WO2021108020A1

WO2021108020A1 - Print jobs execution based on print content sizes

Info

Publication number: WO2021108020A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/052233
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anusha .; Devi VELLNGIRI; Puviyarasu V .
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2019-11-25
Filing date: 2020-09-23
Publication date: 2021-06-03

Abstract

In one example, a printing apparatus may include a storage unit to store a set of available print media sizes and a controller. The controller may receive a print job for printing a page, determine a size of print content of the page, select a print media size from the set of available print media sizes based on the determined size of the print content, and execute the print job on a print medium corresponding to the selected print media size.

Description

PRINT JOBS EXECUTION BASED ON PRINT CONTENT SIZES

BACKGROUND

[0001] Printers may be connected to computing systems through wired or wireless networks, such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). Different kinds of printers such as inkjet printers and laser printers are commercially available. Such printers, also referred to as multifunction printing devices, may provide the functionalities of a scanner as well as that of a copier, a printer, a fax, and the like. For example, the multifunction printing devices may facilitate a user to scan, print, and copy documents from a single device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0002] Examples are described in the following detailed description and in reference to the drawings, in which:

[0003] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an example printing apparatus including a controller to execute a print job on a print medium based on a size of print content of a page;

[0004] FIG. 1B illustrates an example page including raster image data and strip information associated with the page;

[0005] FIG. 1C depicts an example input page associated with a received print job and an example output page produced upon execution of the print job;

[0006] FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an example printing apparatus including an execution unit to print first print content of a first page and at least a portion of second print content of a second page on a first print medium;

[0007] FIG. 2B is a block diagram of an example content size detection unit of FIG. 2A; [0008] FIG. 2C depicts an example input associated with a received print job and an example output produced upon execution of the print job;

[0009] FIG. 2D depicts an example input associated with a received print job and an example output produced upon execution of the print job;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example printing apparatus including a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, storing instructions to print content on a printing medium based on a size of print content of a page;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example printing apparatus including a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, storing instructions to print content of at least two pages of a print job on one print medium;

[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates an example method for identifying a printer from a set of printers based on a success percentage of the printers to execute a print job;

[0013] FIG. 6A illustrates an example system, including a computing device to identify a printer from a set of printers based on a success percentage to execute a print job; and

[0014] FIG. 6B illustrates an example table, depicting a media error percentage and a location of selected printers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Printing apparatuses may facilitate a user to copy and/or print documents. Printing apparatuses, such as multifunction printing devices, may facilitate performing multiple jobs at one command. For example, the user may provide a command to scan a document and subsequently print the same document. However, there may be instances that the printed document may include less content, for instance, 30% of a print medium. In such scenarios, the remaining portion of the print medium may be blank. This may lead to wastage of the print medium, such as a sheet of paper on which the content is printed.

[0016] At times, printouts or copies may be taken for personal usage. In such instances, users may look for content to be printed and may not demand for printing the content on a standard print media size. However, the content may be printed on a default standard print medium irrespective of the print content. For example, the content may be printed on the standard print media size (e.g., A4 paper), even though the content can fit in a print medium (e.g., A5 paper), that may be smaller than the standard print media size. This could be because the user may not be aware of the available print media sizes in the printing apparatuses.

[0017] Further, print services (e.g., print cloud services) may be focused on providing remote access to a set of printers connected to a network. However, users may not be aware of available print media sizes in the set of printers and/or device history pertaining to job handling for each available print media size of the set of printers. In such cases, the print job execution may lead to unsuccessful prints that can result in wastage of print media, toner/ink, power, and/or user's time. For instance, consider that a user initiates a print job on an A5 sheet to a first printer in a fleet of printers. If the first printer has a history of print media errors for printing the content on the A5 sheet, then there may be a chance that the print job may be failed with a print media error.

[0018] Examples described herein may provide a printing apparatus including a controller to print content of a page on a suitable media size. The controller may receive a print job for printing a page and determine a size of the print content of the page. The size of the print content may include a height and width of the print content. Further, the controller may select a print media size from a set of available print media sizes that can be supported by the printing apparatus based on the determined size of the print content. Furthermore, the controller may execute the print job on a print medium corresponding to the selected print media size. In other words, the controller may print the print content on a different available media size (e.g., A5) which may have a size smaller than the print media size (e.g., A4) specified by the print job, for instance, to reduce the wastage of the print medium (e.g., paper) and save paper cost and usage.

