Job information communication system for a printing system

0001This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/584,583, filed Jan. 11, 1996.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

0002The present invention relates generally to providing job information with information regarding the execution of a corresponding job and, more particularly, to a technique in which a job is provided to a printing machine from a transmission job originating station and the job is programmed so that when at least a portion of the job has been processed by the printing machine a consumer of the job is provided with job information at a location remotely disposed with respect to the transmission job originating station.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

0003It has been feasible, for some time now, to deliver documents from a point of origin to a remote location through use of facsimile technology. Various techniques for transmitting documents, via a facsimile transmission system are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,181 to Kuo. The entire contents of U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,181 are hereby incorporated by reference.

0004It has also been feasible, for some time now, to transmit jobs from a point of origin to a remote location through use of a printing arrangement employing a local or wide area network. This sort of network printing is often facilitated through use of a print service of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,674 to Morgan et al. The entire contents of U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,674 are hereby incorporated by reference.

0005It is known that, pursuant to printing a job, it is desirable to provide a consumer or user of the job output with a “sheet” reflecting information regarding execution of the corresponding job. In one known example, the job information sheet may include a print reflecting characteristic values used to process the job. In another example, the sheet may include information confirming that a job has been transmitted to a remote facsimile receiving system. The confirmation sheet commonly includes other information, such as when transmission of the job was completed, how many pages were transmitted, the location of the receiving system, etc.

0006As is further known, a job information “sheet” can be either printed as hardcopy or transmitted, by way of network, back to a point of origin (“transmission job originating station”), such as a host client on the network. In one known example, a job is provided to a network print engine and upon completion of the job, notification to that effect is provided to a host client. More particularly, in a known network printing system with a server, provided by Novell Corporation, and a workstation (“transmission job originating station”) using a Windows® operating system, a print job is transmitted from the workstation (“transmission job originating station”) to the server. After the server has delivered the print job to a suitable printer on the network and the job has been printed, a confirmation notice is transmitted back to the workstation (“transmission job originating station”) for display therewith.

0007In the area of facsimile printing, a feature referred to as “delayed facsimile transmission” is provided. This feature allows a facsimile job to be scanned at one time, with a transmitting machine (“transmission job originating station”), and then transmitted to a remote receiving station at another time. In delayed facsimile transmission, a confirmation page is provided to a job transmitter at the trans-mission job originating station, the transmission job originating station being either a conventional transmitting machine, such as a facsimile machine, or at a workstation which has fax capabilities and is linked to a telecommunication port or a multi-functional printing device which is capable of transmitting the document as a facsimile document to a remote receiving station. The ability to provide communication between a workstation and a multi-functional printing machine is publicly available through a Xerox multi-functional printing system, known as “Document Centre 20”™, which permits a workstation (“transmission job originating station”) to be coupled with a multi-functional printing machine, including a facsimile device.

0008Known notification schemes are capable of providing confirmation or job run information at a point where the job originated (“transmission job originating station”). The problem with this approach, particularly in the area of delayed facsimile transmission, is that the job originator may not be present at the transmission job originating station to which the confirmation is conventionally delivered. This problem is aggravated when the user is off-site, relative to the transmission job originating station (point of confirmation delivery), and the job information sheet indicates that the job cannot be executed due to one or more faults. At least in some instances, if the job originator only knew of the fault, the difficulty in executing the job could be readily remedied.

0009It would be desirable to provide a technique that permits the job originator to obtain job information about the job while the job originator is off-site, relative to the transmission job originating station (point of confirmation delivery), so that the job originator can remedy simple faults in the job or, as a minimum, be apprised that transmission/printing of the job, at least for the time being, is not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

0010In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission job originating station for use in a printing system with a printing machine for producing a set of prints from a print job, including a set of image data, in accordance with a job ticket. The job ticket includes a set of job execution attributes with each job execution attribute being associated with a programmable set of information for defining the corresponding job execution attribute. A first one of the programmable sets of information instructs the printing system as to a manner in which job information is generated when at least a portion of the set of image data is processed in accordance with the job ticket. The transmission job originating station, which controls transmission of the job information to the one or more output confirmation destinations, includes: a document generating subsystem for providing at least a portion of the print job to be delivered to the print machine, a user interface, communicating with said document generating subsystem, for programming a second one of the programmable sets of information, the second set of information including one or more confirmation destinations with each confirmation destination being disposed remotely of the transmission job originating station; and a control subsystem which, in response to processing at least a portion of the image data at the printing machine, reads the second set of job information and determines each confirmation destination, programmed with said user interface, to which the job information is to be transmitted.

0011In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile machine including an image data source and a transmitting subsystem to transmit image data to a first remove receiving station. A receiving subsystem receives job status information from the first remove receiving station, and a control subsystem causes the transmitting subsystem to transmit the job status information to a second remote receiving station.

