MXPA01001484A - A system and related methods for automatically determining media type in a printing device media tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and related methods for automatically identifying media type in a printing device media tray is presented. The system comprises a controller (24016), and an optical sensor (24015), communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor, is positioned to locate and identify a code containing media type information from a next available piece of print media, and to generate a signal to the controller based, at least in part, on the identified code. Modifications to the printing device and subsidies to the user may occur as a result of the code.

Description

A RELATED SYSTEM AND METHOD TO AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINE THE PE TYPE MEDIA IN A MEDIA TRAY A PRINTING DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to the field of printing, and more particularly, to a system and related methods for automatically determining the type of media in a media tray of a printing device. .

BACKGROUND In the mid-1400s, Johann Gutenberg revolutionized how information was disseminated through his invention of the mobile type press. With the publication of Mazarin's Bible, the documents, which once were under the exclusive domain of a select few, are now widely available to the masses. Nearly 550 years later, the mass media revolution that Gutenberg started is alive and well, complete with newspapers such as the New York Times and the Washington Post, magazines such as Newsweek and Sport Illustrated, and literally thousands upon thousands of other publications. Although these thousands of publications cover a wide range of interests, from sports news to fashion, to rocket modeling, they have one thing in common: they are intended to be read by the mass market. Unlike the days before Gutenberg, where a document would literally be read by a person from a very small number of people, it is not economically viable for current publications to have so few readers, at least in part due to the high costs of marketing, production and distribution. Indeed, many of the current publications are financed to a large extent by the commercial notices contained in them. These commercial ads are attracted to publications that can consistently provide a large, reliable consumer audience that will be exposed to your commercial notices. Although this model of mass market publishing has worked well for hundreds of years, it is not free of problems. One such problem is that a reader of a publication having a wide range of interests, and no publication of massively commercialized, will be able to satisfy all these interests. For example, a reader who is interested in international news, golf, fly fishing, genealogy, and computers may have to subscribe to several different publications to satisfy these interests. Of course, since these publications are intended to be massively commercialized, they will also contain a significant amount of material that our reader is not interested in and will not read. It is not necessary to say that if there is a significant amount of material that a reader is not reading, there is a significant amount of notices that the reader is not reading, as well as a significant amount of paper that is wasted. Advertisers know this, and agree to pay considerably less to a magazine or newspaper marketed massively for every thousand exposures to them, than they would pay a direct mail generator that can provide a more specific guarantee that people exposed to Your commercial notices are from a demographic group that is much more likely to read your commercial notice and will be interested in it. In addition, it is not cheap either in cost or time for most readers to subscribe to and / or read a large number of publications. Generally, the typical reader will only subscribe to a few publications that are of most interest to them. The reduced reader level of the typical reader of the publications chooses not to subscribe to, may still be interested in the content of some of the editorials and of the commercial notices contained within, it means that the publication receives less subscription and renewal of commercial notices of what it would be in other circumstances. If many other readers make the same decision, the continued health of the publication may be in danger, and the publication may be forced to exit the market. Indeed, many publications leave the market annually because they can not attract a sustained number of advertisers and readers even if there is a large number of readers who would be interested to read their publication, and a corresponding number of advertisers anxious to have those readers exposed to their commercial adverts. In general, the prices of commercial advertisements are often determined by the level of reading of the publication, so reader retention is vital for the survival of a publication. In general, publications that can not attract a substantial mass market of people who wish to pay and / or read them cease publication. This is shameful, since many of these publications would enrich the diversity of information available to all readers, and provide an avenue for lesser-known writers and artists to practice their articles. In more recent years, a new type of publication has emerged: electronic publishing. Readers of these publications typically have access to the Internet through their computer, and read the publications online. Some of these publications, such as CNN.com and pointcast.com, allow users to establish personal preferences about what type of material they would like to read. Frequently, these personalized publications include commercial notices, usually in the form of a banner and which are placed along the periphery of the visual representation device (upper, lower, lateral, etc.). Although these electronic publications have had an interesting development in the distribution of information, they still represent only a small fraction of the information that is published under the more traditional Gutenberg model. Many readers of these electronic publications complain that they are very difficult to read (on the video visualization device), especially for extended periods of time. Although it may be convenient for a reader to go online to watch the CNN.com website for a brief summary of the latest news, this reader will most likely only stay a few minutes on the site, and would probably subscribe to the more traditional print media such as Newsweek or the Washington Post. They most likely also spend significantly more time reading the more traditional print publication than they would spend reading the electronic publication, and correspondingly, would be much longer exposed to commercial ads in the traditional print publication. As a result, printed publications continue to flourish today more than five centuries after Gutenberg made them possible and more than a decade after the innovation of electronic publishing. Although these printed publications have certainly benefited modern society, no significant attempts have been made to solve the problems underlying those publications discussed above. Here only one such solution is provided.

SUMMARY In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, it is an apparatus comprising a controller and a sensor coupled to the controller. The sensor is positioned to locate and identify a code containing media type information for a next available piece of media in a media receptacle of a printing device. The sensor generates a signal for the controller based, at least in part, on the identified code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a document distribution system of one embodiment of the invention; Figures 2-4 illustrate detailed flow diagrams of the operation of the transmission module and the printing module of the document distribution system of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 illustrates how the user profile information of a user is acquired in an embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows how the user profile information of a user is acquired in an embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 shows a printing program for the distribution of documents in an embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 shows how the printing program of Figure 7 can be modified by the user; Figures 9A-9B show a document printed by the printing device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 shows a document printed by the printing device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 11A-11D show a document printed by the printing device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 shows a document printed by the printing device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary editing module embodying the teachings of the present invention; Figure 14 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary recognition module that includes information of the user profile and information of the content provider; Figure 15 graphically illustrates a data figure for maintaining user profile information; Figure 16 graphically illustrates a data structure to maintain the information of the content provider; Figure 17 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method that generates a personalized document, according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 18 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method of operation for a client component of the document distribution system, according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 19 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method for presenting a personalized document of content objects in other disparate circumstances, according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 20 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method for scheduling the distribution of a personalized document, according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 21 illustrates a flow diagram for an exemplary method for tracking the distribution of content objects and accounting for content providers, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Figures 22A and 22B graphically illustrate side views in cross section of an innovative media feeding system embodying the teachings of the present invention; Figure 23 graphically depicts a personalized publication printed on media with media identification marks, according to one aspect of the present invention. Figure 24 graphically illustrates a top-down cross-sectional view of the innovative medium feed system of Figure 22; Figure 25 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for exactly identifying the type and amount of media available for the printing device of Figure 22; and Figure 26 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method for generating a printing pattern, according to one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an innovative document distribution system, according to one embodiment of the invention. The document distribution system 10 contains a document server 100. In a preferred embodiment, the document server 100 is operatively coupled via the network 200 to a variety of personal computers, printing devices, and other electronic devices, collectively referred to as the devices 300. As will be described in more detail below, the document server 100 contains an innovative editing module 120, a transmission module 150 and a recognition module 170 for dynamically generating personalized publications of content objects in other disparate circumstances. for the requesting users / subscribers. According to another aspect of the invention, one or more of the printing devices includes an innovative media feeding system which allows the printing device to determine the type and means available in a printing device, thereby allowing the module of innovative edition 120 further optimize the publishing program, the means used for particular parts of the publication, etc. The editing module 120 receives the content object within one or more content providers 50, and / or one or more advertisement providers 80 to