WO2023043443A1

WO2023043443A1 - Medium warning mutes

Info

Publication number: WO2023043443A1
Application number: PCT/US2021/050593
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Ewe; Yong Seng PUN; Wei Lit TEOH; Peter Boucher; Peter J. Boucher; Brent T. KRIEGER
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2021-09-16
Filing date: 2021-09-16
Publication date: 2023-03-23

Abstract

An example device includes a processor and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the processor to detect an initial amount of print medium in a print medium reservoir of a printing device following a print medium reservoir loading operation; and determine, based on the detected initial amount of the print medium, whether to mute a low print medium warning for the printing device when an amount of the print medium in the print medium reservoir reaches a threshold amount of print medium associated with generating the low print medium warning during a printing operation.

Description

MEDIUM WARNING MUTES

Background

[0001] A printing device includes an image generating apparatus to perform a printing operation including generating an image on print medium. A printing device is loaded with a supply of print medium upon which the image is to be generated. The supply of print medium is exhausted as the printing operation proceeds. Once the supply of print medium is completely exhausted, a printing operation may be interrupted until an additional supply of print medium is loaded to the printing device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0002] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system to mute low print medium warnings consistent with the present disclosure.

[0003] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a computing device to mute low print medium warnings consistent with the present disclosure.

[0004] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a non-transitory machine-readable memory and processor to mute low print medium warnings consistent with the present disclosure.

[0005] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a method to mute low print medium warnings consistent with the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

[0006] A printing device is utilized by a user to generate an image on print medium. For example, a user instructs a printing device to generate an image on print medium. The user provides the printing device with instructions specifying the images to be generated on the print medium. In some examples, the instructions are referred to as a print job.

[0007] Operating the printing device involves loading the printing device with print medium. Loading the printing device with print medium includes introducing a supply of print medium into an input opening or reservoir, such as an input tray, of the printing device. In some examples, loading the printing device with the supply of print medium includes loading the printing device with a fixed supply or amount of print medium. That is, the supply of print medium is not infinite and will be periodically replenished as the printing device exhausts the supply via executing printing operations. Executing printing operations includes generating images on the print medium according to the instructions of the print job.

[0008] When the supply of print medium is completely exhausted a print job may be interrupted. Print medium is completely exhausted when no additional and/or insufficient additional print medium is available at the input of the printing device to proceed with printing operations. Interrupting a print job includes pausing, discontinuing, delaying, canceling, etc. the print job until additional print medium is made available to continue and/or complete the interrupted print job.

[0009] Some examples of printing devices include a low print medium warning feature. For example, the printing device may generate a low print medium warning when the print medium supply loaded to the printing device falls below a threshold amount A low print medium warning includes an alert such as a message (e.g., email, text message, push/pull communication to a printing application, an indication on a display of the printing device, a pop-up or other notification on a screen of a computing device communicatively coupled to the printing device, an auditory signal, a visual signal, etc.). The low print medium warning makes a user aware that the supply of print medium has been depleted to an extent that it is about to be completely exhausted. The threshold amount of print medium at and/or beyond which the low print medium warning is generated is dictated by the manufacturer settings to the printing device and/or a sensitivity of a print medium supply level detecting device of the printing device (e.g., print medium stack height sensor). [0010] The low print medium warning can be helpful to a user to prevent completely exhausting a supply of print medium and/or to avoid interrupting a print job. However, the low print medium warning can, in some examples, be annoying to a user. For example, not all users handle loading of print medium supplies in the same way. Some users load a relatively small amount (e.g., a few sheets) of print medium to the printing device at a time. Some users load just enough print medium to complete a print job they have sent to the printing device. There are various reasons for this behavior (e.g., personal preferences, print medium cost sensitivity, limited print medium access, sharing a printing device, etc.). [0011] Regardless of the reason for the behavior, some users will intentionally load an amount of print medium to a printing device that is at or below the threshold amount triggering the low print medium warning or an amount that will reach or exceed the threshold amount prior to completing a print job. To these users, persistently being confronted with the low print medium warning, which may distract the user and/or provoke dismissal of the warning, is annoying and aggravating. This annoyance can lead to reduced customer satisfaction, reduced product loyalty, reduced brand loyalty, etc.

[0012] In contrast, examples consistent with the present disclosure provide a mechanism by which a low print medium warning is muted. In some examples, the low print medium warning is intelligently muted as well. By muting the low print medium warning, user annoyance and aggravation among users prone to loading relatively small amounts of print medium may be avoided. For example, examples consistent with the present disclosure include a device comprising a processor and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium to store instructions. The instructions are executable by the processor to detect an initial amount of print medium at a print medium input to a printing device following a print medium reservoir loading operation. Additionally, the instructions are executable by the processor to determine, based on the detected initial amount of the print medium, whether to mute a low print medium warning for the printing device when an amount of the print media at the print medium input reaches a threshold amount of print medium associated with generating the low print medium warning during a printing operation.

