Job messaging format
Encyclopedia
The Job Messaging Format (JMF) is the language
used to communicate between JDF
agents and controllers. JMF is part of the JDF specification. JMF also is built in XML
and is part of the JDF schema. JMF allows a controller to communicate to a JDF MIS or workflow
system information, such as events (start, stop, error), status (available, offline, stalled, etc.), results (count, waste, etc.), and other details, such as who is the current operator.
A controller may also "register" with a JDF MIS or workflow system letting it know it is available. Where a controller controls multiple devices, it can provide registration information for the devices it supports. Note: This is information like make
and model and is not a substitute for device capabilities as described above.
An MIS or workflow system may use JMF to command devices on the shop floor and may even be able to change the order of jobs in the queue
. You may have noticed the heavy use of the word "may." In the JMF session you'll learn more about the options in JMF and the various levels of support a controller may provide for JMF. JMF messages may also be unidirectional (the MIS system provides the commands, but the controller does not respond) or bidirectional. Determining what JMF options will be required of your process automation
strategy is an important part of creating an effective JDF equipment buying policy.
JMF can also be used by one controller to provide commands to another controller. This is an important feature for supporting combined process and pipelining as described above.
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
used to communicate between JDF
Job Definition Format
Job Definition Format is a technical standard being developed by the graphic arts industry to facilitate cross-vendor workflow implementations of the application domain. It is an XML format about job ticket, message description, and message interchange...
agents and controllers. JMF is part of the JDF specification. JMF also is built in XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
and is part of the JDF schema. JMF allows a controller to communicate to a JDF MIS or workflow
Workflow
A workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It is a depiction of a sequence of operations, declared as work of a person, a group of persons, an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. Workflow may be seen as any abstraction of real work...
system information, such as events (start, stop, error), status (available, offline, stalled, etc.), results (count, waste, etc.), and other details, such as who is the current operator.
A controller may also "register" with a JDF MIS or workflow system letting it know it is available. Where a controller controls multiple devices, it can provide registration information for the devices it supports. Note: This is information like make
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
and model and is not a substitute for device capabilities as described above.
An MIS or workflow system may use JMF to command devices on the shop floor and may even be able to change the order of jobs in the queue
Queue
A queue is a particular kind of collection in which the entities in the collection are kept in order and the principal operations on the collection are the addition of entities to the rear terminal position and removal of entities from the front terminal position. This makes the queue a...
. You may have noticed the heavy use of the word "may." In the JMF session you'll learn more about the options in JMF and the various levels of support a controller may provide for JMF. JMF messages may also be unidirectional (the MIS system provides the commands, but the controller does not respond) or bidirectional. Determining what JMF options will be required of your process automation
Automation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
strategy is an important part of creating an effective JDF equipment buying policy.
JMF can also be used by one controller to provide commands to another controller. This is an important feature for supporting combined process and pipelining as described above.