MIPC Plugfest Participants Guide
Overview
First read the MIPC Plugfest overview to
understand what the Plugfest Event is about and how it operates.
Attending an MIPC Plugfest gives developers of Mobile Terminals who
have implemented their products based on the MIPC Implementation
Guidelines a chance to test those products with Printer developers who
have done the same. Rather than testing the connectivity protocol
itself (physical layer), the focus of the MIPC Plugfest is on testing
the application layer to verify interoperability and expected output.
Nondisclosure Agreement
Each participant needs to execute the Nondisclosure Agreement.
Make sure to get company approval to bind your company to the agreement, if
you are not already authorized to do so.
Test Entry
A Test Entry from a company is made up of a set of products and
interfaces which can be sufficiently tested during a single Test
Session. The example combinations of products and their
interfaces for a Test Entry are listed below.
Each product and interface combination should be a unique implementation within the company's product line, not a simple cosmetic change. It is recommended that companies bring duplicates of each product/interface combination for backup and to enable parallel testing. For those testing a Bluetooth implementation, it is recommended the device be BPP certified prior to attending the MIPC Plugfest. For those testing a PictBridge implementation, it is recommended the device be PictBridge certified.
Test Session
Each day of the Plugfest will have a series of Test Sessions scheduled, each
about one hour in length. Each Test Entry from a company will be
paired with another company Test Entry and the two will meet in a
private room for the duration of the Test Session. Printer
companies Test Entry will be assigned to a private room* and will
stay in that room for the duration of the Plugfest. The
Mobile Terminal companies will remain mobile, moving from room to room
as assigned. Companies can have multiple Test Entries. For a
Printer company, multiple Test Entries mean the company may have
multiple private rooms, one for each Test Entry. For a Mobile Terminal
company, multiple Test Entries mean the company may be
visiting multiple rooms during a test session.
* : Test Entries from the same Printer company might be assigned to the same private room since the numbers of private rooms for the Plugfest is limited.
The Test Session does not allow much time for debugging the interface so only well tested products should be brought to the Plugfest.
The Plugfest schedule will be set so every company will be paired with all companies available to test with, which have corresponding interfaces.
Some companies may have free Test Sessions, without another company Test Entry to pair up with. This can be due to an imbalance in the number of Printer company and Mobile Terminal company Test Entries, or due to unavailable Test Entries with corresponding interfaces to test. A company also has the right to not declare the interfaces of a Test Entry. In this case, a Test Session pairing of the company may be made where the Test Entry of the other company does not share a common interface, and thus no testing can occur. Every effort will be made to minimize these two scheduling issues.
Test Cases
The Mobile Terminal company, as the client of the printing operation, must
direct the testing during each Test Session. The Printer company,
being the server of the operation, must be prepared to execute any of the
use cases defined in the MIPC Implementation Guidelines. The Mobile
Terminal company should have a clearly defined set of test cases it plans to
execute during each Test Session. It will be helpful if the Mobile
Terminal company can provide the Printer company with a hard copy
of the test plan, at the start of the test session.
The Printer company is responsible for providing the print media (paper) and any other printing supplies, which may be necessary to support the testing of the MIPC use cases.
Plugfest Schedule
A typical Plugfest will have a Opening session on the first day for
announcements and introductions. Printer companies will have time to
get set up in the test rooms prior to the first Test Session
starting. Test Sessions will run in the morning and afternoon of
each day with a break for lunch. Plugfest coordinators will be
available throughout the day to answer any questions.
Registration
Each participant must register in order to attend the Plugfest. A
participant leader should be assigned for each Test Entry a company plans to
bring to the Plugfest. The leader for a Test Entry will include the
Test Entry registration along with their participant registration.
Who Should Attend
The MIPC Plugfests are intended for Developers of MIPC recommended
print services and Developers of mobile terminal print applications.
It is not intended for Resellers, Distributors and Dealers,
Sales and Marketing Staff. Observers, Press, Sales Reps, and Students.
Fees
Typically a Participant fee will be required for each participant to cover
Plugfest expenses related to participants and a Test Entry fee will be
required for each Test Entry to cover Test Session related
expenses.
Cancellations are allowed during the registration period and fees can be partially refunded. Fees submitted during the registration are not refundable after the registration period ends. A participant may transfer his or her registration fee to another participant within the same company. The participant offering the transfer must contact MIPC before the new participant registers, to get instructions on performing the transfer.
Test Room Facilities
If you need additional facilities in the test room, you can request it on the registration form.
For additional privacy within the private test room, a company is free to bring a privacy barrier to cover their product during the Test Session.