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system 100 to mute print medium warnings consistent with the present disclosure. The described components and/or operations of the system 100 may include and/or be interchanged with the described components and/or operations described in relation to FIG. 2- FIG. 4.

[0014] The system 100 may include a printing device 102. A printing device 102 includes a printer, an inkjet printer, a laser printer, a multi-function printer, etc. The printing device 102 receives a print job from a user. For example, the printing device 102 receives print jobs from a computing device communicatively coupled to the printing device 102 and/or via user inputs at the printing device 102.

[0015] The printing device 102 includes a mechanism to produce an image on print medium. Print medium includes a variety of substrates capable of being printed upon. For example, print medium includes sheets and/or other configurations of paper and/or other substrates upon which a printing device 102 can instantiate an image specified in a print job.

[0016] The printing device 102 includes a user interface. The user interface can include a display for displaying text alerts including a low print medium warning to a user. The user interface can include a light, such as an LED, for signaling alerts including a low print medium warning to a user.

[0017] The printing device 102 includes an output portion. The output portion includes a portion of the printing device 102 where print medium, having an image generated thereupon by the printing device 102, is output for retrieval by a user. The output portion includes a printed print medium reservoir. The printed print medium reservoir is an output tray and/or an output drawer. The printed print medium reservoir is dimensioned to accept, hold, and/or receive printed print medium.

[0018] The printing device 102 includes an input portion. The input portion includes a portion of the printing device 102 where print medium is input into the printing device 102. The input portion includes a print medium reservoir. The print medium reservoir may include a print medium input tray and/or print medium input drawer.

[0019] The print medium reservoir is dimensioned to accept, hold, and/or position for feeding through the printing device 102 a supply of print medium. The printing device 102 includes a print medium supply level detecting device. For example, the printing device 102 includes a print medium stack height sensor for detecting an amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir by sensing a height of a stack of print media located in the print medium reservoir.

[0020] The print medium reservoir is loaded with a supply of print medium as part of a print medium loading operation. A print medium loading operation includes opening and/or otherwise accessing the print medium reservoir. A print medium loading operation includes placing print medium in the print medium reservoir. The print medium loading operation includes closing the print medium reservoir and/or otherwise indicating to the printing device 102 that the print medium loading operation has concluded.

[0021] The printing device 102 includes a processor. The printing device includes non-transitory machine-readable storage medium. The non-transitory machine-readable medium stores instructions. The instructions are executable by the processor to perform a variety of operations.

[0022] An example of such an operation is a printing operation. A printing operation includes the process of forming the image on the print medium via the printing device 102. For example, a printing operation includes the process of picking up print media from an input portion of the printing device 102, feeding the print media through the printing device 102, forming an image on the print medium as instructed in a print job, feeding the print medium to an output portion of the printing device, etc. Various additional operations are contemplated herein including the subsequently described operations performed by the warning manager 104 for generating a low print medium warning and/or muting a low print medium warning. [0023] The printing device 102 may include a warning manager 104. The warning manager includes hardware and/or instructions for managing, generating, and muting of low print medium warnings. For example, the warning manager can include a controller, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit, a set of instructions executable by a processor, etc.

[0024] The warning manager 104 is operable to measure a print medium level. Measuring a print medium includes sensing the presence of print medium in a print medium reservoir of the printing device 102. Measuring a print medium level includes sensing a quantity of print medium located in the print medium reservoir. In some examples, measuring a print medium level includes utilizing data received and/or collected from a print medium supply level detecting device. For example, measuring a print medium level includes utilizing data received and/or collected from a print medium stack height sensor for measuring an amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir by sensing a height of a stack of print media located in the print medium reservoir.

[0025] In some examples, the warning manager 104 is operable to measure an initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir. An initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is an amount of print medium located in the print medium reservoir immediately following a completion of a print medium reservoir loading operation. That is, the initial amount of print medium is the amount initially measured immediately after the print medium reservoir was loaded and/or before a printing operation is started and/or resumed. In some examples, the initial amount of print medium any residual amount of print medium located in the reservoir prior to initiating the print medium reservoir loading operation plus any amount of print medium just inserted into an input tray of the printing device 102.

