Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-09
2001-10-16
Popovici, Dov (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S001160, C358S001170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304335
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, such as a host computer, which transmits encoded image data to a printer, and to a printer which prints images based on encoded image data received from the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printing systems in which encoded image data is transmitted between a host computer and a printer are well known in the art. Such systems are typically called “host-based” printing systems, meaning that image data is encoded in the host computer, and transmitted to the printer for printing.
In operation, host-based printing systems transmit encoded image data from a host computer to a reception buffer in a printer. Thereafter, circuitry in the printer converts the encoded image data stored in the reception buffer into video signals, which are then provided to a printer engine. The printer engine then prints images based on these video signals.
In systems of the foregoing type, the reception buffer typically has a limited storage capacity. Consequently, the reception buffer may not be able to store an entire page of encoded image data that is transmitted from the host computer. Due to this limited storage capacity of the reception buffer, printing errors result when a conventional system tries to print a page which is too large for its printer's reception buffer. The most common of these errors is known as “print overrun”. In print overrun situations, images are not printed on the proper areas of a sheet of recording paper. As a result, large blank spaces will appear on recording sheets in places where images should be printed.
Conventional systems suffer from at least one other drawback resulting in errors similar to those described above. Specifically, in conventional host-based printing systems, it is necessary to transmit encoded image data from the host computer to the printer at the same timing at which paper is ejected (i.e., fed, conveyed and expelled) from the printer. Problems arise with these systems, however, if the timing at which encoded image data is transmitted from the host computer becomes desynchronized from the timing at which paper is ejected from the printer. In these cases, printer errors, such as print overrun, can occur regardless of whether or not a “huge page” (i.e., a page too large for the reception buffer) of encoded image data is being transmitted to the printer.
In view of the foregoing, in conventional systems, a processor in the host computer must devote at least a part of its energies to ensuring that synchronism is maintained between transmitted encoded image data and paper ejection. Consequently, the host computer may be unable to perform other, possibly higher priority tasks, without risking printing errors.
Thus, there exists a need for a printing system which reduces the burden on a host processor to maintain the foregoing synchronization, and which is able to print images based on “huge pages” of encoded image data without requiring additional memory and with relatively few print errors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the foregoing needs by providing an information processing apparatus which transmits blocks of encoded image data to a printer, and a printer which receives the blocks of encoded image data and prints images based on the blocks. According to the invention, the information processing apparatus divides encoded image data of a page into blocks, each of which has a size that is less than a storage capacity of a buffer on the printer, and transmits the blocks of encoded image data to the printer. The printer then stores a predetermined amount of received encoded image data in its buffer, and controls a printer engine to print images based on the encoded image data stored in the buffer. Thereafter, additional encoded image data (e.g., additional blocks of data) is stored in the buffer in place of the encoded image data for which images have been printed. The printer engine is then controlled to print images based on the additional encoded image data stored in the buffer.
By dividing the encoded image data into blocks, and storing the encoded image data in the foregoing manner, the present invention makes it possible to store a “huge page” of encoded image data, block-by-block, in the printer's reception buffer, and to transmit video signals based on those blocks to a print engine. In this manner the invention is able to reduce print errors for “huge pages” of encoded image data, without requiring significant extra memory space.
Moreover, the foregoing arrangement reduces the need to synchronize the timing at which encoded image data is transmitted from the host computer to the timing at which paper is ejected from the printer.
Thus, according to one aspect, the present invention is an information processing apparatus for transmitting a page of encoded image data to a printer. The apparatus includes a processor and memory which stores process steps that are executable by the processor. The processor executes the process steps stored in the memory (
1
) to divide the encoded image data of the page into blocks, each block having a size which is less than a storage capacity of a storing means on the printer,, and (
2
) to transmit the blocks of encoded image data to the printer.
According to another aspect, the invention is a printing apparatus for decoding a page of encoded image data received from an information processing apparatus, and for printing a page of the decoded image data. The printing apparatus includes a processor and memory which stores process steps that are executable by the processor. The processor executes the process steps stored in the memory (
1
) to store a predetermined amount of encoded image data in a buffer, (
2
) to control a printer engine to print images based on the encoded image data stored in the buffer, and (
3
) to store additional encoded image data in the buffer in place of the encoded image data for which images have been printed.
This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4985850 (1991-01-01), Okamoto
patent: 5337258 (1994-08-01), Dennis
patent: 5444827 (1995-08-01), Briggs et al.
patent: 5490237 (1996-02-01), Zimmerman et al.
Dohi Makoto
Furuya Yoji
Okamoto Yoshifumi
Suzuki Masayoshi
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Popovici Dov
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