Abstract: A data processing method which efficiently performs data transfer by using a data bus with an appropriate access width corresponding to transfer data and a printer using the data processing method. In the printer, a CPU bus 70 having a 16-bit physical bus width, is shared by a CPU 21 and a DMAC 80. In a case where the CPU 21 accesses a memory via the CPU bus 70 with an 8-bit width, while the DMAC 80 accesses the memory via the CPU bus 70 with a 16-bit width, each time the DMAC 80 needs to access the memory, the DMAC 80 issues a DMA request signal to the CPU 21, requiring an exclusive access right for the CPU bus 70. In accordance with the request signal, the CPU 21 delivers the exclusive access right for the CPU bus 70 to the DMAC 80. Then the DMAC 80 controls memory access with the 16-bit width.

Abstract: When a host computer makes a printer print a document, the driver on the host computer sends character codes of characters that appear for the first time in that document and corresponding character images to the printer in advance, and registers them. After this process, the driver transmits, to the printer, characters in the document to be printed as character codes, and data other than characters as mapped image. The printer maps an image on a page memory, maps characters as images with reference to the registered character codes and character image, and superposes the mapped character images on the image mapped on the page buffer. The printer prints the image on paper. The printer can divide an image into bands, and can map the image in units of bands, in place of pages. With this arrangement, the memory capacity can be reduced, and bands having identical contents or blank bands can be processed as codes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preparing, on user demand, a selection from a catalog of information packages. The information package selection includes digital media bearing a digitized first body of information and print media bearing a printed second body of information. In the method, the catalog of information packages is displayed. A user takes an action that generates an input signal corresponding to the information package selection. The input signal is received and a digital file group for the information package selection is provided. The digital file group includes information necessary to write the first body of information to digital media and information necessary to print the second body of information to print media. An identification marking is allocated to the digital file group. Digital media and print media are allocated to the digital file group. The first body of information and a digital representation of the identification marking are written to the digital media.

Abstract: A mark is provided on an object surface of an object under measurement, and the mark provides two intersection points P.sub.1 and P.sub.2 between first and second straight lines L.sub.1, L.sub.2, and between second and third lines L.sub.2, L.sub.3, in which an angle ".alpha." defined by the first and second straight lines L.sub.1 and L.sub.2, another angle ".beta." defined by the second and third straight lines L.sub.2 and L.sub.3, and a distance between P.sub.1 and P.sub.2 are known. This mark is imaged on at least one set of one-dimensional optical sensor. When a sensor signal having a light intensity distribution along a longitudinal direction is outputted from the one-directional optical sensor, a calculation unit calculates positions of the straight lines L.sub.1 to L.sub.3 of the mark image on the one-dimensional optical sensor in response to the sensor signal. Based upon this calculation result, another calculation is made of at least one position of the two intersection points P.sub.1 and P.sub.

Abstract: A multi-staged image processing pipeline in a page printer includes a splitter stage for splitting a scan line of print data into sections for improved formatting efficiency and speed in the pipeline. In a preferred embodiment, the splitter stage forces a section of the scan line data to be processed by all relevant image processing stages with reduced cache thrashing. Each section of scan line data is set to be of a size that is optimal for (i.e., not greater than) the cache memory available. Advantageously, the splitter provides dynamically configurable splitter sizing and enables each stage to work on the data that is currently in the cache.

Abstract: An imaging device and method enable the freeing of memory during a punt (print overrun) avoidance operation and during a duplexing operation for enhanced page throughput. Specifically, if a first race condition threshold is met, being indicative of an estimated need to pre-rasterize a band from a page of image data for punt avoidance, and if after pre-rasterization it is determined pre-rasterization is not actually needed for punt avoidance, then the pre-rasterized band is evaluated relative to its display list for memory savings purposes for improved page throughput performance. Similarly, if a duplex condition threshold is met, being indicative of a band being part of a first side of a duplex page being processed and of an estimated need to save memory for processing of the second side of the duplex page, then the band is pre-rasterized and evaluated relative to its display list for memory savings purposes for improved duplex page throughput performance.

Abstract: In an information processing system capable of suppressing an amount of data traffic relating to process on a network and reducing a processing time, the amount of data traffic is measured. If the measured amount exceeds a predetermined value and if the amount of data traffic is to be suppressed, then it is determined whether a resolution is to be lowered, and/or whether the number gradation levels is to be reduced. Based on a positive determination, the system temporarily shifts to a lower resolution and/or reduces the number of gradation levels, and converts the data to be processed accordingly.

Abstract: A printer including a memory configured to store executable code; a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute executable code; a print mechanism coupled to the processor and configured to print an image in response to execution of executable code; a memory receptacle configured to removably receive a plug-in memory; and a memory controller configured to selectively write executable code onto a plug-in memory received by the memory receptacle.

Abstract: An image processing and image forming system inputs multivalued image data having a resolution of 300.times.300 dpi, converts the resolution of the data to a higher resolution of 600.times.1200 dpi and forms an image. In a memory, pattern data corresponding to image data of a predetermined color is stored in advance. When color data, image data (code) and data corresponding to an image forming position are input to the memory as an address, the memory outputs pattern data stored at that address. By selectively outputting the pattern data read from the memory in accordance with the forming position, color image data whose resolution has been converted is output to form an image.