generate personalized document bases, at least in part, on a number of key criteria including, for example, user interests, season of the year, distribution criteria of content provider and ad provider and the like. As used herein, content providers are intended to include all publication content providers without the inclusion of commercial notices, while commercial advertisement providers 80 provide commercial advertisement material. From the point of view of a financial business model, these two sources of publication material differ significantly (content providers are paid royalties from the document server operator, while advertisers pay to advertise in the generated publications), from the point of view of the end user both provide content to the publication. Accordingly, when used without a reference number the term "content providers" is intended to include both content providers 50 and commercial warning providers 80. If a distinction is necessary, the appropriate reference number will be denoted specifically. The distribution module 400 is operatively coupled to a document server 100 and, as will be discussed, optionally distributes products and / or product subsidies based, at least in part, on the source and amount of content provided to users. In a preferred embodiment, the document server 100 is a minicomputer / server, such as an HP 9000 server sold by the Hewlett-Packard Company, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that the document server 100 could be any other type of device. of computation or electronic that performs the functions described herein and that still falls within the spirit and scope of the invention. Network 200 is preferably the Internet, although an intranet, local area network, or other type of private network, either wired (for example telephone, cable TV) or wireless (for example, satellite, radio) could also be used. , cell phone, etc.). The devices 300 are shown in Figure 1, as if they could be configured in a wide variety of ways. For example, the personal computer 310 is shown connected to a printing device 320, which prints the document 10320 to the user 20320. The personal computer 310 is operatively coupled to the network 200. In contrast, the printing device 330, the which prints the document 10330 for the user 20330, is operatively coupled to the network 200 without the intervention of a personal computer or other electronic device. The printing device 350, which prints the document 10350 for the user 20350, is shown connected to an electronic device 340, which could be a top-box device, a television set, or a manual personal digital assistant (PDA) , or another type of electronic device that is operatively coupled to the network 200. Finally, the printing device 370, which prints the document 10370 for the user 20370, is connected to the electronic device 360, which is operatively connected to the network 200. The printing devices shown in Figure 1 could be printers, such as the HP DeskJet 890 printer, LaserJet V printer, or other printer models manufactured by HP or others; so-called "mopiers", or other multifunctional printing devices that can print, send faxes, scan and / or copy, or other device to transfer information to a printable medium such as plain paper, special paper, transparencies, or other capable media of receiving tangibly such information and that can be easily transported by the user.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, to be. described more fully below (Figures 22-25), one or more of the printing devices of the Figure 1 includes an innovative media feed system. This innovative media feed system automatically identifies the media available for the printing device, and determines with accurate count of each type of media available. This information is provided to the editing module 120 of the printing device through, for example, an associated printing module 380 and the network 200. The transmission module 150 is preferably located with the document server 100. As Figure 1 shows, the printing module 380 could be located in any of the devices 300, such as in a personal computer 310, the printing device 330, or the electronic device 340, operatively coupled via the network 200 to a document server 100, or "could be located within the document server 100 itself, such as in the knowledge module 170. According to one embodiment of the invention, the transmission module 150 and the printing module 380 represent functions of the programs and programming systems which are executed in a suitably programmed microprocessor within a device 300 and / or document server 100. It will be appreciated, if However, physical computing components or other mechanisms for special purposes could be used to implement the features and functions • Innovative described later. Figure 13 illustrates a block diagram of an editing module 120 embodying the teachings of the present invention. As shown, the editing module 120 comprises one or more controllers 502, an agent of innovative publication 504, an innovative virtual editor 506, memory space 508 and one or more input / output interfaces (1/0) 510, each coupled as described. According to an implementation of the invention, the editing module 120 may also contain one or more applications 512 executable by the controllers 502. It will be appreciated that although they are described as separate and distinct functional entities, one or more function blocks 502-510 may also be combined into functional entities • common. In addition, described according to a paradigm of the In the case of the physical computing components, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the editing module 120 and its constituent elements 502-510 can also be incorporated as a series of executable instructions in which, when executed by a central processor, implement the features and functions of the editing module 120 to be discussed later. In this regard, Figure 13 is only illustrative of the scope and spirit of the invention claimed. As shown, controllers 502 selectively invoke one or more of the virtual editors 506 to generate a document that is scanned for a requesting and / or subscribing user, or 504 publishing agent to complete the distribution diagram and "optimize the program of distribution of such personalized documents The controllers 502 can initiate the construction and / or distribution of a personalized document in response to a user interaction with a user interface (eg, a web page), or to accommodate a distribution program selected by the user In this regard, the controller 502 communicates with external applications (eg, network pages) or other elements (eg, a user profile) via input / output interfaces (I / O) 510. In an alternative embodiment, the controller 502 provides the user with a user interface, which requests / creates a personalized document using one or more of the applications 512. But for the implementation of the teachings of the present invention, the controllers 502 are intended to represent any of a wide range of control devices known in the art including, but not limited to, a programmed logic array (PLA), microprocessor, special purpose microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit ( ASIC), and the like. In an alternative embodiment, the controllers 502 are incorporated as a series of executable instructions which, when executed, implement the control logic described herein. It is intended that the memory device 508 and the I / O interfaces 510 each represent those devices commonly known in the art. It is intended that the I / O interfaces 510, in particular, include one or more of any of a number of communication interfaces known in the art including, but not limited to, a direct connection communication interface (e.g., a serial interface, a parallel interface, a Universal Serial (USB), an Advanced Graphic Port (AGP), etc.), a local area network interface (for example, an Ethernet interface, a Token Ring interface, etc.), or a wide area network interface. In this regard, the editing module 120 can communicate with any of a number of external and remote devices using an appropriate one of a plurality of wired and / or wireless I / O interfaces 510. According to one aspect of the present invention, the 506 virtual editor customizes publications for a single, composite publication based on a number of factors. As shown, the virtual editor 506 includes a content manager 518 and a construction agent 520. The content manager 518 includes an analysis agent / packager 522, a contract manager function 524 and a transaction agent 526. When the editor module 120 receives the content of one or more content providers, the content manager 518 is selectively invoked by the controllers 502. The analysis agent / packer 522 analyzes the received content and categorizes it based on any of one or more of a number of attributes including, the source, subject matter, length, cost, etc. In addition, the analysis agent / packer 522 encapsulates the content object in a packer with a unique identifier. It will be appreciated, based on "the following description, that the encapsulation packer allows the virtual sensors (not shown) in the document distribution system to accurately track the distribution, reception and arrangement of the content objects. In this embodiment, the virtual sensors are included within the printing modules 380 to track the distribution, reception and disposition of the encapsulated content objects According to one implementation, the contract administrator 524 is a component controlled by the database that administers all the contractual obligations of the users (subscribers, content providers, etc.) of the document distribution system According to one implementation, the 524 contract administrator maintains the calculation of royalties and presents agreements to select content providers ( for example, artists), the prices of commercial advertisements for others prove content developers (for example, advertisers), subscription information for selected users, and the like. Periodically, contract administrator 524 has access to one or more databases of content providers to identify the distribution of the content object, to calculate royalty payments, commercial invoices and subscription invoices for distribution to users. appropriate through the transaction agent 526. In this regard, the contract administrator 524 ensures that the contractual obligations of the document distribution system are adhered to. The transaction agent 526 is the primary interface between the document distribution system and a public / private e-commerce financial system (for example, the CheckFreeTM financial network offered by the CheckFree Corporation). As previously introduced, the transaction agent 526 is responsible for executing the payments and transactions of credit / debit accounts with the accounts of the users based, at least in part, on the distribution of the content objects according to the terms and conditions maintained in the contract administrator 524. It should be noted that although it is described as an element of the editing module 120, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the content manager 518 may also be deployed as a separate and independent functional entity without deviate from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The construction agent 520 of the virtual editor 506 extracts content objects to generate a custom document according to one or more key contributors. As used herein, key contributors include one or more of the interests of a requesting / subscribing user, demographics, season, document server requirements and criteria of use between the provider and the like. As will be described in more detail below, the building agent 520 extracts the content objects that are likely to be of interest to a particular user and generates a personalized publication for that user. The building agent 520 uses the information received via open and closed processes of the document distribution system 10 to record a user interaction and the layout of the received material, as well as to request the user's documentation, to improve user satisfaction with the user. Subsequent personalized publications.

