Abstract: A novel font compression method is disclosed that incorporates a plurality of data encoding techniques for compressing bit map font data or the like. Such individual characters of a font are represented in blocks comprised of a plurality of lines of data. The font data is first encoded according to encoding techniques that are applicable to the blocks of character data. Subsequently, each line of data is further encoded according to one of several selected encoding techniques. A selection of which technique to use for encoding a particular line is made by determining the length of data that will result from encoding using each of the selected techniques and comparing the lengths to select the technique yielding the shortest encoded data length. A novel Group encoding method is disclosed having particular application to bit strings of data having several groups of identical data bits.

Abstract: A character information processor which can be applied to a tape printing device. The character information processor is provided with a read-only memory in which a table containing the levels of alternatives of a menu hierarchical structure set correspondingly to each edition function is stored. When an edition level is selected by an operator by keying, only edition operations, which are available at the selected edition level, are displayed on the screen of a display unit as choices. An example of the function of editing a character string is a function for enabling the restoration of a text, on which an edition operation such as an input operation and a deleting operation has been once performed.

Abstract: The invented method involves the coding of color and black print image data for communication of the same from a printer server or driver to an ink-jet printer. The coding is such that true black or process black can be selected by the driver and can be used by a printer capable of producing both, i.e. an ink-jet printer equipped with a black ink pen and a tri-color ink pen. An invented print protocol permits one of a variety of color palettes to be selected on a print page basis. If the selected palette includes true black (K), then, for areas wherein only true black will be printed, the communication sequence in which the codes are sent to the printer requires none of the color selection coding. A four-plane, as well as other, palettes are described, with the four-plane palette including true black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y).

Abstract: A system and method for processing image data converts a pixel of image data having a first resolution to a plurality of subpixels, the plurality of subpixels representing a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution. The plurality of subpixels are thresholded to generate a group of subpixel values for each pixel and a threshold error value. It is then determined if the group of subpixel values from the thresholding process produce a pattern containing an isolated subpixel. If the group of subpixel values from the thresholding process produce a pattern containing an isolated subpixel, the group of subpixel vales is modified to produce a pattern without an isolated subpixel. The modification process produces a subpixel error value which is compensated for localized error before being diffused to adjacent pixels.

Abstract: A character image processing apparatus so adapted that when a typeface and size are specified at generation of a character image, a font of a specific typeface and of a size within predetermined selection limits of a specified size is retrieved from pre-rasterized fonts already developed as bitmap data and stored. In a case where a character image is generated from this font, the character will be generated at a position offset from the position the character of the specified size would have originally occupied. Accordingly, position is corrected in such a manner that the center of the position which a character would have originally occupied and the position of the center of the character generated from the pre-rasterized font will coincide. Further, the selection limits are decided using sizes midway between a stored pre-rasterized font and character sizes one size larger and one size smaller than that of this pre-rasterized font as boundaries.

Abstract: A memory management method for use in a printing process in which a time required for rendering is calculated, for managing printing data in units of band, calculating a size of the printing data in a memory, managing plural band rasters, varying the number of band rasters to be managed in the memory, converting an image to data for management, determining in accordance with a memory state whether or not data conversion is performed, and calculating a data size in the memory after the data conversion.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a derivation unit which derives a usable memory size, and a controller which determines a default value of the memory to be used, according to the derived size.

Abstract: A method for increasing resolution in a image printed by an ink jet printer is provided. The method selectively removes painted pixels from a bit map to ensure that no two adjacent pixels are painted by the same ink jet. The method removes painted pixels in a manner that preserves the edges of characters and other features. The resulting processed bit map ensures that an individual print head jet always addresses at least one non-painted/blank pixel after each painted pixel it fills. This allows the speed of the receiving surface relative to the print head to be increased to thereby allow for greater resolution in the printed image for a given print time.

Abstract: A printer sends a calibration request to a computer upon sensing the need for calibration. Upon receiving the calibration request, the computer supplies the printer with data (logical density values) for a grayscale correction. On the basis of the grayscale correction data, the printer forms a sample image, measures the density (actual density values) of the sample image and notifies the computer of the actual density values. On the basis of the logical density values and actual density values, the computer creates a grayscale correction table (executes calibration) serving as a rule for correcting the tonality of image information. When printing is performed, the computer corrects the tonality of the image information based upon the grayscale correction table and supplies the corrected results to the printer.

Abstract: An improved communications buffer system is provided which dynamically allocates the size and number of buffers to optimally receive and transmit packets of communications data over a communications link, while efficiently using the amount of available memory so as to provide optimal throughput capability with respect to the allocated amount of memory. The printer first determines how much "free" memory is available in its "pool area" and then how best to divide up that pool area into both transmit and receive buffers for a single port. Once the entire pool area has been allocated for these transmit and receive buffers, the communication session can begin between the host computer and the printer for communicating the actual print job data.

