Page Description Language Processing Units for RIP Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing systems face challenges in efficiently processing both PostScript and PDF data due to memory limitations, leading to longer RIP process times and the inability to execute both processes simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with multiple page description language processing units and a job management unit that manages the selection and processing of print jobs, utilizing a queue system to optimize the processing and transfer of raster images between different RIPs, ensuring efficient use of memory and maintaining the order of print jobs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If both a RIP for PostScript data and a RIP for PDF data are mounted to process both data types at high speed, then processing speed is improved, but the memory region required becomes very large, making it impossible to execute both RIP processes due to limited memory capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the RIP functionality into separate processing units: a PostScript RIP unit and a PDF RIP unit, each dedicated to processing its specific data type. This segmentation allows both RIP processes to coexist in the memory without requiring a single large unified memory space, as each unit operates independently with its own processing queue and resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a queue management dimension to resolve the memory conflict. By using separate queues for PostScript and PDF jobs, the system can manage job processing order and resource allocation without requiring additional memory for coordination between RIP units. The queue mechanism adds a temporal and organizational dimension to the processing architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a RIP for PostScript data is used to process PDF data by converting PDF to PostScript, then processing capability is maintained, but the RIP process execution time becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing path into two independent streams: one for PostScript data that goes directly to the PostScript RIP unit, and another for PDF data that goes through the PDF RIP unit. This eliminates the need for PDF-to-PostScript conversion, allowing each data type to be processed natively without time loss from format conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a job management unit as an intermediary that coordinates between the two RIP units and manages the queues. This intermediary handles the routing decisions and resource allocation, enabling efficient processing of both data types without requiring conversion between formats.
3Speed
If a RIP for PDF data is used to process PostScript data by converting PostScript to PDF, then processing speed for PDF data is improved, but the RIP process execution time for PostScript data becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates separate dedicated RIP units for each data type, allowing PostScript data to be processed directly by the PostScript RIP unit without conversion to PDF. This segmentation eliminates the time-consuming conversion step while maintaining optimized processing for each format.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality optimization by having each RIP unit specialized in its specific data type. The PostScript RIP unit is optimized for PostScript processing, and the PDF RIP unit is optimized for PDF processing, ensuring that each data type receives the most efficient processing possible rather than a generic solution.
4Productivity
If multiple RIP processes are executed simultaneously to handle different data types, then processing throughput is improved, but the system complexity increases due to memory management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the memory management complexity by creating separate, isolated processing environments for each RIP unit. Each unit has its own queue and processing state, which simplifies memory management compared to managing a single unified memory space for multiple processes. The segmentation creates clear boundaries that reduce coordination overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by allowing each RIP unit to independently manage its own processing queue and resources. The PostScript RIP unit and PDF RIP unit autonomously handle their respective jobs without requiring complex inter-process coordination or centralized memory management, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes plural page description language processing units and a job management unit. Each of the page description language processing units corresponds to one of different page description languages. The job management unit performs management to select one of the page description language processing units, the selected page description language processing unit serving as a currently processing page description language processing unit, and to cause only the currently processing page description language processing unit to process a print job. Each of the page description language processing units includes a raster image creating unit and a raster image transferring unit. The job management unit includes a first queue, a second queue, a reception-time adding unit, an image-creation-time adding unit, a first instruction unit, a second instruction unit, a third instruction unit, a controller, and a job-being-processed list memory.