Data cache synchronization in two-phase printing processes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10866769-B2
Application number	US-201916286288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2019
Priority date	Feb 26, 2019
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments herein describe a two-phase printing process that utilizes page-to-resource tracking during the first rip-to-spool phase in order to perform resource scheduling during the second print-from-spool phase. In one embodiment, compute nodes include a RIP and a raster builder. A controller receives a print job, identifies a distribution of logical pages in the print job to the compute nodes, and generates page assignment information that maps the logical pages to the compute nodes based on the distribution. The compute nodes rasterize the logical pages to generate intermediate data using the RIPs, and store the intermediate raster data at a RIP spool. The controller directs a distribution of the intermediate raster data from the RIP spool to the compute nodes based on the page assignment information, and the compute nodes assemble the intermediate raster data into complete raster data using the raster builders.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
at least two compute nodes, each comprising:
a Raster Image Processor (RIP); and
a raster builder; and

a controller configured to receive a print job, to identify a distribution of logical pages in the print job to the at least two compute nodes, and to generate page assignment information that maps the logical pages to the at least two compute nodes based on the distribution,
wherein the at least two compute nodes are configured to rasterize the logical pages to generate intermediate raster data using the RIPs, and to store the intermediate raster data at a RIP spool,
wherein the controller is configured to direct a distribution of the intermediate raster data from the RIP spool to the at least two compute nodes based on the page assignment information,
wherein the at least two compute nodes are configured to assemble the intermediate raster data into complete raster data using the raster builders.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least two compute nodes are configured to transmit the complete raster data, and the apparatus further comprises:
at least one print engine configured to receive the complete raster data, and to print at least one colorant to a medium based on the complete raster data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the print job comprises a Variable Data Printing (VDP) Portable Document Format (PDF) print job.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the at least two compute nodes further comprise:
a memory,

a first compute node of the at least two compute nodes is configured to identify an object referenced in the logical pages distributed to the first compute node, to rasterize the object to generate an object raster image, to store the object raster image in a first memory of the first compute node, and to generate at least one portion of the intermediate raster data without including the object raster image in the at least one portion,
wherein the first compute node is configured to assemble at least one portion of the complete raster data using the at least one portion of the intermediate raster data and the object raster image stored in the first memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
the object comprises an image object.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
the first memory is configured to provide the object raster image to the RIP spool, and to receive the object raster image from the RIP spool prior to the first compute node assembling the at least one portion of the complete raster data.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
the controller is configured to modify the page assignment information to change a mapping of logical pages rasterized by the first compute node to a second compute node, and
a second memory of the second compute node is configured to receive the object raster image from the RIP spool prior to the second compute node assembling the at least one portion of the complete raster data.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to modify the page assignment information after the logical pages in the print job are rasterized to change a mapping between the logical pages and the at least two compute nodes.

9. A method, comprising:
receiving a print job;
identifying a distribution of logical pages in the print job to at least two compute nodes;
generating page assignment information that maps the logical pages to the at least two compute nodes based on the distribution;
rasterizing, by the at least two compute nodes, the logical pages to generate intermediate raster data;
storing the intermediate raster data at a spool;
distributing the intermediate raster data from the spool to the at least two compute nodes based on the page assignment information; and
assembling, by the at least two compute nodes, the intermediate raster data into complete raster data.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
transmitting the complete raster data;
receiving, by a print engine, the complete raster data; and
printing, by the print engine, at least one colorant to a medium based on the complete raster data.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
identifying, by a first compute node of the at least two compute nodes, an object referenced in the logical pages distributed to the first compute node;
rasterizing, by the first compute node, the object to generate an object raster image;
storing, by the first compute node, the object raster image in a first memory of the first compute node;
generating, by the first compute node, at least one portion of the intermediate raster data without including the object raster image in the at least one portion; and
assembling, by the first compute node, at least one portion of the complete raster data using the at least one portion of the intermediate raster data and the object raster image stored in the first memory.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
copying the object raster image from the first memory to a spool; and
copying the object raster image from the spool to the first memory prior to assembling the at least one portion of the complete raster data.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
modifying the page assignment information to change a mapping of logical pages rasterized by the first compute node to a second compute node; and
copying the object raster image from the spool to a second memory of the second compute node prior to assembling the at least one portion of the complete raster data utilizing the second compute node.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
modifying the page assignment information after the logical pages in the print job are rasterized to change a mapping between the logical pages and the at least two compute nodes.

15. A non-transitory compute readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
receive a print job;
identify a distribution of logical pages in the print job to at least two compute nodes;
generate page assignment information that maps the logical pages to the at least two compute nodes based on the distribution;
rasterize, by the at least two compute nodes, the logical pages to generate intermediate raster data;
store the intermediate raster data at a spool;
distribute the intermediate raster data from the spool to the at least two compute nodes based on the page assignment information; and
assemble, by the at least two compute nodes, the intermediate raster data into complete raster data.

16. The non-transitory compute readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the programmed instructions further direct the at least one processor to:
transmit the complete raster data;
receive, by a print engine, the complete raster data; and
print, by the print engine, at least one colorant to a medium based on the complete raster data.

17. The non-transitory compute readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the programmed instructions further direct the at least one processor to:
identify, by a first compute node of the at least two compute nodes, an object referenced in the logical pages distributed to the first compute node;
rasterize, by the first compute node, the object to generate an object raster image;
store, by the first compute node, the object raster image in a first memory of the first compute node;
generate, by the first compute node, at least one portion of the intermediate raster data without including the object raster image in the at least one portio

Assignees

• Coulter Justin J
• Ward David
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Coulter Justin J
• Ward David

Classifications

• G06F3/1288

  in client-server-printer device configuration · CPC title

• G06F3/1245

  by conversion to intermediate or common format · CPC title

• G06F3/124

  Parallel printing or parallel ripping · CPC title

• G06F3/1215 Primary

  achieving increased printing speed, i.e. reducing the time between printing start and printing end · CPC title

• G06F3/1247

  by conversion to printer ready format · CPC title