Patent US6009242A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6009242A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Print controller, printer, data transfer method, and printing condition setting method
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-27
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Granted: 1999-12-28
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Expires: 2015-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for outputting image data to a printer that includes a generator, a determining device, a compression device, a storage controller and a transfer device. The generator generates the image data and the determining device determines whether or not a band or a page of the image data generated by the generator is to be compressed, on the basis of an amount of the generated image data to be transferred to the printer. The compression device compresses the image data generated by the generator into compressed data by a band unit or a page unit, in accordance with a determination from the determining device. The storage controller, if the determining device determines that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, controls a memory to store the band or page of the generated image data compressed by the compression device, and, if the determining device determines that the band or page of the generated image data is not to be compressed, controls the memory to store the band or page of the generated image data without compression. The transfer device transfers the stored data from the memory to the printer.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsuhiko Anzai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06F3/1293; G06F3/1295; G06K15/18; G06K15/1848; G06K15/1856; G06K15/1861; G06K15/1865; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for outputting image data to a printer, said apparatus comprising: generating means generating the image data; determining means determining whether or not a band or a page of the image data generated by said generating means is to be compressed, on the basis of an amount of the generated image data to be transferred to the printer; compression means compressing the image data generated by said generating means into compressed data by a band unit or a page unit, in accordance with a determination from said determining means; storage control means controlling, if said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, a memory to store the band or page of the generated image data compressed by said compression means, and, if said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is not to be compressed, controlling the memory to store the band or page of the generated image data without compression; and transfer means transferring the stored data from the memory to the printer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for outputting image data to a printer, said apparatus comprising: generating means generating the image data; determining means determining whether or not a band or a page of the image data generated by said generating means is to be compressed, on the basis of an amount of the generated image data to be transferred to the printer; compression means compressing the image data generated by said generating means into compressed data by a band unit or a page unit, in accordance with a determination from said determining means; storage control means controlling, if said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, a memory to store the band or page of the generated image data compressed by said compression means, and, if said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is not to be compressed, controlling the memory to store the band or page of the generated image data without compression; and transfer means transferring the stored data from the memory to the printer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage control means controls the memory to sequentially store one of the compressed data and the image data in a common transfer data area in the memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data input to said generating means is described in a page description language.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is bit map image data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the printer to which the image data is output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said compression means compresses the image data generated by the page unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a memory area for storing a plurality of bands or pages of the generated image data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a data transfer by said transfer means and a data compression by said compression means are performed in parallel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, if the generated image data to be transferred to the printer exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means transfers the data stored in the memory and data indicating whether the stored data is compressed data to the printer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
187 words
A data transfer method for use in an apparatus for outputting image data to a printer, said method comprising the steps of: generating the image data; determining whether or not a band or a page of the image data generated in said generating step is to be compressed on the basis of an amount of the generated image data to be transferred to the printer; compressing the image data generated in said generating step into compressed data by a band unit or a page unit, in accordance with a determination made in said determining step; controlling a memory to store the band or page of the generated image data compressed in said compressing step, if it is determined in said determining step that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, and, controlling the memory to store the band or page of the generated image data without compression, if it is determined in said determining step that the band or page of the generated image data is not to be compressed; and transferring the stored data from the memory to the printer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
187 words
A data transfer method for use in an apparatus for outputting image data to a printer, said method comprising the steps of: generating the image data; determining whether or not a band or a page of the image data generated in said generating step is to be compressed on the basis of an amount of the generated image data to be transferred to the printer; compressing the image data generated in said generating step into compressed data by a band unit or a page unit, in accordance with a determination made in said determining step; controlling a memory to store the band or page of the generated image data compressed in said compressing step, if it is determined in said determining step that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, and, controlling the memory to store the band or page of the generated image data without compression, if it is determined in said determining step that the band or page of the generated image data is not to be compressed; and transferring the stored data from the memory to the printer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of sequentially storing one of the compressed data and the image data in a common transfer data area in the memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein data used in said generating step is described in a page description language.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the image data is bit map image data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of printing the stored data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the image data generated by the page unit is compressed in said compressing step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of storing a plurality of bands or pages of the generated image data in a memory area of the memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein a data transfer in said transferring step and a data compression in said compressing step are performed in parallel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein it is determined in said determining step that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, if the generated image data to be transferred to the printer exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein in said transferring step, the data stored in the memory and data indicating whether the stored data is compressed data is transferred to the printer.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
185 words
A system for outputting and printing image data comprising: a printer for printing the image data; generating means generating the image data; determining means determining whether or not a band or a page of the image data generated by said generating means is to be compressed, on the basis of an amount of the generated image data to be transferred to said printer; compression means compressing the image data generated by said generating means into compressed data by a band unit or a page unit, in accordance with a determination from said determining means; storage control means controlling, if said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, a memory to store the band or page of the generated image data compressed by said compression means, and, if said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is not to be compressed, controlling the memory to store the band or page of the generated image data without compression; and transfer means transferring the stored data from the memory to said printer.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
185 words
A system for outputting and printing image data comprising: a printer for printing the image data; generating means generating the image data; determining means determining whether or not a band or a page of the image data generated by said generating means is to be compressed, on the basis of an amount of the generated image data to be transferred to said printer; compression means compressing the image data generated by said generating means into compressed data by a band unit or a page unit, in accordance with a determination from said determining means; storage control means controlling, if said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, a memory to store the band or page of the generated image data compressed by said compression means, and, if said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is not to be compressed, controlling the memory to store the band or page of the generated image data without compression; and transfer means transferring the stored data from the memory to said printer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said storage control means controls the memory to sequentially store one of the compressed data and the image data in a common transfer data area in the memory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein data input to said generating means is described in a page description language.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein the image data is bit map image data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said compression means compresses the image data generated by the page unit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein the memory comprises a memory area for storing a plurality of bands or pages of the generated image data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein a data transfer by said transfer means and a data compression by said compression means are performed in parallel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said determining means determines that the band or page of the generated image data is to be compressed, if the generated image data to be transferred to said printer exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said transfer means transfers the data stored in the memory and data indicating whether the stored data is compressed data to said printer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said printer is an ink jet printer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |