US 10,866,769 B2 · Data cache synchronization in two-phase printing processes

Abstract

Embodiments herein describe a two-phase printing process that utilizes page-to-resource tracking during the first rip-to-spool phase in order to perform resource scheduling during the second print-from-spool phase. In one embodiment, compute nodes include a RIP and a raster builder. A controller receives a print job, identifies a distribution of logical pages in the print job to the compute nodes, and generates page assignment information that maps the logical pages to the compute nodes based on the distribution. The compute nodes rasterize the logical pages to generate intermediate data using the RIPs, and store the intermediate raster data at a RIP spool. The controller directs a distribution of the intermediate raster data from the RIP spool to the compute nodes based on the page assignment information, and the compute nodes assemble the intermediate raster data into complete raster data using the raster builders.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

at least two compute nodes, each comprising:
a Raster Image Processor (RIP);
and
a raster builder;
and
a controller configured to receive a print job, to identify a distribution of logical pages in the print job to the at least two compute nodes, and to generate page assignment information that maps the logical pages to the at least two compute nodes based on the distribution,
wherein the at least two compute nodes are configured to rasterize the logical pages to generate intermediate raster data using the RIPs, and to store the intermediate raster data at a RIP spool,
wherein the controller is configured to direct a distribution of the intermediate raster data from the RIP spool to the at least two compute nodes based on the page assignment information,
wherein the at least two compute nodes are configured to assemble the intermediate raster data into complete raster data using the raster builders.

6 more elements

A non-transitory compute readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:

receive a print job;
identify a distribution of logical pages in the print job to at least two compute nodes;
generate page assignment information that maps the logical pages to the at least two compute nodes based on the distribution;
rasterize, by the at least two compute nodes, the logical pages to generate intermediate raster data;
store the intermediate raster data at a spool;
distribute the intermediate raster data from the spool to the at least two compute nodes based on the page assignment information;
and
assemble, by the at least two compute nodes, the intermediate raster data into complete raster data.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Data cache synchronization in two-phase printing processes

Life of this patent

Data cache synchronization in two-phase printing processes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20