Method and apparatus for controlling page cost in an image-rendering device
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorSteven J. Harrington
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling page cost in an image rendering device. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and technique that facilitates the limitations of page costs of color documents by establishing a threshold cost limitation and controlling the colorant amounts to be used on the page to ensure that the cost limitation is met.
Claims20
A method for controlling cost in an image rendering device wherein images rendered are represented in the device by color elements having color element specifications, the color elements each have associated therewith cost factors for printing dependent on particular associated colorants and amounts thereof and a threshold printing cost is set, the method comprising steps of:
- providing a color image having color element specifications;
- determining a colorant amounts of the color image;
- calculating an actual printing cost for the image based on the colorant amounts and the colorant dependant cost factors;
- determining whether the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;
- reducing colorant amounts to be used in printing if the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;
- and,
- printing one of a modified color image based on the reducing and the color image.
An image rendering device wherein images rendered are represented in the device by color element specifications, the color element specifications each have associated therewith colorant-dependent cost factors for printing and a threshold printing cost is set, the system comprising:
- an input operative to receive a color image having color element specifications;
- a counting module operative to determine colorant amounts of the color image;
- a cost determination module operative to calculate an actual printing cost for the image based on the colorant amounts and the colorant-dependent cost factors;
- a threshold switch operative to determine whether and to what extent the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;
- an ideal color table containing ideal color information accessed through the threshold switch when the actual printing cost does not exceed the threshold;
- an at least one alternative color table containing modified color information accessed through the threshold switch when the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;
- and,
- a print engine operative to print one of a modified color image based on the modified color information of the alternative color table and the color image based on the ideal color information of the ideal color table.
An image rendering device wherein images rendered are represented in the device by pixels, the pixels each have associated therewith a pixel cost for printing and a threshold printing cost is set, the system comprising steps of:
- means for providing a color image having color pixels;
- means for determining a number of the color pixels of the color image;
- means for calculating an actual printing cost for the image based on the number of color pixels and the pixel cost;
- means for determining whether the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;
- means for reducing colorant amounts to be used in printing if the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;
- and,
- means for printing one of a modified color image based on the reducing and the color image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.