Image Forming Apparatus Shared Resource Pool Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in processing print jobs described in page description languages (PDL) due to repeated resource usage and the need for redundant resource expansion during the raster image processor (RIP) process, leading to increased data transfer loads and processing times.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus groups processing units into sub-jobs and uses converting sections to convert print jobs into intermediate data, where shared resources are referenced instead of duplicated, reducing data size and processing load by including resource definitions in the first page and reference instructions in subsequent pages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resources are expanded for each processing unit individually, then each processing unit has complete resource definitions, but data size and processing load increase due to redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges resource definitions from multiple processing units into a shared resource pool. Instead of duplicating resource definitions in each processing unit's intermediate data, the system consolidates common resources (fonts, images, forms, etc.) into a single reference that can be shared across all processing units, thereby reducing overall data size while maintaining resource completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary resource management mechanism that acts as a mediator between processing units and actual resource data. This intermediary layer stores resource definitions once and provides reference instructions to processing units, eliminating the need for each unit to contain complete resource definitions locally while ensuring reliable access to all resources
2Reliability
If resources are expanded for each processing unit individually, then each processing unit has complete resource definitions, but processing time increases due to redundant expansion operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs resource consolidation and organization in advance during the intermediate data generation phase. By pre-processing the print job to identify and group common resources across processing units before RIP processing begins, the system eliminates the need for repeated resource expansion operations during actual printing, thereby reducing processing time while ensuring all resources are properly defined
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges resource expansion operations into a single consolidated process. Instead of each processing unit independently expanding its own copy of resource definitions, the system performs resource expansion once for the shared resource pool and makes the expanded resources available to all processing units, thereby eliminating redundant expansion operations and reducing total processing time
3Reliability
If complete resource definitions are included in each processing unit's intermediate data, then resource availability is ensured, but data transfer load increases between converting section and RIP processors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts common resource definitions from individual processing unit data and separates them into a dedicated shared resource pool. By taking out resources that are commonly used across multiple processing units and storing them in a centralized location, the system reduces the amount of resource data that needs to be transferred with each processing unit's intermediate data, while still ensuring resource availability through the shared pool
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary resource management system that handles resource distribution between the converting section and RIP processors. This intermediary layer maintains a shared resource pool and manages references to resources, allowing RIP processors to access resources efficiently without receiving complete resource definitions with every intermediate data set, thereby reducing data transfer load while maintaining resource availability
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a processing unit group forming section, a converting section, and plural raster image processors. The processing unit group forming section forms plural processing unit groups by grouping plural processing units included in a print job. The converting section converts, for each of the plural processing units, the print job into intermediate data so as to form plural intermediate data groups corresponding to the plural processing unit groups. The plural raster image processors correspond to the plural intermediate data groups, each of the plural raster image processors performing a conversion process of converting a corresponding one of the plural intermediate data groups into raster data.