Interpreter for executing rasterize processing to obtain printing picture element information
First Claim
1. An interpreter for executing rasterize processing to obtain printing picture element information from a source file, in a plurality of information processing units connected with each other via a network, each of the information processing units having an independent memory which is not shared with another information processing unit of the network for independently processing an assigned task in a parallel processing system, the interpreter comprising:
- means for dividing the source file or an intermediate codefile converted from the source file into plural partial files each of which can be rasterized independently;
means for distributing the plural partial files to at least two information processing units of the network;
means provided for each of the at least two information processing units, for obtaining partial picture element information by rasterizing the distributed partial files; and
means for collecting the partial picture element information obtained by the at least two information processing units and for combining the collected partial picture into entire picture element information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The rasterize processing for obtaining printing picture element information from a source file described in a page-description language is distributed-processed by a plurality of information processing units (6a, 6b, 6c) loose connected via a network (7). A client process (210) converts a source file (19) into an intermediate code file (10) and further divides the intermediate code file into a plurality of partial files executable in the rasterize processing, independently. A part of these plural partial files is given to a rasterizer (212) which generates a printing request, so as to be rasterized into picture element information. In each of other information processing units (6b, 6c), the distributed partial file is received by a server process (211), transmitted to the rasterizer (212) to form partial picture element information. These partial picture element information are returned to the information processing unit (6a) which generates the printing request. The client process (210) combines the picture element information returned from the other information processing units (6b, 6c) with the picture element information, to form the entire picture element information which is transmitted to a printing unit (21).
71 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An interpreter for executing rasterize processing to obtain printing picture element information from a source file, in a plurality of information processing units connected with each other via a network, each of the information processing units having an independent memory which is not shared with another information processing unit of the network for independently processing an assigned task in a parallel processing system, the interpreter comprising:
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means for dividing the source file or an intermediate codefile converted from the source file into plural partial files each of which can be rasterized independently; means for distributing the plural partial files to at least two information processing units of the network; means provided for each of the at least two information processing units, for obtaining partial picture element information by rasterizing the distributed partial files; and means for collecting the partial picture element information obtained by the at least two information processing units and for combining the collected partial picture into entire picture element information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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3. The interpreter of claim 3, further comprising:
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means incorporated in the one of the at least two information processing units, for transmitting a message for requesting participation in the rasterize processing, to the other of the at least two information processing units, prior to distributing the partial files by the distributing means; and means incorporated as a resident program in the other of the at least two information processing units, for responsive to the message for discriminating whether the other of the at least two information processing units can participate in the rasterize processing according to load condition of the other of the at least two information processing units, and for activating the rasterize means only when the other of the at least two information processing units can participate in the rasterize processing. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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12. A method for rasterize processing to obtain printing picture element information from a source file, in a plurality of information processing units connected with each other via a network, each of the information processing units having an independent memory which is not shared with other information processing units for processing independently an assigned task of a parallel processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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dividing the source file or an intermediate code file converted from the source file into plural partial files each of which can be rasterized independently; transmitting the plural partial files to at least two information processing units of the network; obtaining partial picture element information by rasterizing the transmitted partial files in each of the at least two information processing units; and collecting the partial picture elements information obtained by the at least two information processing units to form entire picture element information.
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13. An information processing unit connected to at least one other information processing unit via a network, each of the information processing units having an independent memory which is not shared with other information processing unit of thenetwork for independently processing an assigned task in a parallel-processing system, comprising:
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means for dividing the source file or an intermediate code file converted from the source file into plural partial files each of which can be rasterized independently; and file transmitting means for transmitting at least a part of the plural partial files to the other information processing unit in the network in order to partially share the rasterize processing of the plural partial files with the other information processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for rasterize processing to obtain printing picture element information from a source file, in an information processing unit connected to at least one other information processing unit via a network, each of the information processing unit having an independent memory which is not shared with another information processing unit of the network for independently processing an assigned task in a parallel-processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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dividing a source file or an intermediate code file converted from the source file into plural partial files each of which can be rasterized independently; and transmitting a part of the plural partial files to the other information processing unit in order to partially share the rasterize processing of the plural partial files with the other information processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An information processing unit connected to at least one other information processing unit via a network, each of the information processing unit having an independent memory which is not shared with another information processing unit of the network for independently processing an assigned task in a parallel-processing system, comprising:
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rasterize means for obtaining partial picture element information by rasterizing a part of the plural partial files which are divided from a source file or an intermediate code file converted from the source file and each of which can be rasterized independently and; means for receiving other partial picture element information obtained from the other information processing unit by the rasterize processing of other part of the plural partial files in the other information processing unit, via the network; and means for combining the partial picture element information and the other partial picture element information to obtain the entire picture element information.
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23. A method for rasterize processing to obtain printing picture element information from a source file, in one information processing unit connected to at least one other information processing unit via a network, each of the information units having an independent memory which is not shared with another information processing unit of the network for independently processing an assigned task in a parallel processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining partial picture element information by rasterizing a part of plural partial files which are divided from the source file or an intermediate code file converted from the source file and each of which can be independently rasterized; receiving other partial picture element information obtained by rasterizing other part of the plural partial files in the other information processing unit, from the otherinformation processing unit via the network; combining the partial picture element information and the other partial picture element information to obtain entire picture element information.
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24. An information processing unit connected to a plurality of other information processing units via a network, each of the information units having an independent memory which is not shared with another information processing unit of the network for independently processing an assigned task in a parallel processing system, comprising:
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means for collecting via a network a plurality of partial picture element information from the other information processing units obtained by rasterizing plural partial files which are divided from a source file or an intermediate code file converted from the source file and each of which can be independently rasterized; and means for combining the collected plural partial picture element information to obtain the entire picture element information.
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25. A method for rasterize processing to obtain printing picture element information from a source file in one information processing unit connected to at least one other information processing unit via a network, each of the information units having an independent memory which is not shared with another information processing unit of the network for independently processing an assigned task in a parallel processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting plural partial picture element information form the other information processing unit obtained by rasterizing plural partial files which are divided from the source file or an intermediate code file converted from the source file and each of which can be independently rasterized; and combining collected plural partial picture element information to obtain entire picture element information.
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Specification