0012In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for printing a job at a printing machine located remotely from a transmission job originating station. The transmission job originating station includes a control subsystem and a document generating subsystem having a user interface for inputting job control instructions for a print job described by a job ticket. The document generating subsystem provides the print job to be delivered to the printing machine for producing a set of prints from the print job, including a set of image data, in accordance with the job ticket. The job ticket includes a set of job execution attributes with each job execution attribute being associated with a programmable set of information for defining the corresponding job execution attribute. A first one of the programmable sets of information instructs the printing system as to a manner in which the transmission job originating station is to generate job information when at least a portion of the set of image data is processed in accordance with the job ticket, and a second one of the programmable sets of information lists one or more confirmation destinations with each confirmation destination being disposed remotely of the transmission job originating station. The method includes the steps of using the user interface to program the second set of information with the one or more confirmation destinations; processing at least a portion of the image data at the printing machine; and in response to said processing, reading the second set of job information, with the transmission job originating station, for determining each confirmation destination, programmed with said programming, to which the job information is to be transmitted.

0013In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transmitting a facsimile document. The method provides a source of image data and transmits image data to a first remote receiving station. Job status information is received from the first remove receiving station, and the job status information is transmitted to a second remove receiving station.

0014In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for printing a job in a printing system with a printing machine for producing a set of prints from a print job including a document with the document being delivered from a transmission job originating station to the printing machine for execution of the document. The transmission job originating station further includes a troubleshooting subsystem for assisting a user to facilitate further processing of the print job in the event that one or more difficulties arise during processing of the document. The method includes: processing, with the printing system, at least a portion of the document; in response to both an event occurring during said processing and reading, with the transmission job originating station, information preprogrammed by the user at the transmission job originating station, creating a link between the troubleshooting subsystem and the user with the user being disposed at a location remote to the transmission job originating station; and the troubleshooting subsystem performing a selected operation on the print job in response to an input from the user at the location remote to the transmission job originating station.

0015Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the various features of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0016The following is a brief description of each drawing used in describing the present invention, and thus, the drawings are being presented for illustrative purposes only and should not be limitative of the scope of the present invention, wherein:

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram depicting a multi-functional, network adaptive printing machine;

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram of a video control module for the printing machine of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0019<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram of a transfer module used in conjunction with the printing machine of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>;

0020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a block diagram of a facsimile card used in conjunction with the printing machine of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>;

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a block diagram of a network controller for the printing machine of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a block diagram of the facsimile card of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> modified to provide a platform for performing a technique in accordance with the present invention;

0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a flow diagram representing an overview of the technique of the present invention;

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a flow diagram representing a subroutine for programming a job ticket with confirmation destinations;

0025<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a flow diagram representing a subroutine for transmitting a job information page to one or more confirmation destinations; and

0026<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a flow diagram representing a subroutine for implementing an interactive program between a user and a troubleshooting subsystem to perform an operation on a job which encounters operational difficulties during processing thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0027The following is a detailed description of the drawings illustrating the present invention. In this description, as well as in the drawings, like reference numerals have been utilized to represent like devices, circuits, or equivalent circuits performing the same or equivalent functions.

0028In the following description, as well as throughout the specification, the term “transmission job originating station” has been used to describe the concepts of the present invention. Transmission job originating station refers to the facsimile machine or multi-functional printing device from which the transmit/printing job was programmed. Transmission job originating station also refers to the workstation from which the transmit/printing job was programmed. The facsimile machine, multi-functional printing device, or facsimile modem used to transmit the print job is merely the transmitting station, not the transmission job originating station.

0029Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a multi-functional, network adaptive printing system is designated by numeral <b>10</b>. The printing system <b>10</b> includes a printing machine <b>12</b> operatively coupled with a network service module <b>14</b>. The printing machine <b>12</b> includes an electronic subsystem <b>16</b>, referred to as a video control module (VCM), communicating with a scanner <b>18</b> and a printer <b>20</b>. In one example, the VCM <b>16</b>, which will be described in further detail below, coordinates the operation of the scanner and printer in a digital copying arrangement. In a digital copying arrangement, the scanner <b>18</b> (also referred to as an image input terminal (IIT)) reads an image on an original document by using a CCD sensor, full width array sensor, or other photosensitive device capable of converting light to electrical signals. The electrical signals are converted to multi-level digital signals. In turn, an image processing system <b>22</b> (FIG. <b>2</b>), associated with the scanner <b>18</b>, executes signal correction and the like, and a compressor <b>62</b> compresses the multi-level signals which are then preferably stored in an electronic precollation (EPC) memory <b>24</b>.

0030Referring again to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the printer <b>20</b> (also referred to as an image output terminal (IOT)) preferably includes a xerographic print engine, but may include an inkjet device or other image marking device which is capable of rendering an electronic image onto a substrate.

