Q

What is UP³I and what does it do?

A

UP³I is the information backbone for a digital printing line. Through UP³I all elements in a line are set-up and coordinated for the print job.

Q

What advantages do I have with UP³I over existing performances?

A

The whole line, consisting of individual modules, behaves as one coordinated entity. This considerably reduces set-up time and allows controlled recovery of damaged forms.

Q

To what equipment is UP³I relevant / targeted?

A

UP³I is relevant to all modules or elements comprising a digital printing line. This runs from the unwinder through the printers right down to the last finishing equipment that is in a line.

Q

How can you connect existing/legacy pre/post equipment to a UP³I system?

A

It is technically possible that field upgrade conversions will be available to convert legacy equipment to be UP³I native. UP³I device availability will come from individual manufacturers and this availability has not been specified yet.

Q

Will customers be able to upgrade existing printers or pre/post equipment to UP³I?

A

It is possible that field upgrade conversions will be available to convert legacy equipment to be UP³I native. UP³I device availability will come from individual manufacturers and this availability has not been specified yet.

Q

When will UP³I will be implemented in equipment?

A

UP³I device availability will come from individual manufacturers and this availability has not been specified yet. Technology demonstrations are planned for 2Q 2001. UP³I will first be implemented in the devices of the core group vendors.

Q

How does UP³I handle offline devices (like an inserter and other equipment further down the workflow)?

A

UP³I is intended to interface to printers, in-line and near-line pre-and post-processors. Although Inserters (such as high speed mailroom devices that insert pages into envelopes) already have established communication methods to the work flow managers they may become (in future) also UP³I devices.

Q

What happens if there is a paper jam?

A

A UP³I process line can perform sheet and / or set recovery.

Therefor the UP³I device that detected the jam reports the jam condition (through the Device State Request frame) and indicates the particular page that the jam started on (through the UP³I Page ID parameter). Next the operator is notified to clear the jam, the host is notified to restart the job at the appropriate start point (e.g. by the Printer device, or UP³I Manager). Invalid pages are indicated for removal from the print line. This may be done either by operator intervention or – if the UP³I devices are able to – the sheets are sent to a waste bin.

Q

How is a sheet tracked in the workflow process?

A

The UP³I Manager (or any other UP³I device) can track the status of any page chiefly by the UP³I Page ID in the Form Exit Frame (where the UP³I Page ID is included), the Form Acknowledge Frame (to verify successful processing) and the Device State Request Frame (in case of unsuccessful processing). This information is communicated between all UP³I devices. The UP³I Manager (or the a specific UP³I device, e.g. the printer) communicates status with the server or host.

Q

Why was IEEE 1394 chosen for UP³I versus other perhaps more commonly available interfaces?

A

Only IEEE1394 met the requirements of a commercially available, low cost, excellent performance, real time capable (isochronous) bus.

Q

How does the UP³I initiative relate to CIP4/JDF initiative?

A

There is a common workgroup of both organizations working to harmonize these two initiatives. JDF/CIP4 describes the job related parameters while UP³I controls the print and finishing process.

Q

Do UP³I finishing operations originate from the print job data stream or job tickets?

A

UP³I specification allows finishing operation commands to originate from both the print job data stream and separate job tickets. Usually, the print job data stream is more appropriate for specifying finishing operations that occur at the copy level and job tickets are more appropriate for finishing operations that occur at the job level.

Q

Are all UP³I device parameters available for remote control?

A

No. For safety and other reasons, the remote manipulation of some UP³I device parameters may not be allowed.

Q

Does UP³I cover near line (offline) interests?

A

Q

In the UP³I home page, there is an announcement that the version 1.0 will be released in 2^nd Quarter 2001. Is the final version?

A

The UP³I team is targeting that Version 1.0 will be available in 2^nd Quarter 2001. Version 1.0 will be the first working copy confirmed by technology demonstrations. It will not be the final version. As testing proceeds, more functions are added and industry feedback is received, some changes can be anticipated. Core team members control changes to the specification but they do seek input from the rest of the industry.

Q

Where is the UP³I manager installed? In the printer controller? PC for the UP³I manager? some server?

A

The UP³I manager can be in any of these or even have some of the manager functions divided between these different devices. The manager does not have to be a separate device.

Q

Where will the core members demonstrate the UP³I system?

A

UP³I core members have not announced a particular trade show for a demonstration yet. The core members may also show UP³I at core member open houses. The exact format for a 2^nd Quarter 2001 demonstration has not been announced yet.