Print Control Device Rasterization Order Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In bookbinding processes, the rasterization of print job data in the order of reception leads to inefficiencies, such as prolonged standby times and deteriorated printing efficiency due to the need to wait for the final page to be fully rasterized, especially when using existing technologies like Japanese Patent Application Publications 2013-161096 and 2013-212636, which are limited in applicability to specific binding formats and page types.
Innovation Solution
A print control device that dynamically controls the page order for rasterizing data based on the binding format, waiting for the reception of a predetermined page before optimizing the rasterization of remaining pages, allowing parallel data reception and rasterization, and adjusting the page order to accommodate blank pages and specific binding formats like saddle stitching, side stitching, perfect binding, and ring binding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data of each page is rasterized in the order of reception (from front page to final page), then the rasterization process is simple to implement, but the printing efficiency deteriorates because the system must wait for the final page to be fully rasterized before starting printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by receiving and storing page data in advance before rasterization begins. The reception unit receives print job data comprising multiple pages and stores it in a buffer, allowing the rasterization process to start with earlier pages while later pages are still being received. This eliminates the need to wait for all pages to be received before starting rasterization, thereby reducing standby time and improving printing efficiency.
2Reliability
If the system waits for the final page to be received and rasterized before starting printing, then the complete print job is ensured to be processed, but the overall processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the print job into individual page units that can be processed independently. The rasterization unit rasterizes pages in the order they are received rather than waiting for the complete job, and the printing unit prints pages as they become ready. This segmented approach ensures print job completeness while reducing total processing time by overlapping data reception, rasterization, and printing operations.
3Loss of time
If parallel data reception and rasterization are implemented, then the standby time is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to the need to manage page ordering and binding formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a flexible page order management system that adapts to different binding formats. The control unit dynamically determines the optimal rasterization order based on the specified binding format (saddle stitching, side stitching, perfect binding, or ring binding). This dynamic approach allows parallel data reception and rasterization while managing complexity through adaptive control rather than rigid fixed-order processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A print control device includes a receiver that receives a print job and a processor that generates image data by rasterizing data of each page of the print job in parallel with a reception of the print job and controls a page order for rasterizing the data of each page. The processor rasterizes the data of each page in an order from a front page until a finish of a reception of data of a predetermined page determined according to a binding format of an output document to be prepared by the print job. After the reception of the data of the predetermined page is finished, the processor controls the page order to optimally rasterize the data of each page according to the binding format.