US5500928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital printing system and process using adaptive compression
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
•
Filing: 1994-04-13
•
Granted: 1996-03-19
•
Expires: 2014-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A system and process for digital printing divides an image area into segments, defines display lists for each segment, generates graphic primitives from page description language commands, stores the graphic primitives in the display lists, and adaptively compresses and converts the contents of display lists as memory requirements exceed available memory capacity. Display lists contain either uncompressed pixel representations, compressed pixel representations, graphic primitives, or combinations of the foregoing.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig C. Cook
- 👤 Thomas P. Blumer
- 👤 Theodore B. Packard
- 👤 Geoffrey A. Dreher
- 👤 Thomas A. Schuneman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/20; G06T11/23; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/18; G06K15/1835; G06K15/1836; G06K15/1838; G06K15/1848; G06K15/1849; G06K15/1851; G06K15/1856; G06K15/1861; G06K15/1865; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0005; G06K2215/0014; G06K2215/0017; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A computer-implemented process of drawing an image on an imaging area of a computer output device in response to commands generated by a computer, the process comprising: spatially dividing the imaging area into a plurality of sections; creating a plurality of display lists, each of the display lists corresponding to one of the sections; determining, for a current one of the commands, a subset of the sections to which said current command pertains; generating a graphic primitive for a selected one of the subset of sections; updating with said graphic primitive one of said plurality of display lists corresponding to said selected section; adaptively reducing a subset of said plurality of display lists responsive to a memory requirement exceeding an available memory capacity by determining a type for each display list responsive to presence therein of a pixel representation and responsive to presence therein of a graphic primitive representation; and drawing said image responsive to said updated display list.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer-implemented process of drawing an image on an imaging area of a computer output device in response to commands generated by a computer, the process comprising: spatially dividing the imaging area into a plurality of sections; creating a plurality of display lists, each of the display lists corresponding to one of the sections; determining, for a current one of the commands, a subset of the sections to which said current command pertains; generating a graphic primitive for a selected one of the subset of sections; updating with said graphic primitive one of said plurality of display lists corresponding to said selected section; adaptively reducing a subset of said plurality of display lists responsive to a memory requirement exceeding an available memory capacity by determining a type for each display list responsive to presence therein of a pixel representation and responsive to presence therein of a graphic primitive representation; and drawing said image responsive to said updated display list.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
A computer-implemented process as in claim 1, wherein adaptively reducing comprises: determining a first subset of the display lists, each of the display lists in the first subset having present therein solely an uncompressed pixel form representation; converting a first display list in the first subset to a compressed pixel form representation; selectively converting at least one additional display list in the first subset to a compressed pixel form representation, responsive to need for more memory; selectively determining a second subset of the display lists, each of the display lists having present therein uncompressed image data, responsive to need for more memory; and selectively compressing at least one display list in the second subset responsive to need for more memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer-implemented process as in claim 1, wherein updating comprises: converting, in response to the display list containing only an uncompressed pixel representation, the graphic primitive to an intermediate pixel representation and combining the uncompressed pixel representation with the intermediate pixel representation; and adding, in response to the display list not containing only an uncompressed pixel representation, the graphic primitive to the display list.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
A computer-implemented process of drawing an image on an imaging area of a computer output device in response to commands generated by a computer, the process comprising: spatially dividing the imaging area into a plurality of sections; creating a plurality of display lists, each of the display lists corresponding to one of the sections; determining, for a current one of the commands, a subset of the sections to which said current command pertains; generating a graphic primitive for a selected one of the subset of sections; determining a memory requirement for storing said graphic primitive in one of said display lists corresponding to said selected section; adaptively reducing a subset of said plurality of display lists responsive to the memory requirements exceeding an available memory capacity by determining a type for each display list responsive to presence therein of a pixel representation and responsive to presence therein of a graphic primitive representation; updating, subsequent to said step of adaptively compressing, said one display list with said graphic primitive; and drawing said image responsive to said updated display list.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
