Abstract: A requested print job is divided and distributed to a plurality of printers to efficiently and correctly print data of the print job, with only a simple user instruction of distributed printing. Under the control of a distribution controller, data of a print job is divided into data corresponding to the number of printers from which the data is output, and spooled in specific file formats in accordance with a combination of the printers. In accordance with the spooled data, divided print data is generated and distributed to the printers via a network under the control of a transmission controller.

Abstract: Conventionally, although a technique has been proposed in which image data is compressed and divided so as to be stored in a storing means, no device has been made as to a process which temporarily restores a group of divided and compressed image data and then again compresses and divides the data so as to be stored in the storing means. In contrast, the central processing unit of the present invention is designed so that, when, after the group of the divided and compressed image data, which were divided and temporarily stored in the storing means, have been restored and subjected to the image processing, the resulting data is again compressed and divided so as to be stored in the storing memory, a storing area used by the group of the divided and compressed image data prior to the image processing can also be used, if there are not enough empty areas; thus, it is possible to effectively avoid interruptions to the process due to insufficient empty areas.

Abstract: Executing a plurality of print jobs in a job queue by a computing architecture, each print job including at least one instruction for processing print data, including accessing one of the print jobs from the job queue, determining whether the accessed print job represents an image, selecting a high resolution mode in the case that the accessed print job represents an image, selecting a low resolution mode in the case that the accessed print job does not represent an image, and executing the accessed print job in accordance with the selected resolution mode.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a slot in which a PC card which stores image data is mounted, a terminal for connecting a digital camera, and an operation panel which is operated by the user and inputs an instruction and data. Whether the digital camera is connected via the terminal is checked. If connection of the digital camera is detected, input of image data from the PC card mounted in the slot and user operation on the operation panel are invalidated. Image data is input from the digital camera and printed in accordance with digital camera operation.

Abstract: A print method converts page description data specifying a print document into pixel data. The print system includes a central processing unit, a first memory and a second memory that is smaller but faster than the first memory. The method extracts a display list from the page description data (503), allocates space within the first memory to serve as a page buffer and divides the page buffer within the first memory into a plurality of sub-bands. Each sub-band is smaller than the second memory. For each sub-band the method renders pixels of a current sub-band into the second memory (506). When the sub-band is completely rendered, the method transfers pixel data from the second memory to the current sub-band of the page buffer (509). When all sub-bands are rendered, the page is printed by transfer of data from the page buffer to a print engine (512). The central processing unit and the second memory are preferably disposed on the same integrated circuit.

Abstract: When a document is printed and this document contains plural sorts of data such as a document, a presentation material, and a drawing, a virtual document is formed by which these plural data can be printed in a batch mode in a document processing apparatus. A printing operation is carried out in accordance with a print control content of this virtual document. To this end, the document data having various formats and formed by using a plurality of application programs are converted into page document data to be outputted in a common format. This page document data is SPOOL-stored. Such a virtual document file is formed among these output page document data SPOOL-stored. A designation sequence and an output sequence are set to these virtual document files. As a result, the document data can be outputted in accordance with the designated output sequence, which is designated by the SPOOL-stored output page document data, by merely designating this virtual document file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronic archiving of a data stream that has both text and graphics includes separating form data that stays the same from document to document from variable data that varies from document to document. The form data is treated differently in the archiving process from the variable data. For example, only one copy of the form data need be stored, while the smaller data files of the variable data occupy less storage space. Index data is generated to facilitate overlay of the form data and variable data to permit recreation of the original documents. The data is converted into a printer-specific data format to facilitate separation into the different data types.

Abstract: A data output system is composed of i) a portable telephone provided with memory for storing data received via a communication line, and ii) an MFP provided with an interface to be connected to the portable phone, for outputting the data stored in the memory of the portable phone, wherein the portable phone includes a display section for displaying received data, and an instructing section for selecting at least one of received data displayed in the display section and instructing the MFP to output the selected data; and the MFP includes a data communication section which starts communication of data according to an output instruction given from the portable phone.

