Abstract:
Systems and methods for generating a dynamic re-configuration with a DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance by analyzing pages within the job that collect page with job heuristics and statistics. Enabling the functionality to assess the information, thereby re-configuring a digital printer&#39;s imager and caching module dynamically during the job RIP to achieve improved overall RIP performance. Accordingly, a system collects and assesses job statistics across multiple jobs to enable optimum performance over time.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     Embodiments are generally related to data-processing systems and methods. Embodiments also relate to image processing systems and methods. Embodiments additionally relate to image-processing systems and methods. Embodiments also relate to Digital Front End (DFE), caching modules and Raster Information Processing (RIP) systems and methods.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Almost all digital and image display technologies rely on a technique known as Raster Image Processing (RIP) to produce images on a passive or active display medium, such as paper or an electronic screen. A digital printer&#39;s imager and caching module can be configured prior to the start of a job and have limited capabilities to adjust the way each page is processed. Every page of a long document will possess the same parameters applied even if the parameters are not optimal. This is especially poor for variable information (VI) jobs that a print shop or print customers believe should RIP at a fast rate. There are some dynamic adjustments implemented today, but they are quite limited. For many print jobs it has been found that the original configuration is not optimum and would benefit if parameter adjustments were made. Today&#39;s configuration changes are accomplished manually between jobs, via trial-and-error printing, or as a result of a customer complaint.  
         [0003]     Print on demand (POD) is the printing process that delivers exactly and only what the customer wants, when the customer wants it, at the place where it is needed. Equipment manufacturers have made great strides to develop special technology to meet the “on demand” needs of customers. Traditional equipment manufacturers as well as new players or those that have adapted digital pre-press technology to printing technology are racing through product development cycles introducing new technology. Technology continues to change rapidly.  
         [0004]     An example of a prior art RIP technology is disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No: 2005/0058481 to Christiansen et al, which published on Mar. 17, 2005 and is entitled “Selectable Control of Raster Image Processor.” U.S. Patent Publication No: 2005/0058481 generally describes digital printing technologies that often rely on raster image processors (RIPs or RIP engines) to convert vector image data to raster, or bit-map, data, which allows a printer to render the image as a pattern of dots or pixels. One problem with RIPs such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No: 2005/0058481 is that such technologies offer limited communications capabilities and can in some circumstances reduce the effective processing speed.  
         [0005]     Another example of a prior art RIP technology is disclosed in United States Patent application Publication No: 2003/0076535 to Prosi, which published on Apr. 24, 2003 and is entitled “Banded compositor for variable data.” U.S. Patent application Publication No: 2003/0076535 generally describes a method and apparatus for Variable Data Printing that adds performance requirements to a raster image processor (RIP) memory optimization and which also employs memory bands within the page composition process. Documents containing both recurring elements as well as non-recurring elements are sorted into element lists depending on their frequency of recurrence and their layering position. The recurring elements are retained in rasterized form, while the non-recurring elements are rasterized as they are used in output memory. One pass assembly in raster image processing of the elements occurs when the recurring elements are placed into memory and the variable elements are RIPped on the fly.  
         [0006]     Based on the foregoing, it is believed that a need exists for an improved image processing apparatus, methodology and system thereof. For many print jobs, it has been found that the original configuration is not optimum and would benefit if parameter adjustments were made. It is believed by the present inventor that the reconfiguration of DFE and caching modules as disclosed herein can optimize RIP performance, thereby overcoming the problems associated with the prior art.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the embodiments disclosed and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.  
         [0008]     It is therefore one feature of the present invention to provide for an improved data-processing system and method.  
         [0009]     It is another feature of the present invention to provide for an improved image-processing system and method, including improved raster image processor (RIP) performance.  
         [0010]     It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide for systems and methods for dynamically re-configuring a DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance.  
         [0011]     It is a further feature of the present invention to provide for systems and methods for dynamically re-configuring a DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance by analyzing pages within a job and adaptively configuring page compression and assembly constraints thereby enabling the creation of cached object, composites and underlays that can be re-used through a job.  
         [0012]     The aforementioned features and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. A digital front-end (DFE) interpreter-imager-caching module can be configured based on historical optimum configuration parameters. The configuration calls for a fast pass through the job manager where the time consuming computer intensive objects on each page are decomposed quickly into only empty box representations. The pages are not imaged or compressed for printing, rather, they are processed to collect and assess the object and reusable document component (RDC) markup of the pages and overall job. Such an interpreter-imager-caching module pass operation is very fast.  
