摘要:
A variable data print job system that reduces the master and variable jobs into a single job sent from the client to the printer that does not require indefinite disk storage on the printer. The first part of the job contains the master data pages and the second part of the job contains the variable data. The print job is assembled and sent to the printer which detects that the job is a two part job. It places the master data in the page buffer and copies it to another area of the page buffer so as a page of the variable data can be overlaid onto the page buffer and is then sent to the print engine for printing.
摘要:
A mechanism is provided that allows color printers to render color or black and white files in a reduced memory configuration, and in a time efficient fashion. An incoming data file which represente a page that is to be printed is provided to an interpreter. The data file includes an object that is to be rendered by the interpreter. The interpreter requests an uncompressed representation of a patch, where the patch intersects with the object that is to be rendered. A patch cache holds a collection of patches of different locations and different types. If the requested patch is not in the patch cache, room is made in the patch cache by compressing the least recently used patch data. The requested patch is then decompressed in the patch cache by a compression mechanism. The compression mechanism holds a collection of compressed patch data that tiles the entire page. Each patch is compressed independently from one another. Thus, the logical page representation is broken down into patches, where the breakdown is known to the interpreter and the compression mechanism. A stitcher uses a stitching process to turn the patch page representation into a compressed line, band, or full page representation. The representation is stored in a frame buffer. Dedicated hardware and/or software decompresses the frame buffer on-the-fly and places colored dots on the printed page.
摘要:
A technique is described for adding variable data to a print job, while requiring a minimum amount of storage. Key to the invention is the use of a data compression algorithm during RIPing. During a first stage of operation, a master document is RIPed into a compressed format and saved in a cache, such as RAM or disk storage. It is important to note that RIPing and data compression are performed simultaneously. This minimizes the amount of processing power necessary to RIP and compress a large document, while significantly reducing the amount of storage space required to save the RIPed master document. The variable data document is RIPed and compressed during a second stage of operation using the same algorithm as applied to the master document. Uniquely, the variable data document is RIPed directly onto the master document in compressed format. During the second phase of operation, the master document to be personalized is retrieved from memory and stored in a frame buffer. The variable data document is RIPed in compressed format directly into the frame buffer. A compressed file that results may be decompressed and forwarded to the print engine.
摘要:
Compensation algorithms are applied to hide failed nozzles or, at least, reduce the objectionable effect of such nozzles in a printed image. Once a failed nozzle or under-performing nozzle is detected in a single-pass printing system, it is shut-off and the image data that was intended to be printed by this nozzle is redistributed to its neighboring nozzles. Embodiments of the invention use of a 1-D look-up table and stochastically distribute the duty cycle to each neighboring nozzle. In this way, failed nozzles are effectively hidden in the final print.
摘要:
A multiple raster image processor (RIP) system which enables faster system performance over multiple processors includes a zero RIP feature consisting of a language interpreter sub-RIP that interprets a print instruction file but does not process the graphics rendering steps or the post-language processing operators. The zero RIP discovers page related attributes for individual pages within a multipage job and reports any potential errors or warnings with the file. A thumb RIP consists of a very low resolution RIP that is used specifically for the creation of thumbnail images. A skip RIP interpretes selected pages in a way that skips all or most of the processing for that page. Pages to be skipped are scheduled for a different processor, thereby saving processing time and enabling the provision of a multiple processor RIP. A rules based scheduler on a page/face or machine characteristic basis supports a dynamic assignment and assessment algorithm. Scheduling results in optimum use of available resources and requested print constraints (e.g. constrained time window) and optimum use of system bandwidth (e.g. bandwidth control). Archiving and editing capability enables tagged archiving of jobs or parts of jobs in a post RIPed (i.e. raster) format in a special cache located within the multiRIP system.