Abstract: Buffers of YMCK colors have memory capacities for storing image data corresponding to a difference between timings at which YMCK images formed on YMCK photosensitive drums are transferred onto a transfer member and control is effected such that paper is fed only when all image data sets to be printed are stored in the respective YMCK buffers.

Abstract: The processor enhanced memory module PEMM can be incorporated into the hardcopy image processing pipeline of existing printer controllers by using the smart memory model. Here the data generated from RISC based PDL interpretation or pre-rasterized data can be processed in an accelerated fashion into page bit maps, color space converted, and compressed by the PEMM. Since the DSP on the PEMM is programmable, the resolution, color space, and type of compression along with other printer specific processing can have formats other than those determined by the fixed functionality of the ASIC devices present in the pipeline.

Abstract: In case of temporarily spooling an intermediate language by a printer driver, a high speed print can be performed by suppressing a size and the number of holding data. The printer driver adds a tag of each draw object type to information of a draw command received through a DDI function and holds the resultant information into a primary buffer together with attributes such as draw position information, color information, pattern information, and draw logic information. When the information is held into the primary buffer, if there is a draw object which has already been held, if the types and the draw attributes of the draw objects are identical, the draw object is additionally registered into the primary buffer. If one of “type is different”, “data cannot be fully stored into the primary buffer”, “draw attribute changes”, and “page process is completed” is satisfied, a PDF (Page Data File) is generated from the draw object which has already been held in the primary buffer and spooled.

Abstract: The invention discloses a portable device providing access to the Internet. A host computer runs a browser taking information received from the Internet, renders it onto a virtual display in memory, reduces the color depth, compress and sends it to the device. Thus, the user views a bit map or raster image of a Web page on the device, which also contains a browser software program, that runs on the device containing its own window. This window contains buttons or icons providing web functions and implements scrolling on the web page received with respect to the window. The windows of the browsers in the host computer and device are adjustable in size and may be set to match for text formatting. The size of the web page received from the Internet is the size sent to the device when converted to an image, which varies with each web page received.

Abstract: An image data printing system includes an image data memory device for storing image data therein, a print device including a first memory section obtaining and storing the image data stored in said image data memory device therein, print data making device for converting the image data stored in said first memory section into print data every time execution of print is instructed, a print section capable of printing an image according to said print data, a second memory section storing the image data stored in said first memory section after the print section has completed printing and communication device including communication sections for transmitting and receiving the image data which are provided respectively for said image data memory device and said print device, and communication passages for connection said communication sections to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, method, and computer program product, in which image data stored in a file can be printed in two printing modes when a sample printing mode is selected. A first page printing mode is a mode in which only a first page of a selected file is printed. A designated page range printing mode is a mode in which a designated page range of the selected file is printed in order of pages. A mismatch between the number of pages of the selected file and a designated page range is judged. When the mismatch arises, a warning is displayed on a display device of the image forming apparatus to give the warning to an operator.

Abstract: Control means for controlling memory means and an output section is provided in a printing system which stores print data transmitted from a host in a page unit in a memory device and which prints out the print data stored in the memory device through the output section. The control means, upon detecting presence of transmission of print data which exceed a memory capacity of the memory device, instructs the memory means (e.g., page managing memory) to store identification information for identifying the print data of exceeding pages. The print data stored and the print data of exceeding pages re-transmitted from the host are combined with each other by memory means (e.g., page combining memory), and they are outputted from a print data output section. Thus, print data of a small volume can be stored entirely in the memory means to be printed out, and even when the print data exceed the memory capacity of the memory means, the minimum volume of data required is re-transmitted from the host to be printed out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for merging page elements according to a layout signal into one page for reproduction on a reproduction device. The page elements are segmented into smaller segments before storage into memory. Due to the particular format of the page elements, data required for the merging of page elements can be retrieved, decompressed an processed quickly so merging can be done in real time during printing. The format used for the segments enables easy and fast execution of various image operations such as mirroring, clipping, rotation, etc . . .