         [0013]     The statistics collected from a capture object and cached object statistics with area and position information can be then used to modify the parameters for a re-configuration of the interpreter-imager-caching module prior to the decomposition pass with optimized interpret, RIP and assembler pass that creates compressed buffers feeding the buffer manager and marker. The decomposition pass also captures statistics based on collected objects and compression as the job progresses and uses such features to dynamically adjust configuration according to how the pages are processed altering methods of collecting objects, caching components and compressing and assembling components and pages.  
         [0014]     Optimum configuration for the job can be achieved after only a few pages or after many pages. At the completion of the job, the final configuration can be then utilized to confirm or modify the historical configuration to be used for subsequent jobs that are based on the optimized RIP and VI assembly utilizing feedback from historical statistics, from pre-RIP statistics and dynamic re-configuration.  
         [0015]     In accordance with an alternative embodiment, an option can be provided by using the optimized RIP, VI assembly using historical statistics and dynamic re-configuration as a job is RiPped. The job statistics can then be assessed to modify the configuration parameters. Another option is to capture the statistics and report the suggested configuration changes to the printer operator for authorization before applying them. The customer/operator may not want the optimizations applied and may insist any changes be authorized before being applied. An authorized change can be applied between jobs and/or the RIP of pages.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     Features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompany drawings where:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a system for dynamically re-configuring a DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance in accordance with a preferred embodiment;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a high-level flow chart of operations depicted logical operational steps for dynamically re-configuring the DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance with the current static configuration prior to job RIP, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a high-level flow chart of operations depicting logical operational steps for dynamically, or with an operator&#39;s authorization, re-configuring the DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance in accordance with a preferred embodiment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a high-level flow chart of operations depicting logical operational steps for dynamically re-configuring the DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance with the optimized RIP and VI assembly using historical statistics and dynamic re-configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate the aspects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a system  100  is illustrated that depicts components for dynamically re-configuring a DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance in accordance with a preferred embodiment. System  100  includes a digital front end (DFE)  101  that incorporates the use of a job/RIP manager  102 , which includes a graphical user interface (GUI) module  103  that can be displayed on a display device. The input  104  is used for inputting data from the data source  117 , which includes forms with the help of input devices using a keyboard, mouse or other input devices  116 . The database that is of a historical statistics database  105  includes data identification, data updation, data insertion and related status. The DFE can also include processing resources  106  that include an inbuilt memory  107  used for storing data, parsing circuit routines or application statistics and other related system oriented data for the system functionality.  
         [0023]     Memory  107  can be implemented using any appropriate combination of alterable, volatile or non-volatile memory or non-alterable, or fixed, memory. System  100  can further include a cache  108  can hold reusable document components (RDCs) within a VI cache  109 . A variable information cache (VI)  109  can be used in reference to capture object and cached object statistics with area and position information to modify configuration parameters. The processor/controller  110  can be utilized for enhancing RIP performance and for controlling the functionality the system  100 . The DFE can be configured with the RIP pipeline, circuit and engine  111  for enhancing the functionality of the assembly pass/variable data assembler VDA  112  with page assembly component analysis. The compression component/component module  113  and the routine or application  114  is configured with the job/RIP manager for defining the DFE RIP process. Then the parsing circuit, routine or application  114  can also be configured with the job/RIP manager for proper process development of the system. The input/output interface  115  is interfaced with the input device such as keyboard, mouse etc., and printer  118 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 2 a  high-level flow chart  200  is depicted illustrating logical operational steps for outlining a current static configuration to job RIP with CDF (Common Decomposer Facility) for dynamically re-configuring the DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. As depicted at block  201 , the system  100  of  FIG. 1  can first be initialized. Next, as indicated at block  202 , the job manager can be established as shown in Block  202 . One or more configuration parameters can be modified by a system operator between jobs as illustrated thereafter at block  203 . Next, as depicted at block  204 , the current CDF (Common Decomposer Facility) high-lighting the imager interprets and then, as indicated at block  205 , collects page objects.  
         [0025]     Thereafter, as described at block  206 , a compression module can begin processing. The operation described at block  206  illustrates an assembly test operation. The operations described at blocks  207  or  208  can be processed depending upon the outcome of the testing operation illustrated at block  206 . Caching reusable components can be enabled as indicated at block  207 . Alternatively, as indicated at block  208  a buffer manager operation can be processed. Following processing of the operation depicted at block  207 , the VI Assembler operation indicated at block  209  can be processed. If the page objects need not to be sent to cache reusable components, it can be sent to a buffer manager, again as indicated at block  208 , and then to a marker as indicated at block  210 . The process depicted in flow chart  200  can finally terminate as indicated at block  211 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart  300  of operations is illustrated depicting logical operational steps for dynamically re-configuring a DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance with optimized RIP and VI assembly using feedback from historical statistics, from pre-RIP statistics, and enabling dynamic re-configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment. As indicated at block  301 , the process is initialized. Thereafter, as indicated at block  302 , historical optimum configuration parameters can be established. Next, as indicated at block  303 , the digital front-end (DFE) interpreter-imager-RDCR can be configured based on historical optimum configuration parameters established previously as depicted at block  302 .  