[0026] Measuring the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir, in some examples, is triggered in response to an event or input related to a conclusion of a print medium reservoir loading operation detected at the printing device 102. For example, the warning manager 104 measures the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir (e.g., utilizing print medium stack height sensor data from the print medium stack height sensor of the printing device 102) responsive to detecting that an instance of a print medium reservoir loading operation has been completed. Some examples of a print medium reservoir loading operation include opening or otherwise accessing a print medium reservoir, loading print medium into the print medium reservoir, and closing or otherwise concluding an access to the print medium reservoir. Therefore, completion of an instance of a print medium reservoir loading operation is detectable, in some examples, by detecting the closing the print medium reservoir and/or by detecting some other indication or signal to the printing device 102 that the print medium loading operation has concluded (e.g., repositioning of print medium guides, pressing a button indicating loading has concluded, sensing the presence of printing medium in the reservoir, etc.). As described in additional detail below, in some examples the initial print medium measurement is utilized in additional determinations regarding muting subsequent low print medium warnings.

[0027] In addition, the warning manager 104 is operable to perform a series of operations (e.g., operations 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, etc.) associated with muting low print medium warnings. The series of operations are illustrated in a process flow diagram form for ease of understanding.

[0028] For example, the warning manager 104 is operable to measure print medium levels at operation 108. For example, the warning manager 104 will utilize data from print medium amount sensors, such as a print medium stack height sensor, to measure an amount of print medium in a print medium reservoir. The warning manager 104 may measure the print medium level any time, at any time interval, and/or in response to a completion of any operation during the operation of the printing device 102. For example, the warning manager 104 will measure the print medium level before, during, and/or after execution of a print job. In some examples, the warning manager 104 is operable to measure print medium levels at operation 108 subsequent to completing measurement of the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir.

[0029] The warning manager 104 is operable to determine whether the printing device 102 has a low print medium level at operation 110. Determining whether the printing device 102 has a low print medium level includes comparing the measured amount of the print medium in the print medium reservoir, determined at operation 108, to a threshold amount of print medium. The threshold amount of print medium is an amount of print medium associated with generating a low print medium warning. For example, the threshold amount of print medium is an amount of print medium that, when measured, triggers the printing device 102 to generate a low print medium warning during a printing operation.

[0030] When the measured amount of the print medium in the print medium reservoir is above the threshold amount of print medium, the print medium level is determined not to be low. When the print medium level is determined not to be low, the warning manager 104 will resume measuring and/or continue to measure the print medium level continuously and/or in response to subsequent events or inputs to the printing device 102. For example, the warning manager 104 resumes monitoring the print medium level during a printing operation responsive to a determination that the print medium level in the print medium reservoir is not low.

[0031] Alternatively, when the measured amount of the print medium in the print medium reservoir is at or below the threshold amount of print medium, the print medium level is determined to be low. When the print medium level is determined to be low, a default action may be to generate a low print medium warning. The low print medium warning includes an alert such as a message (e.g., email, text message, push/pull communication to a printing application, an indication on a display of the printing device, a pop-up or other notification on a screen of a computing device communicatively coupled to the printing device, an auditory signal, a visual signal, publishing a retrievable indication of low print medium, etc.).

[0032] When the print medium level Is determined to be low, the warning manager 104 will determine whether to mute the default low print medium warning at operation 112. The warning manager 104 determines whether to mute the print medium warning based on historical operations performed at the printing device 102. [0033] In some examples, the warning manager 104 will determine whether to mute the default low print medium warning at operation 112 based on an initial amount of print medium measured in the print medium reservoir immediately following completion of a print medium reservoir loading operation. As described above, in some examples, a user may purposefully load a relatively small amount of print medium into a print medium reservoir. In such examples, the initial amount of print medium measured in the print medium reservoir immediately following the completion of the print medium reservoir loading operation will be a relatively low amount of print medium. For example, the initial amount of print medium measured in the print medium reservoir immediately following the completion of the print medium reservoir loading operation will be below a threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a muting of the print medium warning triggered by subsequent measurements of the print medium in the print medium reservoir.

[0034] For example, the initial amount of print medium measured in the print medium reservoir immediately following the completion of the print medium reservoir loading operation may be below twenty pages of print medium, twenty pages of print medium representing a threshold amount of initial print medium at or below which will trigger muting of any low print medium warning which would otherwise be triggered by subsequent measurements of the print medium in the print medium reservoir.

