Abstract: A printer driver (31) divides printing data, which controls printing of a printer, into one or plural data to record the data, to each of which information for discriminating the data is added, as a sub-file (70), as well as creates a sub-file name data (61) for specifying the sub-file (70) and records it as a spooling file (60). The printer driver (31) also creates a file (71) for writing a print controlling command and records the file name thereof in the spooling file (60). When a print cancellation instruction is received during the printing performance, a print cancellation command is written in the file (71). The print processor (42) refers the print spooling file (60) to read the sub-file (70) in order, so that the printing data included in the file would be transferred to a printer (20). The completely transferred sub-file is deleted.

Abstract: A printer driver (31) divides printing data, which controls printing of a printer, into one or plural data to record the data, to each of which information for discriminating the data is added, as a sub-file (70), as well as creates a sub-file name data (61) for specifying the sub-file (70) and records it as a spooling file (60). The printer driver (31) also creates a file (71) for writing a print controlling command and records the file name thereof in the spooling file (60). When a print cancellation instruction is received during the printing performance, a print cancellation command is written in the file (71). The print processor (42) refers the print spooling file (60) to read the sub-file (70) in order, so that the printing data included in the file would be transferred to a printer (20). The completely transferred sub-file is deleted.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus acquires image information while analyzing the image information into pixel data of multiple color components, and reproduces an image from the image information. The imaging apparatus comprises a memory region reservation unit that reserves memory regions for storing the pixel data of the multiple color components when acquiring the image information. Each memory region is assigned to one of the multiple color components. Also provided is a color determination unit that makes a color determination as to whether each of the multiple color components is recognized as being significant in the pixel data of the image information. In addition, a memory region releasing unit is provided that releases the memory region assigned to the color component that is not recognized by the color determination unit.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, connected via an external bus to at least an external controller and an external storage device, input image data is processed by an image processor 2, then processed image data 1 and image data 2 are simultaneously stored into respective areas of an image buffer 4. The image data 1 is read from the image buffer 4 while it is stored in the image buffer, and the read image data 1 is processed by an image processor 5. The image data is outputted through an image output controller 6 and a bus I/F unit 1 to an external storage device 903 via an external bus 101. At this time, the result of processing on frame data by the image processor is preserved in correspondence with output of the image data 1 for one frame, and image processing and output processing on the image data 2 stored in the image buffer, for one frame, is started.

Abstract: In a printhead in which a plurality of printing elements arranged in a predetermined direction and a driving circuit for driving the printing elements are formed on a single substrate, the printing elements are classified into a plurality of groups. A selection circuit for selecting a printing element to be driven in each group, and data supply circuits for supplying driving data to the driving circuit for driving each printing element through any of a plurality of paths are arranged on the substrate. This realizes high-speed operation while suppressing increases in wiring length and substrate area even upon an increase in the number of printing elements and reducing the cost and generation of malfunctions.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a PDL job receiving unit for receiving a PDL job generated by use of a page description language, a print image forming unit for interpreting the PDL job and forming a print image, a compression unit for compressing the print image, a storage unit for storing the compressed image formed by the compression unit, a hybrid print demand receiving unit for receiving a hybrid print demand that demands the compressed image in the storage unit to be hybrid-printed, an expansion unit for expanding the compressed image, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the expanded image formed by the expansion unit to a printer engine.

Abstract: A method of printing including the steps of receiving a print job having image data, converting the image data into raster bits, and transmitting the raster bits to an external file storage.

Abstract: A spool file (303) holds intermediate data of a print job to be executed. When a test print process is executed while designating this intermediate data, the intermediate data is converted into a command to be sent to a printer (1500), thus executing the test print process. In this case, the number of sets of copies set in the print job is decremented by 1. When an actual print process is done after the test print process, the number of sets of copies is reset to the designated value, and the print process then starts.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium based on an image data output from a page memory having a plurality of consecutive pages each having a predetermined size. The image forming apparatus calculates a number of pages of the page memory required to store an image data in the page memory, judges whether or not the calculated number of pages can be acquired in the page memory, and acquires the calculated number of pages of the page memory based on the judgement made.