0031In the xerographic example, the print engine has a multi-pitch belt (not shown) which is written on with an imaging source, such as a synchronous source (e.g. laser raster output scanning device) or an asynchronous source (e.g. LED print bar). In a printing context, the multi-level image data is read out of the EPC memory <b>24</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) and is converted to printing data by an image processing system <b>23</b>. The printing data generated by the image processing system <b>23</b> is used to control the turning ON and OFF of the imaging source so as to form a latent image on a photoreceptor. The latent image is then developed with, for example, a hybrid jumping development technique and transferred to a print media sheet. Upon fusing the resulting print, the resulting print may be inverted for duplexing or simply outputted.

0032Referring specifically to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the VCM <b>6</b><b>16</b>will be discussed in further detail. The VCM <b>16</b> includes a video bus (VBus) <b>28</b> with which various I/O, data transfer components and storage components communicate. Preferably, the VBus <b>28</b> is a high speed, 32 bit data burst transfer bus which is expandable to 64 bit. The 32 bit implementation has a sustainable maximum bandwidth of approximately 60 MBytes/sec. In one example, the bandwidth of the VBus <b>28</b> is as high as 100 MBytes/sec.

0033The storage components of the VCM reside in the EPC memory section <b>30</b> and the mass memory section <b>32</b>. The EPC memory section includes the EPC memory <b>24</b>, the EPC memory <b>24</b> being coupled with the VBus by way of a DRAM controller <b>33</b>. The EPC memory <b>24</b>, which is preferably DRAM, provides expansion up to 64 MBytes, by way of two high density 32 bit SIMM modules. The mass memory section <b>32</b> includes a SCSI hard drive device <b>34</b> coupled to the VBus <b>28</b> by way of a transfer module <b>36</b>A. Other I/O and processing components are coupled respectively to the VBus <b>28</b> by way of transfer modules <b>36</b>B, <b>36</b>C, <b>36</b>D, and <b>36</b>FE. It will be appreciated that other devices (e.g. a workstation) could be coupled to the VBus by way of a transfer module through use a suitable interface and a SCSI line.

0034Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the structure of one of the transfer modules <b>36</b> is discussed in further detail. The illustrated transfer module <b>36</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> includes a packet buffer <b>38</b>, a VBus interface <b>40</b> and DMA transfer unit <b>42</b>. The transfer module <b>36</b>, which was designed with “VHSIC” Hardwire Description Language (VHDL), is a programmable arrangement permitting packets of image data to be transmitted along the VBus at a relatively high transfer rate. In particular, the packet buffer <b>38</b> is programmable so that the segment or packet can be varied according to the available bandwidth of the VBus <b>28</b>. In one example, the packet buffer <b>38</b> can be programmed to handle packets of up to 64 Bytes. Preferably, the packet size would be reduced for times when the VBus <b>28</b> is relatively busy and increased for times when activity on the bus is relatively low.

0035Adjustment of the packet size is achieved with the VBus interface <b>40</b> and a system controller <b>44</b> (FIG. <b>5</b>). Essentially, the VBus interface <b>40</b> is an arrangement of logical components, including, among others, address counters, decoders and state machines, which provides the transfer module <b>36</b> with a selected degree of intelligence. The interface <b>40</b> communicates with the system controller <b>44</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>) to keep track of desired packet size and, in turn, this knowledge is used to adjust the packet size of the packet buffer <b>38</b>, in accordance with bus conditions. That is, the controller <b>44</b> (FIG. <b>5</b>), in view of its knowledge regarding conditions on the VBus <b>28</b>, passes directives to the interface <b>40</b> so that the interface <b>40</b> can adjust packet size accordingly. Further discussion regarding operation of the transfer module <b>36</b> is provided below.

0036More particularly, for each image, the DMA transfer unit <b>42</b> employs a conventional DMA transfer strategy to transfer the packets. In other words, the beginning and end addresses of the packet are used by the transfer unit <b>42</b> in implementing a given transfer. When a transfer is complete, the interface <b>40</b> transmits a signal back to the system controller <b>44</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> so that further information, such as desired packet size and address designations, can be obtained.

0037Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, three I/O components are shown as being coupled operatively to the VBus <b>28</b>, namely a FAX module <b>48</b>, the scanner or IIT <b>18</b>, and the printer or IOT <b>20</b>; however, it should be recognized that a wide variety of components could be coupled to the VBus <b>28</b> by way of an expansion slot <b>50</b>. Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, an implementation for the FAX module, which is coupled to the VBus <b>28</b> by way of transfer module <b>36</b>B, is discussed in further detail.

0038In the preferred embodiment, a facsimile device (FAX) <b>51</b> includes a chain of components, namely a section <b>52</b> for performing adaptive compression/decompression, a section <b>54</b> for scaling the compressed image data, a section <b>56</b> for converting the scaled compressed image data to or from CCITT format, and a modem <b>58</b> for transmitting CCITT formatted data from or to a telecommunication network, by way of a conventional communication line.

