Technology Background: The Xerox Controller

Transcription

1 Technology Background: The Xerox Controller It s not just a new exterior design that sets the new Xerox Corporation multifunction products (MFPs) apart. It s what s under the hood: a powerful controller, covered by more than two dozen patents, and representing a functionally integrated approach that s the industry s most effective in optimizing office productivity. The Xerox controller results from years of research into the best way to leverage the varied input and output streams of an MFP. Xerox researchers and engineers began with the assumption that users should be able to do more than one thing at a time. Then they asked, How can we design for peak periods so that multiple users at multiple entry points are able to access functions simultaneously without degrading the performance of the device -- or affecting individual productivity? The result is a line of MFPs that are designed from the ground up for top performance in real-life situations. A walk-up user can scan in a job while a remote or local user s job is printing. Or can program in work to be faxed while someone else s job prints. Or can scan to while a copy job prints. These are all the kinds of tasks that one would expect a multifunction device to perform, but, strangely enough, they are not a given on all MFPs. It s the unique architecture of the Xerox controller that enables this concurrency. All full-featured MFPs accommodate input from three sources a scanner, a phone line, and a wired or wireless network. And they can output jobs to a fax transmitter, a marking engine (for hard copy output) and to the network and thence to a file server, an address or other software service. Connecting the inputs and outputs is the controller.

2 Controller Technology Background / 2 The controller s job in an MFP is to direct the job traffic, determining the paths that jobs follow, the sequence of the jobs and the most efficient use of resources so there is no hesitation between jobs. The Xerox controller is a multipurpose, multitasking platform. Three attributes set it apart from other controllers, and they make it an ideal network citizen as well: 1. It permits concurrent operations and can be programmed ahead. 2. It is a common controller platform, used across the Xerox MFP line. 3. It employs an open architecture. Concurrent Operations: Offices are turning to MFPs to realize the cost savings of consolidated assets. But when individual desktop printers are replaced with MFPs supporting workgroups, concurrent accessibility becomes increasingly important. Many MFPs are multicapable. They can fax, print, copy and scan, but those tasks must be done sequentially. One job cannot be initiated until the previous job is concluded. Because of the design of the Xerox controller, its products are truly multifunctional they can walk and chew gum at the same time. That s an important productivity tool. It means the device can serve more than one user at a time. There s no waiting for one job to finish before the next is started. And someone copying doesn t lock up the enterprise workflow. Instead of adapting an existing copier or printer controller, Xerox designed its MFP controller from the ground up to deliver concurrency. There are actually two separate controllers one for the device (the scanning and marking engine) and one for the network, supporting job receipt, image processing and print queue management. While one processor focuses on processing the incoming job, the other manages sending the print image to the marking engine. This enables the Xerox MFPs to scan, copy and run the marking engine at full-rated speed and still give full attention to image processing, even with very difficult jobs. It results in real multi-processor concurrency and maximizes output under peak demand.

3 Controller Technology Background / 3 Underpinning the productivity benefits of concurrency is the Xerox controller s system management philosophy, which also distinguishes it from other available MFPs. The controller is programmed to keep the print pipeline full, simultaneously handling multiple jobs at different stages in the processing pipeline. It doesn t treat banner sheets as separate jobs, as some other MFPs do, and it doesn t miss a beat between print jobs. Instead, it starts the paper through the paper path before the image is even sent -- so that the image and paper arrive at the marking station simultaneously. The result? The seconds saved pile up as each consecutive job in the queue prints. Common Controller Platform: The Xerox controller software used in the entire fleet of color and monochrome WorkCentre Pro products is identical. On the other hand, controller hardware is scaled to match the print speed of the MFP, with memory, CPU and disk drives sized to keep the paper path full. Controller hardware must also be optimized for color or black-andwhite output. Using a common controller is advantageous for users, the administrators of the networks on which the devices reside, and third-party solutions developers. It means that anyone using a network where the Xerox products are deployed is offered the same functionality and will work with the same user interface on every WorkCentre Pro. When end-users add a new PC to the network, one driver can be installed for all printers and the print and copy functions are always the same. That makes for easy learning and enhances productivity. The availability of a common controller also confers important productivity benefits on IT staffers administering the network. It allows them to use the same setup routine whether they are installing one WorkCentre or WorkCentre Pro on the network or Similarly, once they have learned how to administer one, they can administer all the devices; all have the same page description language and the same capabilities so there is consistent execution across the entire line. In addition, all print drivers are Microsoft certified.

4 Controller Technology Background / 4 Partners developing solutions for the WorkCentre Pro products can leverage the common controller to slash development time and facilitate maintenance. The same application programming interface (API) will perform precisely the same operation on every device, so when they develop a piece of software for one device, it will work with others. The common controller allows them to deliver uniform implementations across the solution space. Open Architecture: The third characteristic that distinguishes the Xerox MFPs is the use of open architecture. The controller s open architecture makes possible full network integration including directory services, security and network device management, and it encourages development of integrated solutions that can streamline common work processes. Some desktop and server applications are developed by customers to meet specific requirements; others are developed by Xerox partners. Because the products don t require proprietary hooks, both network administrators and solution partners benefit. With open architecture, products can be integrated smoothly and quickly with customers applications and workflows, reducing IT expenses and rapidly deploying new workflow solutions that can make the enterprise more productive. In addition to accepting most common print streams, the devices employ industry-standard protocols for functions such as and scan-to- addresses, and they export data in a standard format, which can be opened by any standard-compliant reader, such as PDF or TIFF. The controller is designed to support integration of third-party software applications. For developers, the Xerox multifunction systems provide a solid platform for solutions by exposing their powerful internal capabilities through stable published interfaces. For example, an Enterprise Resource Planning application streams reports directly to the device for printing using standard print protocols and data streams.

5 Controller Technology Background / 5 Xerox offers partners three software development kits with documentation and development tools for seamless integration of network scan, network fax, and network accounting applications with the MFP. That allows them to pre-integrate their applications with the WorkCentre Pro fleet of products, providing turnkey solutions for office customers. -XXX- Media Contacts: Carl Langsenkamp, Xerox Corporation, , carl.langsenkamp@usa.xerox.com Krista Malagisi, Text 100 for Xerox, , kristam@text100.com NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on Xerox, visit XEROX, The Document Company and the digital X are trademarks of XEROX CORPORATION.