Abstract: An N-page printing function set on the basis of a physical sheet is provided by a printing control program installed in an information processing apparatus. In the information processing apparatus when designating of N-page printing, in which drawing data of N pages (N>1, N is an integer) is to be printed on one print sheet, the drawing data of each page is arranged in each of equal N-divided areas of a physical sheet by scaling-down. Print data is produced based on the arranged drawing data.

Abstract: A CPU generates a mask pattern by generating patterns corresponding to a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with the number of printing elements of a printhead which corresponds to the amount by which scanning is performed once in the sub-scanning direction, and repeating this operation by the number of times corresponding to a predetermined number of columns. The generated mask pattern is stored in an RAM. An image is then printed by using image data and the mask pattern stored in the RAM for each printing timing signal in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A method of performing a pattern fill operation of a pattern into a clipping region divides dividing the pattern into a plurality of bands. For each band the method renders the band as a bit map into a band cache. For each tiling of the pattern into the clipping region the method clips the bit map of a current band to the clipping region and copies the clipped bit map into a corresponding location of a page bit map. The plurality of bands of the pattern are preferable aligned with scan lines of the printed page. The bands may correspond to individual scan lines. The method select the number of bands so that each band may be stored within a predetermined amount of band cache memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with some embodiments of the present invention provide data structures and methods for the automatic storing, manipulating and processing of a intermediate printable data generated from a first printable data are presented. In some embodiments, the first printable data may take the form of a PDL description of a document and the intermediate printable data may take the form of a display list of objects generated from the PDL description. In some embodiments, a data structure for storing a intermediate printable data generated from a first printable data may comprise at least one memory pool, which may further comprise a plurality of uniformly sized segments to store the intermediate printable data; at least one global structure for storing information related to the one or more memory pools; and buffers for performing operations on the first printable data and the intermediate printable data.

Abstract: A recording device includes an image retrieval unit, a memory, an image forming unit, and a control unit. The image retrieval unit retrieves images of the document pages as document image data. The control unit begins retrieving document image data from the memory as the image retrieval unit is retrieving document image data and sends the document image data to the image forming unit. The image forming unit uses document image data to form images on recording sheets faster than the image data is retrieved. The control unit checks the memory to confirm whether document image data for a next document page is stored in the memory. The timing of the memory check is both after completion of forming an image of a present document page at the recording sheet transport speed and when storage of image data for the next document page is anticipated to start in the memory.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a private port selected from a group composed of a plurality of user's private ports assigned to a plurality of users, individually, and two or more function-only ports, a reception buffer which temporarily saves a print job received through the private port, and a setting/save section which is provided corresponding to the private port and saves set data on the printing system. A printing section of the apparatus reads the set data on the printing system from the setting/save section corresponding to the user's private port through which the print job is received when the print job stored in the reception buffer is printed and prints the job in accordance with the set data.

Abstract: One processing section 131 executes a process of generating image data K representing a black image on the basis of the image data Y, M, and C, and sequentially executes a process of removing elements of the black image contained in the image data Y, from the image data Y, a process of removing the elements of the black image contained in the image data M, from the image data M, and a process of removing the elements of the black image contained in the image data C, from the image data C.

Abstract: A print drive is present in an electronic pre-press workflow that includes a raster image processor (“RIP”) and an output device to receive, store, combine and transmit raster data processed by the raster image processor. A prepress imposition scheme is created at the front end and processed by the RIP. Prepress imposition parameters are used to generate a press sheet template image, which is transmitted to the print drive. The print drive is capable of applying the press sheet template to page raster data on demand to form a multi-page press sheet assembly so that raster images of individual pages remain independent. Among other benefits, this improves electronic prepress workflow by eliminating the need to generate combined raster images of multi-page press sheets to correct or modify a portion of the assembly.

