Printer Driver Combining Drawing Instructions for Print Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-function printers experience slow processing speeds when handling large numbers of small, noncontiguous drawing instructions, leading to increased first printout times and resource usage, as existing methods struggle to efficiently combine and process disconnected images.
Innovation Solution
A print processing method where printer drivers determine whether drawing instructions can be combined based on specific conditions, such as attribute matching and area ratios, and render large data portions as bitmaps while transferring other portions as PDL commands, allowing for concurrent processing and reduced data size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If PDL mode is used to process drawing instructions, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but processing speed deteriorates when handling large numbers of small, noncontiguous images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing approach by evaluating each drawing instruction individually to determine whether to process it as PDL commands or as a bitmap image. This segmentation allows the system to apply the most efficient processing method to each specific case, resolving the contradiction between data efficiency and processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic decision-making through the determination step, where the processing mode (PDL or bitmap) is selected based on real-time evaluation of drawing instruction characteristics such as image ratio and contiguity. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize processing speed for noncontiguous images while maintaining data efficiency for suitable PDL cases.
2Productivity
If raster mode is used to render entire page as bitmap, then processing speed is improved, but data size increases and PC resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using bitmap processing only for specific portions of the page (noncontiguous images that meet certain criteria) rather than the entire page. This localized application of bitmap rendering improves processing speed for problematic areas while maintaining efficient PDL processing for other areas, thus reducing overall data size and PC resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by converting only the necessary portions of drawing instructions to bitmap format - specifically noncontiguous images with high image ratios - rather than converting the entire page. This partial conversion achieves speed improvement where needed while minimizing data size increase and resource usage.
3Quantity of substance
If drawing instructions are combined into PDL commands, then data compression is improved, but first printout time increases due to data holding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically determines whether to combine drawing instructions into PDL commands or to process them as bitmaps based on their characteristics. For noncontiguous images, the system dynamically switches to bitmap processing, which enables faster first printout without sacrificing data compression for suitable PDL cases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary evaluation step that assesses drawing instructions before determining the processing method. This intermediary determination mechanism acts as a mediator between data compression goals and first printout time requirements, selecting the appropriate processing path for each case.
4Device complexity
If noncontiguous images are not combined, then processing simplicity is maintained, but performance degrades due to large number of separate PDL commands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically evaluates noncontiguous images using specific criteria (image ratio, contiguity) to determine whether combining them into bitmaps would improve performance. This dynamic approach maintains processing simplicity for cases where combination is not beneficial while improving printing performance for cases where combination is advantageous.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameter from individual PDL commands to consolidated bitmap processing for noncontiguous images that meet specific criteria. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by transforming the processing approach for specific cases where it improves performance without unnecessarily complicating other cases.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer driver for generating print job data to be transferred to a printer in response to a drawing instruction determines, based on combining condition, whether the received drawing instruction can be combined with another drawing instruction. If the printer driver determines that the received drawing instruction can be combined, the printer driver stores the received drawing instruction as intermediate data. If the printer driver determines that the received drawing instruction cannot be combined, the printer driver combines intermediate data of already stored drawing instructions into a single item of print job data and outputs the print job data to the printer. The combining condition is that the received drawing instruction meets all of three conditions.