RIP Image Data Expansion Using Characteristic Value Cache
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing methods for variable printing face a bottleneck in speeding up the expansion of RIP image data from secondary storage to expansion memory, leading to inefficiencies in print processing.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that calculates a unique characteristic value for RIP image data, stores it with the data, and uses this value to determine if the data exists in a cache before accessing secondary storage, allowing for faster expansion by reducing read operations from the secondary storage device and optimizing cache utilization by processing and storing data in units of bands or objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If RIP image data is temporarily stored in a secondary storage device and sequentially read out for expansion processing, then the time required for RIP processing is shortened, but the time required for expansion processing from secondary storage becomes a bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing characteristic values of RIP image data in a cache before actual expansion processing is needed. When expansion is required, the system first checks if the characteristic value exists in the cache, allowing for rapid retrieval without accessing secondary storage. This preliminary preparation of characteristic values eliminates the bottleneck of sequential reading from secondary storage during expansion processing.
2Reliability
If RIP image data is read from secondary storage for each expansion operation, then data accuracy is maintained, but the number of read operations increases and slows down processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating and storing characteristic values (hash values or checksums) of RIP image data in a cache as lightweight copies. These characteristic values serve as verified references that can be quickly compared during expansion operations. Instead of reading the entire RIP image data from secondary storage for each operation, the system reads only the stored characteristic value from cache, maintains data accuracy through verification, and dramatically reduces read operations and processing time.
3Productivity
If a cache is introduced to store RIP image data with characteristic values, then expansion processing speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies taking out by extracting only the essential characteristic values (such as hash values or checksums) from the complete RIP image data and storing them in a cache. This extraction approach creates a simplified data structure that contains only the necessary verification information rather than the full image data. The cache stores paired information of characteristic values and their corresponding RIP image data references, enabling fast comparison and retrieval while keeping the cache structure relatively simple and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes: an interpreter processing part for creating intermediate data by analyzing a page description language; a rasterize processing part for creating RIP image data for each band for dividing each page into a plurality of parts, on the basis of the intermediate data; a characteristic value calculating part for calculating a characteristic value of RIP image data and associating the calculated characteristic value with the corresponding RIP image data; and an expansion processing part for, when the RIP image data whose characteristic value agrees with that of RIP image data that is a target for expansion are stored in a cache, reading out the RIP image data whose characteristic value agrees, the RIP image data being stored in the cache, and storing the RIP image data in an expansion memory.