[0019] In another example, the controller may receive a print job having a set of pages and extract a size of print content of each page. Further, the controller may determine a size of blank space at an end of each page following the print content. For example, if there is a blank space at an end of a first page, the controller may append at least a portion of print content of a second page to the blank space of the first page to print the first print content and at least the portion of the second print content on a first print medium. The remaining print content of the second page may be printed on a second print medium along with at least a portion of the print content of a third page (if any). The controller may continue the process till a last page of the print job. In this example, the controller may also select the print media size based on the size of the print content on the last page and print the print content of the last page on a print medium corresponding to the selected print media size. Thus, examples described herein may print the print content in the standard print media in such a way that no blank spaces are left on the print media, thereby reducing the amount of print media (e.g., a number of papers) needed to print the print content associated with the set of pages.

[0020] In yet another example, examples described herein may provide a computer-implemented method for managing a print job based on a print media size and device information (e.g., an available print media size, print history information, print media error information, and/or the like). In this example, the print job including printable content may be received from a client device. Further, the print media size may be determined to print the printable content. Furthermore, the device information associated with a set of printers connected to a network may be obtained (e.g., from a cloud-based service). Also, a success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the set of printers may be determined based on the device information. Then, a printer may be identified from the set of printers based on the success percentage. Further, the print job may be transmitted to the identified printer for printing. Thus, examples described herein may enhance the probability of successful print job execution.

[0021] Thus, examples described herein may provide a hassle-free user experience where the user: may not have to be aware of different media sizes needed for executing the print job; may not have to be aware of available print media sizes on the printing apparatus or the fleet of printers; and/or may have an enhanced probability of successful print job execution without print media jams and/or out of print media errors.

[0022] In some examples, examples described herein may provide an option to print the content on a standard print media size or on a different available print media size based on printable content size. With this option, the user can either choose to print the content on a standard print media wherein the content can be printed in such a way that no blank spaces are left on the print media or to print the content on a different available print media corresponding to the printable content size. The option may be a user opted feature, which can be enabled for executing the print job based on the user’s consent.

[0023] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present techniques. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, devices, and systems may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at least that one example, but not necessarily in other examples.

[0024] Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an example printing apparatus 100 including a controller 104 to execute a print job on a print medium based on a size of print content of a page. Printing apparatus 100 may generate a physical representation of the print content received from a client device (e.g., a personal computer, a desktop computer, a mobile device, or the like). For example, the client device may be connected to printing apparatus 100 through a wired or a wireless network, such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). The client device may include a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The memory may include a printer agent such as a printer driver that is either installed in or accessible to the client device to access printing apparatus 100.

[0025] In one example, printing apparatus 100 may be a single-function device such as a printer, copier, fax, or the like. In another example, printing apparatus 100 may be a multifunction printing device. In this example, the multifunction printing device may be implemented as a commercially available printer including the functionalities of a printer along with a scanner, a copier, a fax, and/or the like. Example multifunction printing device may be a printer-copier, a printer-scanner- copier-fax, or the like. The terms “printing apparatus”, “printer”, and “multifunction printing device” may be used interchangeably throughout the document.

[0026] Example printing apparatus 100 may include a storage unit 102 to store information associated with a set of available print media sizes that can be supported by printing apparatus 100. For example, printing apparatus 100 may include a first tray to hold a first print medium of a first print media size and a second tray to hold a second print medium of a second print media size, that may be different from the first print media size.

[0027] Further, printing apparatus 100 may include controller 104 in communication with storage unit 102. For example, controller 104 may access or receive the information from storage unit 102 and control an operation of printing apparatus 100 based upon the received data. In one example, controller 104 may be implemented as an engine or module including any combination of hardware and programming to implement the functionalities described herein. [0028] During operation, controller 104 may receive a print job for printing a page. Further, controller 104 may determine a size of print content of the page. In one example, controller 104 may determine the size of the print content using Red Green Blue (RGB) values included in raster image data of the page. The size of the print content may include a height and width of the print content. In some examples, controller 104 may determine the size of the print content of the page in response to detecting a user input in the received print job. The user input may correspond to an option to print the print content on a suitable media size. An example operation of controller 104 to determine the size of the print content may be explained with respect to FIG. 1B.

[0029] FIG. 1B illustrates an example page 152 including the raster image data and strip information associated with page 152. The print job may include strips of RGB data along with headers. The headers may include details such as a media type, print mode, color/mono, margins, and the like. Multiple strips may together form one page. For example, the strips can be either 32 rows, 64 rows, or 128 rows of RGB data. In other examples, strips can include any number of rows of RGB data.

