PMP> The Input Switching Group

PMP> The Input Switching Group

Bob Pentecost bpenteco at boi.hp.com
Wed Feb 12 19:31:48 EST 1997


Angelo,


After talking to someone today about the objects in the Input Switching 
Group, I reread your mail and think I know where our confusion is coming 
from.


You wrote:
> The only issue I have left is that in my experience we would
> apply prtInputNextIndex first when the tray goes empty. Then, if it's
> value is zero, we would apply prtInputMediaLoadTimeout. According to
> the current description for the timeout it's the other way round --
> timeout first, then switch. This does not make sense to me.


HP printers automatically switch to a new tray if it has the same media as 
a tray that empties. We would apply the timeout only in the case that there 
is not matching media anywhere in the printer.


This object originated with manual feed requests, its intention was to wait 
for the manual feed and then switch to another tray when the timeout 
expires. Your preference to switch first, then timeout doesn't allow time 
to complete the manual feed request. However, for the case of running out 
of media in a tray, I agree that you'd want to switch right away.


I think both of our implementations would be legal because 
prtInputMediaLoadTimeout specifies "The event which causes the printer to 
enter the waiting state is product specific."


If a user specifies prtInputNextIndex = 0, then the timeout should be -1 
unless they want the job to abort when prtInputMediaLoadTimeout expires.


I have changed the objects in the Input Switching Group and upload a Word 
file with the revisions marked. You can find it at 
ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg/pmp/contributions/inputsw.doc.


Let me know what you think.


Bob Pentecost
HP




----------
From:  Caruso,Angelo[SMTP:Angelo_Caruso at wb.xerox.com]
Sent:  Monday, January 27, 1997 5:21 PM
To:  pmp at pwg.org
Subject:  RE: PMP> The Input Switching Group


Bob,


I agree, there are too many objects. I think we both agree on the
 objects we need to keep (though I may have confused you with my
 previous message on this subject). To summarize, I think we need to keep


prtInputMediaLoadTimeout and
prtInputNextIndex.


And, we should remove prtInputAutoSwitch.


This will require that we wordsmith the descriptions for the objects we
 keep. The only issue I have left is that in my experience we would
 apply prtInputNextIndex first when the tray goes empty. Then, if it's
 value is zero, we would apply prtInputMediaLoadTimeout. According to
 the current description for the timeout it's the other way round --
 timeout first, then switch. This does not make sense to me.


I think we need people to respond with their implementation experience.
 Do most printers check to see if they should autoswitch first, then
 apply the timeout? Or do most printers timeout first, then decide if
 they should autoswitch?


Any other opinions?


Thanks,
Angelo


----------
From: pmp-owner at pwg.org
To: "'Caruso,Angelo'"
Cc: Bob Pentecost; "pmp at pwg.org"
Subject: RE: PMP> The Input Switching Group
Date: Thursday, January 23, 1997 5:31PM


Angelo,


Looking at the definitions of prtInputManualFeedTimeout (which is supposed
to be prtInputMediaLoadTimeout), prtInputAutoSwitch and your new definition 
of prtInputNextIndex, it looks like we've got too many controls for what we 
need to do.


The objective is to have a timeout when the needed media is not available.
The timeout requirement is satisfied by prtInputMediaLoadTimeout. The
action to be taken can be controlled by prtInputNextIndex, as you've
defined it if you change the wording to "A value of zero(0) indicates that
auto input switching will not occur and the job will be aborted when this
input subunit is emptied." I don't see the need for prtInputAutoSwitch to
control switching, when prtInputNextIndex can determine the action to be
taken.


You claim that prtInputNextIndex is not necessary, but you don't explain
why. I see that it is needed for the printers that wish to allow the next
input subunit to be configurable. For HP printers, we would support only
values of zero and -2 since we don't know which tray we will switch to
until the load media request is generated.


When we discussed this at the meeting on Friday afternoon, I didn't realize 
that there were multiple controls. This looks like a case where we can do
some simplification, but let's not delete the wrong object.


Let me know if I'm missing something.


Bob Pentecost
HP




prtInputManualFeedTimeout OBJECT-TYPE
	SYNTAX		Integer32
	MAX-ACCESS	read-write
	MIN-ACCESS	read-only
	STATUS		current
	DESCRIPTION
		"The duration (in seconds) after which the printer shall
		 either:


			(a) switch to another input subunit, if the value of
			    prtInputNextIndex is non-zero and prtInputAutoSwitch
			    is on(3)
			or
			(b) abort any job waiting for manually fed input, if the
			    value of prtInputNextIndex is zero or
			    prtInputAutoSwitch is off(4) or notPresent(5).


		The event which causes the printer to enter the waiting state
		is product specific. A value of (-1) implies 'other' or
		'infinite' which translates to 'this input subunit doesn't
		support manual feed'. A value of (-2) implies 'unknown'."
::= { prtInputEntry 24 }


prtInputAutoSwitch OBJECT-TYPE
	SYNTAX		PresentOnOff
	MAX-ACCESS	read-write
	MIN-ACCESS	read-only
	STATUS		current
	DESCRIPTION
		"Indicates the state of the auto input switching feature. The
		 value notPresent(5) indicates the feature is not currently
		 supported. Exact behavior of this feature is product specific."
::= { prtInputEntry 25 }






----------
From:  Caruso,Angelo[SMTP:Angelo_Caruso at wb.xerox.com]
Sent:  Monday, January 13, 1997 5:19 PM
To:  pmp at pwg.org
Subject:  PMP> The Input Switching Group


One of my action items from the Albuquerque meeting is to refine and
 justify the new objects in the Input Switching Group. Here is my first
 crack at refining these objects:


prtInputNextIndex OBJECT-TYPE
	SYNTAX		Integer32
	MAX-ACCESS	read-write
	MIN-ACCESS	read-only
	STATUS		current
	DESCRIPTION
		"The value of prtInputIndex corresponding to the input subunit
		 which will be used when this input subunit is emptied. A value
		 of zero(0) indicates that auto input switching will not occur
		 when this input subunit is emptied. A value of (-1) means other.
		 The value (-2) means 'unknown' and specifically indicates that
		 an implementation specific method will determine the next input
		 subunit to use at the time this subunit is emptied. The value
		 (-3) means input switching is not supported for this subunit."


Based on the new description above, I am once again of the opinion that
 the prtInputAutoSwicth object is uneccessary. Did I forget anything
 from the discussion Friday afternoon? Any other comments?


Thanks,
Angelo



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