Banded compositor for variable data
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorRainer Friedrich Prosi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for Variable Data Printing that adds performance requirements to a raster image processor (RIP) memory optimization that employs memory bands within the page composition process. Documents containing both recurring elements as well as non-recurring elements are sorted into element lists depending on their frequency of recurrence and their layering position. The recurring elements are retained in rasterized form, while the non-recurring elements are rasterized as they are used in output memory. One pass assembly in raster image processing of the elements occurs when the recurring elements are blitted into memory and the variable elements are RIPped on the fly.
Claims36
A method for one pass assembly in raster image processing of elements using memory comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of lists from elements within a job file including at least a first list for recurring elements and storing the first list in rasterized form, and at least a second list for variable elements and storing the second list in non-rasterized form;
- identifying placement within at least one memory area of recurring and variable elements;
- initializing the least one memory area with stored elements from the first list;
- and
- raster image processing (RIPping) the memory area with elements from the second list.
A raster image processing system for creating personalized prints comprising:
- a print engine within the system that receives digital data to create prints;
- an input area within the system for receiving a pre-authored job file;
- processing means with associated storage means within the system coupled both to the print engine and the input area, for forming and storing a plurality of lists from elements within the pre-authored job file, including a list of recurring elements and a list of variable elements, the list of recurring elements being stored in rasterized form and the list of variable elements in non-rasterized form;
- at least one memory area within the system and associated with the processing means, the memory area being initialized with elements from the list of recurring elements and raster image processed using elements from the list of variable elements in accordance with element placement within the pre-authored job file;
- a memory output device that allows the rasterized memory to be sent to the memory area.
A method for raster assembly comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of lists from elements within a job file including at least a first list for recurring elements and, at least a second list for variable elements;
- identifying placement of the reoccurring elements and the variable elements as indicated in the job file for placement in at least one memory area;
- initializing the memory area with the reoccurring elements and the variable elements in accordance with results from the identifying step;
- and
- raster image processing (RIPping) the memory area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.