Abstract: A cache memory system and method for printers is described. In one exemplary implementation, a system includes a printer, memory, an input buffer and a control system. The memory contains one or more prior print job elements referenced by one or more previous print job tickets that were previously processed by the printer. The input buffer receives a new print job ticket referencing one or more new print job elements. The control system searches memory for any prior print job elements matching the one or more new print job elements referenced by the new print job ticket. The control system downloads one or more new print job elements not matching any of the one or more prior print job elements from a remote site. This permits the printer to retrieve the one or more prior print job elements that match the one or more new print job elements from memory instead of having to retrieve them from the remote site.

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: After an image compressed by a compressing portion is stored in a page memory, it is decoded by a decoding portion. A sub-scanning enlargement portion carries out sub-scanning direction enlargement processing upon the image decoded by the decoding portion and a printer prints out the enlarged image. At this time, the printer generates a printer synchronous signal each time when it scans an image formation object surface. A control portion provides the page memory, the decoding portion and the magnification changing portion with control signals so as to synchronize reading out of the image from the page memory, the decoding of the decoding portion and enlargement processing of the sub-scanning enlargement portion.

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: An image processing apparatus, method and computer readable recording medium provided with a primary memory device and a secondary memory device both having image data memorized therein, in which said image data are input to said primary memory device, and including an external input data amount acquisition device acquiring the amount of said image data input to said primary memory device; an internal output data amount acquisition device acquiring the amount of said image data output from said primary memory device and input to said secondary memory device; a first difference data amount calculation device subtracting the amount of the data acquired by said internal output data amount acquisition device from the amount of the data acquired by said external input data amount acquisition device, and calculating first difference data amount by the subtraction; a memory access control device practicing the inputting and outputting of said image data with time sharing in said primary memory device, comparing said

Abstract: Buffer control means and output control means are included within a buffering apparatus. Data longer than the width of data bus is read by single access from buffer means. Rather than signal line control for each bus width, signal line control for each data group is performed by a method wherein address administration means holds address information in relationship with each group of a series of data written in the buffer means and data is output from the buffer means.

Abstract: A handheld mobile communications device comprising: a support structure; an antenna mounted on the support structure for transmitting and receiving radio signals; radio signal processing circuitry positioned on the support structure to process the radio signals; a speaker and microphone arrangement positioned on the support structure and operatively connected to the radio signal processing circuitry; a printhead positioned on the support structure to carry out a printing operation; and an interface for enabling interrogation of an authentication means associated with an ink cartridge.

Abstract: An original is read and the information stored as information targeted for processing, with either printing, transmission or holding being the processing for which the stored information is targeted, and the destination of the processing and either the timing or the time duration of the processing being specified, and the specified processing is carried out on the information targeted for processing. Furthermore, a multiple-page original which has been read is stored as multiple-page documents, with either one page being stored as one document, or specified numbers of pages starting from a specified starting page each being stored as one document.

Abstract: When a control program is executed, it needs to be first decompressed and loaded into RAM. It has been impossible to immediately execute the control program when it is requested, causing a hindrance to processing speed acceleration. A printing apparatus is mounted with volatile memory that provides a main storage area. The printing apparatus specifies a second control program to be preferentially decompressed on the basis of a storage capacity of the volatile memory. The printing apparatus decompresses the specified second control program before execution and loads it into the volatile memory. Accordingly, there is no need for decompression and the like during execution of the second control program. It is possible to increase processing speeds of the first and second control programs.

Abstract: A method and system for outputting data from a computer to an output device, such as a computer, defines a master document in which variable and static data areas are defined. A variable data area is marked and variable data is inserted thereinto to provide a data stream with variable and static data. The marking is used to remove the variable data from the static data. The separated variable and static data is transmitted to the output device such as the printer. The static data is stored at the printer and is not sent to the printer for subsequent documents. The variable data is joined with the static data document by document in the printer.

