DFE RIP Engine Selection via JDF Attribute Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In production printing, workflow applications from different manufacturers often extend the JDF format, leading to compatibility issues where printing devices cannot analyze and process printing jobs, resulting in limitations in selecting the appropriate RIP engine and designating unsupported attributes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Digital Front End (DFE) that includes a device information communicating unit to deliver information about available RIP engines to workflow applications, allowing them to designate the appropriate RIP engine and setting the 'Pass Through Mode' to enable the processing of undisclosed attributes by directly referring to the JDF.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the print processing device selects the RIP engine based on the printing job, then the printing job can be processed correctly, but the workflow application cannot designate the RIP engine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the workflow application can specify RIP engine attributes in the JDF, and the print processing device acts as a mediator that matches these attributes with available RIP engines. This allows the workflow application to designate RIP engines indirectly through attribute specification rather than direct selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the RIP engine selection process by allowing workflow applications to specify desired attributes and enabling the print processing device to flexibly match these with available RIP engines based on current system state and compatibility, rather than using a fixed selection method.
2Adaptability or versatility
If workflow applications extend the JDF format, then they can include proprietary format descriptions, but the print processing device cannot analyze the JDF to process it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces JDF conversion as an intermediary process that translates proprietary format descriptions in extended JDF into a standardized format that the print processing device can analyze and process, maintaining compatibility while supporting format extensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The print processing device is designed with universal JDF analysis capability that can handle both standard JDF formats and extended proprietary formats through conversion mechanisms, allowing it to process diverse JDF variations without sacrificing reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple RIP engines are installed to handle respective workflow applications, then printing jobs can be processed with desired finished appearance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an attribute matching mechanism as an intermediary layer between workflow applications and RIP engines, which eliminates the need for multiple specialized RIP engines by enabling a single RIP engine to handle multiple workflow applications through flexible attribute-based compatibility matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The print processing device is designed with universal RIP engine compatibility that allows a single RIP engine to serve multiple workflow applications by dynamically matching job attributes with engine capabilities, reducing the need for multiple specialized engines while maintaining broad compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus for creating drawing data based on a printing job, comprises a plurality of drawing data creating units configured to create respective drawing data based on the printing job, a printing job receiving unit configured to receive the printing job designating a drawing data creating unit of the drawing data creating units, a printing job outputting unit configured to output the printing job received by the printing job receiving unit to the designated drawing data creating unit.