         [0027]     As illustrated next at block  304 , a job decomposition operation can be established. That is, the configuration calls for a fast pass through the job where the time consuming computer intensive objects on each page are decomposed quickly into only empty box representations. The pages are not imaged or compressed for printing, rather, they are processed to interpret as indicated at block  306  with a condition for a VI cache as indicated at block  305  and to collect objects as depicted at block  307 .  
         [0028]     Then, as indicated at block  308 , the captured objects and cached object statistics with area and position information can be utilized to modify configuration parameters that assess the object and RDC makeup of the pages and overall job. This interpreter-imager-caching pass is very fast because the pages are not imaged fully or compressed for full display or printing. The statistics collected from GUI feedback can be provided to the operator as illustrated at block  309 . Thereafter, as described at block  310 , feedback can be compiled in a GUI report  310  and can then be used to modify the parameters for a re-configuration as indicated next at  311  of the interpreter-imager-cache prior to the decomposition pass operation depicted at block  312  that creates compressed buffers feeding the buffer manager as indicated at block  313  and marker as described at block  314 .  
         [0029]     The decomposition pass also captures statistics as indicated at block  315  as the job progresses and uses these to dynamically adjust the way pages are processed. The optimum configuration for the job will be achieved after only a few pages or after many pages. At the completion of the job, the final configuration is used to confirm or modify the historical configuration as indicated at block  316  and to be used for following jobs until completion as depicted at block  317 .  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart  400  is illustrated depicting logical operational steps for dynamically re-configuring the DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance with optimized RIP and VI assembly using historical statistics and execute dynamic re-configuration of the DFE in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The process can be initialized as indicated at block  401 . Thereafter as depicted at block  402 , historical optimum configuration parameters can be established.  
         [0031]     As depicted at block  403 , digital front-end (DFE) interpreter-imager-RDCR can be configured based on historical optimum configuration parameters established previously as indicated at block  402 . Following processing of the operation described at block  403 , the configuration calls for dynamic reconfiguration via block  410  based on the assessment of statistics collected during the interpret  405 , object collection and VI caching  406 , and the compression  408  stages. VI cache information can be sent to collected objects as indicated at block  406  through a VI assembler as illustrated at block  407  and compression. Based on the condition from VI cache information the page objects from the VI assembler and the compressed buffers as indicated at block  408  feeding the buffer manager as described at block  409  and marker as illustrated at block  411 .  
         [0032]     As the job progresses dynamic re-configuration as indicated at block  410  is set up by enabling a configuration that is based on assessing cached components, collected objects, and compression statistics can be provided as feedback in order to modify the configuration as the job progresses as depicted at block  412 . The historical configuration can be collected for subsequent jobs till execution or termination of the process as indicated at block  414 .  
         [0033]     Note that embodiments can be implemented in the context of modules. Such modules may constitute hardware modules, such as, for example, electronic components of a computer system. Such modules may also constitute software modules. In the computer programming arts, a software module can be typically implemented as a collection of routines and data structures that performs particular tasks or implements a particular abstract data type.  
         [0034]     Software modules generally are composed of two parts. First, a software module may list the constants, data types, variable, routines and the like that can be accessed by other modules or routines. Second, a software module can be configured as an implementation, which can be private (i.e., accessible perhaps only to the module), and that contains the source code that actually implements the routines or subroutines upon which the module is based. The term module, as utilized herein can therefore refer to software modules or implementations thereof. Such modules can be utilized separately or together to form a program product based on instruction media residing in a computer memory that can be implemented through signal-bearing media, including transmission media and recordable media, depending upon design considerations and media distribution goals. Such instruction media can thus be retrieved from the computer memory and processed via a processing unit, such as, for example, a microprocessor.  
         [0035]     The methodology described above, for example, with respect to  FIGS. 2-4  can be implemented as one or more such modules. Such modules can be referred to also as “instruction modules” and may be stored within a memory of a data-processing apparatus such as memory  107  of system  100  depicted in  FIGS. 1 . Such instruction modules may be implemented in the context of a resulting program product (i.e., program “code”). Note that the term module and code can be utilized interchangeably herein to refer to the same device or media. Similarly, many of the features depicted in  FIGS. 1-4  can be provided by or in the form of such modules.  
         [0036]     It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.