Abstract: A method of recording a transmission image composed of dots on a recording medium having the steps of; moving a recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, and moving a recording head relatively with respect to the recording medium in a main scanning direction which is crossing the sub-scanning direction, wherein a diameter D of a dot recorded on said recording medium falls within a range expressed by 1.5A?D?A+150 [?m], wherein, A=max(Pm, Ps), Pm=pitch of an array of pixels in the main scanning direction, Ps=pitch of an array of pixels in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A system is provided for scanning batch-type documents containing indicia on either a single side or on two sides of each document sheet. Misfeeds through a scanning device are identified by comparison of an anticipated number of pages with an actual number of scanned pages. Similar misfeeds may be identified by comparison of first and second series of pages in two-sided documents. Automatic collating of scanned pages is then performed where desired. The automatic collating may be based upon simple interleaving of pages, or upon recognition of page identifiers, such as page numbers in common or anticipated regions of the page. The scanning, analysis and collating operations may be followed by other processing steps, including transmission of facsimiles, printing, copying, and so forth.

Abstract: A data transferring apparatus for transferring liquid ejection data has a decoding unit having a decode circuit, which can perform hardware development on liquid ejection data, a line buffer for storing the liquid ejection data developed by a word unit and a compressed data inputting unit for transferring the liquid ejection data from an external part to the decode circuit.

Abstract: A document, including first and last images therein, is in storage. An image is optically scanned with a scanning mechanism. The optically scanned image is composed as a digital image. The document in storage is output such that the composed digital image is at a predetermined location between the first and the last images of the document.

Abstract: A method of archiving documents by duplicating data by means of an acquisition and reproduction circuit connected to a personal computer, the circuit responding to a current document image output signal from a running printer. The information is stored in the computer's memory as a binary identical image of the document to be printed. The image is then archived for permanent storage.

Abstract: A print engine controller for an inkjet printhead assembly includes a data bus. A data interface and a memory interface are connected to the data bus for loading compressed page data into the data bus. Contone expansion circuitry is connected to the data bus to expand a contone layer of the compressed page data. Bi-level expansion circuitry is connected to the data bus to expand a bi-level layer of the compressed page data. Tag encoder circuitry is connected to the data bus to establish infrared tag data according to protocols associated with that page. Halftoner and compositor circuitry is connected to the expansion and tag encoder circuitry to halftone and composite the expanded contone and bi-level layers and the infrared tags. Printhead interface circuitry is connected to the halftoner and compositor circuitry and is configured to receive the halftoned and composited data and to generate print data suitable for printing by a micro-electromechanical printhead.

Abstract: An image filing apparatus prints a search (mark) sheet, on which the reduced image of the first page of a document stored on an optical magnetic disk is written, from a printer unit. When the printer unit cannot print the search sheet because no paper is available or the like, information indicating that the search sheet was not output is recorded on the magnetic optical disk is displayed on the operation screen of a touch panel display. A search sheet print key is also displayed on the operation screen. When the search sheet key is depressed, the not yet output search sheet is then printed.

Abstract: An image forming system, having: a first controller that controls whether to make the first image processor to process image data in accordance with the function selected by the function selector, or to make the written data transmitter to transmit data by transmitting image data to the second image processor with the read data transmitter and by processing image data with the second image processor; a job register that registers plural jobs; a priority order determiner that determines the priority order for output of jobs registered by the job register, and a second controller that determines the outputting order for image data of each job based on the priority order and outputs image data of the job whose priority order is highest among jobs which are capable of immediate output when image data of a job is impossible to be outputted because of a process by the second image processor.

