Document Pre-Rendering and Caching for Faster On-Demand Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional printing process involves multiple phases that can lead to significant wait times and inefficiencies, particularly when documents are repeatedly printed, as they require reprocessing through printer drivers and image processors, leading to user experience delays.
Innovation Solution
A pre-rendering system that identifies idle times to pre-render and cache document images before a print command is given, reducing the need for real-time processing by printer drivers and image processors, and storing pre-rendered images in a cache for immediate printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If documents are processed through printer drivers and image processors in real-time, then printing accuracy is maintained, but user wait times increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-renders documents into image format during idle times before actual printing is needed. This preliminary rendering action converts the document to a visual representation in advance, so when printing is actually required, the pre-rendered image can be directly sent to the printer engine without undergoing the complete rendering process again, thereby reducing user wait time while maintaining printing quality
2Productivity
If documents are reprocessed through the complete printing pipeline for each print job, then printing quality is ensured, but processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the time-consuming rendering operation in advance during idle periods, creating a pre-rendered image that can be quickly deployed when printing is needed. This separates the heavy computational workload from the actual printing operation, improving processing efficiency while ensuring quality is maintained in the pre-rendered output
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy (pre-rendered image) of the document that serves as an optimized representation for printing. This copy can be rapidly transmitted to the printer engine without requiring the original document to be reprocessed through the complete rendering pipeline, thereby reducing reprocessing time while preserving printing quality
3Ease of operation
If the printing system processes documents in real-time upon command, then responsiveness is maintained, but system resource utilization is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in periodic cycles, performing rendering operations during idle time periods when no printing is actively needed. This periodic pre-rendering approach allows the system to utilize available resources efficiently during low-demand periods, preparing documents in advance so that when printing is actually required, the system can respond quickly without consuming excessive resources during active printing operations
Data Source
AI summary
Pre-rendering prior receiving a command to print is disclosed for a pre-rendering system for online and offline documents. In an example thereof, a plug-in is hosted in a computing device. A system service operative by the computing device is configured for receiving commands from the plug-in. The system service is configured to issue an instruction responsive to a command from the plug-in to at least one of a printing manager of a server or a printer engine of a printing device. The printer engine is configured to pre-render a document image to provide a pre-rendered document image responsive to the instruction. In another example, a plug-in is hosted in a computing device including an image processor. A system service operative by the computing device is configured for receiving commands from the plug-in. The image processor is configured to pre-render a document image responsive to a command of the commands.