[0035] For example, a user opens a print medium reservoir starting a print medium reservoir loading operation. The user loads fifteen pages of print medium into the empty print medium reservoir. The user closes the print medium reservoir thereby ending the print medium reservoir loading operation and triggering the measurement of the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir by the warning manager 104. The measured initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir, in this example fifteen pages, is then compared to a threshold low print medium warning mute triggering amount of, for example, twenty pages. Since the measured initial amount of print medium is determined, based on this comparison, to be below the threshold low print medium warning mute triggering amount, the warning manager 104 will register (e.g., switch a preference or setting, save an indication of the determination to a memory location, alter a state of a state machine, etc.) a distinction for subsequent measurements. For example, the warning manager 104 will register that any measurement of the print medium in the print medium reservoir that 1) is performed subsequent to the determination/ measurement of the initial amount of print medium 2) is of an amount that would otherwise trigger a low print medium warning (e.g., is below a threshold amount of print medium (which may be the same, less than, or greater than the threshold low print medium warning mute triggering amount) that triggers a low print medium warning) and/or 3) is performed prior to a next detected print medium reservoir loading operation and/or its resulting initial amount of print medium measurement, should not be allowed to trigger generation of a low print medium warning. Instead, the warning manager 104 will register that measurements meeting these criteria will result in a muting of the low print medium warning that would, in the absence of this distinction, be generated.

[0036] Alternatively or additionally, the warning manager 104 will determine whether to mute the default low print medium warning at operation 112 based on historical monitored printing behavior at the printing device 102. In some examples, the warning manager 104 will monitor printing behavior at the printing device 102 over a period of time and/or over a plurality of print medium reservoir loading operations and/or subsequently executed printing jobs. The warning manager 104 will utilize machine learning to determine whether to mute the default low print medium warning based on historical monitored printing behavior at the printing device 102. For example, the warning manager 104 will utilize machine learning analysis of historical monitored printing behavior at the printing device 102 to adjust a threshold low print medium warning mute triggering amount.

[0037] For example, the warning manger 104 detects, records, identifies, and/or analyzes trends in an amount of print medium loaded into a print medium reservoir across each of a plurality of historical print medium reservoir loading operations. For example, the warning manager 104 detects, records, identifies, and/or analyzes the initial amount of print medium loaded into the print medium reservoir across each of a plurality of historical print medium reservoir loading operations and detects, records, identifies, and/or analyzes trends in the amounts loaded. The warning manager 104 will utilize the trends to adjust a threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering the generation of a low print medium warning. For example, the warning manager 104 will utilize the trends to adjust the threshold low print medium warning mute triggering amount For example, if the warning manager 104 determines that historically across each of a plurality of historical print medium reservoir loading operations the users loads an amount of printing medium that is near (e.g., within a few pages), at, or less than the threshold print medium amount associated with generating a low print medium warning, then the warning manager 104 may adjust the threshold low print medium warning mute triggering amount to trigger the muting at or near (e.g., within a few pages) of the historical amount of print medium loaded across each of a plurality of historical print medium reservoir loading operations.

[0038] In some examples, the warning manger 104 detects, records, identifies, and/or analyzes trends in an amount of print medium loaded into a print medium reservoir across each of a plurality of historical print medium reservoir loading operations as compared to the threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering the generation of a low print medium warning. For example, the warning manger 104 utilizes data from a print media stack height sensor to detect, record, identify, and/or analyze trends in a distance (e.g., equating to an amount of print medium) between a stack height of an amount of print medium loaded into a print medium reservoir across each of a plurality of historical print medium reservoir loading operations and a stack height threshold associated with triggering the generation of a low print medium warning. The warning manager 104 will utilize the trends to adjust the threshold low print medium warning mute triggering amount. For example, if the warning manager 104 determines that historically across each of a plurality of historical print medium reservoir loading operations the users loads an amount of printing medium to stack height that is at, less than, and/or within a relatively small margin (e.g., a height corresponding to five to ten pages of print medium) to a threshold stack height associated with generating a low print medium warning, then the warning manager 104 may adjust the threshold stack height associated with low print medium warning mute triggering to trigger the muting at or near (e.g., within a few pages) the stack height of the historical amount of print medium loaded across each of a plurality of historical print medium reservoir loading operations.

[0039] In some examples, the warning manager 104 detects, records, identifies, and/or analyzes trends in print job sizes across each of a plurality of print job executions. For example, the warning manager 104 tracks the amount of print medium (e.g., number of pages) utilized in executing a plurality of executions of print jobs. In some examples, the warning manager 104 tracks the amount of print medium printed in the execution of the last N print jobs. The warning manager 104 detects, records, identifies, and/or analyzes trends such as an average amount of print medium printed, a median amount of print medium printed, a standard deviation of the amount of print medium printed in the execution of the last N print jobs. In some examples, the warning manager 104 utilizes a data fusion model (e.g., a least squares cure fit, etc.) to reconcile a plurality of noisy stack height sensing data with actual sheets being picked up in each job to identify the trends. In utilizing such data fusion models, the warning manager 104 may utilize sufficient physical samples to fuse with the print medium page count data to form a stack height model and the model will decide when it has reached the point of sufficient knowledge to be accurate. As such, in some examples, the warning manager may delay the muting and/or the generation of low print medium warnings until the model has reached its targeted goodness of fit to identify the trends.

