Post RIP paper conversion

• US 20030160990A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 7,133,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1227 Printer definition files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/125 Page layout or assigning input pages onto output media, e.g. imposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1255 Settings incompatibility, e.g. constraints, user requirements vs. device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3935 with modification of image resolution, i.e. determining the values of picture elements at new relative positions

Abstract

A system and method for converting an image to the available paper size being used by the image forming apparatus. A print job is sent to a spooler. A RIP processor then generates image faces for the print job. After the RIP process, the image forming apparatus converts the print job to the paper being used by the image forming apparatus. The print job may also be scaled if desired. Typical conversions are Letter size to A4, A4 to Letter size, Ledger size to A3, and A3 to Ledger size.

Claims

1. A method for converting an output of an image forming apparatus having an output size comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth:

rasterizing the output to a rasterized image having an image size; and

converting the image size of the rasterized image to fit on the output size of the image forming apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

spooling the output of the image forming apparatus prior to rasterizing the ouput.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the image size of the rasterized image with the output size after the rasterizing step and before the converting step.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the image size is converted from one of the group consisting of Letter size to A4, A4 to Letter size, Ledger size to A3, and A3 to Ledger size.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the converting step further comprises scaling the image to the output size.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the converting step retains the resolution of the original rasterized image.

7. A method for converting an output of an image forming apparatus having an output size comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth:

spooling the output of the image forming apparatus, the output being a file containing instructions for producing an image, the instructions being in a printer description language;

rasterizing the output to a rasterized image having an image size;

comparing the image size of the rasterized image with the output size;

converting the image to form a converted image having a size, wherein the size of the converted image fits on the output size of the image forming apparatus

forwarding the converted image to a queue.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the image size is converted from one of the group consisting of Letter size to A4, A4 to Letter size, Ledger size to A3, and A3 to Ledger size.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the converting step further comprises scaling the image to the output size.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the converting step retains the resolution of the original rasterized image.

11. A system for receiving data and producing an image comprising:

a computer having a memory; and

output means for generating the image, having an output size

an application program for execution in the computing device, the application program performing the following instructions in the sequence set forth;

converting the data into a rasterized image having a rasterized image size,

comparing the size of the rasterized image to the output size,

converting the rasterized image to the output size,

forwarding the converted rasterized image to the output means.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein during the converting step of the application program the image size is converted from one of the group consisting of Letter size to A4, A4 to Letter size, Ledger size to A3, and A3 to Ledger size.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the converting step of the application program further comprises scaling the image to the output size.

14. A computer readable medium of instructions, comprising:

receiving means for receiving image data

rasterizing means for rasterizing the image data to a rasterized image having an image size;

comparing means for comparing the image size of the rasterized image with an output size;

converting means for converting the rasterized image to form a converted image having a size, wherein the size of the converted image fits on the output size.

15. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 14 wherein the converting means converts the rasterized image size from one of the group consisting of Letter size to A4, A4 to Letter size, Ledger size to A3, and A3 to Ledger size.

16. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 14 wherein the converting means further comprises scaling the image to the output size.

17. An apparatus for receiving image data and generating an image from the data comprising:

means for receiving image data

rasterizing means for rasterizing the image data to a rasterized image having an image size;

comparing means for comparing the image size of the rasterized image with an output size;

converting means for converting the rasterized image to form a converted image having a size, wherein the size of the converted image fits on the output size.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the converting means converts the rasterized image size from one of the group consisting of Letter size to A4, A4 to Letter size, Ledger size to A3, and A3 to Ledger size.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the converting means further comprises scaling the image to the output size.