Abstract: A first storage stores input image data. A second storage stores image data read from the first storage. A control part determines, with respect to a timing at which data transfer of image data into the first storage, a data transfer of the said image data from the first storage to the second storage, based on a rate of data transfer and writing of the image data into the first storage and rate of data transfer and writing of the image data into the second storage from the first storage.

Abstract: A method for producing personalized greeting cards includes receiving a plurality of greeting card orders from users and separating the ordered greeting cards into batches. The ordered greeting cards are produced in batches and a batch-separation symbol is printed on at least one greeting card in each batch. The greeting cards produced are separated into batches using the batch-separation symbols.

Abstract: A video buffer that updates and holds an inputted video signal by a unit of a frame image includes: an image data holding unit having a first image data holding unit that holds the latest frame image, a second image data holding unit that holds a second frame image that goes back n pieces of frames in time from the first frame image and a third image data holding unit that holds the third frame image that goes back m pieces of frames in time from the first frame image; a moving picture display unit that displays the latest frame image held in the first image data holding unit; a print data selection unit that selects a frame image stored in any of the first to third image data holding units as a print object; a print confirmation display unit that displays the selected frame image; a print data generation unit that converts the image data of the displayed image into print data and so forth.

Abstract: A memory module, a printer assembly, and a method for storing a computer code for a printer-controller application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a non-ROM memory control. The memory module has ROM memory cells and a non-ROM to ROM interface operatively connected to the ROM memory cells. The printer assembly has the above-described ASIC, the above-described memory module, and a transmission cable operatively connected to the non-ROM memory control of the ASIC and the non-ROM to ROM interface of the memory module. The method stores non-final versions of the computer code in a memory module having non-ROM memory cells, which allows the code to be changed during development, and stores the final version of the computer code in the above-described memory module having the ROM memory cells.

Abstract: Commercial printers operate more efficiently when they run continuously after being started on a print job. Print job image data is processed by a predetermined number of raster image processors (RIP engines) before starting a printer so as to be able to operate a printer continuously for the duration of the print job. Print job partitions are determined and counted. A predetermined number of partitions are processed into hardware ready bit (HRB) output files which are transferred to the printer. Using a predetermined formula, the total number of partitions to process is calculated before sending resultant HRB output files to said printer. Remaining partitions are processed into HRB files by at least one of the RIP engines until all partitions have been processed.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a printer engine, a display unit, and a sound reproducing unit. The image forming device receives a list of contents from a content distributing device, and has the display unit display the content list. From the content list displayed by the display unit, a user of the image forming device selects a print content, a display content, and a sound content that he desires, associates the selected contents with one another to produce a group of the selected contents, and requests the content distributing device to distribute the group of the selected contents. The content distributing device produces the group of contents associated with one another, and distributes the group of contents to the image forming device. The image forming device expands the print content in the distributed content group into print data, and has the printer engine print the print data.

Abstract: A serial recording system printer continuously records a plurality of pages on a continuous recording sheet repeatedly fed/stopped and conveyed with a constant conveyance step width. A cutter is disposed on a downstream side of a print head so that the position of the cutter can be changed in the conveyance direction. The cutter position is moved for each page in accordance with the dimension of the page, and the sheet is cut. It is assumed that a signal indicating a terminal or front end position of the page is a start point, and that a product (n?) of a conveyance step width (?) and the number of repetitions (n) is set as a conveyance distance of the recording sheet. The cutter is moved to be positioned so that a distance (A) to the cutter from a print end position of a page terminal end or a print start position of a page front end agrees with the conveyance distance (n?).

Abstract: An encoder of a process unit encodes an identification code output by the CPU of a main unit, thereby obtaining a response code. The response code is returned to the main unit. The logic of the encoder is changeable. At shipment, a first logic is set in the encoder. After use, a second logic determined on the basis of a predetermined rule is set to the encoder under control of the CPU. The main unit stores the second logic set in the encoder of the process unit. The identification code is encoded by the encoder of the main unit individually with the first logic and the stored second logic, with the result that normal codes are obtained. The normal codes are collated with the response code by a collator. The CPU identifies the status of the process unit based on the result of the collation by the collator.

Abstract: A client computer has a group printer driver which provides an interface as one printer driver by comprehensively managing a plurality of registered member printer drivers. This group printer driver provides a setting user interface for comprehensively setting setting items in the printer drivers, and a designating user interface for designating a desired one of these printer drivers. When a member printer driver is designated on the designating user interface, the individual user interface of the designated member printer driver is presented to make it possible to set individual items. This provides a user interface capable of efficiently and easily setting functions of a plurality of printers.