[0030] During operation, controller 104 may extract the strip information associated with the raster image data of the page from the print job. The strip information may include a number of strips 156A-156N, a height of each strip, a width of each strip, and the like. Further, controller 104 may determine a number of blank strips (e.g., 156H and 156K-156N) and a number of non-blank strips (e.g., 156A-156G, 1561, and 156J) from the strip information based on the RGB values included in the raster image data. Furthermore, controller 104 may determine the size of the print content based on the strip information, the number of blank strips, and the number of non-blank strips. In this example, controller 104 may determine the size of the print content by counting the number of strips until a last non-blank strip of the page. In this example, the blank strips at the end of the print content may be ignored for content size detection. However, the blank strips in between the non-blank strips can be considered as valid print content. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 1B, strips 156Ato 156J including non-blank strip 156H may be counted to determine the size of the print content.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1A, controller 104 may select a print media size from the set of available print media sizes based on the determined size of the print content. Furthermore, controller 104 may execute the print job on a print medium corresponding to the selected print media size. An example operation of controller 104 to execute the print job on the print medium is explained with respect to FIG. 1C.

[0032] FIG. 1C depicts an example input page 158 associated with a received print job and an example output page 160 produced upon execution of the print job. During operation, controller 104 may receive the print job having page 158. Page 158 may include print content in a standard print media size (e.g., A4 sheet). Consider that the print content of page 158 may fit into an A5 sheet. Based on the determined size of the print content of page 158, controller 104 may select a matching print media size (e.g., A5 sheet) and print the print content on the A5 sheet without modifying the size of the print content.

[0033] In other examples, printing apparatus 100 may include a user interface (e.g., a display screen, a control panel, or the like). For example, a user can trigger a copy job on printing apparatus 100 via the user interface to copy content on the printing medium. In this example, controller 104 may execute the copy job received via the user interface to print/copy the content on the printing medium based on the determined size of the print content.

[0034] In another example, printing apparatus 100 may include a read-slot to receive a memory card, in which electronic documents to-be-printed are stored. Furthermore, the print job associated with the electronic documents may be triggered through a control panel of printing apparatus 100. For example, the memory card accessible to printing apparatus 100 may include, but not limited to, an SD™ card (Secure Digital card), a CompactFlash I™ card, a CompactFlash II™ card, a SmartMedia™ card, a Memory Stick™, Memory Stick Duo™, a Memory Stick Micro M2™, a Muiti Media card, a MMCmicro™ card, a RS-MMC card™, a microSD™ card, a miniSD™, a MMCMobile™ card, XD-Picture card™, a CompactFlash™, and/or flash drives having a USB interface.

[0035] Printing apparatus 100 may include computer-readable storage medium including (e.g., encoded with) instructions executable by a processor to implement functionalities described herein in relation to FIGs. 1A-1C. In some examples, the functionalities described herein, in relation to instructions to implement functions of components of printing apparatus 100 and any additional instructions described herein in relation to the storage medium, may be implemented as engines or modules including any combination of hardware and programming to implement the functionalities of the modules or engines described herein. The functions of components of printing apparatus 100 may also be implemented by a respective processor. In examples described herein, the processor may include, for example, one processor or multiple processors included in a single device or distributed across multiple devices.

[0036] FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an example printing apparatus 200 including an execution unit 208 to print first print content of a first page and at least a portion of second print content of a second page on a first print medium. Printing apparatus 200 may include a receiving unit 202, a content size detection unit 204, an appending unit 206, and execution unit 208. In one example, the components of printing apparatus 200 may be implemented in hardware, machine-readable instructions, or a combination thereof. For example, receiving unit 202, content size detection unit 204, appending unit 206, and execution unit 208 may be implemented as engines or modules including any combination of hardware and programming to implement the functionalities described herein.

[0037] During operation, receiving unit 202 may receive a print job having the first page and the second page. Further, content size detection unit 204 may determine a first size of a first print content from raster image data of the first page and determine a second size of the second print content from raster image data of the second page. Aiso, content size detection unit 204 may determine a size of blank space at an end of the first page and the second page following the first print content and the second print content, respectively.

[0038] In one example, content size detection unit 204 may determine the first size using RGB values included in the raster image data of the first page. The first size of the first print content may include a height and width of the first print content. Similarly, content size detection unit 204 may determine the second size using RGB values included in the raster image data of the second page. The second size of the second print content may include a height and width of the second print content. An example operation of content size detection unit 204 is explained with respect to FIG. 2B.