Abstract: A method of clearing an internal print queue in a print output device includes processing a print job in a print output device to make a processed print job; storing the processed print jobs in the internal print queue of a print output device; detecting an overload condition in the internal print queue; determining which processed print jobs are not ready to be physically printed; selecting at least one not ready to be printed processed print job in the internal print queue for transfer out of the internal print queue to clear the overload condition; moving the selected processed print job to a temporary storage print queue; and moving the selected processed print jobs from a temporary storage print queue to the internal print queue upon occurrence of a predetermined event.

Abstract: A method and system for remote management of processors and a method and system for remote diagnosis of processors such as image output apparatuses. Operation information about contents of operation performed by a processor during an operational preset period or a preset number of executions of processing is recorded. A operation log is formed by combining the operation information and is transferred to a remote management apparatus connected to the processor by a communication line. The remote management apparatus performs remote management of the condition of the processor on the basis of the transmitted operation log. An error log containing information about occurrences of errors having occurred in the processor is also formed and transferred to the remote management apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image output apparatus having an image reading section, an image storing section for storing image data read by the image reading section, and an image output section for outputting an image corresponding to a document on the basis of the image data stored in the image storing section. The apparatus further includes an index recognizing circuit for image-recognizing index information on an index sheet when the index sheet is read by the image reading section, and an index registering circuit for registering the recognized index information and storage area designation information for designating a storage area in the image storing section, associated with each other. The image data representing the document which has been read by the image reading section subsequently to the index sheet is stored in a storage area, in the image storing section, to be designated by the storage area designation information associated with the index information.

Abstract: The method and apparatus processing photographic print represent a plurality of images arranged in a two-dimensional array on a display screen wherein images arranged at least in a one-dimensional direction in succession among the plurality of images are images processed states of which are gradually changed in at least one attribute of image proceeding and perform image verification based on the thus represented plurality of images. The method and apparatus are capable of enhancing efficiency and quality of verification by representing a plurality of images corresponding to changes of processing conditions at a time and comparing a plurality of the thus represented images with each other by an operator.

Abstract: In a printing control apparatus and method for performing printing by a printing device based upon a print job, a password corresponding to a print job is entered and print data with the accompanying password is generated and sent from a host computer to a printer, where the print data is to be printed. The host computer is capable of setting any information for the document name and user name associated with the print job. When the printer receives and prints the print data to which the password has been appended, the printer displays the user name and document name associated with the print job and performs printing in response to entry of the corresponding password by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for managing production printing workflow is disclosed. The system includes workflow management software which manages and facilitates the procedural stages of the workflow including job origination, job preparation, job submission and job fulfillment. The workflow management software provides an integrated object oriented interface which visually reflects and interacts with the workflow. The software further provides functionality for efficient page level modifications to documents at the job preparation stage. This functionality allows such modifications to be easily made to selected pages and visually verified by displaying visual representations of the modifications on visual representations of the pages. In particular, the insertion and attributes of ordered media, such as tab separator pages, is visually represented.

Abstract: In a network having an input device, such as a scanner, camera, or fax, and a destination device, the input device initiates transmission of input data to a destination device. The input device sends a request to the destination device notifying it of input data that is ready to be transmitted. If the destination device wants to accept the request, when the destination device is ready, the destination device gets, or “pulls” the data from the input device over the network. The input device can request and receive status information from the destination device. The destination device can also request and receive status information from the input device.

Abstract: A print server system where a user can select a spooler of a server or that of a client from which a stored image is to be print-outputted. Clients 12, 14 and 15 respectively have a first storage in which an image for which the client requested printing is stored. All the images for which printing have been requested from the clients are stored in a second storage in a server 16 which manages a printer 18. Upon actual print operation, a user designates one of the storages from which the stored image is to be transmitted to the printer, in accordance with a displayed screen image.

Abstract: An electronic printing system for printing images stored on a removable memory card. The electronic printing system includes a memory card interface for receiving the removable memory card, the removable memory card having stored thereon a plurality of digital image files and a print utilization file, wherein the print utilization file including the names of at least two digital image files stored on the removable memory card to be printed. The electronic printing system further includes a processor coupled to the memory card interface for reading the print utilization file stored on the removable memory card and the digital image files identified in the print utilization file; and a print engine coupled to the processor for producing prints of the at least two stored digital image files identified in the print utilization file.

Abstract: A method for processing raw application data, which includes a plurality of occurrences of an object, receives a stream of the raw application data into a job inspector. The raw application data includes object raw data, which represents the object, and other raw data. The stream of the raw application data is scanned within the job inspector for identifying each of the occurrences of the object. The object raw data is transmitted to a cache manager. Data representing the object raw data is cached as a function of the object occurrences detected by the job inspector.

Abstract: In a printing system for printing image data based on an order from a client, a character and/or a simple image desired by a user can be printed on a print. The user describes the content of the order in order information and transfers the order information to a laboratory when he/she orders printing of the image data. At this time, the character and/or the simple image to be printed on the print is described as character image information in the order information. The laboratory prints the image data based on the order information and prints the character and/or the simple image on the back of the print or on a white fringe or the like, based on the character image information described in the order information.

Abstract: A method of selecting and delivering a greeting card, including: obtaining a document with details of a selection of available greeting cards, the document having at least one user-interactive element with which a user interacts to select a card using a sensing device adapted to transmit interaction data to a computer system; indicating selection of a card using the sensing device; including a message using the sensing device; and sending the card to a recipient address via the computer system.

Abstract: In a tandem type color printer, a second memory memorizes bitmap data sets in a second arrangement. In the second arrangement, each of the bitmap data sets is divided into a plurality of data units. In addition, the data units of all of the bitmap data sets are arranged on the basis of predetermined output order regardless of the colors. A first memory separately memorizes the bitmap data sets in a first arrangement different from the second arrangement. A data line control circuit reads out the bitmap data sets from the first memory when a first copy of a printed matter is made by the use of the bitmap data sets. In this time, the data line control circuit stores the bitmap data sets in the second memory with changing its arrangement. When a second or later copy of the printed matter is made, the data line control circuit reads out the bitmap data sets at high speed.

Abstract: An embodiment of a bus management device permits scheduling of transactions to allow concurrent execution of the transactions. Data bus usage is scheduled by setting shift register bits. Each position in the shift register corresponds to one clock cycle. When a current transaction is in a data phase, the value in the shift register is used to determine when to begin a control phase of the next transaction so that a desired number of idle clock cycles are present between data bus usage time periods for successive transactions.

Abstract: The present invention is a printer controller comprising a processor that exclusively executes a communication task for receiving packet data from host computers and extracting print job data on the basis of the received packet data, a language task for generating image data on the basis of the above-mentioned print job data, and a print task for controlling a print engine, according to priorities assigned to each of these tasks. The priorities assigned to the communication task and language task are altered according to specific conditions. For example, if the amount of packet data to be processed by the communication task is below a specific value, the priority of the language task is altered to be higher than the priority of the communication task, whereas if the amount of packet data to be processed by the communication task is over a specific value, the priority of the communication task is altered to be higher than the priority of the language task.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method and system for printing information onto a print media. In one aspect the present invention may be utilized by an on-line postage system to query one or more databases, containing set up data on one or more printer drivers, to determine set up data for a user's printer. The present invention may then be used to perform a printer configuration test to determine the set up data for the user's printer if the set up data is not contained in the databases. The present invention then stores the results of the printer configuration test in one or more of the database for use by subsequent users.

Abstract: A method for the reproduction of oversize documents is disclosed. The method utilized by the present invention copies or scans in stages an oversize document that exceeds the copy or scan surface of the image reproduction apparatus available. Each separate document portion copied or scanned is saved as an image in memory. After all of the oversize document has been copied or scanned, the images of the document portions are reassembled, aligned and reduced in size, if necessary. The reassembled document may then be printed for a user or manipulated in memory using image processing software.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus and method of generating documents having one or more cover pages. A document may be printed with one or more covers. A user may format the covers as being printed on a front page, printed on a back page, printed on both the front page and the back page, or printed on neither the front page nor the back page. The cover can be printed as two-side even if the remainder of the document is printed as one-sided. The disclosed method and apparatus also allow the user to print a document with a top cover, a back cover, both a top cover and a back cover, or neither.