The information collected as a result of those open / closed processes is used by the building agent 520 to update a user profile associated with the user, which is accessed when a personalized publication is generated. In this regard, the building agent 520 performs functions commonly associated with a physical editor of, say, a journal: publication content decisions, presentation and formatting decisions, commercial notices and the like, even factors in other key information such as preferences personal to generate personalized publications for up to millions of individuals. Once the construction agent 520 has extracted the content objects to generate the publication, these are passed to the publication agent 504, to end the presentation and schedule the distribution of the personalized publication to the intended recipients. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment illustrated, a publishing agent 504 comprising the programming manager 514 and the presentation manager 516 is presented. As will be described in more detail below, the presentation manager 516 receives the content objects from the administrator 506 and at least partially completes the presentation of the personalized publication. According to one aspect of the invention, the presentation manager 516 maintains a record of the time required to complete at least a partial presentation of the publication to determine the complexity of the personalized publication. This complexity indicator is subsequently used by the publication agent 504 to estimate the time required to present future publications containing one or more of the same content objects, and to assist the programming administrator 514 in estimating the time required to complete the publication. publication. Once the presentation manager 516 has at least partially completed the presentation of the publication, the programming administrator 514 completes the presentation of the publication (for example, with last-minute content objects, or updates such objects), and program of the distribution of the personalized publication. According to one embodiment, to be described more fully below, the programming administrator 514 uses information from a number of available sources to schedule the distribution of the publication. More particularly, the programming manager 514 uses information from the user's personal profile, a measure of the complexity of the presentation manager 516, and an indication of the printing devices associated with the user that confirm that an amount and type are available. adequate means to print the publication. Based, at least, on such information, the programming administrator 514 works to establish an optimal publication program for one or more personalized publications. Figure 14 illustrates an exemplary recognition module 170, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the recognition module 170 comprises user profile information 602, content provider information 620, contract management information 630, and optionally the printing module 380 and the printing program 390. As will be described more complete below, the user profile information database 612 is used to collect information and develop a profile for the users of the system 10. The information database of the content provider 620 is employed to track the use and content provider provision. The contract administration information database 630 is used to maintain information regarding the terms of licensing, fees, etc. Maintaining user profile information, content provider information and contract management information, the document server 100 is capable of providing individualized services to users and content providers in the same way. By acquiring and dynamically maintaining accurate information about the distribution, reception and disposition of the user of the publications at the content object level, the document distribution server 100 is able to provide a personalized publication to the user directed exactly to the interests of the user, providing at the same time an accurate accounting to the content providers for purposes of royalties and / or authorization of rights. In this regard, the document distribution system 10 represents a revolutionary breakthrough in the publishing industry, that is, the ability to provide individually targeted publications on a scale hitherto available only to mass media companies. Figure 15 graphically illustrates an example of user profile data structure 602, suitable for use by the innovative document distribution system. According to the exemplary implementation illustrated, the user profile information data structure 602 includes a user name field 604, a user ID field 606, a contact information field 608, an information field of interest 610, a subscription information field 612, a disposition information field 614, and a feedback information field 616. As previously introduced, some of the information held in the user profile data structure 602 is openly obtained , for example, by asking the user for such information during a registration period. Other information, such as, for example, disposition information, is obtained in a closed or disguised manner verifying the provision of tracking packers by the user, for example, that the user spent so much time with certain information, if the user sent certain information to others, etc. In this way, the data structure of the user profile 602 is a set of information that evolves continuously, continuously improving, which reflects the current interests of the users of the document distribution system. Figure 16 illustrates an exemplary data structure comprising information from the content provider, according to one embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the information data structure of the content provider 620 includes a content provider name field 622, a content provider ID field 624, a packager ID field 626 for each of the content objects provided by the content provider, a rate programming field 628, a monthly usage field 630 and a feedback information field 630. As mentioned above, larger data structures may also be used. or lesser complexity to maintain the information of the user profile and / or information of the content provider without deviating the spirit and scope of the invention. Returning to Figures 2-4, the flow charts detailing the operation of the transmission module 150 and a first mode of operation of the printing module 380 are presented, according to one embodiment of the invention, and that at least some of this information could come from a different source than a user. For example, user profile data could also include family income, age and gender of the user, among other things. In any case, the block 1100 receives the user profile data sent by the block 2100. The block 1200 stores the data of the user profile, preferably in the recognition module 170. Alternatively, the profile data of the user could be stored in the device 300 or in some other local or remote location. Block 2200 checks to see if a document should be received from the document server 100. This is done by checking the print program 390, which is preferably stored in a device 300 or a document server 100, but can be stored in some other remote or local location. The printing program 930 preferably contains information that can be used to determine when the documents should be printed by the printing device, such as after the creation of a document, the time requested by the user, the lapse of a specified period of time, and / or the occurrence of one or more external events (for example, a price of an action that reaches a specified value, a final score in a sporting event, etc.). The printing program 390 may be associated with an individual user, a device or a group of users and / or devices. In addition, each entry of the printing program 390 could result in the printing of one or more documents. Figure 7 shows an example of a printing program 390, of the type that can be used in an improved version of the common HP Instant Distribution program. In this example, the distribution title, the distribution schedule, the date and time of the next distribution, and the status of the last distribution are shown. Preferably, the user can select the time when a document should be printed, if it should be printed "on a specific day of the week or month, days of the week or weekends, and if the printing program should expire. After a specific period of time or continue indefinitely Referring again to Figure 2, the printing module 380 checks the printing program 390 to see if a document should be requested from the document server 100 or from another source. block 2200 determines that a document should be requested from document server 100 or from another source, block 2200 is answered affirmatively, and block 2300 automatically requests the document without user intervention 100 or from another source, as will be described in more detail below Note that if the printing module 380 is located in the device 300, the block 2200 operates in an "extraction" mode, d The document is "extracted" from the document server 100 or from another source to the device 300. However, if the print module 380 is located remotely from the device 300, such as in the document server 100, the block 2200 operates in an "insert" mode, where the document is "inserted" from the document server 100 or another source to the device 300. If the block 2300 determines that the document is located in the document server 100 or in another accessible source via the network 200, and if the device 300 is currently in a disconnected state where it is not operably coupled to the network 200, the block 2300 will enter alone or otherwise enter the state connected to the network 200, so that the device 300 is operatively coupled to network 200.

