Selective Rasterization for Multi-File Print Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional print control methods incur unnecessary processing time and increased processing time when specifying a print page range for a print job including multiple files, as they require PDL analysis and RIP processing for all pages, even if only a subset is targeted.
Innovation Solution
A print control apparatus and method that selectively rasterizes only the target pages within the specified print page range, skipping unnecessary processing for pages outside the range, by utilizing a receiving unit to identify the target pages and a rasterizing unit to perform rasterization only on the selected pages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If PDL analysis and RIP processing are performed for all pages of all files, then complete print data is generated, but processing time increases unnecessarily when only a subset of pages is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the print job into individual document components, allowing the system to analyze and process only the specific documents and pages that fall within the user-specified page range. This segmentation enables selective processing rather than treating the entire multi-file job as a single unit, thereby reducing unnecessary processing time for pages outside the target range.
2Ease of operation
If PDL analysis is performed on all files to determine page ranges, then accurate page selection is possible, but unnecessary processing occurs for files outside the print range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis only on the documents that contain pages within the user-specified print range. By determining which documents need to be processed first and then analyzing only those documents for page range specification, the system avoids unnecessary PDL analysis on documents that will not be printed, thereby reducing analysis time while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A print control apparatus includes a network interface to receive, from an external device, print job data including a plurality of ordered separate document files and two sequential serial page numbers in the plurality of ordered separate document files for specifying sequential target pages to be printed. The print job data has been generated and sent by the external device. One of the two sequential serial page numbers indicates, as an initial page, a page of one of the plurality of ordered document files, and the other of the sequential serial page numbers indicates, as a last page, a page of another one of the plurality of ordered document files. A rasterizer rasterizes at least the sequential target pages specified by the two sequential serial page numbers, and does not rasterize one or more pages of one or more document files that do not include the sequential target pages.