0039Referring still to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, each of the sections <b>52</b>, <b>54</b>, and <b>56</b>, as well as, modem <b>58</b> are coupled with the transfer module <b>36</b>B by way of a control line <b>60</b>. This permits transfers to be made to and from the FAX module <b>48</b> without involving a processor. As should be understood, the transfer module <b>36</b>B can serve as a master or slave for the FAX module <b>48</b> in that the transfer module <b>36</b>B can provide image data to the FAX module <b>48</b> for purposes of transmission or receive an incoming FAX. In operation, the transfer module <b>36</b>B reacts to the FAX module <b>48</b> in the same manner that it would react to any other I/O component. For example, to transmit a FAX job, the transfer module <b>36</b>B feeds packets of image data to the section <b>52</b> through use of the DMA transfer unit <b>42</b> and, once a packet is fed, the transfer module <b>48</b> transmits an interrupt signal to the system processor <b>44</b> requesting another packet.

0040In one embodiment, two packets are maintained in the packet buffer <b>38</b> so that “ping-ponging” can occur between the two packets. In this way, the transfer module <b>36</b>B does not run out of image data even when the controller <b>44</b> cannot get back to the transfer module <b>36</b>B immediately upon receiving an interrupt signal.

0041Referring again to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the IIT <b>18</b> and IOT <b>20</b> are operatively coupled to the VBus <b>28</b> by transfer modules <b>36</b>C and <b>36</b>D. Additionally, the IIT <b>18</b> and the IOT <b>20</b> are operatively coupled with a compressor <b>62</b> and a decompressor <b>64</b>, respectively. The compressor and decompressor are preferably provided by way of a single module. In practice, at least some of the functionality of the transfer modules is provided by way of a 3 channel DVMA device, which device provides local arbitration for the compression/decompression module.

0042As further illustrated by <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the scanner <b>18</b>, which includes the image processing system <b>22</b>, is coupled with an annotate/merge module <b>66</b>. Preferably the image processing system <b>22</b> includes one or more dedicated processors programmed to perform various desired functions, such as image enhancement, thresholding/screening, rotation, resolution conversion, and TRC adjustment. The selective activation of each of these functions can be coordinated by a group of image processing control registers, the registers being programmed by the system controller <b>44</b>. Preferably, the functions are arranged along a “pipeline” in which image data is inputted to one end of the pipeline, and processed image data is outputted at the other end of the pipeline.

0043To facilitate throughput, transfer module <b>36</b>E is positioned at one end of the image processing system <b>22</b> and transfer module <b>36</b>C is positioned at another end of the image processing system <b>22</b>. Positioning of transfer modules <b>36</b>C and <b>36</b>E in this manner greatly facilitates the concurrency of a loopback process.

0044Referring still to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, arbitration of the various bus masters of the VCM <b>16</b> is implemented by way of a VBus arbiter <b>70</b> disposed in a VBus arbiter/bus gateway <b>71</b>. The VBus arbiter <b>70</b> determines which bus master (e.g. FAX module, Scanner, Printer, SCSI Hard Drive, EPC Memory or Network Service Component) can access the VBus <b>28</b> at one given time. The VBus arbiter <b>70</b> is made up of two main sections and a third control section.

0045The first section, i.e. the “Hi-Pass” section, receives input bus request and currently priority selection and outputs a grant corresponding to the highest priority request pending. The current priority selection input is the output from the second section of the VBus arbiter <b>70</b> and is referred to as “Priority Select”. This section implements a priority rotation and selection algorithm. At any given moment, the output of the logic for Priority Select determines the order in which pending requests will be serviced. The input to Priority Select is a register which holds an initial placement of devices on a priority chain. On servicing requests, this logic moves the devices up and down the priority chain, thereby selecting the position of a device's next request. Control logic synchronizes the tasks of the Hi-Pass and the Priority Select by monitoring signals regrading request/grant activity. It also prevents the possibility of race conditions.

0046Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, a network service module <b>14</b> is discussed in further detail. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the architecture of the network service module <b>14</b> is similar to that of a known “PC clone”. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment, the controller <b>44</b> is coupled with a standard SBus <b>72</b>. In the illustrated embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, a host memory <b>74</b>, which preferably assumes the form of DRAM, and a SCSI disk drive device <b>76</b> are coupled operatively to the SBus <b>72</b>. While not shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, a storage or I/O device could be coupled with the SBus <b>72</b> with a suitable interface chip. As further shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the SBus <b>72</b> is coupled with a network <b>78</b> by way of an appropriate network interface <b>80</b>. The network interface includes all of the hardware and software necessary to relate the hardware/software components of the controller <b>44</b> with the hardware/software components of the network <b>78</b>.

0047In one example, the network <b>78</b> includes a client, such as a workstation <b>82</b> with an emitter or driver <b>84</b>. In operation, a user may generate a job including a plurality of electronic pages and a set of processing instructions. In turn, the job is converted, with the emitter, into a representation written in a page description language, such as PostScript. The job is then transmitted to the controller <b>44</b> where it is interpreted with a decomposer. Some of the principles underlying the concept of interpreting a PDL job are provided in U.S. application Ser. No. 07/898,761 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Multi-Stage/Multi-Process Decomposing”, filed on Jun. 12, 1992, by Bonk et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,112 to Mensing et al., the pertinent portions of both references being incorporated herein by reference.