Abstract: A code pattern image recording apparatus which allows easy layout and edit processes of a recorded code pattern image on another sheet surface without being limited by the size and the like of that sheet surface, includes a built-in microphone for inputting audio information, a code pattern image encode unit for converting the audio information into a code pattern image according to a predetermined format by processing the input audio information, a print head for continuously and optically readably printing and recording the converted code pattern image on a print medium, which is sequentially fed in a predetermined direction, along the feed direction, and a system controller for controlling to divisionally record the code pattern image by inserting non-recording regions in units of predetermined print recording lengths of the continuously recorded code pattern image along the feed direction of the print medium.

Abstract: A multi-resolution capable printer includes a critical operations memory buffer for enabling critical page print operations to occur without flushing the video buffers and without waiting for returned-in memory to heal into larger free blocks. The critical operations buffer thus enables improved constant printer throughput and reduced "pausing" during a multi-page print job. The critical operations buffer is dynamically sized to the resolution of the current page being printed. Thus, at higher resolution configurations, the critical operations buffer is reduced in size to allow the video buffers to increase in size to accommodate the higher resolution. At lower resolution configurations, the critical operations buffer is increased in size and the video buffers are decreased in size to accommodate the lower resolution. Advantageously, the total combined pre-reserved memory area utilized by the critical operations buffer and the video buffers remains constant.

Abstract: In a user-friendly image forming apparatus which reduces operation errors by users, a job being read unregistered in a print waiting table and is added in the print waiting table when a print starting condition is satisfied, and printed at a resolution according to the data source of the job. When the print mode is the weekly magazine binding mode, the print starting condition is satisfied at the time when reading of all pages of image data is completed. When the print mode is the upward-facing mode, it is satisfied at the time when reading of one page of image data is completed.

Abstract: A hand held labeler is programmable to operate in accordance with a sequence of commands forming an application program that is downloaded to the labeler and stored in a random access memory. Each command is associated with a command routine selected from a set of command routines that is stored in a read only memory. The commands of the application program and associated command routines are executed by a microprocessor of the labeler to perform flexible data collection, data manipulation and label printing operations.

Abstract: The improved image synthesizing method of the invention which creats digital composite image data by synthesizing a background image and an image read from an original comprises: previously designating a position and a size of the read image which will be inserted into and synthesized with the background image on an output print; scanning and reading the original by a scanner in accordance with the designated size and converting the read image into read image data having the designated size and a resolution of the output print; and automatically synthesizing the converted read image data and the background image data synthesizing the read image having the designated size at the position designated on the background image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a reversing unit for reversing a sheet with an image formed and discharging the reversed sheet, a determining unit for determining whether the sheet with an image formed is reversed or not reversed with the reversing unit before the sheet is discharged and a page order control unit including a first mode of forming images of a plurality of pages in a first page mode and a second page mode of forming images of a plurality of pages in a second page mode different from the first page mode, wherein in accordance with whether the apparatus operates in the first mode or in the second mode, the determining unit determines whether the sheet with an image formed is reversed or not reversed with the reversing unit before the sheet is discharged.

Abstract: A system for retrieving reports and for extracting selected fields from print data streams that may be modified by a non-technical user to provide for revisions in format and additions of new report formats without any need for programming or knowledge of printer code. An extraction database is provided that contains report format information for each of the report formats in use. The report format information includes one or more extraction fields for each report format and a print position associated with the extraction field indicating the position at which the extraction field is printed in the corresponding report format. A print data stream containing a number of reports is analyzed for the presence of a first report, and the report format information associated with the first report format is retrieved from the extraction database.

Abstract: A font compression method and apparatus operates by: compressing different components of a font file with separate compressors having varying compression schemes to produce a plurality of intermediate compressed data sets; separating compressed glyph table components of the font file into different ones of the intermediate compressed data sets; and further compressing the intermediate compressed data sets to produce corresponding compressed output data sets. A corresponding decompression method and apparatus is used to decompress fonts which have been compressed using the above method.

Abstract: A post-printer open-architecture device includes a document input region for receiving documents from a document printing apparatus and a document output region for outputting post-processed documents. An open-architecture document post-processing region is located intermediate the document input and output regions and includes a transport surface for conveying documents from the document input region to the document output region. A module mounting assembly releasably receives and secures at least one document post-processing module in an operative position to perform one or more post-processing operations on a document conveyed on the transport surface.

Abstract: In the present invention, predetermined lower bits of address data outputted to a page memory form a base section through a system address bus, a bus conversion section, and a general purpose address bus. In addition, other address data than the predetermined lower bits is supplied the page memory through the system address bus and the bus conversion section. Address data outputted from the base section to the general purpose bus device is supplied thereto through the system address bus, the bus conversion section, and the general purpose address bus.