Image Forming Apparatus Interpreter Control for Invalid Page Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses with multi-core CPUs face issues in handling 'erasepage' operators in PostScript data, leading to page re-sorting failures and incorrect output, as they lack measures to detect and manage invalid pages during parallel processing.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes multiple interpreters that generate intermediate data for print pages, with a control unit assigning pages to interpreters and allowing one interpreter to handle subsequent pages after detecting an invalid page, enabling single-thread processing to maintain page consistency without requiring explicit page specification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multi-threading page parallel processing is used to improve processing speed, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to detect invalid pages and perform page re-sorting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidpage output correctness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a control unit as an intermediary between the multi-threaded interpreters and the page output process. This control unit monitors page validity, detects invalid pages (those with erasepage operators), and manages page re-sorting to ensure correct output sequencing while allowing parallel processing to continue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring the output of parallel interpreters, detecting when pages are invalidated by erasepage operators, and triggering re-sorting operations to maintain correct page sequencing in the final output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If page re-sorting processing is implemented to ensure correct page output, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepage output correctnessVSAvoidprocessing control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit autonomously monitors page validity and performs re-sorting operations without requiring external intervention or complex coordination between multiple control entities, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10262247B2Image forming apparatus for converting print data into intermediate data, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 CANON KK

AI summary

There is provided an image forming apparatus configured to process print data of a plurality of pages includes a plurality of interpreters configured to generate intermediate data of the plurality of pages by interpreting the print data, a control unit configured to specify different pages for different interpreters, and, for each specified page, cause a corresponding interpreter to generate the intermediate data of the specified page or specified pages, and a generation unit configured to generate a raster image of the page based on the generated intermediate data, wherein, based on interpretation of the print data of an invalid page, any one interpreter of the plurality of interpreters generates the intermediate data of a page subsequent to the invalid page without requiring the page to be specified by the control unit.