[0039] Further, appending unit 206 may append at least the portion of the second print content to the blank space based on the second size. Further, execution unit 208 may execute the print job to print the first print content and at least the portion of the second print content on the first print medium. The remaining print content of the second page (if any) may be printed on a second print medium along with at least a portion of the print content of a third page (if any). Further, execution unit 208 may continue the process til! a last page of the print job. An example printing process may be explained with respect to FIG. 2C.

[0040] For example, consider that the second page is the last page of the print job. In this example, content size detection unit 204 may determine a third size of remaining portion of the second print content upon appending the portion of the second print content to the first page. The third size may include a height and width of the remaining portion. Further, content size detection unit 204 may select a print media size from a set of available print media sizes based on the third size. Furthermore, execution unit 208 may execute the print job to print the remaining portion on the second print medium having the selected print media size. The selected print media size of the second print medium may be different from a print media size of the first print medium. An example scenario may be explained with respect to FIG. 2D.

[0041] FIG. 2B is a block diagram of example content size detection unit 204 of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2B, content size detection unit 204 may include a strip header extractor 252 to extract strip information associated with the raster image data of the first page and the second page from the print job. Example strip information may include a number of strips, a height of each strip, and a width of each strip.

[0042] In one example, the print job may include strips of RGB data along with headers. Strip header extractor 252 may extract header information (e.g., a top margin, a bottom margin, a right margin, and a left margin) from the headers. Further, strip header extractor 252 may also extract strip information such as the number of strips, the height of each strip, and the width of each strip. Furthermore, strip header extractor 252 may remove the headers associated with each strip and send the RGB data used for the printing to a blank strip detector 254.

[0043] Further, content size detection unit 204 may include blank strip detector 254 to determine a number of blank strips and a number of non-blank strips from the strip information based on RGB values included in the raster image data. In one example, blank strip detector 254 may receive the RGB data from strip header extractor 252 and check if each strip is blank or non-blank based on the RGB data. Further, blank strip detector 254 may provide output as strip count and whether the strip is blank.

[0044] Furthermore, content size detection unit 204 may include a content size determiner 256 to determine the first size of the first print content and the second size of the second print content based on the strip information, the number of blank strips, and the number of non-blank strips. In one example, content size determiner 256 may receive the strip information and the header information from strip header extractor 252 and blank strip information from blank strip detector 254. Further, content size determiner 256 may consolidate the header information, strip information, and biank strip information to determine the size of the print content by counting the strips till a last non-blank strip.

[0046] FIG. 2C depicts an example input 258 associated with a received print job and an example output 260 produced upon execution of the print job. For example, receiving unit 202 may receive the print job having a first page 262A, a second page 262B, a third page 262C, and a fourth page 262D. Pages 262A-262D may include print content in a standard print media size (e.g., A4 sheet). As shown in FIG. 2C, pages 262A and 262C may not have blank space at the end of the print content and pages 262B and 262D may have blank space at the end of the print content.

[0046] Based on the determined size of the print content of pages 262A-262D, appending unit 206 may append a portion of the print content of third page 262C into the blank space associated with second page 262B. Further, the print job may be executed to print the print content of page 262A on a first print medium 264A, and the print content of second page 262B along with the portion of the print content of third page 262C on a second print medium 264B. Similarly, the remaining print content of third page 262C may be printed on a third print medium 264C along with the print content of fourth page 262D. Thus, the print job with four input pages 262A-262D may be printed on three print media 264A-264C, thereby reducing the number of the print media.

[0047] FIG. 2D depicts another example input 266 associated with a received print job and an example output 268 produced upon execution of the print job. For example, receiving unit 202 may receive the print job having a first page 270A, a second page 270B, and a third page 270C. Pages 270A-270C may include print content in a standard print media size (e.g., A4 sheet). As shown in FIG. 2D, pages 270A and 270C may not have blank space at the end of the print content and page 270B may have blank space at the end of the print content. [0048] Based on the determined size of the print content of pages 270A-270C, appending unit 206 may append a portion of the print content of third page 270C into the blank space associated with second page 270B. Further, the print job may be executed to print the print content of page 270A on a first print medium 272A, and the print content of second page 270B along with the portion of the print content of third page 270C on a second print medium 272B. Further, a size of remaining portion of the print content of third page 270C may be determined and a print media size may be selected from the set of available print media sizes based on the determined size. Furthermore, the remaining portion of third page 270C may be printed on a third print medium 272C having the selected print media size. The selected print media size of third print medium 272C may be different from a print media size of first print medium 272A and second print medium 272B.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example printing apparatus 300 including a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 304, storing instructions (e.g., 306 to 312) to print content on a printing medium based on a size of print content of a page. Printing apparatus 300 may include a processor 302 and machine- readable storage medium 304 communicatively coupled through a system bus. Processor 302 may be any type of central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, or processing logic that interprets and executes machine-readable instructions stored in machine-readable storage medium 304. Machine-readable storage medium 304 may be a random-access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that may store information and machine-readable instructions that may be executed by processor 302. For example, machine-readable storage medium 304 may be synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate (DDR), rambus DRAM (RDRAM), rambus RAM, etc., or storage memory media such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a pen drive, and the like. In an example, machine-readable storage medium 304 may be a non-transitory machine-readable medium. In an example, machine-readable storage medium 304 may be remote but accessible to printing apparatus 300. [0050] As shown in FIG. 3, machine-readable storage medium 304 may store instructions 306-312. In an example, instructions 306-312 may be executed by processor 302 to print content on the printing medium based on the size of print content. Instructions 306 may be executed by processor 302 to receive a print job for printing the page.

