US 11,752,777 B2
Ratio-based adaptive switching technique
Brian Bartlow, Boise, ID (US); and Brian C. Mayer, Boise, ID (US)
Assigned to Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
Filed by Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/173,574.
Application 17/173,574 is a continuation of application No. 16/461,499, granted, now 10,953,666, previously published as PCT/US2017/013822, filed on Jan. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0162774 A1, Jun. 3, 2021
Int. Cl. B41J 2/525 (2006.01); B41J 29/38 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01); H04N 1/46 (2006.01); G03G 15/01 (2006.01); H04N 1/60 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/525 (2013.01) [B41J 29/38 (2013.01); G03G 15/0121 (2013.01); G03G 15/50 (2013.01); H04N 1/46 (2013.01); G03G 15/5083 (2013.01); G03G 15/553 (2013.01); G03G 15/556 (2013.01); H04N 1/60 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A print system comprising:
printing hardware to print monochrome pages in a color mode or a monochrome mode;
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
monitor a number of already printed monochrome pages printed in the color mode and a total number of already printed pages;
determine a ratio of the number of already printed monochrome pages printed in the color mode to the total number of already printed pages; and
switch between the color mode and the monochrome mode based on the ratio so as to reduce transitions between the color mode and the monochrome mode while printing the monochrome pages.
 
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:
monitor a number of already printed monochrome pages printed by a print system in a color mode and a total number of already printed pages printed by the print system;
determine a ratio of the number of already printed monochrome pages printed in the color mode to the total number of already printed pages; and
switch the print system between the color mode and a monochrome mode of the print system mode based on the ratio so as to reduce color cartridge wear of the print system while printing monochrome pages by the print system.
 
16. A method comprising:
receiving, by a print system having a color mode and a monochrome mode, a monochrome print job;
if the print system is in the color mode and a ratio of a number of already printed monochrome pages printed by the print system in the color mode to a total number of already printed pages printed by the print system is greater than a threshold, switching to the monochrome mode before printing the monochrome print job and remaining in the monochrome mode after printing the monochrome print job;
if the print system is in the color mode and the ratio is less than the threshold, remaining in the color mode while and after printing the monochrome print job;
if the print system is in the monochrome mode, remaining in the monochrome while and after printing the monochrome print job; and
printing the monochrome print job.