Meanwhile, block 1300 checks to see if a document has been requested from print module 380 in block 2300. Once it determines that such a document has been requested, block 1400 generates the document for print module 380. The block 1500 then sends the document to the print module 380. The block 2400 checks to see if a document has been received from the document server 100 via the block 1500. Once that document has been received, the block 2500 automatically prints the document, without user intervention, in a printing device. The term "without user intervention" means that a user is not directly involved in the printing operation; the document is automatically sent to a device 300 to be printed by a printing device. According to this mode of operation, the user does not press "no" print button or is directly involved otherwise in the printing process; in fact, the user may not be present in the same room, city, state or country as the device 300 during the printing operation. The printing operation occurs automatically in an unattended state regardless of whether the user is present or not. Furthermore, if the printing program 390 is stored in a manner independent of the device, such as in a document server 100, a traveling user could "register" with the document server 100 and have his personalized document sent to the device 300 which is convenient for the user's current location. Referring now to Figure 3, block 2600 checks to see if the document was printed successfully. If not, block 2800 performs an erroneous manipulation, such as trying to print the document again, notifying the user that the device is paperless or has some other erroneous condition, or simply decided not to print the document. When the document is printed successfully, block 2900 informs the document server 100 that the document was printed successfully. The block 1600 waits for an indication of the printing module 380 that the document was printed successfully. When such an indication is received, block 1700 updates the user's profile with this information. It will be appreciated that not all of the blocks in Figures 2-4 need to be implemented, or implemented according to the denoted order, to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. More specifically, according to one implementation, the control flow moves from block 2600 to block 4100 of Figure 4, as will be discussed later, and from block 1500 back to block 1300 of Figure 2.

An alternative embodiment has been contemplated where other information is transmitted to the document server 100 in block 2900 to update the user profile stored preferably in the recognition module 170. This other information could be the use of ink (total use or interrupted use). by the color of ink), use of printable media (number of printed pages, type of media used, etc.), or other types of information. In addition, another alternative mode has been contemplated where some or all of the information contained in this user profile stored in the recognition module 170 comes from a different source than the user via the print module 380. For example, the information available publicly or privately about the user, and / or the devices 300 that he / she / they use, could be acquired from a wide variety of different sources and inserted into the profile of the stored user preferably the recognition module 170. The block 1800 examines the user profile stored preferably in the recognition module 170, to determine whether a subsidy of the user product should be provided. For example, if the information in the user's profile indicates that this user has printed his thousandth document, such "preferred" document, which contains commercial notices from commercial advertisement providers 80, or is otherwise under the control of editing module 120, which provides a product subsidy to the user can be guaranteed. For the purposes of this invention, a "product subsidy" could be a printing consumable or other product. A "printing consumable" is an ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer, ink for such an ink jet cartridge, an organic pigment cartridge for a laser printer, organic pigment for such an organic pigment cartridge , or any other product or substance that runs out when a document is printed, including printer tapes, etc. Note that the "ink" referred to above would typically be of a permanent variety, although erasable ink, such as that sold by Eink Company, could also be used. Note that the subsidy to the product referred to here is preferably granted at least in part by the income from the commercial notices received from the suppliers of commercial notices 80 (Figure 1), but a modality has been contemplated where the subsidy The product is awarded at least in part to the distribution revenue received from content providers 50 (Figure 1). In any case, the information (such as statistical information) about what was printed by who is preferably provided to the content providers 50 and / or the commercial advertisement providers 80, preferably as a document that is automatically sent to one or more printing devices, according to the teachings of this invention. Other forms of product that are contemplated to be subsidized by this invention include printing means, such as common paper, special paper, transparencies, and the like, and may also include devices 300 such as printing devices, electronic devices and personal computers. Indeed, alternative modalities have been contemplated where other products, such as a subscription price to a document, or to a product directly related to the document distribution system shown here, such as a soap or dog food are subsidized. If block 1800 determines that such subsidy is guaranteed, block 1900 requests that distribution module 400 provide such subsidy to the user. In one embodiment, the distribution module 400 simply sends a product such as a printing consumable or other product such as the type described above to a user at the address specified in the user's profile. In another embodiment, the distribution module 400 electronically sends or generates a coupon that the user can use to receive a free product or a free discount of the type described above. Regardless of whether block 1800 is answered affirmatively or negatively, the control flow then returns back to block 1300 (Figure 2) to see if another point of print module 380 has been requested. Referring again to Figure 3, after that the block 2900 informs the document server 100 that the document was successfully printed, the control flow of the block is moved to the 4100 control block (Figure 4), which it verifies with the document server 100 to see what the version is current of the printing module 380. The block 3100 checks to see if such a request has been received, and when so, the block 3200 sends information related to the current version of the printing module to the printing module 380. Block 4200 compares this Document server 100 information with its own version and determines if an updated version of the print module is available. For example, if the print module 380 that is running in version 4.0, and document server 100 indicates that version 4.1 is the current version of print module 380, block 4200 would determine that an updated version of print module 380 is available, and flow control would move to block 4300. block 4300 check to see if this updated version of the 380 print module should be requested to be downloaded. Although a user would typically be asked if such a download should be requested or not, and typically would perform this download in a convenient time, such a step could also be performed automatically without user intervention. If such a download is requested, block 4400 is answered affirmatively, and block 3500 downloads the updated print module, which is then installed in block 4500. Regardless of how blocks 4200 and 4300 are answered, the control flow of moves to block 4600, which checks to see if a disconnected state should be entered. If block 2300 (FIG. 2) determines that device 300 was in a disconnected state when the document was requested, as discussed above (ie, not operatively coupled to network 200), block 4600 is answered affirmatively, and block 4700 enters the disconnected state again. In any case, the flow control returns to block 2200 of Figure 2. Referring again to the printing program 390 shown in Figure 7, it can be seen that many different types of documents can be requested to be printed. For example, the document title 11000 specifies a network address, such as an Internet information resource locator (URL) that contains the location on the network of a document to be printed. Note that this URL can be totally or partially hidden from the user, as is the case with the URL for document 15000. In this scenario, the edition module 120 of the document server 100 only advances to the Internet at the indicated URL (the which would be shown in Figure 1 as one of the content providers 50), and captures the indicated document, which is then transmitted to a printing device via the transmission module 150 and the printing module 380, as has been discussed . Alternatively, the device 300 could go directly to the URL itself without the help of the 10O document server; in this case, block 2300 (Figure 2) requests document 11000 from another source directly from the content provider 50 (at the indicated URL) via network 200. In contrast, document 12000 is not a document that originates with a content provider 50 via the Internet, but instead is stored directly in the device 300, such as a printing device, personal computer, or other electronic device. An example of such a document could be a daily calendar of a program such as Microsoft Outlook, which the user has requested to be automatically printed to his printer, without any user intervention, at 7:00 a.m. every morning of the day of the week. In such an embodiment, the printing module 380 does not need to request the document from the document server 100, since it can access the documents without going through the network 200. In this mode, the block 2300 of Figure 2 requests the document from another source device 300. While block 2900 would still indicate preferably that the document was printed, while block 1700 would preferably even update the user profile in the recognition module. 