[0051] Instructions 308 may be executed by processor 302 to determine a size of the print content of the page. Instructions 310 may be executed by processor 302 to select a print media size from the set of available print media sizes based on the determined size of the print content. Instructions 312 may be executed by processor 302 to execute the print job on the print medium corresponding to the selected print media size.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example printing apparatus 400 including a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 404, storing instructions (e.g., 406 to 416) to print content of at least two pages of a print job on one print medium. Printing apparatus 400 may include a processor 402 and machine-readable storage medium 404 communicatively coupled through a system bus. Processor 402 may be any type of centra! processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, or processing logic that interprets and executes machine-readable instructions stored in machine-readable storage medium 404. Machine-readable storage medium 404 may be a random-access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that may store information and machine-readable instructions that may be executed by processor 402. For example, machine-readable storage medium 404 may be synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate (DDR), rambus DRAM (RDRAM), rambus RAM, etc., or storage memory media such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a pen drive, and the like. In an example, machine- readable storage medium 404 may be a non-transitory machine-readable medium. In an example, machine-readable storage medium 404 may be remote but accessible to printing apparatus 400. [0053] As shown in FIG. 4, machine-readable storage medium 404 may store instructions 406-416. In an example, instructions 406-416 may be executed by processor 402 to print first print content of a first page and a portion of second print content of a second page on a first print medium. Instructions 406 may be executed by processor 402 to receive the print job having the first page and the second page.

[0054] Instructions 408 may be executed by processor 402 to determine a first size of the first print content from raster image data of the first page. Instructions 410 may be executed by processor 402 to determine a second size of the second print content from raster image data of the second page. Instructions 412 may be executed by processor 402 to determine a size of blank space at an end of the first page following the first print content.

[0055] Instructions 414 may be executed by processor 402 to append at least a portion of the second print content to the blank space based on the second size. Instructions 416 may be executed by processor 402 to execute the print job to print the first print content and at least the portion of the second print content on the first print medium.

[0056] FIG. 5 illustrates an example method 500 for identifying a printer from a set of printers based on a success percentage of the printers to execute a print job. It should be understood that the process depicted in FIG. 5 represents generalized illustrations, and that other processes may be added, or existing processes may be removed, modified, or rearranged without departing from the scope and spirit of the present application. In addition, it should be understood that the processes may represent instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium that, when executed, may cause a processor to respond, to perform actions, to change states, and/or to make decisions. Alternatively, the processes may represent functions and/or actions performed by functionally equivalent circuits like analog circuits, digital signal processing circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or other hardware components associated with the system. Furthermore, the flow charts are not intended to limit the implementation of the present application, but rather the flow charts illustrate functional information to design/fabricate circuits, generate machine-readable instructions, or use a combination of hardware and machine-readable instructions to perform the illustrated processes.

[0057] At 502, the print job including printable content may be received from a client device. At 504, a print media size to print the printable content may be determined. At 506, device information associated with the set of printers connected to a network may be obtained. In one example, the device information may include an available print media size, print history information, print error information (e.g., print media error history), location information, and/or the like. At 508, the success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size may be determined for the set of printers based on the device information.

[0058] At 510, the printer may be identified from the set of printers based on the success percentage. In one example, the printer may be identified from the set of printers by applying a machine learning model to the device information and the print media size. In this example, the machine learning model may be applied to the device information and the print media size to identify the printer having a maximum success percentage to execute the print job. At 512, the print job may be transmitted to the identified printer for printing the printable content based on a user-selected feature.

[0059] In one example, the user-selected feature may include printing the content on a suitable media size. In this example, the print media size to print the printable content may be determined by:

Determining a size of the printable content of a first page of the print job. An example to determine the size of the printable content is explained with respect to FIG. 2B.