Abstract: A printer capable of printing on differing types of recording media. A memory section is provided that is capable of storing insertion wait times that wait for insertion of the respective recording medium types and setting wait times that wait for the recording medium to be properly set. Also, when the type of recording medium to be printed on is designated, then the printer waits for insertion of the recording medium according to the insertion wait time and setting wait time corresponding to that recording medium and then starts an automatic feed operation. Therefore, it is possible to offer a printer and its control method wherein the wait times can be set according to the level of experience of the operator and to the recording paper types, the ease of use of the recording medium and the installation circumstances of the printer, setting times can be set that do not cause stress on the operators, and printing can be performed without wasted time.

Abstract: A look-up table of ink density values corresponding to a predetermined number of printed bit patterns is used to convert a high resolution bi-level data file into a lower resolution contone data file. A method to convert bi-level data to contone data includes reading a specified number of words from the bi-level data and retrieving, for each word, an ink density value from the look-up table using the word as an index into the table.

Abstract: A technique for the automatic detection of certain characteristics of the print medium being used in a printer is disclosed. These characteristics may include, without limitation, the manufacturer, the finish, the quality, orientation, and the dimensions of the print medium. Each sheet of specialty print medium is marked at the point of manufacture or packaging with certain preassigned numeric or symbolic codes that uniquely identify the characteristics of the print medium. Sensors are added to each printer to automatically detect and decode the markings on the speciality print media. This information is used to automatically optimize the printer for the best print quality possible.

Abstract: A system for reducing memory resources required to process a print job having common page print data. Reduction of memory resources is accomplished by first analyzing pages from an application for common page aspects and unique page aspects. The common page aspects are then converted to common page print data and the unique page aspects are converted to unique page print data. The common page print data is identified in a manner allowing for an optimized form of the common page print data to be created. An optimized form of the common page print data is then created and stored. The common page print data is merged with the unique page print data in an appropriate manner. Each page is then printed. The invention has particular benefits for presentation applications using the same background for each page in a set. Other applications can also benefit.

Abstract: Aspects for achieving enhanced glyphs of a font are presented. In a method aspect, the method includes determining a glyph layer description for a selected glyph, and accessing at least one contour for the selected glyph. The method further includes accessing at least one layer style for the at least one contour of the selected glyph, and rendering the selected glyph in accordance with the at least one layer style to produced an enhanced glyph. In a system aspect, the system includes a mechanism for providing a hinted path. A glyph layer processor is coupled to the mechanism for providing and receives the hinted path. The glyph layer processor outputs enhanced glyph data. A drawing client for receiving the enhanced glyph data from the glyph layer processor for output from a computer system is further included.

Abstract: A network printing system is available to a large population of users submitting jobs thereto at random times. The system includes a first decomposer facility, such as for PostScript.TM. or PDF interpretation, and a second decomposer facility, such as for PCL interpretation. The first decomposer facility is capable of parallel interpretation of multiple page images within a job, while the second decomposer facility may not be. A buffer manager arbitrates the operation of the decomposer facilities, so that page images of different page description languages or other image formats are processed optimally.

Abstract: A buffer memory control device has a plurality of generating units which generate image data of differing formats one line at a time. A storage unit temporarily stores at least one line of image data generated by one of the generating units. A plurality of processing units perform differing image processing of at least one line of image data read from the storage unit. A control unit controls the number of lines of image data to be temporarily stored in the storage unit and the amount of data per line, based on the generating unit which generates the image data stored in the storage unit and the processing unit which performs image processing of the image data read from the storage unit.

Abstract: A copy machine can store image data corresponding to a plurality of original groups. The user can carry out an editing process such as confirmation, erasure, and modification, and the like on the stored image data. A control unit of the copy machine provides control so that, when printing of a previous job has ended, and the mode to confirm, erase or modify the image data of a registered original group is not selected, printing of a next job is initiated if there is a job to be printed out. When the edit mode is selected, the control returns to the main routine. Therefore, printing of a job subsequent to the job that has been ended will not be initiated. Thus, a copy machine can be provided that can appropriately process image data of a registered original group.

Abstract: An image forming device comprises an input for receiving a print job data stream; a memory coupled to the input for storing at least a portion of the print job data stream; and, detection apparatus coupled to the memory for detecting indicia indicative of a banner page within the at least a portion of the print job data stream. The indicia includes, selectively, a job boundary, a printer description language used, a page size, complexity of a page, a page closing, a differentiation of print settings as between consecutive pages, or any combination thereof. The image forming device further includes management apparatus coupled to the detection apparatus for managing usage of the banner page in the image forming device, including controlling resolution of the banner page, controlling inclusion/exclusion of the banner page in finishing operations, controlling output quantity of the banner page, and controlling input and output tray selection for the banner page.

Abstract: A printing assembly has a moving web of print receiving material. A print positioning system has a coarse coordinate system and a fine coordinate system. Registration features on the web are used by a print positioning system to form the coarse coordinate system. The coarse coordinate system is employed to predict the location of the most recent registration feature. The fine coordinate system is re-synchronized to begin measuring from the location of the predicted registration feature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor in which limitation is imposed on an allowable number of a character string to be printed.