[0040] The warning manager 104 will compare these trends to the threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering the generation of a low print medium warning. The warning manager 104 will utilize the trend comparison to adjust the threshold low print medium warning mute triggering amount For example, if the warning manager 104 determines that historically across each of a plurality of the last N historical print job executions the users prints a print job producing an amount (e.g., an average, median, with a particular standard deviation, etc.) of printed print medium that is at, less than, and/or within a relatively small margin (e.g., five to ten pages of print medium) to a threshold amount of print medium associated with generating a low print medium warning, then the warning manager 104 may adjust the threshold amount of print medium associated with low print medium warning mute triggering to trigger the muting at or near (e.g., within a few pages) of the amount of print medium printed in the last N historical print job executions.

[0041] Additionally, the above-described trend-based adjustments are utilized to increase or to decrease the low print medium warning mute triggering thresholds. For example, if the trends indicate that the user is typically loading and/or printing an amount of print medium that exceeds (e.g., by fifteen plus pages, etc.) the threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering the generation of a low print medium warning, then the warning manger 104 may adjust the threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering the generation of a low print medium warning to trigger at a higher amount of measured print medium and/or may entirely eliminate the threshold amount of print medium associated with low print medium warning mute triggering and/or the ability to trigger the muting. [0042] The warning manager 104 will determine whether to mute the default low print medium warning at operation 112 based on a comparison of the measured print medium level (e.g., from operation 108) in the print medium reservoir to the threshold amount of print medium associated with low print medium warning mute triggering. The threshold amount of print medium associated with low print medium warning mute triggering is adjustable as described above. As such, in some examples, references to the threshold amount of print medium associated with low print medium warning mute triggering may also be understood to refer to an adjusted threshold amount of print medium associated with low print medium warning mute triggering.

[0043] If the measured amount of print medium is above the threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a mute of the low print medium warning, then the warning manager 104 will determine that the low print medium warning should not be muted. Therefore, the warning manager 104 and/or other components of the printing device 102 may generate the low print medium warning at operation 106. Generating the low print medium warning includes generating an alert such as a message (e.g., email, text message, push/pull communication to a printing application, an indication on a display of the printing device, a pop-up or other notification on a screen of a computing device communicatively coupled to the printing device, an auditory signal, a visual signal, publishing a retrievable indication of low print medium, etc.) communicable (e.g., via a user interface, via a computing device communicably coupled to the printing device 102, via a display of the printing device 102, via a printing management application (third-party, native, etc.) to a user. [0044] Alternatively, If the measured amount of print medium is at or below the threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a mute of the low print medium warning, then the warning manager 104 will determine that the low print medium warning should be muted. Therefore, the warning manager 104 and/or other components of the printing device 102 may mute the low print medium warning at operation 114. Muting the low print medium warning includes preventing, blocking, deleting, and/or otherwise causing the alert to no be communicated to the user. Muting includes preventing, blocking, deleting, and/or otherwise stopping communication of the alert (e.g., via a user interface, via a computing device communicably coupled to the printing device 102, via a display of the printing device 102, via a printing management application (third-party, native, etc.). [0045] In some examples, the warning manager 104 generates a secondary threshold at which the mute is released. That is, the warning manager 104 generates a secondary threshold amount of printing media that, once reached by the measured print medium level, will trigger the mute to be discontinued and allow the low print medium warning to be generated.

[0046] In some examples, a threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a mute of the low print medium warning may be ten pages. The warning manager 104 may have generated and/or adjusted a threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a mute of the low print medium warning to trigger a mute of the low print medium warning at ten pages based on the historical printing behavior at the printing device 102. The warning manager 104 may have generated and/or adjusted a secondary threshold amount of print medium associated with releasing the mute of the low print medium warning to discontinue muting of the low print medium warning at two pages based on the historical printing behavior at the printing device 102. As such, the low print medium warning, that would otherwise be triggered at ten pages, will be muted from the measurement of ten pages of print medium remaining in the print medium reservoir until the measurement of two pages of print medium remaining in the print medium reservoir, at which time the low print medium waning will be permitted to be generated and/or communicated to the user. [0047] The threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a mute of the low print medium warning, threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a mute of the low print medium warning, and/or the secondary threshold amount of print medium associated with releasing the mute of the low print medium warning may be set and/or adjusted by the warning manager 104 utilizing, for example, manufacturer specifications and machine learning adjustments. In addition, the threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a mute of the low print medium warning, threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a mute of the low print medium warning, and/or the secondary threshold amount of print medium associated with releasing the mute of the low print medium warning may be set and/or adjusted by a user via user configurable settings.