Determining the print media size from a set of available print media sizes based on the determined size of the printable content. [0060] Further, the success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the set of printers may be determined by:

Filtering the set of printers that support the determined print media size based on the available print media size of the set of printers.

Determining the success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the filtered set of printers based on the print history information and the print error information (e.g., print media error information).

[0061] In another example, the user-selected feature may include printing the content on a standard print media without wasting space on the standard print media. In this example, determining the success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the set of printers may include:

- Determining a size of a first printable content of a first page of the print job.

- Determining a size of a second printable content of a second page of the print job.

- Detecting a blank space at an end of the first page following the first printable content.

- Appending at least a portion of the second printable content to the blank space to print the first printable content and the portion of the second printable content on a print medium having a standard print media size.

- Filtering the set of printers that support the standard print media size based on the available print media size of the set of printers.

- Determining the success percentage of the print job corresponding to the standard print media size for the filtered set of printers based on the print history information and the print error information.

[0062] In other examples, method 500 may further include determining a location of the client device that provides the print job. In this example, the printer may be identified from the set of printers based on a proximity of the set of printers to the location of the client device and the success percentage. An example to identify the printer from the set of printers based on the location of the client device and the success percentage is explained with respect to FIG. 6A.

[0063] FIG. 6A illustrates an example system 600A, including a computing device 602 to identify a printer from a set of printers 6Q6A-606N based on a success percentage to execute a print job. As shown in FIG. 6A, system 600A may include computing device 602 communicatively connected to a network of printers 606A-606N and a cloud 608. Computing device 602 may receive the print job including printable content from a client device 604 (e.g., via a network) and transmit the print job to one of printers 606A-606N via cloud 608.

[0064] For example, printers 606A-606N may provide support for cloud services, which may interface and interact with remote resources, such as via the internet or in cloud 608. Printers 606A-606N may need to activate or access the cloud services, for instance, over the internet or a cloud connection in order to use the cloud services, printers 606A-606N may be registered to cloud 608 (e.g., a cloud printing server). In one example, computing device 602 may be implemented as a part of cloud 608 or external to cloud 608.

[0065] In some examples, the cloud services may connect to printers 606 A- 606N via a centralized architecture, where a computing device (e.g., a cloud printing server) that manages requests for printing from individual sites and users, is based in a central location. As shown in FIG. 6A, cloud 608 may include a telemetry server 636 for metrics collection and data analysis.

[0066] Telemetry server 636 may be used to collect data regarding the use of printers 606A-606N by client devices. For example, telemetry server 636 can collect a history of print jobs submitted to each of printers 606A-606N. Further, the data can be analyzed to determine statistical data such as a frequency of use of printers 606A-606N, a number of print jobs received by printers 606A-606N, types of errors occurred, availability of print media sizes on printers 606A-606N, and/or the like. Telemetry server 636 may constantly get status updates (e.g., print jobs, sieep/wake, print media, and the like) about various statuses of printers 606A- 606N.

[0067] Further, cloud 608 may include a device status collector 630 to continuously collect device information associated with printers 606A-606N from telemetry server 636. In one example, device status collector 630 may include a media tracker server 632 to collect the device information associated with available print media sizes in printers 606A-606N. Further, device status collector 630 may include a job tracker server 634 to collect the device information associated with print jobs submitted to each of printers 606A-606N and print media errors occurrence associated with each print media size in printers 606A-606N. Cloud 608 may constantly update media tracker server 632 and job tracker server 634 with the above information.

[0068] Further, computing device 602 may include a content size detection unit 610. When the print job is submitted by client device 604, content size detection unit 610 may determine the printable content size for each page in the print job. The print job may include strips of RGB data along with headers. Multiple strips may together form one page. In this example, content size detection unit 610 may determine the size of the printable content using RGB values included in raster image data of the page. The size of the printable content may include a height and width of the printable content.

[0069] In one example, content size detection unit 610 may include a strip header extractor 614, a blank strip detector 616, and a content size determiner 618. Strip header extractor 614 may extract header information (e.g., a top margin, a bottom margin, a right margin, and a left margin) from the headers. Further, strip header extractor 614 may also extract strip information such as the number of strips, the height of each strip, and the width of each strip. Furthermore, strip header extractor 614 may remove the headers associated with each strip and send the RGB data used for the printing to blank strip detector 616. [0070] Further, blank strip detector 616 may determine a number of blank strips and a number of non-blank strips from the strip information based on the RGB values included in the raster image data. In one example, blank strip detector 616 may receive the RGB data from strip header extractor 614 and check if each strip is a blank or non-blank based on the RGB data. Further, blank strip detector 616 may provide output as strip count and whether the strip is blank.

