Patent ID: 8678533

Claim:
A method for image correction to compensate for at least one defective inkjet ejector in a printer comprising: selecting a first datum stored in an array of image data, the first datum corresponding to a first defective inkjet ejector; detecting a second datum stored in the array of image data, the second datum corresponding to a second defective inkjet ejector and being within a search pattern positioned about the first datum; modifying the search pattern positioned about the first datum with reference to a search pattern positioned about the second datum in response to detection of the second datum being within the search pattern positioned about the first datum; identifying a third datum stored in the array of image data and being within the modified search pattern positioned about the first datum, the third datum corresponding to a first functional inkjet ejector capable of ejecting ink corresponding to at least a portion of the first datum; modifying the third datum with reference to the first datum; and operating the first functional inkjet ejector with reference to the modified third datum to compensate for the first defective inkjet ejector being unable to eject ink corresponding to the first datum; modifying the search pattern positioned about the second datum with reference to the search pattern positioned about the first datum, the search pattern positioned about the first datum including a first plurality of candidate data of the array of image data, the search pattern positioned about the second datum including a second plurality of candidate data of the array of image data; identifying a fourth datum stored in the array of image data and being within the modified search pattern positioned about the second datum, the fourth datum corresponding to a second functional inkjet ejector; modifying the fourth datum with reference to the second datum; and operating the second functional inkjet ejector with reference to the modified fourth datum to compensate for the second defective inkjet ejector being unable to eject ink corresponding to the second datum; and prioritizing the second plurality of candidate data with reference to the first datum and the second datum, such that the candidate data of the second plurality of candidate data positioned between the first datum and the second datum receives a higher priority than the other candidate data of the second plurality of candidate positions.