[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a printing device 202 to mute print medium warnings consistent with the present disclosure. The described components and/or operations described with respect to the printing device 202 may include and/or be interchanged with the described components and/or operations described in relation to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3- FIG. 4.

[0049] Examples of the printing device 202 include a printer, an inkjet printer, a laser printer, a multi-function printer, etc. The printing device 202 includes a processor 222 and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 224. The machine-readable storage medium 224 stores instructions (e.g., 226, 228, etc.) that when executed by the processor 222, cause the printing device 202 to perform various operations described herein. While the printing device 202 is illustrated as a single component, it is contemplated that the printing device 202 may be distributed among and/or inclusive of a plurality of such components. In some examples, the printing device 202 is a computing device that manages printing at other printing devices.

[0050] The printing device 202 executes the instructions 226 to detect an initial amount of print medium in a print medium reservoir of the printing device 202. In some examples, the printing device 202 detects the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir utilizing data from a print medium stack height sensor of the print medium reservoir.

[0051] The printing device 202 detects the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir responsive to detecting an event at the printing device 202. For example, the printing device 202 detects the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir responsive to detecting a print medium reservoir loading operation.

[0052] For example, the printing device 202 detects the conclusion of a print medium reservoir loading operation. In some examples, the printing device 202 detects the conclusion of a print medium reservoir loading operation by detecting a closure of the print medium reservoir. As such, the printing device 202 detects the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir responsive to detecting the conclusion of a print medium reservoir loading operation by detecting a closure of the print medium reservoir.

[0053] The printing device 202 executes the instructions 228 to determine whether to mute a low print medium warning for the printing device 202. The low print medium warning is a warning to be generated by the printing device 202 at the time that an amount of the print medium measured in the print medium reservoir is determined to have reached a threshold amount of print medium. The threshold amount of print medium is an amount of print medium associated with triggering the generation of the low print medium warning during a printing operation. That is, the threshold amount of print medium is the amount of print medium that, once reached, causes a low print medium warning to be generated and/or communicated to a user during a printing operation.

[0054] The printing device will determine whether to mute the low print medium warning based on the detected initial amount of the print medium. For example, the printing device 202 will mute the low print medium warning during the printing operation in response to a determination that the detected initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is below an initial threshold amount of print medium. The initial threshold amount is a quantity of print medium associated with generating a low print medium stack height message when detected upon a completion of the print medium reservoir loading operation. In some examples, the printing device 202 will confirm, responsive to the determination that the detected initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is below an initial threshold amount of print medium, the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is, in fact, below the initial threshold amount. The printing device will confirm this by performing an additional measurement of the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir prior to the determination whether to mute the low print medium warning

[0055] In some examples, the printing device 202 will determine that the detected initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is above an initial threshold amount of print medium. For example, the printing device 202 will determine that the detected initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is below a threshold amount of print medium associated with generating a low print medium stack height message but at or above an initial threshold amount of print medium associated with a historical average initial amount print medium measured in the print medium reservoir across a plurality of print medium reservoir loading operations. Therefore, in response to a determination that the detected initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is above an initial threshold amount of print medium, the printing device 102 will mute the low print medium warning that would normally result from the measured amount of print media falling below the threshold amount of print medium associated with generating a low print medium stack height message until a modified threshold amount of print medium (e.g., a lowered threshold amount of print medium associated with generating a low print medium stack height message) is reached during the printing operation.

[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a non-transitory machine-readable memory and processor to mute print medium warnings consistent with the present disclosure. A memory resource, such as the non-transitory machine-readable memory 336, is utilized to store instructions (e.g., 340, 342, 344, etc.). The instructions are to be executed by the processor 338 to perform the operations as described herein. The operations are not limited to a particular example described herein and may include and/or be interchanged with the described components and/or operations described in relation to FIG. 1- FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.

[0057] The non-transitory memory 336 stores instructions 340 executable by the processor 338 to monitor a printing behavior at a printing device. For example, monitoring the printing behavior includes tracking an amount of print medium loaded into the print medium reservoir over a plurality of print medium loading operations. The tracked amount of print medium loaded into the print medium reservoir over the plurality of print medium loading operations is utilized, in some examples, to determine an average amount of print medium loaded into the print medium reservoir over the plurality of print medium loading operations.

