Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Robert C Flagg

Stephen V Dennis

Steven J Fluegel

William B McCormick

Brett C Gerlach

Steve Shaiman

Paul A Schuster

A resource oriented host computer-printer system in which the host computer and printer share information and data processing duties. A system and method for analyzing the execution times for draw primitives allows the host computer to determine whether the printer will be able to render draw primitives in real-time. A resource assembler calculates the cost of executing each draw primitive within a band to determine if the printer can render the draw primitive in real-time. If the band is too complex for the printer to render in real-time, the printer may pre-render the band or the host computer will render the band and transmit the bit-map of that band to the printer. The host computer makes a series of decisions as to the best form for transferring data from the host computer to the printer. If the printer cannot store the bit-map data file, the bit-map data file is compressed. If the printer cannot store the compressed bit-map data file, the host computer will reduce resolution in two stages, if necessary, until the printer can store the reduced resolution bit-map data file. The second stage of resolution reduction is guaranteed to fit within the printer. The host computer displays a message advising the user that the resolution has been reduced.

System and method for automatic resolution reduction

A resource oriented host computer-printer system in which the host computer and printer share information and data processing duties. A system and method for analyzing the execution times for draw primitives allows the host computer to determine whether the printer will be able to render draw primitives in real-time. If the printer cannot render the draw primitives in real-time, the host computer may send the draw primitives to be pre-rendered by the printer. The rendering is accomplished in less than thirty seconds. The host computer can determine the execution times for the draw primitives and dynamically alter the timeout period accordingly. If the printer exceeds the determined execution time, the host computer generate a timeout error message. No false timeout error messages are generated by the host computer because the timeout period is related to the actual processing time required by the printer. If the printer is coupled to a network, the timeout period may be set to the maximum thirty second period because the host computer may not have continuous communication with the printer. The host computer will still not generate false timeout errors because the maximum timeout period is still related to the actual processing time required by the printer. The inventive system and method are applicable to any peripheral in which a timeout period is used.

System and method for dynamic printer timeout

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Robert C Flagg