Abstract: A multistage interconnect network (MIN) capable of supporting massive parallel processing, including point-to-point and multicast communications between processor modules (PMs) which are connected to the input and output ports of the network. The network is built using interconnected switch nodes arranged in 2 [logb N] stages, wherein b is the number of switch node input/output ports, N is the number of network input/output ports and [logb N] indicates a ceiling function providing the smallest integer not less than logb N. The additional stages provide additional paths between network input ports and network output ports, thereby enhancing fault tolerance and lessening contention.

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.