Abstract: In a system which receives a print service via the Internet, a client is enabled to recognize the updating of printers provided for a shop which can receive the print service without installing a new printer driver for each printer, thereby enabling it to be used for printing. In a client 100, the above object is accomplished by providing means for forming print data by using a printer driver 102 which can set print set information corresponding to a plurality of printers on the basis of a printer information description file 103, forming a print order on the basis of the formed print data and the print set information set by the printer driver, promoting activation of a Web browser 108, and requesting an access to a center server 120 which can communicate via the Internet.

Abstract: When a document is printed, a designated printing range of the document is accepted, and a decision as to whether printing processing can be performed in the designated printing range is made on the basis of the designated printing range and print settings made for the document, and a printing range in which printing processing is permitted is determined according to a result of this decision.

Abstract: A scanner is connected to a host computer. A scanner control routine is installed onto the host computer and used to generate and forward control signals to the scanner or multi-function device. Using the scanner control system, manager or routine, one or more scanned image destinations are defined and one or more scanning parameters are defined that are particularly appropriate for each such scanned image destination. Each scanned image destination is associated with one of a number of pre-named scanner destinations that can be selected using the scanner. These pre-named destinations usually have generic or otherwise meaningless names that are not associated with any particular destination or location. The user uses the control panel of the scanner or multi-function device to select one of the pre-named destinations. The scanner or multi-function device forwards this selected destination to the host computer.

Abstract: A method of performing a pattern fill operation of a pattern into a clipping region resolves the pattern into an intermediate format between a page description language and a page bit map. This intermediate format is cached. For each tiling of the pattern into the clipping region the pattern is clipped to the clipping region and rendered from the clipped intermediate format pattern into a corresponding location of a page bit map. The intermediate format of the pattern may be scan line runs and trapezoid fills. The intermediate format of the pattern may be paths and curves. The clipping of the pattern to the clipping region performs scan line conversion with polygon to polygon clipping or trapezoid/run array to trapezoid/run array clipping.

Abstract: During print operation, it sometimes happened that an intermediate file of print data becomes so huge in gigabytes as to make printing impossible. The present invention is constituted to permit a computer: a print data acquisition step P1 to acquire print data; an intermediate file creation step P2 to divide the acquired print data into parts while keeping the file size of each parts within certain bounds and thereby create a plurality of intermediate files, and an actual-data-for-printing creation step P3 to read the created intermediate files into the memory for pre-determined conversions, and thereby create actual-data-for-printing. The effect is that the intermediate file size does not become so huge as to make printing impossible, and therefore printing can certainly be done even if a huge amount of print data is created.

Abstract: An image processing system comprising a combination of an image control unit and one or a plurality of image input/output units, wherein the image control unit and image input/output unit are connected by communication means. In a case where the image control unit has a first communication controller and the image input/output unit has a second communication controller, predetermined communication conditions are set in the first and second communication controllers at initialization, a fixed packet length is decided based upon mutually communicable packet lengths of packets exchanged via the communication means, the decided fixed packet length is set in the first and second communication controllers anew, and subsequent communication is continued by DMA transfer in which a data string is divided into the set fixed packet lengths. As a result, high-speed data communication is achieved between units even in a low-cost single-chip microcontroller.

Abstract: A method, program product, and system for printing, comprising the steps of: receiving data at a printer; detecting an external network address in the received data; obtaining at least one parameter of a document at the external network address; determining if the at least one parameter meets a predetermined first criteria; if the at least one parameter meets the first criteria, then retrieving the document from the external network address; and printing the document.

Abstract: A division/coupling process section refers to item “DOCUMENT PROCESS” in a division/coupling set information DB. If a document division/coupling process needs to be executed, division/coupling set information from the division/coupling set information DB is referred to. If scan parameters need to be referred to, the division/coupling process section refers to scan parameters from a scan parameter DB. If an inquire process needs to be executed by referring to item “EXCESS DOCUMENT PROCESS” in the division/coupling set information DB, necessary information is acquired from an input/output section through a division/coupling inquire process section. Thus, the document division/coupling is determined and executed. Information on the divided/coupled document is temporarily stored in a division/coupling buffer and also information on document registration is stored in the division/coupling buffer. The divided/coupled document is then registered into document management systems through a register process section.