170, the printing of such a preference document would not generate any type of credit towards a subsidy of the product, since such a document would not be considered as a "preferred" document, for example, it is not a document under the control of the editing module 120 Referring a to Figure 7, a print program of document 13000 is shown. Document 13000 is referred to as a "personalized document". A "personalized document" is a document that is mounted by the editing module 120 of the document server 100 from a variety of content providers 50 and advertising providers 80, based on the information contained in the profile of the user stored in the recognition module 170. For example, the document 13000 is a "personalized document". Our user has requested that the document 13000 - his personalized newspaper - be printed at 6:00 a.m. everyday. The editing module 120 examines the interests of the user according to what is specified in the user profile stored in the recognition module 170, to mount the document from the selected content providers 50 in which the user has indicated an interest . The editing module 120 also inserts commercial notices from the selected commercial advertisement providers 80, a based on the user profile stored in the recognition module 170. Figure 8 shows how the print program 390 of Figure 7 can be edited by the user. The user can use the recommended program of the publicist, use a program by. defect that the user has established, or use a custom program for distribution. If a customized program is selected, the user can select a daily, weekly or monthly distribution, or select a distribution once every specified number of days, or specifically each day of the week. In addition, the time of day can also be specified: once at a designated time, multiple hours during the day, or multiple hours separated by a specified period of time. Although not shown here, the user could also edit the print program 390 to request that a document be sent after its creation, or with the occurrence of an external event. Figures 9A-9B show the document 11000 printed by the printing device according to one embodiment of the invention. Note that this document comes from a content provider 50 via the 200 network (either through the document 100 server or directly), and does not contain commercial notices. Although the document 11000 is preferably formatted by the content provider 50, so that the information contained in the document is optimized for printing, such format is not necessary. Figure 10 shows the document 12000 printed by the printing device according to one embodiment of the invention. Note that this document is a daily calendar of the user which can come directly from the device 300 and not from the document server 100 via the network 200. Figures 11A-D show the document 1300 printed by the printing device according to a modality of the invention. Note that this document is a personalized newspaper of the user, which contains information in which the user has indicated a specific interest, according to what is stored in the user profile in the recognition module 170. Note also that this document contains notices commercial that the editing module 120 determines that the user would also be interested in them, a based on the information contained in the user profile stored in the recognition module 170.

As already discussed, when the user prints a sufficient number of such "preferred" documents, the user can receive a subsidy to the product or printing consumable or other products. Figure 12 shows the document 14000 printed by the printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that document 14000 is the HP Instant Supply Time - a document located on the document server 100. Although this document does not contain commercial notices pei ", it will be considered as a "preferred document", since it is under the control of the editing module 120. The document 1400 informs users of the Instant Distribution of new productions or new information about the Instant Distribution program. Having introduced the basic operation of the document distribution system 10, above, Figures 17-21 provide additional operational information with respect to selected aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, turning to Figure 17, a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for generating a personalized document is presented. As shown, the method begins with block 1010, where the editor module receives content objects from content providers 50 and / or commercial advertisement providers 80, and selectively invokes a case of content manager 518. In response, the Content manager 518 classifies, packages and stores each of the content objects received in one or more content stores (not shown), block 1015. More specifically, as previously introduced, the content manager 518 invokes a case of analysis / packaging agent 522 to analyze and encapsulate the content object received in a tracking packager having a unique identifier. According to one implementation, the analysis agent 522 identifies the meta data within the received content object to classify the content object. Once the analysis agent 522 has classified and encapsulated the received content object in a packer, the content manager 518 updates the information data structure of the content provider 620 associated with the content object provider to denote the identifier of the packer for the received content object. In block 1300, the editing module 120 identifies whether an indicator has been received for the construction of a personalized document. As previously introduced, such an indication may be generated by a requesting user via a user interface (e.g., a page on the network), or in response to an indication received from, for example, the print program 390. In any In case, if an indication is received, the editing module 120 invokes a case of the innovative virtual editor 506 _ to generate a personalized publication to distribute to the identified user. In this regard, the virtual editor 506 invokes a case of construction agent 520, which obtains information from a user profile associated with the identified user to determine the interests of the user, block 1410. In block 1415, the agent of ? 10 construction 520 obtains user profile information 602 to determine the means of choice (for example, send the publication electronically via email, send it via fax, send it to a user's local printer, etc.), interests, preferences, and / or a history of the information received. In block 1420, the building agent 520 determines whether the publication request is unique to an individual user, or if the information has already been retrieved • from another user. If the content objects identified per the publication have already been retrieved to satisfy another user request, the building agent 520 has access to the local memory 508 to quickly retrieve the identified content objects, block 1425. Otherwise, in block 1430, the agent of construction 520 extracts the appropriate ones from the categorized content objects with which it generates a personalized publication. In block 1435, the building agent 520 generates an initial presentation of the personalized document using the extracted information. According to one implementation, the building agent 520 identifies additional content objects based, at least in part, on the already extracted content objects and other key criteria of the taxpayer (eg season, location, etc.) introduced above. . In addition, the building agent 520 may also leave the room in the presentation for the inclusion of content by a local content provider (e.g., an ISP), through which the personalized publication will be transmitted en route to the identified user. In block 1440, the building agent 520 further optimizes the presentation of the document, updating the information database of the content provider 620 with an indication of which content objects have been used in the construction of the personalized document. The custom document created by the building agent 520 of the virtual editor 506 is then sent to the publication agent 504, block 1445, as will be described later (Figures 19 and 20), the presentation agent 516 of the publication agent ends the presentation and content (except for time-sensitive, last-minute content objects), while the programming administrator 514 optimally distributes publication programs to include such objects of time-sensitive, last-minute content. The publishing agent 504 then issues the personalized document for distribution to the user via the transmission module 150 and a printing module 380 associated with the user. Turning to Figure 18, a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary operating method of an innovative printing module 380, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is presented. As previously introduced, the printing module 380 can be located through the document entry system 10, and include a virtual sensor (not shown), which detects and identifies the tracking packers for the content objects comprising personalized publications. received, which provides the document server 100 with confirmation of the user's reception and disposition of the content objects. According to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of Figure 18, the method begins with block 2695, where the print module 380 informs the publishing server that the publication has been successfully printed. In block 2900, the document server 100 is informed that the publication was printed successfully. In response, the content manager 518 updates the field of use of the content objects comprising the personalized document received, for the accurate posting of the content providers 50 and the commercial advertisement providers 80. In block 2905, the printing module 380, verifies in a closed or covert manner the user interaction with the received publication. As previously introduced, this closed verification (via sensors, client applications, etc.) records one or more of the distributions of the content objects to a user, reception of the content objects, whether the objects were printed or viewed in a display terminal, the duration of the observation (if it is for a terminal), and if any edition of the content objects occurred, and any other user interaction with the content objects. In parallel, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the printing module 380 openly requests the user for feedback on the received publication in general, and one or more of the particular content objects, block 2910. In the block 2915, the printing module determines whether the user has provided feedback.

