Printing Apparatus Page-by-Page Decompression for Limited RAM
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers with limited RAM capacity struggle to convert large compressed image data into print data for multiple pages, as the existing RAM is insufficient to process the entire decompressed image data, limiting their ability to perform printing efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and module that receive compressed image data, identify partial compressed data corresponding to each page, decompress, and convert it into print data, allowing for efficient printing by repeating the process for each page, thereby reducing the RAM requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the printer uses its internal RAM to convert image data to print data, then printing can be performed, but the limited RAM capacity prevents processing of large multi-page image data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the compressed image data into separate compressed data units, each corresponding to one page. The controller identifies and processes these individual compressed data units sequentially, converting each to print data for its corresponding page without requiring all pages to be loaded into RAM simultaneously. This segmentation enables the printer to handle multi-page documents despite limited internal memory capacity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the printer receives compressed image data from a terminal device without a printer driver, then printing capability is enhanced, but the conversion process requires more RAM than the printer possesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the incoming compressed image data stream into individual page components, processing and converting each segment to print data sequentially. This allows the printer to accept and process multi-page compressed image data from terminal devices without requiring a printer driver, while maintaining operation within its limited RAM constraints by never loading the entire document into memory at once.
3Loss of information
If the printer stores all compressed image data in memory before processing, then complete data availability is achieved, but the RAM capacity is insufficient for large multi-page documents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation of compressed image data into individually processable units, each representing one page. The controller identifies boundaries between these units and processes them sequentially, ensuring that complete data for each page is available for conversion to print data while maintaining only minimal data in RAM at any given time. This eliminates the need to load entire multi-page documents into memory simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of compressed data units corresponding to individual pages before actual conversion begins. By analyzing the compressed data structure in advance and marking the boundaries of each page's compressed data, the system prepares for sequential processing without requiring full data loading, enabling efficient memory management during the conversion process.
Data Source
AI summary
In a printing apparatus, a controller is configured to: receive compressed image data created by compressing image data for pages; store the compressed image data into a memory; individually identify partial compressed data corresponding to the pages in the stored compressed image data; store one of the partial compressed data into the memory or stores information identifying each partial compressed data in the compressed image data, into the memory; execute a first creating processing for decompressing the one partial compressed data and creating print data for one page based on decompressed page data; and execute a first output processing for outputting the created print data. The controller repeats the first creating processing and the first output processing a number of times corresponding to the number of pages contained in the compressed image data. The printing apparatus performs printing based on the output print data.