Abstract: The invention relates to microlithography, in particular to the writing of photomasks for computer displays, microelectronic devices, and precision photoetching. It is also applicable to wafers, optical devices and a variety of electronic interconnection structures such as multichip modules. Other applications are possible, such as printing and graphics, as well as laser projection displays. In the present invention the data conversion is divided in two steps: first cutting the geometries in scan lines and simplifying them, and then finishing the conversion of the scan lines at the point of demand, i.e. in a beam processor in the driving electronics for each beam. The idea is to make as much as possible of the conversion at the latest possible point, i.e. at the beams. What is needed at an earlier stage is to separate the data for different beams and distribute them, and to simplify the data enough to make sure that the beam processors can always handle the data flow.

Abstract: A printing apparatus receives, from a host apparatus, main scanning/printing direction information representing the main scanning/printing direction of a printhead. The printing apparatus stores, in a print buffer, print data corresponding to the printing direction represented by the main scanning/printing direction information generated by the host apparatus. The CPU of the printing apparatus controls printing by the printhead on the basis of the main scanning/printing direction information and the print data stored in the print buffer.

Abstract: A memory management device enables to effectively use a memory which permits its stored data to be erased only in blocks. A facsimile apparatus is arranged to temporarily store sending information and received information in the memory and then to send or receive the information. The facsimile apparatus includes a flash memory whose data is allowed to be erased only in blocks and a storage unit for storing the sending or the received information in its own blocks if the sending or the received information is stored in the flash memory.

Abstract: A tag encoder for producing tags to be incorporated into a printed page is disclosed. The tag encoder has an input to receive a tag structure template, an input to receive fixed data bits, an input to receive variable data bit records and a tag generator outputting single bits depending on the position in the tag defined by the tag structure template and the fixed and variable data bits. The encoder has a redundancy encoder which utilizes Reed-Solomon encoding. The tag encoder is present in a printer. In addition to the tag encoder, the printer has a contone image decoder to decode compressed continuous tone image planes and a bi-level decoder to decode any compressed bi-level image plane in the compressed data. These decoded image planes are combined with the output of the tag encoder in a halftoner/compositor to produce a printed page carrying tagged areas. The tags are printed in ink which is invisible to the human eye. Such inks, could be IR or UV absorptive.

Abstract: A multi-function apparatus includes a basic memory, a socket, and a controller. The basic memory includes at least a first image memory area for a copying function and a second image memory area for a facsimile function. The socket connects an add-on expansion memory. The controller arranges memory assignments of the basic memory in accordance with a first memory map to perform operations of the copying and facsimile functions when the expansion memory is not mounted to the socket. The controller rearranges the memory assignments of the basic memory and of the expansion memory with an effect of expanding the first and second image memory areas in accordance with a second memory map to perform the operations of the copying and facsimile functions when the expansion memory is mounted to the socket.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of functional units including an image processor which processes images. A process controller provides control over the entire operation. A ROM previously stores information about the content of the image processing. The process controller reads the information stored in the ROM and transfers this information in a host buffer provided with the image processor. The image processor processes the image data based on the information stored in the host buffer.

Abstract: A document processing system is provided that renders digital image data in individual pages, where each individual page is rendered to a bitmap page and a corresponding control string. The system includes a system architecture with a control channel for communicating and synchronizing the control strings at one or more process stations in an image output terminal (IOT). Further, the system architecture includes a cross channel rendering technique (“dual rendering”) for constructing the control string in such a manner as to verify process correctness at one or more process station. In addition, a method is provided for setting up and controlling one or more process stations prior to normal operations. Still another method is provided for controlling one or more process stations during normal operations. Finally, a method is provided for archiving documents in an archive station during normal operations for potential retrieval and reference at a later date.