Method and apparatus for adaptive data buffering in a parallelized printing system
US6031624A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K2215/0014
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved non-stop, constant velocity laser printer is provided which operates in parallel to both begin printing a particular page of print media while virtually simultaneously receiving further data for that same page from a host computer. Since the communications link between the host computer and the printer is slower than the rate of consumption by the printhead provided with this printer, a certain amount of data for each page is first buffered in the printer before the print media begins to move via the printer's print engine. Since it is important for the printer to receive all of the required data for the entire page before the printhead requires that data for consumption, the printer must decide how much data of that particular page should be buffered within the printer before commanding the print engine to start moving the print media. The printer is capable of making this "data size" to be buffered decision without any assistance from the host computer that is sending the print job to the printer-all the host need send is the standard page header information that all host computers send when transmitting a rasterized print job to a printer. The printer bases its "data…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.