Request for Comments: 3806 Hitachi Printing Solutions
Category: Informational H. Lewis
IBM Corporation
I. McDonald
High North Inc.
June 2004
Printer Finishing MIB
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).
Abstract
This document defines a MIB module for the management of printer
finishing device subunits. The finishing device subunits applicable
to this MIB are an integral part of the Printer System. This MIB
applies only to a Finisher Device that is connected to a Printer
System.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.1. Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2. Rational. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3. The Internet-Standard Management Framework. . . . . . . 4
1.4. Read-Write Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1. General Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2. Process Specific Terminology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3. Finisher Subunits Integrated into the Printer Model . . . . . 12
4. Finishing Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.1. Multiple finDeviceTable Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.2. Implicit Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.2.1. FinPunchPatternTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.2.2. FinPunchHoleTypeTC, punchHoleSizeMaxDim,
punchHoleSizeMinDim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5. The Attribute Mechanism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.1. Conformance of Attribute Implementation . . . . . . . . 16
5.2. Useful, ’Unknown’, and ’Other’ Values for Objects
and Attributes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.3. Data Sub-types and Attribute Naming Conventions . . . . 17
5.4. Single-Value (Row) Versus Multi-Value (MULTI-ROW)
Attributes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.5. Linked MUTI-ROW Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.6. Index Value Attributes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.7. Attribute Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6. Enumerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.1. Registering Additional Enumerated Values. . . . . . . . 23
7. IANA Printer Finishing MIB Specification. . . . . . . . . . . 24
8. Printer Finishing MIB Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
9. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
10. Internationalization Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
11. References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
11.1. Normative References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
11.2. Informative References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
12. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
13. Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
14. Authors’ Addresses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
15. Full Copyright Statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
1. Introduction
This document describes an SNMP Management Information Base (MIB) to
provide for the management of in-line post-processing in a fashion
that is currently provided for printers, using the Printer MIB
[RFC3805]. The Printer Finishing MIB includes the following
features:
- Provides the status of the finishing device.
- Queries and controls the features and configuration of the
finishing device.
- Enables and disables the finishing processes.
- Allows unsolicited status from the finishing device.
The Finisher MIB is defined as an extension of the Printer MIB
[RFC3805] and it is expected that the information defined in this
document will be incorporated into a future update of the Printer
MIB.
1.1. Scope
This document provides a robust set of finishing devices, features,
and functions, based upon today’s state of the art of in-line
finishing. Since finishing typically accompanies higher speed
network printers and copiers, in contrast to simple desktop devices,
no attempt is made to limit the scope to "bare minimum". On the
other hand, the Printer Finishing MIB does not duplicate the
production mail preparation, custom insertion, franking, and reprints
that are covered by the DMTF Large Mailing Operations standard [LMO].
Information supplied by the Printer Finishing MIB may be utilized by
printer and finisher management applications engaged in monitoring
status and managing configuration, and also used by print and
finishing submission applications which are engaged in:
- print-job-level finishing processes that are applied to a complete
print job,
- document-level finishing processes that are applied individually
to each document in the print job,
- document-level finishing processes that are applied to a selected
document in the print job.
Note that not all combinations of finishing processes are permitted.
Compatible combinations of finishing processes are implementation
specific. The MIB allows invalid combinations to be identified.
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119].
1.2. Rational
The Printer MIB [RFC3805] is now successfully deployed in a large
segment of the network printer market. SNMP and/or HTTP enabled
printers and software management applications are growing in numbers.
There is an increase in the availability of network printers and
copiers that include in-line finishing processes. Thus a well
defined and ordered set of finishing objects is now necessary for
printer management.
The printer model defined in the Printer MIB includes finishing
processes and the MIB was designed to later incorporate finisher
objects or to be referenced by a future Finisher MIB.
1.3. The Internet-Standard Management Framework
For a detailed overview of the documents that describe the current
Internet-Standard Management Framework, please refer to section 7 of
RFC 3410 [RFC3410].
Managed objects are accessed via a virtual information store, termed
the Management Information Base or MIB. MIB objects are generally
accessed through the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
Objects in the MIB are defined using the mechanisms defined in the
Structure of Management Information (SMI). This memo specifies a MIB
module that is compliant to the SMIv2, which is described in STD 58,
RFC 2578 [RFC2578], STD 58, RFC 2579 [RFC2579] and STD 58, RFC 2580
[RFC2580].