0048Referring again to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the network service module <b>14</b> is coupled with the VCM <b>16</b> via a bus gateway <b>88</b> of the VBus arbiter/bus gateway <b>71</b>. In one example, the bus gateway <b>88</b> comprises a field programmable gate array. The bus gateway <b>88</b> provides the interface between the host SBus <b>72</b> of FIG. <b>5</b> and the VCM VBus <b>28</b>. It provides VBus address translation for accesses to address spaces in the VBus real address range, and passes a virtual address to the host SBus <b>72</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> for virtual addresses in the host address range. A DMA channel for memory to memory transfers is also implemented in the bus gateway <b>88</b>. Among other things, the bus gateway <b>88</b> provides seamless access between the VBus <b>28</b> and SBus <b>72</b>, and decodes virtual addresses from bus masters, such as one of the transfer modules <b>36</b>, so that an identifier can be obtained from a corresponding slave component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many components of the printing system <b>10</b> are implemented in the form of a single ASIC.

0049Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2</figref>, <b>3</b> and <b>5</b>, further discussion regarding DMA transfer of each of the transfer modules <b>36</b> is provided. In particular, in one example, the images of a job are stored in the host memory <b>74</b> as a series of blocks. Preferably, each block comprises a plurality of packets. In operation, one of the transfer modules <b>36</b> is provided, by the controller <b>44</b>, with the beginning address of a block and the size of the block. In turn, for that block, the transfer module <b>36</b> effects a packet transfer and increment/decrements a counter. This procedure is repeated for each packet of the block until the interface <b>40</b> determines, by reference to the counter, that the last packet of the block has been transferred. Typically, for each stored image, several blocks are transferred, in a packet-by-packet manner, as described immediately above.

0050Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, a FAX module, which is shown as being modified to accommodate the technique of the preferred embodiment, is designated with numeral <b>51</b>a. The FAX module <b>51</b>a differs from the FAX module <b>51</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> in that the modem <b>58</b>, rather than communicating directly with a telecommunication network <b>170</b> is coupled with a 3:1 bidirectional multiplexer (MUX) <b>100</b>. Further inputs to the MUX include a multi-tone detector <b>102</b> and a voice synthesizer <b>104</b>, the significance of which, to the preferred technique, will be discussed below.

0051The detector <b>102</b> and synthesizer <b>104</b>, which are implemented with conventional telecommunication components, communicate with the bus <b>28</b> so that multi-bit data can flow freely between the telecommunication network <b>170</b> and memory (system memory <b>74</b> and disk <b>76</b> (FIG. <b>5</b>)) under the influence of the controller <b>44</b>. As will be appreciated, messages can be stored in disk <b>76</b> and transmitted to the telecommunication network <b>170</b> with the voice synthesizer <b>104</b>. Moreover, interactive communication between the telecommunication network <b>170</b> and the controller <b>44</b>, with its attendant memory, can be achieved with the multi-tone detector <b>102</b>. Finally, control of communication to and from the telecommunication network <b>170</b> is facilitated by the controller by way of the control line <b>61</b>.

0052Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, an overview of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is discussed briefly. A print job is programmed initially at the transmission job originating station by way of a subroutine <b>109</b> with, in one example, a suitable dialog (not shown) provided by way of an appropriate user interface (UI) <b>106</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the UI <b>106</b> preferably including a display screen (not shown) and being coupled with the bus <b>28</b> by way of a conventional interface <b>108</b>. As will be appreciated, the transmission job originating station could be a workstation <b>82</b>. A job is then, or at some pre-specified later time, processed and, if the corresponding job program is a standard program without the requirement of remote informing (see query <b>110</b>), an information (e.g. confirmation) sheet is provided locally (step <b>112</b>) at the transmission job originating station. If the transmission job originating station is a facsimile machine or multi-functional printing device, the confirmation sheet is printed by the local print engine associated with the transmission job originating station, or if the transmission job originating station is a workstation, the confirmation is displayed on the display screen associated with the workstation.

0053On the other hand, if the program calls for a remote job information indication, the confirmation information provided by way of a subroutine <b>114</b> which, in response to attendant programming, transmits confirmation information to one or more suitable output devices (e.g. a printer and/or a telecommunication device) which are remote to the transmission job originating station. As will be appreciated, the information provided to a consumer or user may not be a confirmation, but rather may include information indicating the print job, for one reason or another could not be processed. Accordingly, while the present description refers to “confirmation” it will be understood that a confirmation notice contemplates those situations in which non-confirming information is provided to the user.

0054Referring to query <b>116</b>, it may be desirable to direct the transmission job originating station to contact the user in the event that a fault in job processing occurs. Such a situation may arise during printing of the print job because a font is unavailable at the host printing machine. In this event, the user or developer of the job may take some action (step <b>118</b>), such as editing the job, to overcome the fault and thus permit the job to be retransmitted to the host printing machine for successful printing. In another contemplated situation, the user may simply store the job in order to take an action on the job at a future time.

