Page data processor, page data processing method and program

A page data processing method processing page data described in a page description language, comprising the steps of:

• a) separating said page data formed to be separable into a plurality of color separation data into said plurality of color separation data;
• b) performing first rasterization of consecutively rasterizing said plurality of color separation data to sequentially generate a plurality of rasterized color separation data output-processible by an output device;
• c) performing second rasterization of rasterizing said page data to generate said plurality of rasterized color separation data at a time, said step b) and said step c) being in the alternative;
• d) acquiring an output operation end time for ending output operation currently executed by said output device from said output device;
• e) calculating a first rasterizing time required for said first rasterization in said step b);
• f) calculating a second rasterizing time required for said second rasterization in said step c);
• g) calculating a separation output time required by said output device for output-processing each of said plurality of rasterized color separation data;
• and
• h) selecting whether to perform said first rasterization in said step b) or said second rasterization in said step c) on the basis of said output operation end time, said first rasterizing time, said second rasterizing time and said separation output time, wherein
• selection in said step h) is executed according to the following conditions:
• a first condition:
• RE=0;
• a second condition:
• ART≧RE;
• and
• a third condition:
• CRT−ART>(n−1)ST
• where RE represents said output operation end time, CRT represents said first rasterizing time. ART represents said second rasterizing time, ST represents said separation output time, and n (n:
• integer) represents the number of said rasterized separation data.

A computer-readable medium bearing a program, when executed, causing a computer to implement the following elements:

• a) a color separation element for separating page data formed to be separable into a plurality of color separation data into said plurality of color separation data;
• b) a first rasterizing element for performing first rasterization of consecutively rasterizing said plurality of color separation data to sequentially generate a plurality of rasterized color separation data output-processible by an output device;
• c) a second rasterizing element for performing second rasterization of rasterizing said page data to generate said plurality of rasterized color separation data at a time;
• d) an output operation end time acquisition element for acquiring an output operation end time for ending output operation currently executed by said output device from said output device;
• e) a first rasterizing time calculation element for calculating a first rasterizing time required for said first rasterization;
• f) a second rasterizing time calculation element for calculating a second rasterizing time required for said second rasterization;
• g) a separation output time calculation element for calculating a separation output time required by said output device for output-processing each of said plurality of rasterized color separation data;
• and
• h) a selection element for selecting whether to execute said first rasterization or said second rasterization on the basis of said output operation end time, said first rasterizing time, said second rasterizing time and said separation output time, wherein
• said selection element executes selection according to the following conditions:
• a first condition:
• RE=0;
• a second condition:
• ART≧RE;
• and
• a third condition:
• CRT−ART>(n−1)ST where RE represents said output operation end time, CRT represents said first rasterizing time, ART represents said second rasterizing time, ST represents said separation output time, and n (n:
• integer) represents the number of said rasterized separation data.