1.4. Read-Write Objects
Some objects in the Finisher MIB reflect the existence or amount of a
given resource within the finisher. Some examples of such resources
are the size and number of sheets in an inserter tray or the
existence of certain finisher options. Some finishers have automatic
sensors for these resources. Most finishers lack sensors for every
property of every resource. The management application is allowed to
write into objects that hold descriptive or existence values for
finishers that cannot sense these values. The ability to change the
value of a read-write object may depend on the implementation of the
agent. Many objects in the MIB are given read-write access, but an
implementation might only permit a management application to change
the value if the finisher can not sense the value itself. Note that
even though some objects explicitly state the behavior of conditional
ability to change values, any read-write object may act this way.
Generally, an object is given read-write access in the Finisher MIB
specification if:
1. The object involves installation of a resource that some finishers
cannot themselves detect. Therefore, external means are needed to
inform the device of the installation. (Here external means
include using the operator console, or remote management
application) and
2. The finisher will behave differently if the installation of the
resource is reported than if the installation were not reported;
that is, the object is not to be used as a place to put
information not used by the finisher, i.e., not a "sticky-note".
Another way of saying this is that the finisher believes that
information given it and acts as if the information were true.
3. The finisher may get hints that it may not know about the
existence or properties of certain resources. For example, a
paper tray may be removed and re-inserted. When this removal and
insertion happens, the finisher may either assume that a property,
such as the size of paper in the tray, has not changed or the
finisher may change the value of the associated object to
"unknown", as might be done for the amount of paper in the tray.
As long as the finisher acts according to the value in the object
either strategy is acceptable.
4. It is an implementation-specific matter as to whether or not MIB
object values are persistent across power cycles or cold starts.
2. Terminology
Where appropriate, the Printer Finishing MIB will conform to the
terminology, syntax, and semantics from the DMTF Large Mailing
Operations standard [LMO], the Internet Printing Protocol [RFC2911],
and/or the ISO Document Printing Application [DPA].
2.1. General Terminology
Finisher Input: An input tray on the finisher and not otherwise
associated with the printer. An example of a finisher input is a
tray that holds finishing "inserts".
^ Y
|
|<---- Reference Edge
|
| |<--- Finishing Process Axis
| |
--->| |<--- Finishing Process Offset
| |
Head +=========================+ (X2,Y4)
Locations # | #
+-----#----+ #
-----Y3--|-----#--O | <--+- Head #
^ +-----#----+ | Mechanisms #
| # | | #
| # | | #
| # | | #
| # | | #
| +-----#----+ | #
| ---Y2--|-----#--O | <--+ #
| ^ +-----#----+ | #
| | # | | #
| | # | | #
| | # | | #
| | # | | #
| | +-----#----+ | #
| | -Y1--|-----#--O | <--+ #
| | ^ +-----#----+ bottom right #
| | | # | corner # X
--------------- +==+======================+ ---->
(0,0) (X1,0)
Figure 1 - Finishing Process Axis Parallel to Y Axis
^ Y
| Head Locations
|<---------------->|---X2
|<---->|---X1 |
| | |
| +-|-+ +-|-+
| | | | | | | (X3,Y2)
+======|===========|======+
# | | | | | | # Finishing Process Axis
#----| O |-------| O |----#----- Y1
# +---+ +---+ # ^
# ^ ^ # |
# | | # |
# +-----------+ # |
# | # |
# Head # |
# Mechanisms # |
# # |
# # Finishing Process Offset
# # |
# # |
# # |
# # |
# # |
# # |
# bottom right # |
# corner # v X
+=========================+ ------>
(0,0) Reference Edge
Figure 2 - Finishing Process Axis Parallel to X Axis
Finisher Output: The output of the finisher. Because processing is
in-line, the finisher outputs are a direct extension of the set of
printer outputs.
Media Orientation: All Finishing Processes are defined relative to a
portrait orientation of the medium, regardless of the orientation of
the printed image or the direction of feed. The ’X’ and ’Y’ axis,
therefore, will always reference the medium as shown in figures 1
and 2, with the ’X’ axis always along the short edge of the medium.
All edges and corners are also defined with the medium orientation
as shown using the syntax top, bottom, left, and right. Thus the
bottom edge of the medium is at Y = 0, the left edge is at X = 0,
and the bottom right corner is at (X2,0) as shown in the figure 1
and at (X3,0) as shown in figure 2.
Finishing: Defined by DPA as an operation on a document following
the completion of the image process. Finishing processes defined
within this document are those applied to one or more instances of
rectangular paper sheet media.
Finishing Process: Defined by DPA as an operation applied by a
machine such as trimming a document, folding the sheets in a
document, and applying a binding to a document.
Finishing Specification: Defined by DPA as the specific sequence of
operations for a serial combination of finishing processes. The
exact sequential order of the processes, in many cases, is critical
to the obtaining the desired result. For example, a folding
operation followed by trimming could provide a very different result
than if the trimming was followed by the folding.
Finishing Process Parameters: This parameter set is used to create a
detailed definition of the finishing process. Generic Finishing
Process Parameters are applicable to any Finishing Specification.
- Head Mechanism: Defined by DPA as the physical mechanism that is
used to perform a finishing process. The head position may be
fixed or variable depending upon the capabilities of the device.
- Reference Edge: Defined by DPA as the edge of the document
relative to the axis to which the finishing process is applied.
The edge of the medium defined to be the Reference Edge may be
either the ’X’ or the ’Y’ axis, depending upon the finishing
process to be performed.
Note that the Reference Edge may change from one finishing process
to another for one of two reasons. First, a subsequent process
may require a different Reference Edge. Second, the actual
dimensions of the document may change, for example as a result of
a folding or a trimming operation.
- Jog Edge: Defined by DPA as one of the two edges that is
perpendicular to the Reference Edge. Specifying the Jog Edge
parameter indicates the edges of all sheets which correspond to
the Jog Edge are aligned.
- Finishing Process Axis: Defined by DPA as the axis which some
finishing processes are applied to or referenced from by the Head
Mechanism. Examples are the axis for a fold process or the axis
for a punch process.
- Head Locations: Defined by DPA as the position of the Heads on
the Finishing Process Axis.
- Finishing Process Offset: The offset from the Reference Edge to
the Finishing Process Axis at which the finishing process takes
place or is applied.
2.2. Process Specific Terminology
FOLDING:
Z Fold: A fold in which two folds are placed in the sheet in
opposite directions. The first fold is located at 25% of the sheet
length, and the second is located at 50% of the sheet length (i.e.,
the center of the sheet). Z Folding is often used on 11x17 inch or
A3 size sheets, when they are included in sets containing 8.5x11
inch or A4 size sheets.
Half Fold: To fold a sheet in half so that one of the resulting
dimensions are exactly half the original sheet. Often used for
signatures or booklets.
Letter Fold: Folding a sheet roughly in thirds. Usually performed
on 8.5x11 inch or A4 size sheets for insertion into an envelope.
Signature: The process by which images are placed on a large sheet
of paper in correct panel areas and in the proper orientation such
that when the sheet is folded it will produce a booklet with each
page in the proper order and orientation.
BINDING:
Adhesive Binding: A method of attaching sheets together to form a
book or booklet using glue or adhesive. Some adhesive binding
methods apply the glue to sheets individually, before merging them
together for form a book, but most methods involve the application
of adhesive to an entire book of sheets.
Comb Binding: A method of binding in which a series of small
rectangular holes is placed along the bind edge of the sheets. The
sheets are then held together using a tube shaped plastic binding
strip with comb like fingers that fit through the holes in the
sheets.
Spiral Binding: Sometimes referred to as wire binding, this binding
method is a mechanical bind in which the individual leaves are held
together by a wire or plastic spiral that is fed through small
holes in the paper binding edge.
Padding: Applying a non-penetrating adhesive to the edge of a stack
of sheets such that the sheets can be easily peeled off one at a
time. Frequently used for forms.
Velo Binding: A bind formed by punching holes into the edge of the
sheets, placing a two piece plastic strip (one side formed with
plastic pins that pass through the holes) along the edge and then
staking the two pieces together.
Perfect Binding: A method of binding in which all pages are cut and
roughed up at the back or binding edge and held together by an
adhesive.
Tape Binding: The act of placing tape over the bind edge of a set.
Sometimes contains adhesive to provide a functional bind to the
set, and sometimes done for decorative purposes on a set that has
been edge stapled.
SLITTING/CUTTING/TRIMMING:
Trim: To cut the edges of a sheet or set of sheets.
Face Trim: To cut the edges of a set of sheets on a booklet of
sheets that have been folded to eliminate the "creep" or edge
shingling that results from the folding process.