Method and apparatus for processing data for a visual-output device with reduced buffer memory requirements
First Claim
1. A method of generating data for producing a page representation on a page by a visual-output device, comprising the steps of:
- receiving data defining the page representation;
defining a first compression factor to have a determinable value;
providing a first compression algorithm associated with a first value of the first compression factor and a second compression algorithm associated with a second value of the first compression factor;
dividing at least a portion of the page into a plurality of regions containing collectively at least a portion of the page representation;
for each region,identifying separate data corresponding to the portion of the page representation contained in that region;
determining the value of the at least one compression factor;
selecting at least a first of the compression algorithms if the at least one compression factor has a value that has a predetermined relationship to a first value;
compressing identified data for the at least one region with the selected algorithm; and
storing the compressed data; and
after storing the compressed data, decompressing the stored data, and transmitting the decompressed data to the visual-output device.
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Abstract
A two-dimensional page representation to be printed has a combination of text, graphic and image representation types. A data memory stores data representative of the page representation. A program memory stores program instructions including a plurality of different algorithms for compressing data associated with corresponding different representation types and their combinations. A processor is coupled to the data and program memories for (a) identifying separate data for each of a plurality of regions containing collectively the page representation, with the data for each region corresponding to the portion of the page representation contained in that region; (b) determining the types of representations and boundaries of each type of representation and the combinations of types contained in each region; (c) rasterizing and compressing the data associated with the determined types of representations for each region with algorithms based on selected compression factors; (d) storing sequentially the compressed data for each region; and (e) when needed for printing, sequentially for each region, reading the corresponding stored data, decompressing the read data, and transmitting the decompressed data to the print device for printing.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of generating data for producing a page representation on a page by a visual-output device, comprising the steps of:
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receiving data defining the page representation; defining a first compression factor to have a determinable value; providing a first compression algorithm associated with a first value of the first compression factor and a second compression algorithm associated with a second value of the first compression factor; dividing at least a portion of the page into a plurality of regions containing collectively at least a portion of the page representation; for each region, identifying separate data corresponding to the portion of the page representation contained in that region; determining the value of the at least one compression factor; selecting at least a first of the compression algorithms if the at least one compression factor has a value that has a predetermined relationship to a first value; compressing identified data for the at least one region with the selected algorithm; and storing the compressed data; and after storing the compressed data, decompressing the stored data, and transmitting the decompressed data to the visual-output device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification