Distributed Print Job Processing for High-Speed Digital Printing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital front-end systems for high-speed digital printers lack the necessary processing power to efficiently distribute page description language (PDL) objects among processors, limiting their ability to meet the increasing demands of printers capable of printing at speeds exceeding 100 ppm.
Innovation Solution
A distributed architecture is implemented, utilizing multiple RIP nodes and merger nodes to process and prepare ready-to-print (RTP) elements in parallel, with a print job reference file split into segments and distributed according to available processing means, enabling efficient generation and merging of RTP pages to meet high-speed printing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single processor is used to process PDL objects, then the system architecture is simple, but the processing power is insufficient for high-speed printers exceeding 100 ppm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the PDL processing system into multiple independent processors (first processor, second processor, third processor) that can simultaneously process different segments of PDL objects. Each processor handles specific portions of the printing data, enabling parallel processing and significantly increasing overall processing power to meet high-speed printing requirements exceeding 100 ppm.
2Productivity
If PDL processing is done sequentially by a single processor, then the system is easy to manage, but the processing speed cannot meet high-speed printing demands
Solution Approach 1:
The processing workload is segmented across multiple processors, with each processor handling specific PDL objects or segments in parallel. The first processor handles initial PDL objects, the second processor handles additional segments, and the third processor handles remaining segments, enabling simultaneous processing that dramatically increases processing speed for high-volume printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the output streams from multiple processors into a unified ready-to-print format through a merger component. This merging process integrates the parallel processing results from different processors into a coherent output that can be sent to the printer, maintaining system coherence while leveraging parallel processing power.
3Quantity of substance
If all PDL objects are processed by one processor, then data consistency is maintained, but processing capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The PDL data stream is divided into distinct segments that are processed independently by different processors. Each processor maintains data consistency within its assigned segment, and the segmentation ensures that no single processor becomes a bottleneck, thereby increasing overall processing capacity while maintaining reliability through distributed processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple processed data streams from different processors are merged into a unified output format. This merging process ensures data consistency across all processed segments by integrating them into a coherent ready-to-print data structure that maintains the integrity required for high-speed printing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for distribution of a print job for digital printing by distributing elements of the print job between a plurality of processing means. The method and apparatus includes receiving a common job file (CJF) (41). Splitting the common job file into plurality of CJF chunks (74) wherein the number of the CJF chunks will be generated in accordance of availability of the processing means (42). Distributing the CJF chunks to the processing means for processing and generating a plurality of ready-to-print pages (RTP) (14) pages. Sending said generated plurality of RTP pages to a digital printer (52) by adhering to the page order of the print job.