Method and apparatus for printing according to a graphic language

An apparatus for mapping into a frame raster and thence into a bit map raster memory for a raster-based document comprising:

• receiving means for receiving print commands including device-independent print commands;
• first generating means for generating frame description commands, wherein the frame description commands define at least one object and how to apply the object onto the frame raster for the document;
• second generating means for generating document layout commands, wherein the document layout commands define how to apply the frame raster onto the bit map raster memory and further define a position a which the frame raster is applied to the bit map raster memory, and wherein the document layout commands include commands to map each of several frame rasters to specific and potentially overlapping positions in the bit map raster memory;
• third generating means for generating, based on the frame description commands, mask information and background information to rasterize the mask information;
• forming means for forming the frame raster by applying the generated mask information onto the generated background information;
• and
• mapping means for mapping the frame raster onto the bit map raster memory based on the document layout commands and at the position defined by the document layout commands.

Computer-implemented process steps by which frame raster is mapped and by which a bit map raster memory for a raster-based document is mapped from the frame raster, the process steps including:

• a receiving step in which print commands including device-independent print commands are received;
• a first generating step in which frame description commands are generated based on the received print commands, wherein the frame description commands define at least one object and how to apply the object onto the frame raster for the document;
• a second generating step in which document layout commands are generated based on the received print commands, wherein the document layout commands define how to apply the frame raster onto the bit map raster memory and further define a position at which the frame raster is applied to the bit map raster memory, and wherein the document layout commands include commands to map each of several frame rasters to specific and potentially overlapping positions in the bit map raster memory;
• a third generating step in which mask information and background information to rasterize the mask information are generated based on the frame description commands;
• a forming step in which the frame raster is formed by applying the generated mask information onto the generated background information;
• and
• a mapping step in which the frame raster is mapped onto the bit map raster memory based on the document layout commands and at the position defined by the document layout commands.