[0058] Additionally, monitoring the printing behavior includes tracking print job sizes over a plurality of printing operations at the printing device. The tracked print job sizes over the plurality of printing operations is utilized to determine an average print job size over the plurality of printing operations at the printing device.

[0059] The non-transitory memory 336 stores instructions 342 executable by the processor 338 to modify a threshold amount of print medium that when present within a print medium reservoir triggers a low print medium warning for the printing device. The modification to the threshold amount of print medium may be based on the monitored printing behavior monitored at the printing device.

[0060] For example, the modification to the threshold amount of print medium is, in some examples, based on the determined average amount of print medium loaded into the print medium reservoir over the plurality of print medium loading operations. In such examples, the modification to the threshold amount may generate a modified threshold amount that accounts for a difference between the unmodified threshold amount of print medium and the determined average amount of print medium.

[0061] The modification to the threshold amount of print medium is, in some examples, based on the determined average print job size over the plurality of printing operations at the printing device. In such examples, the modification to the threshold amount may generate a modified threshold amount that accounts for a difference between the unmodified threshold amount of print medium and the determined average print job size.

[0062] The non-transitory memory 336 stores instructions 344 executable by the processor 338 to mute the low print warning until the modified threshold amount is reached. For example, the low print warning is prevented from being published and/or otherwise communicated to a user until the modified threshold amount is reached.

[0063] As such, rather than triggering publication of the low print medium warning when an amount of print medium measured in a print medium reservoir reaches the unmodified threshold amount, the low print medium warning will be delayed. Instead, the low print medium warning will only be issued when the amount of print medium measured in a print medium reservoir reaches the modified threshold amount during execution of a print job. The modified threshold amount may be greater than or less than the unmodified threshold amount.

[0064] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a method to mute print medium warnings consistent with the present disclosure. The described components and/or operations of method 450 may include and/or be interchanged with the described components and/or operations described in relation to FIG. 1- FIG. 3.

[0065] At 452, the method 450 includes detecting an initial amount of print medium inserted into a print medium reservoir of a printing device. The initial amount of print medium inserted into the print medium reservoir of the printing device may be the amount of print medium measured in the print medium reservoir immediately following a completion of the print medium loading operation.

[0066] The completion of the print medium loading operation is detected by detecting that a print medium reservoir has been closed and/or that a loading of print medium into the print medium reservoir has concluded. As such, detecting the completion of the print medium reservoir loading operation may trigger the measurement of the initial amount of print medium inserted into the print medium reservoir.

[0067] At 454, the method 450 includes determining whether to mute a subsequently generated low print medium warning for the printing device. The subsequently generated low print medium warning includes a low print medium warning generated subsequent to the measurement of the initial amount of print medium inserted into the print medium reservoir.

[0068] For example, the amount of print medium in a print medium reservoir is monitored throughout execution of a print job. After the initial amount of print medium is measured and during the print job the monitored amount of print medium may fall below a threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a low print medium warning. When this threshold is reached, the determination is made whether to mute a subsequently generated low print medium warning for the printing device.

[0069] In some examples, the determination whether to mute a subsequently generated low print medium warning for the printing device is based on the detected initial amount of the print medium being below an initial threshold amount. For example, if the detected initial amount of the print medium is below an initial threshold amount (e.g., threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a low print medium warning), then the low print warning is muted for the printing device. For example, it may be assumed that the user purposefully loaded in an amount of print medium that was below the threshold amount of print medium associated with triggering a low print medium warning and, as such, does not wish to receive the low print warning that would otherwise be associated with that amount of print medium.

[0070] At 456, the method 450 includes muting the subsequently generated low print medium warning for the printing device. Muting the low print medium warning includes preventing a low print medium warning from being published and/or otherwise communicated.

[0071] In some examples, muting the low print medium warning may include muting the low print medium warning until a threshold amount of print medium measured in the print medium reservoir is reached. For example, the muting is a temporary action that occurs between two threshold print medium amounts. The first threshold print medium amount is a default threshold printing medium amount associated with triggering low print medium warnings. The second threshold print medium amount is an adjusted default threshold printing medium amount associated with triggering low print medium warnings at a different amount.

[0072] The adjusted threshold print medium amount is determined from historical printing behavior at the printing device. For example, the adjusted threshold print medium amount is a print medium amount that reflects the historical printing behavior tracked at the printing device. For example, the adjusted threshold print medium amount is an amount that is a greater or lesser amount than the first threshold print medium amount depending on whether the historical printing behavior tracked at the printing device involved a greater or lesser amount of print medium loaded in loading operations and/or consumed in print job executions.

