are not readily available to the printer operator. Historically, it requires the operator or the job requester to revisit the original generation of the job to determine the features. The effort to identify and correct problem can thus become a large task.  
           [0005]    Thus, there remains a need for a system and method that eases the review of proof sets of print jobs and provides a basis for making any necessary adjustments.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In the present invention methods and apparatus are provided to enhance the ability and the efficiency of making corrections to a proof set. At the time a digital representation of a document or image is processed by the RIP, information that can assist in the processing of proof sets can be or is available. Such information includes input page number, output page number, special commands and the like. The present invention makes that information available to the operator on a page by page basis. Specifically, the present invention puts information available from the RIP on the actual printed pages of the proof set. The information could then be used to help in the proofing process. Once the job has cleared the proofing process, the information would be suppressed from printing on any final run.  
           [0007]    One aspect of the present invention relates to a system for digital printing that comprises a digital printer and a data processor associated with said digital printer. The data processor process information for the printer to print. In most cases the data processor may be part of the printer, but it could be separate and connected to the printer to allow the flow of information. The data processor is capable of receiving a print job in digital form, and determining whether the print job requests the printing of a proof set of the print job. If there is such a request, the data processor further determines whether the print job requests that certain feature information should be printed on the pages of the proof set. If the data processor determines that certain feature information should be printed on the pages of the proof set, then the pages are printed by the digital printer with the feature information on the appropriate pages of the proof set.  
           [0008]    Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method of printing a proof set of a document. In the method a print job is analyzed to determine whether a proof set should be printed and to determine whether any feature information from the print job should be printed on the pages of the proof set. After making that determination the pages of the print job are rasterized and stored in a raster memory file. This raster memory file includes not only the rasterized page but also rasterized information relating to the features. The pages of the proof set with the feature information are then printed as the proof set. The print job is placed in a hold queue while the proof set can be reviewed. The print job is released from the hold queue upon receipt of operator instructions indicating approval of the proof set. The print job is then printed in final form, suppressing the feature information that was printed on the pages of the proof set. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 depicts typical layout of a digital printing system.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating aspects of the process of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    The present invention relates to methods to improve the proofing system in a printing system. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical printer system. The system will include a printer  10 , a user interface  12 , and potentially finishing equipment  14 . The printer  10  is set up to receive a print job. Generally, the print job will be transmitted from a network  16  via a network interface  18 . In the case of a stand alone printer the print job may be loaded locally or input through an associated scanner. In either case, the print job will have features associated with it that define how the print job is to be processed. The features could be part of the print job as it is received by the printer or they can be added to the job locally by the printer operator using the interface  12 .  
         [0012]    The printer  10  includes a raster image processor (RIP)  26  that receives incoming data from a network  16  to which the printer  10  is connected. Prior to being transferred to the raster image processor  26 , the print job may be held in a print server queue  27  on the network  16 . The raster image processor  26  includes processing unit  30 , which receives control commands and data from the network  28 . Control commands are translated into machine control language by the processing unit  30 , while incoming print jobs and program codes are stored in a print job buffer  32 .  
         [0013]    At the highest level, the print job must come to the RIP  26  with some important job request information. This information is generally referred to as features of the print job. One such feature is a request for a proof set. The present invention relates to print jobs including such a feature.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the present invention. In the method of the present invention, the printer  10  through its associated RIP  26  analyzes the print job to determine the proper handling of the job. As shown in FIG. 2 when the print job is submitted to the RIP  26 , the first step  100  is to determine whether the print job requests a proof set. If there is no request for a proof set, the print job is sent for printing as normal. If there is a request for a proof set, then the second step  102  is to review the print job to determine whether there is a request to print the feature information on the proof pages. If there is no request to print the feature information on the pages of the proof set, then the proof page is rasterized in step  106  and routed for printing in step  110 .  
         [0015]    If there is a request to print the feature information on the page of the proof step, then in step  104 , the RIP  26  creates a raster memory file for the proof page using the features in the print job. In step  108  the RIP  26  further rasterizes page information and stores the page information in the same raster memory file, thus printing job data along with feature information. In step  110 , the proof page is printed including printing the feature information on the page.  
         [0016]    After the printing in step  110 , in step  112 , the RIP  26  determines whether all the pages of the print job have been printed. If it determines that additional pages remain to be printed then the RIP  26  returns to step  102  and determines whether the next page requests that feature information be printed on the page. The next page then proceeds through step  102  through  110 . This process is repeated until all the proof pages are printed.  
         [0017]    Once all the pages in the proof set are printed, step  114  puts the print job in a hold queue. The job remains in the hold queue until the operator approves the job. In Step  116  it is determine whether the operator approves the job. If the job is approved, in step  118  the print job is released from the hold queue and the final job is printed. If the operator does not approve the job in step  116  then in step  120  the job is canceled and erased from the hold queue without being printed.  
         [0018]    Typically, when the feature information is printed on the proof page, it is printed in a different font than the principal text, for example, at 50% gray, to differentiate the feature information from the principal text. While virtually any different font can be used, an example of such a font is a watermark font. Indeed, with a watermark font the feature information can be printed on top of the principal text.  
         [0019]    It will be appreciated that scope and nature of the feature information printed on the pages of the proof set can be varied. It can include, job level and/or page level features. It is also not necessary the feature information be printed on every page of the proof set. For example, job level feature may only be printed on the first page of the job and not page level features be printed at all. As another example, it may be desired that only selected features be printed and that feature may only apply to certain pages. For example on common feature of print jobs is plex. Plex refers to whether the printing is to single sided (simplex) or two sided (duplex). It may be desirable to have the information as to the plex feature printed on the proof pages to confirm where within the document the feature is changed. Thus through the present invention the information is printed on the pages of the proof set and the operator can confirm the feature with the print results. Moreover, if necessary the operator can determine where the feature changes in order to make appropriate changes to the feature settings.  
         [0020]    Thus, with the present invention the operator, or any person who views the page of the proof set, can see the feature information associated with the page that resulted in the proof page being printed in the manner in which it was printed. Having this information makes it easier to adjust the features should the proof page not be printed in the manner desired.  
         [0021]    It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention. For example, the invention can be used with various protocols and is not limited to the protocols detailed herein. The claims should not be read as limited to the order or elements unless stated to that effect. Therefore, all embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.