0055Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, a detailed discussion of the above-mentioned subroutine <b>109</b> is provided. Initially, at step <b>122</b>, a user sets values for a job ticket, the job ticket providing, amount other things, control information for executing the corresponding print job. Background information for job tickets, and an approach for setting attribute values therein, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,065 to Rourke et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Upon completing programming to facilitate printing, query <b>124</b> is used to determine if the program developer seeks to deliver job confirmation information remotely of the site at which the user is programming the job; i.e., query <b>124</b> is used to determine if the program developer seeks to deliver a job confirmation information to a station that is remote of the transmission job originating station.

0056Assuming that remote confirmation functionality is desired, various steps are employed to designate the destination(s) to which the confirmation is to be delivered. It is contemplated that software, other than that alluded to in the illustrated embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> would be required to facilitate transmission of confirmation information to the designated confirmation destination(s). For one, a program would be required to gather the confirmation information for eventual output and, for another, directions for transmission by, for example, a server to destination(s) across an associated network would be required. Any conventional software application which can implement the information gathering and subsequent transmission routines can be utilized to carry out this aspect of the present invention.

0057To program one or more confirmation destinations, a page ticket, specifically listing confirmation destinations is mapped to the general job ticket (step <b>126</b>) and a determination is made, by way of step <b>128</b>, as to whether confirmation information is to be delivered to one or more E-Mail destinations. If one or more of the confirmation destinations include E-Mail destinations, then one or more suitable E-Mail addresses are entered and stored (step <b>130</b>). It will be appreciated that E-Mail addresses could be stored in a database, prior to the programming of subroutine <b>109</b>, so an E-Mail address could be listed automatically in the mapped page ticket in response to the provision of a corresponding name.

0058If one or more confirmation destinations are to be transmitted by way of a telecommunications network (step <b>132</b>), then one or more telecommunication addresses (e.g. telephone numbers) are, via step <b>134</b>, entered. It will be appreciated that confirmation messages can be delivered to a user in terms of a voice connection (step <b>136</b>), electronic data, or a FAX reproduction. In the event that the receiver is a FAX device, the process returns to the main program. If the receiver is an E-Mail destination, the confirmation information is placed into an E-Mail note and the note is transmitted to the receiver. In the event, however, that confirmation is to be provided by voice, one or more voice messages, preferably prestored in the disk <b>76</b> (FIG. <b>5</b>), are mapped, via step <b>138</b>, to one or more confirmation locations.

0059Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>, in the preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the job is executed (step <b>142</b>) and a confirmation (or information) page is generated for buffering or storing (step <b>144</b>). If remote confirmation is not required by the job program (see query <b>146</b>), then the confirmation page is printed at the print engine local to the transmission job originating station if this station is a facsimile machine or a multi-functional printing device (step <b>148</b>), or displayed on a display screen associated with the transmission job originating station if this station is a workstation; i.e., the confirmation information is transmitted back to the point from which the print job was sourced. It will be understood that the software for generating the job information sheet and transmitting it across the network to the point of job origin is conventional.

0060If the job ticket is programmed for remote functionality, the page ticket, provided by way of the illustrated procedure of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, is accessed at step <b>150</b>. Pursuant to transmitting the confirmation information, it is determined, by way of step <b>152</b>, if any of the one or more confirmation destinations of the page ticket relate to an E-Mail address. If E-Mail is called for, then the stored E-Mail address(es) are accessed (step <b>154</b>) for transmitting a copy of a confirmation page by way of the network, to one or more predesignated E-Mail addresses. It will be appreciated that the present embodiment contemplates transmission of E-Mail to any point along the emerging electronic “superhighway”.

0061In addition to processing any E-Mail confirmation(s), it is determined, via step <b>158</b>, whether any of the confirmation information is to be transmitted to one or more telecommunication locations. In one example (steps <b>160</b> and <b>162</b>) the confirmation information is to be transmitted to a FAX device, in the form of an electronic FAX page, for development of a FAX reproduction at a suitable FAX device. It is contemplated that a confirmation page could be developed by obtaining a suitable form, with blank fields, from disk <b>76</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>) and filling in the fields with the controller <b>44</b> by reference to the job ticket and system data generated as a result of processing the print job. The system would provide information, such as when the job was printed and any faults that may have arisen during processing of the print job. An arrangement suitable for this sort of form printing can be found in UK Patent Application 2,198,566A.

0062In another example (steps <b>160</b>, <b>164</b>, <b>166</b> and <b>168</b>), a voice message is transmitted to one or more confirmation destinations. For voice transmission, the system determines what job run information is appropriate for transmission to the confirmation destination(s) and broadcasts the same to the one or more confirmation destinations. To appreciate the message transmission technique illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>, reference is made to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref> along with the following example.

