US 7,069,327 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for reducing first copy out times using uniqueness identifiers

AssigneeSharp Laboratories of America, Inc.

InventorB. Scott Fabre

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Abstract

A method for reducing first copy out times of printed matter. To implement the method, a request to print at least a portion of the printed matter is executed. Then, a uniqueness identifier is generated in a host computer, the uniqueness identifier specifically associated with the at least a portion of the printed matter. Next, the uniqueness identifier is compared to a list of uniqueness identifiers stored in memory. If the uniqueness identifier is found in the list of uniqueness identifiers, at least a portion of the printed matter is printed using data stored in a memory location referenced by the list of uniqueness identifiers. If the uniqueness identifier is not found in the list of uniqueness identifiers, the uniqueness identifier is stored and a reference to data is stored in memory pertaining to the at least a portion of the printed matter in the list of uniqueness identifiers.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for reducing first copy out times of a “print portion,” said method comprising the steps of:

(a) executing a request to print said “print portion”;
(b) calculating a “print portion” uniqueness identifier in a host computer, said “print portion” uniqueness identifier specifically referring to and for identifying said “print portion”;
(c) comparing said “print portion” uniqueness identifier to a list of uniqueness identifiers stored in memory;
(d) performing an efficiency check based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of:
(i) the size of said “print portion”;
(ii) the speed of said host computer;
and
(iii) the speed of said printer;
(e) printing said “print portion” using previously rendered data stored in a memory location referenced by said list of uniqueness identifiers if said “print portion” uniqueness identifier is found in said list of uniqueness identifiers;
and
(f) storing said “print portion” uniqueness identifier and a reference to data stored in memory pertaining to said “print portion” in said list of uniqueness identifiers if said “print portion” uniqueness identifier is not found in said list of uniqueness identifiers.

8 more elements

A method for reducing first copy out times for printing an entire print job, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) executing a request to print said entire print job, said entire print job divisible into “print portion” 1–N;
(b) calculating a “print portion” uniqueness identifier 1–N in a host computer, said “print portion” uniqueness identifier 1–N specifically referring to and for identifying each “print portion” 1–N of said entire print job;
(c) for a consecutive one of “print portion” 1–N, comparing said “print portion” uniqueness identifier 1–N to a list of uniqueness identifiers stored in memory;
(d) for said consecutive one of “print portion” 1–N, printing said “print portion” 1–N using previously rendered data stored in a memory location referenced by said list of uniqueness identifiers if said “print portion” uniqueness identifier 1–N is found in said list of uniqueness identifiers;
and
(e) for said consecutive one of “print portion” 1–N, storing said “print portion” uniqueness identifier 1–N and a reference to data stored in memory pertaining to said “print portion” 1–N in said list of uniqueness identifiers if said “print portion” uniqueness identifier 1–N is not found in said list of uniqueness identifiers;
(f) determining whether said entire print job has been printed;
(g) repeating steps (c)–(f) until said entire print job has been printed;
and
(h) performing an efficiency check based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of:
(i) the size of said “print portion”;
(ii) the speed of said host computer;
and
(iii) the speed of said printer.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.