In block 2920, the printing module 380 ponders user satisfaction based, at least in part, on the user interaction observed with the received publication and any feedback received from the user. In block 1695, the printing module 380 notices any additional distribution of the content objects comprising the personalized publication, and provides such information to the editing module 120 to update the user profile and information data structures of the content provider. 602 and 620, respectively. Turning next to Figures 19 and 20, the operation of the innovative publishing agent 504 will be described. As previously introduced, once the building agent 520 has collected the components of a customized publication, the construction of the objects is provided. of content to the publication agent 504, of a block 1445. In block 1447, the publication agent 504 invokes a case of the presentation manager 516 and an internal clock (not shown) is coupled to the monitor for the collection time associated with at least the partial presentation of the publication. According to one implementation, more complex measures were developed and maintained such as, for example, the collection time at a particular time of the day, day of the week, etc. Maintaining this measure of collection time, however complex or rudimentary, allows the publication agent 504 to improve the publication and distribution program. In block 1448, presentation manager 516 determines whether the publication contains any time-sensitive material. If so, a determination is made as to whether the distribution program should include the time to obtain the information (content objects immediately prior to distribution of the publication, block 1451. If the publication does not contain time-sensitive information (1449) , or the distribution program does not require obtaining information immediately prior to distribution (1451), the presentation manager 1516 receives the content objects from the virtual editor 506 to finalize the presentation of the publication, block 1453. In block 1455, the Presentation manager analyzes the content objects in light of the key distributor's information and generates a final presentation of the document If the publication will include time-sensitive, last-minute information (identified in blocks 1449 and 1451, respectively) , the presentation manager 516 receives the content objects from the virtual editor and performs a p partial final presentation of the publication, leaving the conclusion of the presentation to the programming administrator 514 once the last minute content objects, block 1454 have been retrieved. In block 1457, after completing the final or partial final presentation of the publication, the presentation manager, 516 decouples from the internal clock, calculates the collection time and updates a set of records according to a collection time. According to one implementation, the presentation manager 516 generates a measure of the complexity of the publication and maintains a measure of the estimated collection time for different degrees of publication complexity. The estimated collection time can then be used to optimally schedule the publication based, at least in part, on the complexity of the work. In block 1459, the presentation manager 516 determines whether the publication is a single document intended to be for a user, or whether it will be "transmitted" to multiple receivers. If this is intended for a single user, the presentation manager sends it to a programming administrator 514. If, it is to be transmitted to multiple receivers, the presentation manager 516 first tabulates the publication quantities in block 1461 before sending the publication to the programming administrator 514, block 1460. Figure 20 provides a flow diagram of an exemplary method for optimally programming the publication, according to one aspect of the present invention. As shown, the process begins with block 1465, where the programming administrator 514 receives the content objects for the personalized publication of the penetration manager 516 and performs a calculation of initial load balance. According to one implementation, the , presentation manager 516 provides programming administrator 514 with an estimate of collection time, programming manager 514 which refers to the optimal use of agent resources. publication 504. The estimate of the collection time may be a quantitative value (for example, the collection time of the presentation manager 516 to present the publication), or a qualitative value (per ) example, an indication that the publication is of low, medium or high complexity). According to another implementation, the programming administrator, 514 identifies the intended recipient (and a related printing device) to determine the printing status, printing media, media counting, etc. According to one aspect of the invention, to be described more fully below (Figures 22-25), this information is retrieved from the print module 380 associated with the identified user and / or printer. In an alternative mode, this information is provided by consulting the printing device directly. Using this information, together with the information of the collection time, the programming administrator 514, can better identify which work can be completed in a certain time interval, and also optimizes the publication program. The programming manager 516 then identifies an optimal publication start time based on, for example, the relative complexity of the received publication against other scheduled publications. According to one modality, the programming administrator 514 maintains a waiting queue of publication jobs denoting the start time and the estimated processing time for each publication. In block 1469, the programming manager 514 determines whether it is time to complete the publication and distribute a publication of the waiting queue. If so, the programming manager 514 is coupled to an internal clock to verify the collection time, block 1471. As before, the measure of the collection time is useful to make future estimates of the processing time of the programming administrator 514 for works of similar complexity, thus interactively developing a more accurate programming manager 514. In block 1473, the publication of the programming manager of all documents is likely to occur. Assuming that the editor is currently in the program, the programming administrator 514 further determines in block 1477 whether the publication is complete. Once the publication is complete, the programming manager 514 decouples from the internal clock by measuring the collection time and records this information for use in estimating and scheduling future publications, block 1479. In block 1481, the programming administrator 514 generates the document for distribution to the printing module 380, and sends the document to the transmission module 150 for distribution to the printing modules 380, block 1495. If, in block 1475, above, the programming administrator 514 determines that the The editor probably will not complete the publication according to the program, the programming manager 514 does not comply with the publication in block 1483, so that he can keep his publication program moving to the next publishing job. In such an implementation, the programming administrator 514 notifies the system administrator to adjust the heuristic data and reports the failed publications, block 1485. In block 1487, a default publication is generated and the print modules 380, block 1481 are provided In an alternative implementation, more than not complying with the current publication (1483), the 514 programming administrator reoptimizes the publication program, diverting the publication jobs in the waiting queue that are necessary to ensure the publication of the current document. Turning now to Figure 21, a flow diagram of an exemplary method for tracking the distribution, reception and disposition of individual content objects, comprising a personalized publication, according to an aspect of the present invention is presented. As previously introduced, when the 120 edition module receives content (artistic or commercial notices), it categorizes the content objects and encapsulates the object in a tracking packager. Tracking packers are uniquely identifiable markers associated with objects in the document distribution system. Virtual sensors introduced through the document distribution system (for example, print modules) identify the reception and interaction with objects encapsulated in such packers, providing a closed or covert way to the document distribution system a valuable feedback on which objects are of interest to particular users, the amount of distribution of content objects, and the like. An example of a personalized publication 6000 comprised of content objects included in tracking packers 6002 (A) ... (N) is provided with reference to Figure 22. As shown, the content object 6004 is encapsulated within a tracking packer 6002 (A) with a "tag" or "bookmark" 6006, which is stored in the information data structure of the content provider to uniquely identify the content object. As shown, the method of Figure 21 starts with block 5002, where the content manager 518 of the virtual editor 506 receives a report from one or more virtual sensors that the content objects have been sent through, or received by. , identified users. In response, an appropriate content administrator 518 updates the appropriate user profiles (block 5004) and information data structures of the content provider (block 5006) to reflect the distribution, reception and / or disposition of content objects. In block 5008 the contract manager 524 of the content manager 518 periodically initiates financial transactions with content providers 50, commercial advertisement providers 80 and subscribing users. More specifically, the 524 contract administrator initiates the payment of royalties for the distribution and reception of content objects provided by the selected content providers, in accordance with the contractual obligations established between the document distribution system and such suppliers. content. In this regard, the contact administrator identifies the use of the content objects associated with the content providers 50 to determine an exact royalty payment, and instructs the transaction agent 526 to complete the financial transaction, preferably via a of a number of electronic financial service networks. In such a case, the transaction agent 526 initiates a payment to the financial service network account associated with the content providers 50 in the amount identified by the contract administrator 524. Alternatively, the transaction agent 526 may initiate printing checks payable to content providers 50"in a denomination indicated by contract administrator 524, where such printed checks are then sent to content providers 50. Similarly, contract administrator 524 periodically calculates usage of commercial notices to the suppliers of commercial notices 80, instructing the transaction agent 526 to invoice the suppliers of identified commercial notices 80 based on the use, placement, associations and similar commercial notices. ^ 5 _ As above, the transaction agent 526 preferably performs this billing via an electronic financial network but can, alternatively (or in addition) initiate the printing and sending of physical invoices to the suppliers of commercial notices 80. 