0063A job is either developed at the printing system <b>10</b> (facsimile machine or multi-functional printing device) or transmitted to the printing system (facsimile machine, multi-functional printing device, modem, or other telecommunication port) from the workstation <b>82</b>. The program for the job indicates that any confirmation in formation is to be provided to the user's phone through telecommunication network <b>170</b> at location <b>171</b>. When the job is printed, the controller <b>44</b>, accesses a file in the disk <b>76</b> that includes information indicating that the job has been printed. In turn, the message is streamed to the voice synthesizer <b>104</b> for converting the digitally encoded information of the file into a suitable format for transmission to the user's phone through telecommunication network <b>170</b>. The suitably formatted information is then transmitted to the MUX <b>100</b> for broadcast to the confirmation destination <b>171</b>.

0064In a facsimile embodiment of the present invention, a facsimile machine includes an image data source for providing the image data to be transmitted. This image source may be a scanner or workstation or other type of device capable of creating image data. A transmitting subsystem of the facsimile machine transmits the image data to a first remote receiving station. The first remote receiving station may be another facsimile machine, a networked printer, or multi-functional printing device. A receiving subsystem of the facsimile machine receives job status information from the first remote receiving station. Then a control subsystem of the facsimile machine causes the transmitting subsystem to transmit the job status information to a second remote receiving station. The second remote receiving station may be a facsimile machine, workstation, a telephonic device, a networked printer, an E-mail destination, a multi-functional printing device, or other device capable of receiving information from a network and conveying the information in human recognizable form.

0065The facsimile machine can also be interactive with the second remote receiving station and cause a query to be sent to the second remote receiving station. In this example, the facsimile machine will perform a predetermined set of functions in response to information, corresponding to the query, received from the second remote receiving station. Examples of these functions are causing the facsimile machine to transmit the image data to a third remote receiving station; causing the facsimile machine to retransmit the image data to the first remote receiving station; causing the facsimile machine to store the image data in a local memory, etc.

0066As will be recognized, not all jobs are executable due to, among other things inconsistencies between the job ticket and the capabilities of the host printer. To appreciate what can “go wrong”, during the execution of a print job, reference is made to the following example.

0067The same job referred to above is provided to the printing system with a font call for “helvetica”. Unbeknownst to the job developer, this font is unavailable in the printing system and the printing system is not programmed to make a substitution for that font. Accordingly, the controller fetches a message from disk, indicating the unavailability of the font, and sends if off to the user's phone through telecommunication network <b>170</b>, by use of the voice synthesizer <b>102</b><b>104</b>(FIG. <b>6</b>). In a another example, a host FAX device may not be able to print the above-mentioned job simply because it is out of toner.

0068It should be recognized that by only providing the fault information, the event can give rise to a frustrating situation for a user who needs the job printed immediately and has the wherewithal to change the job and resubmit it to the printer. Moreover, these situations may be especially frustrating for the user who requires immediate printing because the printing fault may be resolved by simply having someone on-site, relative to the FAX device, provide a toner and resending the job.

0069A possible solution to this problem is contemplated in another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to step <b>172</b> of FIG. <b>9</b> and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>, an interactive technique for providing an advantageous solution to the above-described situations is discussed. Assuming that the originator of the job is contacted with a system problem (step <b>172</b> of FIG. <b>9</b> and step <b>174</b> of FIG. <b>10</b>), a troubleshooting subsystem, which may be implemented on the printing system <b>10</b> (facsimile machine or multi-functional printing device) or any system (e.g. workstation) communicating with the printing system <b>10</b> and having suitable structure and functionality, awaits a telephonic command from the user (step <b>176</b>) in the form of one or more tones, each tone or set of tones corresponding with a preprogrammed command for the system. It will be appreciated that the technique of the preferred embodiment contemplates the use of a wide range of telephonic device so that the user could even provide input from a “beeper” or a cellular telephone while “on the run”.

0070Upon receiving a command from the user, the system determines, at step <b>178</b>, whether the command is directed toward a “transmission” command or a “save document” command. It will, of course, be appreciated that the commands of the illustrated embodiment are exemplary and other commands are contemplated by the preferred embodiment. For example, another command might include an “inform other” where a key operator of a printing machine is notified of a problem in the printing system <b>10</b> by way of the voice synthesizer <b>104</b> (FIG. <b>6</b>).

0071Referring to a first case for step <b>180</b>, it is understood that, in one instance, a user may desire to be called back at a later time because the user is not presently at a given confirmation site. This situation further contemplates another command in which the controller obtains a phone number of another location at which the user may reside. In other words, the command may assume the form of either “Call me back at . . . ” or “Call ‘so and so’ at ‘such and such’ a number”. It will be understood that these commands are provided by way of conventional interactive telephone software used in conjunction with the multi-tone device of the type shown in FIG. <b>6</b>.

