Object-Based Print Compression for Faster PDL Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing print control technologies fail to efficiently manage the transfer of image data for high-speed printing, particularly when multiple objects with varying properties are on a single page, leading to increased transfer time and potential image quality degradation.
Innovation Solution
A print control apparatus and program that selectively applies different compression methods to each set of image data based on its properties, such as resolution, pixel count, and type, to optimize data transfer while minimizing image quality degradation, using a combination of lossy and lossless compression techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single compression method is applied to all image data on a page, then the compression process is simple, but image quality degradation occurs for certain objects or compression effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image data on a page into multiple objects and applies different compression methods to each object based on its properties. This segmentation allows selective compression where photographs may use lossy compression while text and line art use lossless compression, thereby maintaining image quality for sensitive objects while achieving effective compression for suitable objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality control by evaluating each object's properties (such as object type, resolution, and content characteristics) and assigning compression methods locally to each object rather than uniformly to the entire page. This ensures that each object receives the appropriate compression treatment for its specific requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If image data is transferred without compression, then image quality is preserved, but transfer time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments image data into multiple objects and applies compression selectively to each segment. Objects suitable for compression (such as photographs with redundant information) are compressed to reduce transfer time, while objects requiring quality preservation (such as text and line art) are transferred without compression, achieving an optimal balance between transfer speed and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes compression parameters (compression ratio, method type) based on object properties such as resolution, object type, and content characteristics. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize the balance between compression effectiveness and image quality preservation for each specific object.
3Loss of time
If compression is applied to reduce data amount, then transfer time is reduced, but image quality degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the page into multiple objects and evaluates each object's suitability for compression. By identifying object types (photographs, text, graphics, patterns) and their properties, the system applies compression only to objects where it is appropriate, thereby reducing overall transfer time while preventing quality degradation in objects where compression would be harmful.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality control by selecting compression methods and parameters tailored to each object's characteristics. This localized approach ensures that compression is applied with appropriate intensity for each object type, maintaining quality where necessary while achieving compression benefits where applicable.
Data Source
AI summary
A print control apparatus including an image acquisition unit for acquiring an image file including on one page a plurality of sets of image data of a raster format for representing an object, a compression processing unit for selecting methods of compression to apply to each of the plurality of sets of image data from among a plurality of methods of compression, in accordance with the properties of the image data, and compressing each of the plurality of sets of image data by the respectively selected methods of compression, a PDL data generation unit for generating PDL data, which is PDL data in which a command to print the image file is described by a page description language and which includes the plurality of sets of compressed image data, and a transfer unit for transferring the generated PDL data to a print unit.