Abstract: Systems and methods to configure a Raster Image Processor (RIP) are described. In one aspect, a networked computing environment includes a RIP manager coupled to at least one RIP engine. A print job is received. The RIP engine is requested to dynamically configure its RIPing operations when at least one of the RIP Engine's RIPing parameters is not congruent to a RIP manager supplied processing preference. Such dynamic configuration is requested in consideration of the RIP engine RIPing a particular portion of the print job.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic discovery of a networked raster image process (RIP) engine are described. In one aspect, a device determines that an entity is searching for one or more RIP engines. Responsive to such determining, the device notifies the entity of its RIP engine status.

Abstract: In a raster image processing (RIP'ing) pipeline, the invention recovers a failed raster image process (RIP) partition. In one aspect, multiple partitions of a print job are distributed across multiple RIP engines. One or more particular partitions of the multiple partitions are determined to have failed to RIP. Other ones of the multiple partitions that are not the one or more failed partitions were successfully raster image processed (RIP'd) into a first set of data. Zero (0) or more portions of erroneous print data portions of the one or more particular portions are automatically identified. If no portions of the one or more particular portions are determined to be erroneous, a second set of RIP'd data corresponding to the one or more particular portions is automatically generated. The first and second sets of RIP'd data are aggregated into an output file for printing.

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: Systems and methods for automatic discovery of a networked raster image process (RIP) engine are described. In one aspect, a device determines that an entity is searching for one or more RIP engines. Responsive to such determining, the device notifies the entity of its RIP engine status.

Abstract: In a raster image processing (RIP'ing) pipeline, the invention recovers a failed raster image process (RIP) partition. In one aspect, multiple partitions of a print job are distributed across multiple RIP engines. One or more particular partitions of the multiple partitions are determined to have failed to RIP. Other ones of the multiple partitions that are not the one or more failed partitions were successfully raster image processed (RIP'd) into a first set of data. Zero (0) or more portions of erroneous print data portions of the one or more particular portions are automatically identified. If no portions of the one or more particular portions are determined to be erroneous, a second set of RIP'd data corresponding to the one or more particular portions is automatically generated. The first and second sets of RIP'd data are aggregated into an output file for printing.

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: A method and system for customizing an imaging device by electronically downloading a parser is provided. The method provides a computer executable methodology for downloading a dynamically customizable parser into the imaging device and employing a server in the imaging device to serve the downloaded parser to parse a data stream. The system provides a dynamically configurable system for parsing data. With the present system and method, a parser can be replaced or modified without having to physically replace hardware and/or firmware components.