Abstract: A system and method that enables users operating originating devices, such as PC's, laptop computers, PDA's, pocket PC's, cell phones, etc., to print documents, images, etc. by sending the content to be printed via an e-mail message. The e-mail message is sent to a virtual printer e-mail address hosted by an e-mail server. The e-mail message is retrieved by a “driverless” print server (DPS) system, separated into a main file and attachment files, and printed on a printer to which the virtual printer e-mail address corresponds. The DPS system utilizes a table driven mechanism to determine appropriate applications to laod and process and handle various printer events generated by various software applications pertaining to the documents desired to be printed by operators of the originating devices. The system and method enable documents and the like to be printed without requiring a printer device driver corresponding to the target printer to be loaded on the originating device.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention include a system and method for losslessly encoding and compressing a data stream. The data stream may be an image, text or combination of the two. The data stream may be received from a computer application or peripheral device. The encoding compresses the data stream by comparing consecutive values of the data stream and encoding the data based on the difference between consecutive data values.

Abstract: A set of hardware and/or software elements, typically embedded as part of the input or output device, which operate cooperatively to select from a set of personality parameters to enable the outputting of image data created by different sources to different output devices. Included is a method for printing from embedded devices to inkjet and laser printers with a print preview of images to display devices such as LCD or video screens. The invention provides color management and color adjustments along with built-in output device drivers to generate data required to operate different output devices. In this manner, a single imaging subsystem in a source devices can be used to drive a larger number of output devices. Similarly, a single output subsystem in an output device can be used to obtain data from a large number of source devices. The configuration personality parameters are provided in a compact format, yet image and color quality are optimized for each output device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the data flow between a client computer and a diskless server is provided in which the diskless server inserts delays into the replies sent in response to the data requests of the client computer. The inserted delays prevent the client computer from terminating the communications session between the client computer and the diskless server because a time-out interval is exceeded. The diskless server may be a software-based print server stored in the memory of a printer. The delays are inserted into a reply when the amount of data in a buffer in the diskless server exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the compression of complex bi-level images created from gray scale images. The invention has particular application when used with continuous raster scan output devices such as laser printers where the invention enables the printing of images using a smaller amount of memory than would be needed without the invention. To practice the invention, a bi-level gray scale image is produced by any desired technique. The gray scale image is then rendered thereby converting it to a bi-level image. The bi-level image is compressed in portions The compressed portions are then decompressed and the decompressed portions are sent to a print engine of a continuous raster scan device at the speed required by the print engine so that it is never necessary to have the entire image stored in the printer's memory at the same time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling transparency operatives simultaneously with raster operatives in a graphics environment. This is achieved by introducing filter operations to obtain the effect of transparency. Filter operations work cooperatively with grayscale and continuous-tone color raster operations. The introduction of filter operations, and their cooperation with raster operations allows this otherwise computationally complex problem to be served by a single hardware circuit for use in real-time applications such as monochrome and color laser printing. The solution is also applicable to displaying complex graphics on a video display device. A suitable apparatus receives graphics language commands which define the image to be displayed and generates a set of graphics orders from the graphics language commands representing the image to be displayed. The apparatus includes an image generator for generating a bitmap image from the graphics orders.

Abstract: A method and system which enables the printing of all pages that an interpreter of a page description language can image at the highest print quality that can be maintained while ensuring that all pages will print regardless of complexity. A memory manager is responsible for allocation of memory for rendering pages and a fallback manager is responsible for handling memory overflow and video underrun exceptions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used to perform image rendering is capable of producing complex, high resolution images for a continuous synchronous raster image output device, such as a laser printer or a video display, using a minimum of random access memory. High level graphics instructions defining an image to be displayed or printed are provided by a processor executing an applications program. These instructions are interpreted to generate a set of graphics orders that are subsequently processed to create a bitmap image for output to a display or printer device. The graphics order processing system is independent of the central processor and thereby significantly reduces the central processor's image output overhead.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used to perform image rendering in a manner which is capable of producing complex, high resolution page images where a continuous synchronous raster image output device, such as a laser printer, using a minimum of random access memory. The invented technique decomposes basic graphics functions into a compact series of orders commands suitable for real time processing and then generates the output page image in real time. The graphic content of a page is defined in much less memory then the rendered image would otherwise require, but is in a form that can be processed and deliver to the output device at the speed required by the output device. This is accomplished by the use of graphics functions which are represented as low level primitives which can be converted to bit mapped images in real time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for losslessly compressing binary data using a technique referred to as Double Run-Length Encoding (DRLE). DRLE has particular application to the compression of gray-scale data as it is being processed for printing by a laser printer or other continuous raster scan device. DRLE records repeating patterns of ones and zeros with little computational complexity. Compression ratios that may be an order of magnitude or more are obtained frequently on data that may not compress well using traditional Run-Length Encoding (RLE). DRLE uses a sequential history of order-pairs that denote variable-length patterns of zeros and ones, and then encodes these patterns as they repeat themselves.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used to perform image rendering is capable of producing complex, high resolution images for a continuous synchronous raster image output device, such as a laser printer or a video display, using a minimum of random access memory. High level graphics instructions defining an image to be displayed or printed are provided by a processor executing an applications program. These instructions are interpreted to generate a set of graphics orders that are subsequently processed to create a bitmap image for output to a display or printer device. The graphics order processing system is independent of the central processor and thereby significantly reduces the central processor's image output overhead.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used to perform image rendering in a manner which is capable of producing complex, high resolution page images where a continuous synchronous raster image output device, such as a laser printer, using a minimum of random access memory. The invented technique decomposes basic graphics functions into a compact series of orders commands suitable for real time processing and then generates the output page image in real time. The graphic content of a page is defined in much less memory then the rendered image would otherwise require, but is in a form that can be processed and deliver to the output device at the speed required by the output device. This is accomplished by the use of graphics functions which are represented as low level primitives which can be converted to bit mapped images in real time.