Patent EP0766201A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0766201A2
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EP
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A method and apparatus for buffering data between a raster image processor and an output device
Assignee: Agfa Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for providing data buffering through a plurality of storage buffers (18) between at least one raster image processor (RIP) (12) and at least one output device (16) in an imaging system (10). The imaging data being produced by a RIP and stored on a first storage buffer is redirected to a second storage buffer if an output device requires imaging data previously stored on the first storage buffer. After the required imaging data has been output to the output device, the imaging data segmented across the first and second storage buffers is reconstituted.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. Brady
- 👤 Kimberley J. Edgar
- 👤 Daniel H. Flint
- 👤 Jeanne M. Lucivero
- 👤 Frank P. White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An imaging system comprising : a raster image processor (RIP) or a plurality of raster image processors (RIPs) for producing imaging data; an output device or a plurality of output devices for consuming imaging data produced by said RIP(s); and means for buffering imaging data between said RIP(s) and said output device(s), said data buffering means including a plurality of storage buffers, means for storing a first supply of imaging data produced by said RIP or by one of said RIPs on a first one of said storage buffers, means for determining if said output device (or if one of said output devices requires a second supply of imaging data produced by said RIP or by sad one of said RIPs and previously stored on said first storage buffer, means for segmenting said first supply of imaging data between said first storage buffer and a second one of said storage buffers if said output device or said one of said output devices requires said second supply of imaging data previously stored on said first storage buffer, and means for outputting said second supply of imaging data to said output device or said one of said output devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
Imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said data buffering means further includes : means for redirecting the storage of said first supply of imaging data from said storage buffer to said second storage buffer, wherein a first segment of said first supply of imaging data is stored in said first storage buffer prior to said segmenting step and a second segment of said first supply of imaging data is stored in said second storage buffer after said segmenting step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Imaging system according to claim 2, wherein said data buffering means further includes : means for combining said first and second segments in one of said storage buffers to reconstitute said first supply of imaging data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Imaging system according to claim 3, wherein said combining means combines said first and second segments in one of said first or second storage buffers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
Imaging system according to claim 4, wherein said combining means further includes means for determining whether said first segment is larger than said second segment, means for copying said first segment from said first storage buffer to said second storage buffer if said first segment is smaller than the second segment, and means for copying said second segment from said second storage buffer to said first storage buffer if said second segment is smaller than said first segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Imaging system according to claim 5, wherein means for copying said first segment from said first storage buffer to said second storage buffer prepends said first segment to said second segment in said second storage buffer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
Imaging system according to claim 5, wherein said means for copying said second segment from said second storage buffer to said first storage buffer appends said second segment to said first segment in said first storage buffer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
A data buffering method in an imaging system including a raster image processor (RIP) or a plurality of raster image processors (RIPs) for producing imaging data, an output device or a plurality of output devices for consuming imaging data produced by said RIP(s), and a plurality of storage buffers comprising the steps of : storing a first supply of imaging data produced by said ROP or by one of said RIPs on a first one of said storage buffers; determining, during said storing step, if said output device or if one of said output devices requires a second supply of imaging data produced by said RIP or said one of said RIPs and previously stored on said first storage buffer; and segmenting said first supply of imaging data between said first storage buffer and a second one of said storage buffers if said output device or said one of said output devices requires said second supply of imaging data previously stored on said first storage buffer, and outputting said second supply of imaging data to said output device or said one of said output devices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
Data buffering method according to claim 8, wherein said segmenting step further includes the step of : redirecting the storage of said first supply of imaging data from said first storage buffer to said second storage buffer, wherein a first segment of said first supply of imaging data is stored in said first storage buffer prior to said segmenting step and a second segment of said first supply of imaging data is stored in said second storage buffer after said segmenting step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Data buffering method according to claim 9, further including the step of : combining said first and second segments in one of said storage buffers to reconstitute said first supply of imaging data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Data buffering method according to claim 10, wherein said combining step further includes the step of : combining said first and second segments in one of said first or second storage buffers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
Data buffering method according to claim 11, wherein said step of combining said first and second segments in one of said first or second storage buffers further includes the steps of : determining whether said first segment is larger than said second segment; copying said first segment from said first storage buffer to said second storage buffer if said first segment is smaller than the second segment; and copying said second segment from said second storage buffer to said first storage buffer if said second segment is smaller than said first segment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Data buffering method according to claim 12, wherein said first segment copying step further includes the step of : prepending said first segment to said second segment in said second storage buffer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
Data buffering method according to claim 12, wherein said second segment copying step further includes the step of : appending said second method to said first segment in said first storage buffer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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