0072In another instance of the first case, a user may wish to resend a job, after editing it, or simply have it sent to another printer which may possess the capabilities demanded by the job ticket. To appreciate the edit and resend scenario, reference is made again to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. <b>6</b> and the example described above in which printing was faulted due to the lack of helvetica font. In particular, the user may wish to change the font of the faulted document to a font that is known to reside in the printing system. Moreover, the user may possess a document editing device <b>181</b> (FIG. <b>6</b>), communicating with the NET <b>78</b>, that permits the user to both access the job at the workstation <b>82</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>) of the memory (system memory <b>74</b> or disk <b>76</b>) and make the appropriate change in font call(s). In turn, upon editing the job, the user can have it resent for execution.

0073It should be recognized that the resend and call back commands can be used in conjunction to considerable advantage. That is, in one example, the user can indicate that the user desires to be called back later, after having time to edit a document, for the purpose of resending the edited document to a particular machine. In another example, the user can call a key operator to remedy a fault, e.g. overcoming a toner deficiency, and then provide a resend command. Alternatively, the resend command could include a delay so that a period of time in which to overcome a fault would be provided.

0074Referring to steps <b>182</b> and <b>184</b>, there are certain circumstances in which it may be desirable to simply store a document for future processing. In one example, it may be known that, in view of the nature of an indicated fault, printing of a subject document may not be feasible in the immediate future. For this example, it will sometimes, as indicated by step <b>186</b>, be desirable to delete the job. In another example, complete job execution may have been achieved, but the operator may seek to save the document because frequent printing of the same job, within the immediate future, is expected. The illustrated embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> contemplates, by way of step <b>188</b>, that, under some circumstances, the user will not provide a command and no further action will be taken toward executing the print job.

0075To illustrate the present invention in another way, the present invention will be described with respect to a facsimile environment. As noted before, conventional facsimile machines allow a person to send a fax either immediately upon the scanning of the document or at some later specified time; i.e., at a later time to avoid peaks hours or to take advantage of lower phone rates. However, since using this delay feature does not guarantee reception by the intended party, the sender does not realize the problem until the next morning when the sender checks the confirmation copies from the night before. This delay in receiving a confirmation message indicating that the fax was not properly received by the intended party can be disruptive to business.

0076To resolve this problem, a preferred implementation is provided in which the user is enabled to redirect the confirmation message to an off-site location. This can be accomplish by adding a subroutine to existing delay transmission programs wherein the user selects the option of redirecting the confirmation message to another location. When this option is selected, the user inputs a confirmation destination represented by, for example, a telephone number to which the confirmation message should be directed. In addition to inputting the telephone, the user selects either a human option or machine option. In this way if the user inputs a remote facsimile telephone number, the confirmation message can be faxed to this machine. However, if the user inputs a normal telephone number, a voice synthesizer within the facsimile machine will be activated upon the answering of the phone and inform the user audibly of the status of the delayed transmission. If the fax machine is connected to a network, the user would also have the option of inputting an electronic mail address.

0077A further modification would include an interactive system such that when the facsimile machine sent the confirmation message, which may include fault information, to a human answerable telephone, the receiver of the confirmation message could send instructions back to the facsimile machine; i.e., resend the document, send the document to an alternative number, delete document from memory, resend document at a later time, call back sender in ten minutes to receive instructions.

0078Numerous features of the above-described technique for developing and communicating job information will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

0079First, a technique is provided for transmitting job information to one or more locations, each of which one or more locations is remote relative to both an origin of the job (transmission job originating station) and a host machine at which the job was at least partially processed. More particularly, a user can program a job ticket so that the job information can be sent to just about any location that is linked to a telecommunication network or the information superhighway. This ability to send job information to an unlimited number of output destinations makes the technique particularly advantageous to users who, for one reason or another, cannot be at the location where job information has been conventionally provided.

0080Second, the technique permits a high degree of flexibility with respect to output options. In one example, job information can be provided at a wide range of output destinations on a network, either by E-Mail or facsimile transmission. In another example, the job information can be provided to a wide range of output destinations on a telecommunications network.

0081Finally, the technique contemplates an interactive model that significantly expands the user's ability to remedy faulted jobs. More particularly, when a job is faulted, a troubleshooting subsystem contacts the user at a prespecified location so that the user can provide the troubleshooting system with a command. In one example, the command causes the job to be stored for later execution. In another example, the user can edit the job and retransmit it to the host printing machine for execution. In another example, the user can remove a fault causing condition at the host printing machine and have the troubleshooting system call back the user, at a later time, so that the user can direct the troubleshooting system to retransmit the edited job to the host printing machine for execution. In yet another example, the user can have a subject job sent on to another printing machine when it is clear that the host printing machine is not appropriate for printing the subject job. All these possibilities are made possible by enabling the transmission job originating station to contact the user at a remote location and provide that user with confirmation and/or fault information.

0082Although the present invention has been described in detail above, various modifications can be implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to a facsimile environment. However, the present invention is readily applicable to a networked printing environment wherein the print job is transmitted to a remote location and the sender desires to known the status of the job and the sender is not located at the origination site when this status information is to be communicated.

0083While the present invention has been described with reference to various embodiments disclosed above, it is not to be limited to the details set forth above, but is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may fall within the scope of the attached claims.