Abstract: A method for generating a printer-ready representation of pages having regions described by page assembly instructions is provided. The method includes analyzing the page assembly instructions to identify a complex page having one or more complex regions and assembling at least one complex region to generate at least a partial printer-ready representation of the complex page. The method also includes updating the page assembly instructions associated with the complex page to refer to the partial printer-ready representation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of storing image data regardless of remaining free area of a memory associated with a specified function. The digital image forming apparatus comprises a facsimile memory for storing transmission/reception data by a memory transmission/reception function of a facsimile, a copying memory for storing copying data by a copying/printing function or externally inputted data, and a compression/expansion converting section which converts transmission/reception data stored in the facsimile memory by the memory transmission/reception function into data suitable for communication via a communication line, wherein a CPU working as storage control means is disposed which, when storing data by one function of a plurality of functions into a memory associated with the function, stores the data into a memory associated with another function in the case where all the data cannot be stored into the associated memory.

Abstract: Direct memory access (DMA) controllers are used in digital processing of image data in image processing devices such as digital copiers, scanners, printers and fax machines. The DMA controllers are controlled for memory access by a predetermined resume signal that is sent from one DMA controller to another.

Abstract: A driving control apparatus incorporating a forming circuit for receiving serial data including start bit data and driving control data, detecting the start bit data from the serial data and forming a control signal in accordance with the detected start bit data, a storing portion for storing the driving control data in a storing region in accordance with the control signal formed by the forming circuit, and a generating circuit for generating a driving signal for driving a subject which must be driven in accordance with the driving control data stored in the storing portion and the control signal formed by the forming circuit. Since the start bit data provides start timing, a multiplicity of control signals are not required.

Abstract: A printer has two or more boards. Each board comprises a pre-editing unit which extracts format information from the start of non-delimited received data to sequentially delimit the data into pages beginning with the start of the received data and calculates a temporary page change position that is the trailing end of one page whose start is the leading end of the non-delimited data, an editing unit which edits data following the temporary page change position, calculates an actual page change position that is the trailing end of one page whose leading end is the temporary page change position, and outputs the editing data of the page, and a drawing unit which performs drawing processing in which the editing data is drawn and video output data is output.

Abstract: A method for generating printed images of a graphic pattern of a movie picture to be displayed for moving observers using a long display panel composed of the graphic pattern and a plate made up of a plurality of cylinder converging lenses arranged parallel to each other with a common focal plane. A digital storage device able to store a plurality of data or digital information blocks, corresponding to the images to be exhibited, for example, the sequence of frames of a movie picture encoded in a digital format is provided. Each block has a label that determines its correlative order in the set. A digital processing unit and memory, able to call, read and process the digital data blocks, is provided that can also create and send to the storage device new data blocks, or byte arrays, containing the graphical patterns in digital format.

Abstract: A printer has a queue for queuing a queued execution command, an immediate execution agent for executing a write command, and a queued execution agent for executing a read command. The immediate execution agent immediately executes the received write command, and writes data in a host. The queued execution agent picks up a read command from the queue, and reads out data from the host. The host appends a data transfer request from the printer to a queue, issues a write command to the printer on the basis of that data transfer request, and issues a read command to the printer on the basis of a print data transmission request or the like from an application. Independent full-duplex channels can be provided in two directions. Also, a write command can be immediately processed.

Abstract: In the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for laminating images by using an intermediate transferring body, it is sensed that all toner images corresponding to image data for the same sheet material are formed on the intermediate transferring body in an arbitrary order, and the toner images are transferred onto the sheet material, regardless of the colors of the toner images held by the toner image holding section. Therefore, number of sheets output per unit time can be increased.