10 Referring to the Figures 22 (A) and 22 (B), ^ present side views in cross section of a printing device incorporating an innovative media feeding system, according to one aspect of the present invention. As will be described below, the innovative media feed system of the present invention identifies the count and type of media available for a printing device. This information is then presented to the module > edition 120 of the document distribution system 10 for programming purposes, media selection, content object selection, and / or generating a warning regarding the availability of media. In addition, it should be appreciated that printing devices of greater or lesser complexity can be implemented that incorporate the media handling system without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In one implementation, for example, a device that incorporates the media handling system also includes a media cutting system that allows the printing device to alter the ™ 5 size and / or shape of the print media to a desired size. Such a media cutting system can also be integrated into the media extractor and / or the media handling system. Thus, although the prior art printing devices are able to determine if a media tray is empty, the media The inventive media manipulation of the present invention determines the count and type of media available for a printing device and, in selection implementations, alter the size and / or shape of the printing means to facilitate editing and publishing features. advanced features introduced above. In this regard, the advanced media handling system of the present invention "represents a significant improvement in automated imaging systems." Moving on to Figure 22A, the innovative media feed system includes an "extractor" element ( or tray) 24004, a printer element 24002, and a media element (Figure 25), each of which will be described in turn.As shown, the media extractor 24004 includes a media handling tray 24006, a media height meter 24008 operatively coupled to a lifting member 24010 and a media stop 24017, functionally related as described. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the media handling tray 24006 (also called media lifting tray) is raised by the member 24010, which is mounted on springs to rotate and present the media resting on the tray to a preferred media feeding position dictated by the media stop 24017. According to one aspect of the invention, the lifting member 24010 is coupled to a media measuring disc 24008. The lifting member 24010 rotates to raise the tray manipulation of means 14006 until it is stopped by the collision of the means with the media stop 24017, where the media measuring disk 24008 rotates in proportion to the amount of media left in the media tray 14006. For purposes of illustration only , the rotation of the media measuring disk 24008 is illustrated in Figures 22A and 22B following an indicator (24012) on the media measuring disk 2400 8 when it rotates from a full media tray (Figure 22A) to an empty media tray (Figure 22B). It should be appreciated that the indicator does not need to appear on the actual device, but is simply used here to illustrate the movement of the disk in proportion to the height of the media tray 14006. As used herein, the media measuring disk 24008 is constructed to provide a sensor (24014) in the printer element 24002 with an indication of the amount of rotation required to present the media to the media stop 24017. According to one embodiment, the disc Media measuring 24008 is constructed using any of a number of visual indicators, for example, a physically tapered disc, a disc having a tapered pattern that contrasts with the rest of the disc, a disc having color differences graduated along of the circumference, a monolithic digital pattern or any of a number of alternate visual marks, which are perceptible to an optical sensor. In a preferred embodiment, a disc is used which gradually tapers inward along its circumference, where the disc width provides an indication of the amount of disc rotation and, therefore, the amount of media resting on the disc. the media handling tray 24006. Alternative modes using proportional, magnetic, audio or other suitable "audio" and "sensors" may also be used alternatively without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The printer element 24002 of the innovative media feed system is illustrated as comprising a media counting sensor 24014 and, optionally, a media identification sensor 24015, communicatively coupled to one or more controllers 24016. As it was introduced previously, the media counting sensor 24014 is an optical sensor that identifies the width of a media measuring disk 24008 located in the media extractor 24004. It should be appreciated, however, that any of a number of optical sensors can be used. alternatives without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. According to an implementation a user can calibrate the controller 24016 for a particular type of media by entering information regarding the type, size and amount of media loaded in the media tray 14006. The controller 24016 associates the current height of the media tray 24016 (denoted by the width of the media measuring disk) with the type identified by the user and the amount of media. In alternative embodiments, the controller 24016 may have access to the information data stores with respect to the types of media and, thus, may be automatically calibrated using a media identification sensor (24015), described more fully later. In this regard, the media handling system of the present invention provides an automated and manual calibration of the system. According to an implementation of the innovative media feed system, a media identification sensor 24015 is deployed within the printer element 24002. According to this exemplary implementation, the media identification sensor 24015 locates and reads one piece information innovative of the media populating the media extractor 24004. In a preferred embodiment, the media identification sensor 24015 is an optical sensor that reads small identification marks of, for example, an edge of the next available piece of media in the media. media manipulation extractor 24004. According to one implementation, the media identification sensor 24015 can also be used for additional purposes, for example, detecting jams, or erroneous feeds within the innovative media handling system. An example of the innovative means and identification marks are illustrated with reference to Figure 23. As shown, the innovative means 6000 presented in Figure 23 include identification marks 6001 located on one plus edges of the means 6000. Consistent With the teachings of the present invention, one or more sets of unique identification marks may be employed such as, for example, slits physically cut from the media, colored markings, etc. In the case of colored markings, invisible ink can be used, so that the marks are removed over time, or when they are exposed to the printing process. In a preferred embodiment, it is intended that the marks (whether slits, colored markings, etc.) are very small, almost imperceptible to the human eye, but easily apparent to the media identification sensor. The marks represent a code that contains information related to one or more attributes of the means such as, for example, the weight of the media, dimensions of the media (height, width, thickness), grain and roughness of the media, etc. This information, when decoded by the controller 24016, is then used to further optimize the printing function. Given the information of media types (e.g., thickness, and the relative height of the media on the media handling tray 24006, the controller 24016 can accurately calculate the amount of remaining media available for the media extractor printing device. means 24004. Turning to Figure 24, a cross-sectional view is presented, from top to bottom, of the innovative media feed system. The top-down view of Figure 24 provides an improved view to illustrate the tapered features of the media measuring disk 24008. In accordance with the illustrated exemplary embodiment of Figure 24, two sets of measurement disc combinations are illustrated. Media sensor, together with two media identification sensors (24015). It should also be appreciated that alternative embodiments employing more or less sensors and / or media measuring disks, or alternative arrangements thereof, may also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. With reference to Figure 25, a flow diagram of an exemplary method for determining the type and amount of media available for the printing device is presented, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. As shown, the method begins with block 26002, where media handling tray 24006 is raised by member 24010 until the media resting on it (if any) reaches media stop 24017. As previously introduced , the media measuring disk 24008 is functionally coupled to the lifting member 24010, so that changes in the height of the media handling tray 24006 (to accommodate more or fewer media) are translated directly into a rotation of the media disc. media measurement 24008. In block 26004, media counting sensor 24014 identifies the relative height of media handling tray 24006 of media measurement disc 24008. