Image Forming Apparatus Dynamic Memory Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving high throughput due to memory capacity issues, as they need to store large print data temporarily, leading to increased memory requirements and reduced efficiency when errors occur or when memory is insufficient, and existing methods like data compression or threshold-based memory management result in reduced throughput.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a control section that monitors the deletion of intermediate and bitmap data, determining the availability of storage space in a common memory area and efficiently managing data storage by generating and deleting data to optimize memory usage, allowing for more efficient storage and printing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If memory capacity is increased to store large print data simultaneously, then memory availability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic memory management where the system monitors memory usage and automatically adjusts between storing PDL data and intermediate data based on available empty area. When empty area exceeds the threshold, the system stores PDL data; when it falls below, the system converts and stores intermediate data instead, optimizing memory utilization without requiring additional memory capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If data compression is applied to decrease memory capacity requirements, then memory usage is reduced, but additional processing time is required which reduces throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conversion process from a background operation to a foreground priority operation. When memory empty area becomes insufficient, the system proactively converts PDL data to intermediate data and stores it, rather than waiting for memory pressure to trigger compression. This extraction of the conversion step allows the system to maintain higher throughput by avoiding later compression operations.
3Quantity of substance
If threshold-based memory management is used to improve memory efficiency, then memory utilization is improved, but processing stops until memory secures enough empty area which reduces throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by monitoring memory usage and triggering data conversion before memory becomes completely full. When the empty area approaches the threshold, the system proactively converts PDL data to intermediate data and stores it, preventing processing stoppages. This advance action ensures continuous throughput while maintaining efficient memory utilization.
4Reliability
If bitmap data is held until printing completion to resume from error pages, then reliability is improved, but memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the data format parameter from PDL to intermediate form dynamically. Instead of storing large PDL data throughout the printing process, the system converts PDL data to intermediate data (which has different storage characteristics) when memory conditions permit, allowing reliable error recovery while controlling memory consumption through format transformation.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus including: a memory section having a common storage area that temporarily stores data in an intermediate form, which are generated on the way between image data in a form of page description language and data in a bitmap form obtained by interpreting the image data, and the data in a bitmap form; and a control section configured to monitor a first event that the data in an intermediate form stored in the common storage area have been deleted and a second event that the data in a bitmap form stored in the common storage area have been deleted, and to determine presence or absence of area for the data in an intermediate form to be stored when either of the first and second events occurs.