[0071] Furthermore, content size determiner 618 may determine a size of the printable content of each page based on the strip information, the number of blank strips, and the number of non-blank strips. In one example, content size determiner 618 may receive the strip information and the header information from strip header extractor 614 and blank strip information from blank strip detector 616. Further, content size determiner 618 may consolidate the header information, strip information, and blank strip information to determine the size of the printable content of the page by counting the strips till a last non-blank strip in the page.

[0072] Further, computing device 602 may include a device status receiver 612. Device status receiver 612 may include a job tracker client 620 that communicates with job tracker server 634 in cloud 608 to receive the device information including print history information, print error information, and the like. Further, device status receiver 612 may include a media tracker client 622 that communicates with media tracker server 632 in cloud 608 to receive device information associated with available print media sizes in printers 606A-606N.

[0073] Furthermore, computing device 602 may include a location tracker 628 that stores a location of client device 604 and printers 606A-606N. Also, computing device 602 may include a device selector 624 that utilizes a machine learning model 626 to select a printer from printers 606A-606N for printing. In this example, device selector 624 may receive: the size of the printable content associated with each page in the print job from content size detection unit 610, the available print media sizes in printers 606A-606N from media tracker client 622, the print history information and print error information from job tracker client 620, and the location of client device 604 and printers 606A-606N from location tracker 628.

[0074] Further, device selector 624 may utilize machine learning model 626 to perform the following operations:

1. Determine a print media size to print the printable content based on the size of the printable content (e.g., the strip information) and the available print media sizes.

2. Based on the print media size, filter printers 606A-606N that supports the determined print media size. a. For the submitted print job, consider that device selector 624 determines the required print media size as A5. b. Further, device selector 624 may select printers having A5 size print media based on available print media sizes in printers 606A- 606N. For example, consider that the selected printers may include printers 606A, 606B, 606E, 606G, and 606H.

3. Calculate the A5 print media error percentage for the selected printers. For example, consider that the print media error percentage of the selected printers may include printer 606A (4%), printer 606B (7%), printer 606E (2%), printer 606G (3%), and printer 606H (9%), for instance as shown in table 600B of FIG. 6B. The print media error percentage may be derived from the print media error and job history details fetched from job tracker client 620 as follows: print media error percentage = (number of print media errors occurred / total number of print jobs on that print media) X 100.

4. For the selected printers, calculate the average media error percentage. As per the data in table 600B, the average percentage may be 5% (i.e.,

{₄₊₇₊2+3+9)/5). 5. Obtain the location information (e.g., L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5) of the selected printers 606A, 606B, 606E, 606G, and 606H, respectively, along with the location of client device 604 from location tracker 628. FIG. 6B illustrates example table 600B, depicting the media error percentage and the location of selected printers 606A, 606B, 606E, 606G, and 606H. As shown in FIG. 6B, table 600B may include a printer identifier field 652, a media error percentage field 654, and a location field 656.

6. When the user selects that the print job is a high priority job, then the print job may be submitted to printer 606E having a minimum media error.

7. Else the print job may be submitted to a printer which is in proximity to client device 604 and having the media error percentage less than a threshold (e.g., average percentage of 5%).

[0075] In some examples, device selector 624 may utilize a sorting decision tree to select the printer that is proximate to client device 604 or to select the printer having a minimum media error. For example, consider that the printers having the media error percentage less than the threshold may be printers 606A, 606E, and 606G. If the job is of high priority, then the printer with minimum error percentage may be selected from printers 606A, 606E, and 606G, for instance, using the sorting decision tree. In the example shown in table 600B, printer 606E may have the minimum error percentage and hence device selector 624 may select printer 606E for printing the content. If the job is not of high priority, then device selector 624 may select the printer based on the proximity of printers 606A, 606E, and 606G to client device 604.

[0076] Computing device 602 may include computer-readable storage medium including (e.g., encoded with) instructions executable by a processor to implement functionalities described herein in relation to FIG. 6A. In some examples, the functionalities described herein, in relation to instructions to implement functions of components of computing device 602 and any additional instructions described herein in relation to the storage medium, may be implemented as engines or modules including any combination of hardware and programming to implement the functionalities of the modules or engines described herein. The functions of components of computing device 602 may also be implemented by a respective processor. In examples described herein, the processor may include, for example, one processor or multiple processors included in a single device or distributed across multiple devices.