A computer-implemented process of drawing an image on an imaging area of a computer output device in response to commands generated by a computer, the process comprising: spatially dividing the imaging area into a plurality of sections; creating a plurality of display lists, each of the display lists corresponding to one of the sections; determining, for a current one of the commands, a subset of the sections to which said current command pertains; generating a graphic primitive for a selected one of the subset of sections; determining a memory requirement for storing said graphic primitive in one of said display lists corresponding to said selected section; adaptively reducing a subset of said plurality of display lists responsive to the memory requirements exceeding an available memory capacity by determining a type for each display list responsive to presence therein of a pixel representation and responsive to presence therein of a graphic primitive representation; updating, subsequent to said step of adaptively compressing, said one display list with said graphic primitive; and drawing said image responsive to said updated display list.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
A computer-implemented process as in claim 4, wherein adaptively reducing comprises: determining a first sequential order in decreasing size among a first subset of the display lists, each of the display lists in the first subset having present therein a graphic primitive representation; selectively converting a display list in the first subset to a pixel representation in accordance with the first sequential order, responsive to the pixel representation being smaller than the graphic primitive representation; determining a second sequential order in decreasing size among a second subset of the display lists; and selectively compressing a display list in the second subset responsive to the type of each display list indicating presence therein of a pixel representation and responsive to determination that the pixel representation is not already compressed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-implemented process as in claim 5, wherein display lists are selected for conversion and compression responsive to the memory requirement exceeding the available memory capacity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer-implemented process as in claim 4, wherein updating comprises: converting, in response to the display list containing only an uncompressed pixel representation, the graphic primitive to an intermediate pixel representation and combining the uncompressed pixel representation with the intermediate pixel representation; and adding, in response to the display list not containing only an uncompressed pixel representation, the graphic primitive to the display list.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
269 words
A system for displaying an image defined by image data, the system, comprising: an interpreter disposed to receive the image data and produce graphic primitive and pixel representations therefrom; a display list storage area including a plurality of segments corresponding to spatially distinct sections of the image; a display list generator coupled to the interpreter and to the display list storage area and generating for storage in the display list storage area display lists from said representations; a memory manager coupled to the display list generator and disposed to compare storage requirements for display lists generated by the display list generator with available storage space in the display list storage area; a compression processor coupled to the memory manager and the display list storage area for adaptively compressing display lists in the display list storage area in response the memory manager indicating storage requirements for display lists exceeding available storage space in the display list storage area, the compression processor disposed to analyze display lists to determine inclusion therein of pixel and graphic primitive components; the compression processor further disposed to selectively decompress, convert between graphic primitive and pixel form, combine, and compress the components of display lists in response to inclusion therein of the components to increase available storage space in display list storage area; a display list processor coupled to the display list storage area to retrieve display lists from the display list storage area and to produce pixel representations therefrom; and an output device coupled to the display list processor for drawing the image in response to the pixel representations produced by the display list processor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
269 words
A system for displaying an image defined by image data, the system, comprising: an interpreter disposed to receive the image data and produce graphic primitive and pixel representations therefrom; a display list storage area including a plurality of segments corresponding to spatially distinct sections of the image; a display list generator coupled to the interpreter and to the display list storage area and generating for storage in the display list storage area display lists from said representations; a memory manager coupled to the display list generator and disposed to compare storage requirements for display lists generated by the display list generator with available storage space in the display list storage area; a compression processor coupled to the memory manager and the display list storage area for adaptively compressing display lists in the display list storage area in response the memory manager indicating storage requirements for display lists exceeding available storage space in the display list storage area, the compression processor disposed to analyze display lists to determine inclusion therein of pixel and graphic primitive components; the compression processor further disposed to selectively decompress, convert between graphic primitive and pixel form, combine, and compress the components of display lists in response to inclusion therein of the components to increase available storage space in display list storage area; a display list processor coupled to the display list storage area to retrieve display lists from the display list storage area and to produce pixel representations therefrom; and an output device coupled to the display list processor for drawing the image in response to the pixel representations produced by the display list processor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3921135A
Cited
US4725815A
Cited
US4660029A
Cited
DE3817585A1
Cited
US4829468A
Cited
US5138561A
Cited
EP0432896A2
Cited
US5159665A
Cited
US5133049A
Cited
US5129051A
Cited
EP0470782A2
Cited
US5050100A
Cited
US5129049A
Cited
US5150454A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-19 | 1999-09-18 | 2000-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-19 | 2003-09-18 | 2004-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-19 | 2007-09-18 | 2008-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |