Image-based printer system monitoring
View Patent ↗A printer monitoring interface is disclosed that uses a combination of dynamic three dimensional representations of a printing system and actual photographic images (still or video) of problem areas to give an operator monitoring the printing system realtime feedback, in both graphical and actual-image form, of areas of the printing system experiencing problems. The graphical images (which may also be actual photographic images) provide the operator with a representation of the overall system, and the actual images of problem areas provide the operator with the ability to actually see the problem that is occurring. The graphical and actual-image views are combined so that the operator can quickly and easily identify where in the system the problem is occurring, and quickly diagnose problems and determine solutions.
1. A system for monitoring printing stations on a printing production floor, the system comprising:
a sensing element sensing a problem area of a printing station on the printing production floor, wherein the printing production floor includes a plurality of printing stations;
a display system displaying a three-dimensional representation of an overview image of the printing production floor, an indication of the problem area of the printing station on the printing production floor, and
photographic images of one or more portions of the printing station on the printing production floor inside of the three-dimensional representation of the overview image of the printing production floor; and
a processor configured to visually correlating the photographic images to a portion of the three-dimensional image corresponding to the problem area,
whereby when a problem area of the printing station on the printing production floor is identified, the three-dimensional image and at least one of the photographic images are simultaneously displayed on the display system such that the correlation of the at least one of the photographic images to the portion of the three-dimensional image corresponding to the problem area is apparent.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display system comprises a processor coupled to a display monitor, the processor storing the three-dimensional representation and displaying the three-dimensional representation on the display monitor.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the display system further comprises a digital camera coupled to the processor and positioned to take overview photographs of the printing station on the printing production floor, the processor being configured to control the operation of the digital camera and to store the overview photographs as the three-dimensional representation of the printing station on the printing production floor.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional representation comprises a computer generated image of the printing station on the printing production floor.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the display system comprises:
one or more photographic imaging devices, coupled to the processor, situated at locations within the printing station on the printing production floor where problems are known to occur, the processor configured to control the operation of said one or more photographic imaging devices and to store photographic images of said locations and displaying the photographic images of said locations on said display monitor.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said photographic imaging devices comprise digital still cameras.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the photographic imaging devices comprise video cameras.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
predefined correction instructions providing instructions for correcting problems occurring at the problem areas, the predefined correction instructions being stored on the interface and displayed on the display monitor when a problem with the printing station on the printing production floor is sensed by the sensing element.
9. A method of monitoring the operation of a printing station on a printing production floor, the method comprising:
placing a digital camera in a position enabling it to take overview photographs of the printing station on the printing production floor;
sensing problems occurring in one or more areas of the printing station on the printing production floor, wherein the printing production floor includes a plurality of printing stations;
obtaining photographic images from the digital camera of the one or more areas of the printing station on the printing production floor in which problems have been sensed;
displaying a three-dimensional representation on a display monitor of the overview image of the printing production floor, an indication of the printing station on the printing production floor and the obtained photographic images of one or more areas of the printing station on the printing production floor in which problems have been sensed, wherein the obtained photographic images are displayed inside the three-dimensional representation of the overview image of the printing production floor;
configuring a processor to control the operation of the digital camera and to store the overview photographs as the three-dimensional representation of the printing station on the printing production floor and to display the three-dimensional representation on the display monitor; and
visually correlating the photographic images on the display monitor to a portion of the three-dimensional image corresponding to the one or more areas of the printing station on the printing production floor in which problems have been sensed,
whereby the three-dimensional image and at least one of the photographic images are simultaneously displayed on the display monitor such that the correlation of the at least one of the photographic images to a portion of the three-dimensional image corresponding to the one or more areas of the printing station on the printing production floor in which problems have been sensed is apparent.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the three-dimensional representation comprises a computer generated image of the printing station on the printing production floor.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
placing one or more photographic imaging devices at locations within the printing station on the printing production floor where problems are known to occur; and
configuring the processor to control the operation of the one or more photographic imaging devices and to store photographic images of the locations and display the photographic images of the locations on the display monitor.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the photographic imaging devices comprise digital still cameras.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the photographic imaging devices comprise video cameras.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
displaying predefined correction instructions for correcting problems occurring at the problem areas on the display monitor when a problem with the printing station on the printing production floor is sensed.