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment illustrated, above, the relative height is determined from the width of the media measuring disk 24008 optically measured by the media counting sensor 24014. As previously introduced, in the In exemplary detail, the media measuring disc 24008 is tapered so that when the disc rotates in response to the addition / removal of media to / from the media handling tray, the effective width of the disc from the perspective of the counting sensor of means 24014 is increased or decreased, respectively. The width of the media measuring disk 24008, as measured by the media counting sensor 24014, is provided to the controller 24016 using a wired / wireless communication interface. In block 26006, controller 24016 determines whether the type of media is known. If the controller 24016 does not know the type of media, the controller 24016 estimates the counting of the remaining means based, at least in part, on the media size information by default. According to one implementation, the default media size is twenty pounds (9.08 kilograms) (20 #) paper. In block 26012, this media counting information is provided to the printing module 380, for transmission to one or more document servers for use in the publication program and the selection of media type. If, in block 26006, the type of media is known, controller 24016 uses the relative height of) media handling tray 24006, translated from media measuring disk 24008, and the dimensional information of the media type identified to calculate exactly the remaining media count, which is provided to the printing module in block 26012. A representative process for determining the type of media is presented with reference to block 26020 to 26026. In block 26020, the sensor of the type media 24015 attempts to locate and read the marks of the upper part of the media in the media handling tray 24006. This code is represented by identification marks sent from the sensor 24015 to the controller 24016, which has access to a data store (not shown). If the marks are not located, additional sensors (if available) can be used to verify the orientation of the media inside the extractor (for example, if the pattern is on the back, etc.), block 26022. If the media is not properly oriented within the media handling system, the controller 24016 makes a determination of whether the orientation of the media is, nevertheless, acceptable. According to one implementation, the printing device includes the ability to print on both sides of a sheet of paper and, thus, could reorient the media within the printing device. Additionally, in certain cases, the orientation of the media may not make a substantial difference in the printed result. If the controller 24016 determines that the media is not properly oriented within the media handling system to provide the appropriate printed result, the controller 24016 issues a warning message denoting that the media is inappropriately oriented within the media handling system. According to one implementation, this message is presented on a control panel of the printing device, which allows a user to reorient the means to continue the printing work. In addition, the controller 24016 may also issue the message to a document distribution server that sends the print job, after which the editing module 120 may instruct the 24016 controller to continue with alternative means (identified by the print system). media manipulation), to reorient the media using a media manipulation system, or may choose to cancel the distribution of the publication. In block 26028, controller 24016 waits for any external indication (for example, reorientation of the media by the user and elimination of the error, an indication of the editing module 120, etc.) to continue with the distribution of the publication. If, after some time, it does not receive additional indication, the 24016 controller cancels the distribution of the publication. If, however, the controller 24016 determines that the media is properly oriented, or otherwise receives an indication to continue with the distribution of the publication, the controller 24016 has access to a data store of media identification marks to try identify the media in the media extractor 26030. In block 26032, the controller 24016 identifies exactly the type of media corresponding to the code read from the media by the sensor 24015. Once identified, the information of the associated media attributes with the type of media is retrieved (for example, from the same data store) allowing the driver 24016 to optimize the printer parameters and determine exactly the remaining media count, block 26034. Figure 26 provides an example of a method for generating a printing pattern (also known as a printing medium) for use with the present invention. As shown, the method begins with block 27002, where the printing pattern is received and, if necessary, cut to the appropriate size. In block 27004, a code is generated which uniquely identifies the print pattern based, at least in part, on the attributes of the printing pattern. According to one implementation, the code is generated to an industrially accepted standard coding scheme. In alternative implementations, patented coding schemes may also be employed. In block 27006, the printing pattern is marked, cut and / or stamped with the unique code to identify the printing pattern for the innovative 24000 printing device. According to certain implementations, the method of Figure 26 is implemented by a pattern maker of printing during the manufacturing process. As previously introduced, however, selected printing devices 300 may also include the media cutting system for altering the shape and / or size of the available printing pattern. In this regard, one or more steps of the process of Figure 26 can be implemented by another manufacturer of the printing pattern without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although presented in the context of the innovative document distribution system 10, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the individual aspects of the present invention can also be advantageously implemented outside of an automated document distribution system, within the scope of the invention. present invention. In this regard, the innovative media feed system can also be used within a stand-alone printing device to utilize the printing parameters for the detected media, allowing a user to place mixed media types in the media extractor. In addition, the media counting sensor would allow the controller 24016 to warn a user of such a printing device that there are insufficient means to complete a requested print job before the print job begins. In alternative implementations, the 24016 controller maintains a record of the manufacturer's type of media used with a particular printing device, and allows product subsidies to be granted based, at least in part, on the registration of the use of media type in the printing device. Such modalities of alternative implementations are anticipatory of the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatus, characterized in that it comprises: a controller; and a sensor, coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is positioned to locate and identify a code containing information of the media type of a next media piece available in a media receptacle of the printing device, and to generate a signal for the media. controller based, at least in part, on the identified code. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller identifies the type of media based on the signal received from the optical sensor. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the code is comprised of one or more markings made for the printing means, including one or more of the following: colored ink, self-dissolvable, temporary ink, and / or cut slits in an edge of the media. - 4. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the location of the marks is indicative of the type of media. 5. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the controller maintains a record of the use of the type of media by the apparatus. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the controller causes a subsidy to be granted to the product to an end user of the apparatus based, at least in part, on the recording of the use of the type of media. 7. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the controller modifies one or more operating parameters of the apparatus in response to the type of identified means. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the controller invokes a means cutting system for altering one or more physical attributes of the printing means to accommodate publication based, at least in part, on the type of media Identified 9. A method, characterized in that it comprises: locating strategic marks on at least one next type of available means that populates a media detector of the printing device; and identify a type of media of a following type of media available based, at least in part, on localized strategic brands. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises: adjusting one or more printing parameters of the printing device on basis, at least in part, to the type of media identified. 11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises: altering one or more physical attributes of the printing means identified in base, at least in part, to the identified type of media. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises: identifying a manufacturer of the following type of medium available based, at least in part, on the localized strategic brands. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that it also comprises: maintaining a record of the use of the type of media for the manufacturer; and request a subsidy to the product in favor of an end user of the printing device, at least in part, to the registration of the use of the type of media by the manufacturer. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises: generating an indication denoting the following type of means available to a requesting document distribution server. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises: receiving media manipulation instructions from the document distribution server in response to the generated indication. 16. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises: determining that the next type of available means is appropriately oriented within the media extractor; and issue a message denoting inappropriate orientation of the media.