Abstract: A method includes receiving a plurality of objects included within a print job. A first object of the plurality of objects and a second object of the plurality of objects are processed to define a first overlapping region between the first and second objects. The first object is modified to remove the first overlapping region, thus generating a modified first object.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring one or more print commands received by a print driver to identify a suspect command. The suspect command is indicative of a repetitive rendering process. The suspect command is modified to include a set flag proximate a beginning portion of the suspect command.

Abstract: A method includes if an initial page of a multi-page print job includes one or more image objects, storing the one or more image objects of the initial page. If a first subsequent page of the multi-page print job includes one or more image objects, comparing the one or more image objects of the initial page to the one or more image objects of the first subsequent page to determine one or more common image objects. A template page is rendered that includes the one or more common image objects.

Abstract: Methods for processing print jobs in rendering devices include representing multiple to-be-printed objects with fewer such objects before processing of the objects occurs. In this manner, processing and memory requirements are optimized. Examples include utilizing a single raster operation function of one object for an entirety of objects; using fewer raster operation functions than originally required for the entirety of objects; creating a no processing (NOP) situation; and effectively creating a mask. Other aspects include modifying raster operation functions of one or more objects to have fewer variables than originally specified by the print job. Printers having stored or accessible computer executable instructions for performing the steps are also disclosed as are host devices that may direct or control the printer to perform the same.

Abstract: Methods for processing print jobs include calculating sizes of to-be-printed objects and processing the objects according to size. Substantially immediately upon processing, the memory of completely rendered to-be-printed objects is released. In this manner, the possibility of memory overrun is minimized. Preferably, calculated object sizes result in ranked list of objects having the largest byte count, bands of pages of the print job having the highest total byte count of objects therein, weighted bands having the highest ratio of total byte count of objects therein to total number of objects, or the like. Processing may additionally occur according to rankings of the ranked list. Calculated sizes may be stored as attributes of display list objects or band display lists. To-be-printed objects having PDL-specified math or logic functions requiring hard processing operations, such as two or more inputs, determine whether band display lists are created.

Abstract: Methods for processing print jobs include creating hard and easy processing zones within bands of to-be-printed pages to speed color processing. The hard processing zones result by creating bounding boxes about to-be-printed objects having PDL-specified math or logic functions requiring hard processing operations, such as two or more inputs. The easy processing zones exist external to the bounding box. Processing of hard zones occurs via color information blending between overlapping pixels of to-be-printed objects or an object and a contone page. A contone page includes color information of the to-be-printed page in a first color space. Processing of easy zones occurs by directly rendering to-be-printed objects in device specific page(s) of memory in a second color space. Any number of hard and easy processing zones can result in a given band. Adjacent bands may also be combined to form composite bands.

Abstract: Methods for processing print jobs in rendering devices include modifying a raster operation function to have fewer variables than originally specified by the print job. Processing may also include executing the modified function and determining how many variables the function originally includes and whether such is one or more. Preferably, the modifying of the function includes determining whether a variable of the function has a black or white identity, such as a black or white ink or a black or white image, stencil or character. It may also include determining whether a destination variable remains unaltered in a to-be-painted area. Printers having stored computer executable instructions for performing the steps are also disclosed as are host devices that may direct or control the printer to perform the same.

Abstract: Methods for processing print jobs in rendering devices include constructing display list objects for to-be-printed objects and determining if two or more sequential objects are combinable. If so, a masked indexed image replaces the objects and has dimensions matching the overall bounding box size of the combinable objects. Indexed image values of the masked indexed image correspond to look up table entries, in turn, corresponding to color values of pixels of the combined object. In this manner, memory space is made available. Determining combinability of objects occurs by examining whether the objects are opaque, have regions as stencils, have similar color intensities, have the same halftone screens, share comparably sized or proximate bounding boxes or for other reasons. Head and tail pointers delineate sequential objects on the display list. The masked indexed image can be uni- or multi-dimensional. Computer readable media and graphics engines in printers are preferred implementation structures.

Abstract: Methods for processing print jobs include flagging, or not, to-be-printed objects having PDL-specified math or logic functions requiring hard processing operations, such as two or more inputs. The math or logic functions preferably reside in ink attributes of display list objects corresponding to the to-be-printed objects. To-be-printed pages of the print job become divided into bands. Bands with to-be-printed objects therein have band display lists constructed in the event the to-be-printed objects become flagged. On a band-by-band basis, if bands have band display lists flagged with hard processing operations, contone bands become constructed. The contone bands result from color information blending between overlapping pixels of to-be-printed objects or an object and a contone page. A contone page includes color information of the to-be-printed page in a first color space. To-be-printed objects are rendered in a second color space in device specific page(s) of memory.

Abstract: Methods for processing print jobs in rendering devices include constructing display list objects for to-be-printed objects and comparing attributes thereof for sameness and compatibility. If same or compatible, attributes become shared and memory locations with redundant information are freed for use with other processing operations. In one aspect, the invention allows sharing of attributes for adjacent objects, for any two objects or for all objects. Pointers of the objects having shared attributes may become modified to point to a new location or eliminated altogether. The object itself may also become eliminated. Preferably, attribute comparison includes comparing color values of ink attributes for exactness and comparing vector drawing commands of region attributes for comparability. Individual objects on the display list can be linked together and a root may precede the first object. Computer readable media and graphics engines in laser printers are preferred structures for comparing attributes.

Abstract: A method for printing an interrupt print job including the steps of receiving a primary print job and processing the primary print job with a primary processor to provide a plurality of primary pages to a print queue. The method further includes the steps receiving an interrupt print job and processing the interrupt print job with an interrupt processor to provide at least one interrupt page. The method further includes the step of printing the at least one interrupt page prior to printing at least one primary page in the page queue.