[0073] In addition, the threshold print medium amount and/or the adjusted threshold print medium amount can be continuously adjusted over time. For example, as alterations in printing behavior trends at the printing device are identified by tracking printing behavior at the printing device over time, additional adjustments to the threshold print medium amount and/or the adjusted threshold print medium amount are performed. As such, the printing device may learn user printing behavior and preferences and change the thresholds associated with triggering and/or muting low print medium warnings at the printing device to reflect and/or accommodate those behaviors and preferences.

[0074] In some examples, the threshold print medium amount and/or the adjusted threshold print medium amount is not be determined immediately. Instead, the determination of the threshold print medium amount and/or the adjusted threshold print medium amount is delayed until a threshold amount of historical printing data is collected at the printing device. For example, a data fusion model (e.g., a least squares cure fit, etc.) may be utilized to reconcile a plurality of noisy stack height sensing data with actual sheets being picked up in each job to identify the historical printing behavior trends at the printing device. In utilizing such data fusion models, sufficient physical samples are involved to fuse with the print medium page count data to form a stack height model and to allow the model to decide when it has reached the point of sufficient knowledge to be accurate. As such, in some examples, a determination of the thresholds associated with muting and/or generating low print medium warnings may be delayed until the model has reached its targeted goodness of fit to identify the trends. [0075] In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, as used herein, "a plurality of an element and/or feature can refer to more than one of such elements and/or features.

[0076] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Elements shown in the various figures herein may be capable of being added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional examples of the disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A device, comprising: a processor; and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium to store instructions executable by the processor to: detect an initial amount of print medium in a print medium reservoir of a printing device following a print medium reservoir loading operation; and determine, based on the detected initial amount of the print medium, whether to mute a low print medium warning for the printing device when an amount of the print medium in the print medium reservoir reaches a threshold amount of print medium associated with generating the low print medium warning during a printing operation.

2. The device of claim 1, including instructions to detect the initial amount of print medium responsive to detecting a closure of the print medium reservoir.

3. The device of claim 1 , including instructions to detect the initial amount of the print medium utilizing print medium stack height sensor data.

4. The device of claim 1, comprising instructions to mute the low print medium warning during the printing operation in response to a determination that the detected initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is below an initial threshold amount of print medium.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the initial threshold amount is a quantity of print medium associated with generating a low print medium stack height message when detected upon a completion of the print medium reservoir loading operation.

6. The device of claim 1, comprising instructions to mute the low print medium warning until a modified threshold amount of print medium is reached during the printing operation in response to a determination that the detected initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is above an initial threshold amount of print medium.

7. The device of claim 1 , including instructions to confirm, responsive to a determination that the detected initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is below an initial threshold amount of print medium, the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir is below the initial threshold amount by performing an additional measurement of the initial amount of print medium in the print medium reservoir prior to the determination whether to mute the low print medium warning.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to: monitor a printing behavior at a printing device; modify, based on the monitored printing behavior, a threshold amount of print medium present within a print medium reservoir to trigger a low print medium warning for the printing device; and prevent the low print medium warning from being published until the modified threshold amount is reached.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, including instructions executable by the processor to monitor the printing behavior by tracking an amount of print medium loaded into the print medium reservoir over a plurality of print medium loading operations.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, including instructions executable by the processor to: determine, from the tracked amount of print medium loaded into the print medium reservoir over the plurality of print medium loading operations, an average amount of print medium loaded into the print medium reservoir over the plurality of print medium loading operations, wherein the modified threshold amount accounts for a difference between the threshold amount of print medium and the average amount of print medium.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, including instructions executable by the processor to monitor the printing behavior by tracking print job sizes over a plurality of printing operations at the printing device.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, including instructions executable by the processor to: determine, from the tracked print job sizes over the plurality of printing operations, an average print job size over the plurality of printing operations at the printing device, wherein the modified threshold amount accounts for a difference between the threshold amount of print medium and the average print job size.

13. A method, comprising: detecting, following a completion of a print medium loading operation, an initial amount of print medium inserted into a print medium reservoir of a printing device; determining, based on the detected initial amount of the print medium being below an initial threshold amount, to mute a subsequently generated low print medium warning for the printing device; and muting the subsequently generated low print medium warning for the printing device until a threshold amount of print medium, determined from historical printing behavior at the printing device, is reached.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising adjusting the threshold amount of print medium to account for alterations in printing behavior at the printing device over time.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising delaying a determination of the threshold amount of print medium until a threshold amount of historical printing data is collected at the printing device.