Abstract: A printer output coverage estimation system permits a user of print services to obtain an accurate estimate of the amount of toner required by a print job. Providers of print services, including coverage estimations, may be identified through the Internet and selected by the user from a web interface. The estimate request may then be transmitted directly to the provider that fulfills the request using excess computing capacity. Alternatively, providers may register excess computing capacity with a broker. The broker matches job requests with a grid of providers and directs the job request to the matched provider(s). Thus, users of print services have an alternative to purchasing in-house computing resources that may remain idle much of the time.

Abstract: In summary, the present invention provides a method, apparatus and program product for calculating an estimate of the amount of toner coverage required for printing print data defined in a compressed data stream. The estimate is obtained with reduced processing by obtaining coverage data from a partially decompressed formed of the data stream and using this to obtain the coverage estimate, thus removing the need to do a full de-compression of the data stream. For example the coverage data is a count of toned pixels for at least one intensity level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a fast, color printer architecture are disclosed. A print processor comprises a plurality of processing units operating in parallel to process data for different layers or color planes. A connection can be formed between any processing unit and any print head of one or more printers. Any one of a plurality of the parallel processing units may be assigned to process one, some, or all of the colors of data. Consequently, each one of a plurality of print heads can be assigned to receive data from any one of a plurality of processing units.

Abstract: A method (and system) for changing spatial resolution of an image includes systematically creating an image scaling look-up table including at least one pixel replacement pattern and applying a scaling algorithm to modify the image using the image scaling look-up table, thereby allowing a user to scale binary images with easy control of dot gain, output bit depth and other printer parameters.

Abstract: A method and system obtains a linear combination in accordance with an image processing algorithm using at least one lookup table that is indexed by at least one subset of bits from a set of pixels in an image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system and program product for performing multiple-pel print quality enhancement (PQE) using amplitude modulation. A determination is made of an adjusted peak amplitudes value of each pel of an image. At least two adjacent pels are then grouped together and a determination is made of a peak amplitudes value that will serve as a gray amplitude value for each pel in the pel group. Also determined is position information indicating the alignment of the peak amplitudes within the combined area. The combined peak amplitudes and position information is sent as input to an amplitude modulator operating at a speed equal to the video data rate of the printer divided by the number of pels for which the peak amplitudes data is combined.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system and program product for performing multiple-pel print quality enhancement (PQE). As in known methods of PQE, a determination is made of an adjusted sub-pulse value of each pel of an image. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, at least two adjacent pels are then grouped together and a determination is made of a combined pulse width value to charge the combined area of the at least two adjacent pels. Also determined is position information indicating the alignment of the pulse width within the combined area. The combined pulse width and position information is sent as input to a pulse width modulator operating at a speed equal to the video data rate of the printer divided by the number of pels for which the pulse width data is combined.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for generating a halftone screened image from an input image. A first threshold matrix is generated which, when utilized to halftone a solid gray input image, generates a first halftoned output image which is a plurality of generally solid vertical lines. The first threshold matrix includes a plurality of matrix elements arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. A plurality of groups of the matrix elements are shifted within the first threshold matrix to create a second threshold matrix which, when utilized to halftone the solid gray input image, generates a second halftoned output image which is a checkerboard type pattern of alternating black or white blocks. In one embodiment, groups of the plurality of the rows are shifted horizontally over by at least one adjacent column to generate the second matrix.