[0077] It may be noted that the above-described examples of the present solution are for the purpose of illustration only. Although the solution has been described in conjunction with a specific implementation thereof, numerous modifications may be possible without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Other substitutions, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present solution. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0078] The terms “include,” “have,” and variations thereof, as used herein, have the same meaning as the term “comprise” or appropriate variation thereof. Furthermore, the term “based on”, as used herein, means “based at least in part on.” Thus, a feature that is described as based on some stimulus can be based on the stimulus or a combination of stimuli including the stimulus.

[0079] The present description has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing examples. It is understood, however, that other forms, details, and examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter that is defined in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A printing apparatus comprising: a storage unit to store a set of available print media sizes; and a controller to: receive a print job for printing a page; determine a size of print content of the page; select a print media size from the set of available print media sizes based on the determined size of the print content; and execute the print job on a print medium corresponding to the selected print media size.

2. The printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to determine the size of the print content using RGB values included in raster image data of the page, the size of the print content comprising a height and width of the print content.

3. The printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is to: extract strip information associated with the raster image data of the page from the print job, wherein the strip information comprises a number of strips, a height of each strip, and a width of each strip; determine a number of blank strips and a number of non-blank strips from the strip information based on the RGB values included in the raster image data of the page; and determine the size of the print content based on the strip information, the number of blank strips, and the number of non-blank strips.

4. The printing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is to determine the size of the print content by counting the number of strips until a last non-blank strip of the page.

5. The printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is to determine the size of the print content of the page in response to detecting a user input in the received print job, wherein the user input corresponds to an option to print the print content on a suitable media size.

6. A printing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit to receive a print job having a first page and a second page; a content size detection unit to: determine a first size of a first print content from raster image data of the first page; determine a second size of a second print content from raster image data of the second page; and determine a size of blank space at an end of the first page following the first print content; an appending unit to append at least a portion of the second print content to the blank space based on the second size; and an execution unit to execute the print job to print the first print content and at least the portion of the second print content on a first print medium.

7. The printing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the content size detection unit is to: determine a third size of remaining portion of the second print content upon appending the portion of the second print content to the first page, the third size comprising a height and width of the remaining portion; select a print media size from a set of available print media sizes based on the third size; and execute the print job to print the remaining portion on a second print medium having the selected print media size, wherein the selected print media size of the second print medium is different from a print media size of the first print medium.

8. The printing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the content size detection unit is to: determine the first size using RGB values included in the raster image data of the first page, wherein the first size of the first print content comprises a height and width of the first print content; and determine the second size using RGB values included in the raster image data of the second page, wherein the second size of the second print content comprises a height and width of the second print content.

9. The printing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the content size detection unit comprises: a strip header extractor to extract strip information associated with the raster image data of the first page and the second page from the print job, wherein the strip information comprises a number of strips, a height of each strip, and a width of each strip; a blank strip detector to determine a number of blank strips and a number of non-blank strips from the strip information based on RGB values included in the raster image data of the first page and the second page; and a content size determiner to determine the first size of the first print content and the second size of the second print content based on the strip information, the number of blank strips, and the number of non-blank strips.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving a print job including printable content from a client device; determining a print media size to print the printable content; obtaining device information associated with a set of printers connected to a network, the device information comprising an available print media size, print history information, and print error information; determining a success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the set of printers based on the device information; identifying a printer from the set of printers based on the success percentage; and transmitting the print job to the identified printer.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein identifying the printer from the set of printers comprises: identifying the printer from the set of printers by applying a machine learning model to the device information and the print media size, and wherein the machine learning model is applied to the device information and the print media size to identify the printer having a maximum success percentage to execute the print job.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein determining the print media size to print the printable content comprises: determining a size of the printable content of a first page of the print job; and determining the print media size from a set of available print media sizes based on the determined size of the printable content.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein determining the success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the set of printers comprises: filtering the set of printers that support the determined print media size based on the available print media size of the set of printers; and determining the success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the filtered set of printers based on the print history information and the print error information.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein determining the success percentage of the print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the set of printers comprises: determining a size of a first printable content of a first page of the print job; determining a size of a second printable content of a second page of the print job; detecting a blank space at an end of the first page following the first printable content; generating a modified print job by appending at least a portion of the second print content to the blank space; and determining the success percentage of the modified print job corresponding to the determined print media size for the set of printers based on the print history information, the print error information, and the available print media size.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising: determining a location of the client device that provides the print job, wherein the printer is identified from the set of printers based on a proximity of the set of printers to the location of the client device and the success percentage.