RIP Controller Compression Adaptation for Buffer Overflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In production printing systems where an external RIP controller and an image forming apparatus are connected, the image forming apparatus often lacks sufficient memory to store RAW image data, leading to delayed printing due to the need for retransmission and re-compression of image data.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a compression unit, determination unit, and transmission unit that predicts and adapts the compression method based on the data size, allowing the image forming apparatus to determine whether to use lossless or lossy compression to ensure data can be stored in its primary buffer, thereby reducing the need for retransmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If lossless compression is used to compress image data, then image quality is maintained, but the compressed data size may still exceed the primary buffer capacity of the image forming apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the compression parameter by switching between lossless and lossy compression methods based on the predicted compressed data size. When lossless compression produces data exceeding buffer capacity, the system switches to lossy compression with adjusted quality parameters to reduce data size while maintaining acceptable image quality.
2Quantity of substance
If the image forming apparatus requests retransmission of RAW image data, then the data can be stored in the primary buffer, but the printing start time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The external RIP controller performs preliminary compression of RAW image data before transmission and predicts the compressed data size. This preliminary action allows the image forming apparatus to know in advance whether the data will fit in the buffer, eliminating the need for retransmission requests and delaying printing start.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the external RIP controller transmit compression method information to the image forming apparatus. The apparatus uses this feedback to determine the appropriate decompression method and buffer allocation, preventing retransmission needs and optimizing the printing workflow.
3Quantity of substance
If the external RIP controller transmits the same RAW image data again, then the image forming apparatus can store it in the primary buffer, but additional processing time is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The external RIP controller performs preliminary compression and size prediction before transmission, so the image forming apparatus knows in advance whether retransmission is needed. This eliminates the cycle of transmitting, receiving, and re-compressing the same data, improving overall processing efficiency.
4Quantity of substance
If lossy compression with high compression ratio is applied, then the image data can be stored in the primary buffer, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts compression parameters by selecting between lossless and lossy compression methods based on predicted data size. When buffer capacity is exceeded by lossless compression, the system switches to lossy compression with optimized quality settings to achieve the required balance between data size and image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus having a compression unit configured to compress image data and to store compressed image data in a storage unit, a determination unit configured to determine a compression method on a basis of a data size of the compressed image data stored in the storage unit, a decompression unit configured to decompress the compressed image data stored in the storage unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit image data decompressed by the decompression unit and information on the determined compression method to an image forming apparatus.