DOCUMENT FINISHING ARCHITECTURE (DFA) MASTER CONTROLLER

摘要

A Document Finishing Architecture Master controller includes an input communication link enabling two-way communication with a document-handling device. The document-handling device is restricted to connections with document finishing devices (DFDs) connected in series. Output communication links are operatively connected to the input communication link. The output communication links enable two-way communication over parallel communication networks with the DFDs. A translator is operatively connected to the output communication link, and driver interfaces are operatively connected to the translator. Document-finishing signals originating from the document-handling device are translated by the translator to a protocol used by the DFDs. The document-finishing signals are communicated from the translator to the driver interfaces, and from the driver interface to the DFDs. DFD signals from the DFDs are translated by the translator to a protocol used by the document-handling device. The DFD signals are communicated from the driver interfaces to the translator and from the translator to the document-handling device.

主权项

1. A document controller comprising:
an input communication link enabling two-way communication with a document-handling device, said document-handling device being restricted to connections with document finishing devices (DFDs) connected in series; output communication links operatively connected to said input communication link, said output communication links enabling two-way communication over parallel communication networks with said DFDs; a translator operatively connected to said input communication link; and driver interfaces operatively connected to said translator, document-finishing signals originating from said document-handling device being translated by said translator to a protocol used by said DFDs, said document-finishing signals being communicated from said translator to said driver interfaces, and from said driver interface to said DFDs, DFD signals from said DFDs being translated by said translator to a protocol used by said document-handling device, and said DFD signals being communicated from said driver interfaces to said translator, and from said translator to said document-handling device.