A queue based technique for handling proof requests in a direct digital color proofing system

摘要

A queue based technique for handling proof requests in a direct digital color proofing (DDCP) system in a manner which substantially increases the throughput of proof images provided by the system while reducing needed operator interaction with the system. Specifically, proof requests are constructed to contain only parameter values, that are necessary for the DDCP system to generate each proof and filename(s) of the accompanying image data therefor, but not the image data itself. These requests are queued in a proof request queue within a raster image processor (RIP) in the DDCP system and sequentially processed thereby on generally a first-in first-out basis. By restricting the requests to parameter values and an accompanying filename(s), a substantial number of these requests can be queued and sequentially processed by the RIP and printed by a proofing engine in the DDCP system without substantial operator intervention. Through an edit facility, a DDCP operator can manipulate the queue to re-prioritize proof requests, change the order through which proof requests will be processed, and add or delete requests as well as change individual parameter values in each proof request, as desired, in order to appropriately change the conditions under which that proof image therefor will be generated. Furthermore, by simultaneously reading and writing image data for two successive proof images to and from two hard files that collectively function on a "ping-pong" basis, pipelined operation occurs which advantageously increases the throughput of proof images for the DDCP system.