Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for paper properties needed to perform page raster image processing (RIP) of a page and prompting an operator to load a virtual paper without inserting a physical medium.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for paper properties needed to perform page raster image processing (RIP) of a page and prompting an operator to load a virtual paper without inserting a physical medium.

Abstract: A storage apparatus and method capable of storing energy as heat for subsequent utilization. The storage apparatus is capable of operation with a fluid phase heat transfer medium to both supply and extract heat energy at the storage apparatus. Additionally, the present storage apparatus may form an integral part of an electricity generation plant powered by any renewable energy source and in particular a solar thermal energy source. The storage apparatus comprises an internal chamber containing a plurality of columns of a construction aggregate that are arranged to provide a plurality of fluid flow passageways such that a fluid is configured to flow between the columns from an inlet to an outlet to transfer heat energy to the construction aggregate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating scleroderma by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a toll like receptor 4 inhibitor to a subject in need of such a treatment.

Abstract: Solar energy concentrating apparatus having an array of lenses to receive and concentrate the solar radiation towards a plurality of stationary targets. The lenses are supported on a moveable structure to enable the lenses to move laterally in the east-west and north-south directions. Each lens of the array is also configured to rotate about an axis extending in the north-south direction. Drive means is coupled to a plurality of lateral and rotational movements mechanisms to orientate the lenses towards the target as the sun moves throughout the day and year.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes identifying a received object to be cached, calculating a time to rasterize the object, determining if the rasterize time is greater than a time to reuse a rasterized image of the object, caching the object if the reuse time is greater than the rasterize time and caching the rasterized image of the object if the rasterize time is greater than the reuse time.

Abstract: Apparatus to collect solar radiation using a series of lenses or mirrors that concentrate the solar energy onto targets. A gaseous working fluid flowing through the targets is heated and optionally supplied to a heat store having an internal walled labyrinth of a suitable material to store heat energy. A heat exchanger, turbine and electricity generator are coupled to the collection and storage apparatus so as to provide a power plant for the conversion of solar energy to electricity.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes identifying a received object to be cached, calculating a time to rasterize the object, determining if the rasterize time is greater than a time to reuse a rasterized image of the object, caching the object if the reuse time is greater than the rasterize time and caching the rasterized image of the object if the rasterize time is greater than the reuse time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for rendering code points on a presentation device with layout processing performed outside the presentation device. In one aspect, a layout processor translates one or more code points into a sequence of one or more glyph indices and corresponding positioning information. The glyph indices and corresponding positioning information may be included within a PTOCA control sequence. The glyph indices may be used by the presentation device to directly locate a corresponding glyph image in a font. The positioning information defines positioning of each glyph image so identified. Features and aspects hereof allow efficient layout of complex text in which glyph images and positioning may be dynamically determined in accordance with context or other attributes. The processing burden of such layout processing is removed from the presentation device without significantly increasing data transmission bandwidth between the presentation engine and external system utilizing the layout processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a fast, color printer architecture are disclosed. A print processor comprises a plurality of processing units operating in parallel to process data for different layers or color planes. A connection can be formed between any processing unit and any print head of one or more printers. Any one of a plurality of the parallel processing units may be assigned to process one, some, or all of the colors of data. Consequently, each one of a plurality of print heads can be assigned to receive data from any one of a plurality of processing units.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for managing the print speed of a variable speed printer are disclosed. Embodiments include a print controller system having a raster image processor for rasterizing a print job to create a plurality of rasterized pages and a printer controller buffer for storing one or more of the rasterized pages. The printer controller buffer may also transmit at a print engine feed rate the one or more rasterized pages to a print engine. Embodiments may also include a speed control module in communication with the printer controller buffer for determining the print engine feed rate. Further embodiments may include the speed control module determining the print engine feed rate based on one or more of page processing times, page arrival rates, estimated print completion rates, and the number of pages in a print engine buffer.

Abstract: A method of communicating non-native print objects in MO:DCA Architecture for controlling and operating RFID writer or reader devices without requiring separate control data streams or systems to be implemented at the host computer. Data references and command identifiers are placed by application program means at the host computer into the page description data so that RFID information can be retrieved and downloaded to the printer and RFID apparatus when the print data is being processed in the print server or main processor of the printer without interfering with normal operation of the printer itself.

Abstract: The print system MO:DCA Architecture is extended to handle non-native print objects for controlling and operating RFID writer or reader devices without requiring separate control data streams or systems to be implemented at the host computer. References and command identifiers are placed in the page description data from the host computer so that RFID information can be retrieved and downloaded to the printer and RFID apparatus when the print data is being processed in the print server or main processor of the printer without interfering with normal operation of the printer itself.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and program for interfacing with a printer driver. Data and an acknowledgment request is received from the printer driver. The printer driver does not send further data to print until receiving an acknowledgment reply indicating that the transmitted data passed an initial check to improve printer performance. An acknowledgment reply is transmitted to the printer driver in response to the acknowledgment request before completing the initial check of the sent data to cause the printer driver to send further data. Data processing operations are resynchronized in response to detecting an error in the received data. The received data is rasterized and outputted.

Abstract: Device emulation implemented in programmable circuits. In one aspect, an interface for providing control of a hardware device includes functional code embedded in circuitry of the interface. Emulator code is embedded in programmable circuitry of the interface to emulate the hardware device during testing of the functional code and the interface. Another aspect diagnoses errors in a system having an interface and a connected hardware device, using emulator code embedded in a programmable circuit of the interface.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a halftoned image is disclosed. The method and system comprise scaling the halftoned image by performing pel repetition utilizing an error diffusion algorithm such that artifacts are minimized. According a system and method in accordance with the present invention performs pel repetition using error diffusion technology, so that any resulting “artifacts” are realized as high-frequency image addition, making them much less visible. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides adjustability in the computational complexity of the scaling, so that quality can be traded off continuously against the amount of processing power required.

Abstract: Systems and methods of identifying and processing complex text are provided. If a presentation data stream contains a complex text string, a preselected control in the presentation data stream is inserted before the complex text string. A first parameter has a value indicating a control type for controlling processing of complex text, and a second parameter takes one or more values for enabling and disabling the processing of complex text. In processing complex text, responsive to a first predetermined type of control in a presentation data stream, if the first type of complex text processing is enabled, this processing is applied to a complex text string succeeding the first predetermined type of control in the presentation data stream. The first predetermined type of control includes a first parameter represented by a corresponding value for controlling the first type of complex text processing.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for switching fonts without embedding font switching commands in the data stream (logical description of the print document) between a client and a print server. The client in a printing system may receive a character where the character is a modified character in a base font resource or is a character to be added to or deleted from the base font resource. The client may create a font resource that includes the received character. The client may further link the created font resource with the base font resource or vice-versa thereby allowing a user to use both the characters in the base font resource and in the linked font resource as if they were a single font resource without building or buying a special purpose font resource. Consequently, font switching commands are no longer necessary to be embedded in the data stream.

Abstract: A carding machine for treating a fibrous feedstock and having an adjustable cleaning device arranged at any position on the machine where removal of waste from the feedstock is required while undergoing treatment, and a machine management device for monitoring the waste removal by the cleaning device and for providing a compensatory feedback adjustment of the cleaning device when the monitored waste deviates from a desired state, in which the monitoring of the waste removed can comprise a weighing device, an optical device, or a filter device which acts on a stream of air-borne waste.

Abstract: A carding engine having a main toothed cylinder, a taker-in, a doffer, and a revolving flats assembly positioned above the outer periphery of the cylinder in the region between the taker-in and the doffer, in which a fixed bend and a flexible bend are adjustably interconnected so as to define a required working path for the moveable flats whereby the spacing between the fixed bend and the adjustable bend can be adjusted to enable any desired predetermined clearance values to be pre-set between the tips of the flats and the outer periphery of the main cylinder, and including a number of setting devices which are arranged at spaced apart setting locations with respect to the working path and which operative to provide a predictable adjustment movement from the pre-set clearance values between the tips of the flats and the outer periphery of the main cylinder set by the adjustment means.