Abstract: To reduce the data processing load on a recording apparatus, an information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus cooperate to correct registration errors. The information processing apparatus divides a recording area of the recording apparatus into a plurality of partial areas and makes a first correction on a recording position of image data for each partial area; the correction is made for color data items and in pixels. The information processing apparatus generates image data that conforms to the corrected recording position, as well as setting information for controlling the recording apparatus to record the image data. The recording apparatus makes a second correction on the recording position of the image data in fractions of a pixel based on the setting information generated by the information processing apparatus and controls recording of the image data based on the corrected recording position.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus of the present invention uses plural expansion processing units which expand printing data of a predetermined format to image data of a format to be output to a printer, by a segment. Before expansion processing to the printing data of one page is performed, a processing time necessary to expand the printing data to the image data is calculated for each segment. The expansion processing for each segment by the plural expansion processing units is scheduled based on the calculated processing time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printer capable of separately processing a plurality of print data corresponding to an image to be printed on the same page, each of the print data having an attribute, in accordance with the attribute. The printer has an image, a plurality of video interfaces, a print data integration circuit, and an output mechanism. The image buffer stores each of the print data in accordance with the attribute. Each of the video interfaces reads each of the print data stored in the image buffer. The print data integration circuit integrates the plurality of print data read by the video interfaces into a piece of print data for the same page. The output mechanism outputs the image of the same page based on the print data integrated by the print data integration circuit. Therefore, the plurality of print data can be separately processed and output in accordance with the attribute.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for the creation and use of simple and complex templates. The system includes providing the template where the template contains a plurality of tags, and then applying the template to the image based on the tags. The plurality of tags provide instructions for the application of a plurality of plane files to be applied to the image. The method and system in accordance with the present invention automates the process of applying templates to images which reduces the required amount of user time for the interface. Its use of tags to store the template requires less storage space. The method and system in accordance with the present invention thus saves the user considerable time and effort in applying templates. It also require less processing time over manual template creation methods.

Abstract: This invention provides a low-cost printing apparatus and print control method capable of high-quality printing even in the use of a data buffer smaller in capacity than print data necessary for printing by one scanning of a printhead. According to this method, in printing using a small-capacity print buffer, print data is read out for each block of the print buffer divided into a plurality of blocks. Printing is done while the printhead is being scanned. As for printing using print data stored in the final block, printing is performed by one scanning of the printhead using print data stored in all blocks except the final block and print data obtained by sampling part of the print data stored in the final block. Further, printing is performed by the next scanning of the printhead using the remaining sampled data and print data newly stored in all the blocks except the final block.

Abstract: A display signal for character “A” has a structure comprising multiple layers (layers a to d) at the resolution of, for instance, level n to level n+3. The higher the level is, the high resolution of a print image is. A display signal at a required level is selected according to a purpose of printing. When a desired level is selected, a corresponding layer is extracted by a format changing section. For instance, when the level n+2 is selected, the layer c is extracted. Printing is executed with the resolution at this level n+2. Selection of resolution can be made in the side of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: In a computer readable recording medium for recording thereon a program, the program causes a computer to execute: a process operation for storing a print command converted from print data into a memory; a process operation for reading the stored print command to transmit the read print command to a printing apparatus; and process operation executed by such that when a print command is read out, the storage area of the memory where the print command has been stored is rewritable. As a result, it is possible to provide a printing control technique capable of storing print commands into a small number of storage areas even when a total amount of these print commands is increased, and also capable of avoiding an interruption of printing operation.

Abstract: A memory system is enabled to access data for multiple objects in an interleaved fashion. Object data is retrieved from a system bus via an input interface, is temporarily stored in a limited data memory of the memory system and object headers are stored in a header memory. Each object to be printed has an object header and may, or may not, have associated object data. A “skip” function is provided to terminate a transfer function if object data is not ready. The memory system is enabled to retrieve all data in an object or cancel the object before the endo f data is reached. An identifier is associated with each data object and is subsequently reused after the original data object is transferred or cancelled. A plurality of request levels are assigned each data request to indicate the urgency of a data request, enabling multiple memory systems to operate from a single data transfer function.