Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for electronically communicating, coordinating and disseminating product designs, specifications and production-related data between a plurality of parties. More particularly, the invention relates to the coordination of parties that create color and graphic designs, including manufacturers, designers, suppliers and printers for new or existing color products.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program apparatus, implementing techniques for preparing a region of an electronic document for printing on a printing device having asymmetric misregistration behavior. The techniques include trapping the region asymmetrically to compensate for asymmetric misregistration behavior of a printing device. The region can be an entire page or a portion of a page represented in a page description language or a raster representation. The techniques can include defining an asymmetric transformation; applying the asymmetric transformation to the region to generate a transformed region; processing the transformed region to generate transformed traps; and applying an inverse transformation to the transformed traps to generate traps for the region, the inverse transformation being an inverse of the asymmetric transformation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus including: an image reading section for reading a document image; a particular image determining section for determining whether or not a particular image is included in image data read by the image reading section; an image processing section for processing the image data; and a resolution converting section for changing a resolution of the image data to be transferred to the particular image determining section, wherein the resolution converting section lowers a pixel frequency of the image data to be transmitted to the particular image determining section so as to perform simple processing. The lowered pixel frequency slows down processing speed of the image data and thereby improves determination accuracy.

Abstract: An image correcting apparatus is provided for preventing a degraded image quality which can be caused by a three-dimensional distortion correction made to a scanned image distorted in a trapezoidal shape. Divergent distortion angles ?, ? of a scanned image are detected using a page contour of a book document which can be found near the upper or lower edge of the scanned image in a main scanning direction. The scanned image is corrected for a divergent distortion based on the divergent distortion angles ?, ?, followed by a correction of the scanned image for a shape distortion in a sub-scanning direction. In this way, the image quality can be prevented from degradation possibly caused by the three-dimensional distortion correction, if made to such a scanned image distorted in a trapezoidal shape.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing system which is suitable to carry out image processing in excellent accuracy while removing influence due to characteristics depending on the type difference and which facilitates wide and flexible adaptation over image capturing devices. A digital camera includes an image pick-up sensor unit which receives images as data, a URL memory unit which stores a URL to indicate an acquisition site of image processing data, and a URL adding unit which adds the URL in the URL memory unit to the image data. The printer includes an RAW data read unit which reads out the image data, a URL acquisition unit which acquires the URL added to the image data, an image processing data acquisition unit which acquires the image processing data from the image processing data storage server based on the acquired URL, and an image data processing unit to process the image data based on the acquired image processing data.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a printer recognizes and allocates a unique identification (ID) to each of a plurality of trays, which are mounted in a printer as options. The apparatus includes a signal transmission unit transmitting a recognition signal to trays from a main frame of a printer, and a recognition unit reading the recognition signal from the trays, recognizing unique codes which correspond to the trays, and transmitting the unique codes of the trays to the main frame of a printer. The unique IDs of trays, which are mounted as options, can be recognized without a manual operation by a user, thereby giving convenience to the user and preventing errors from occurring during an operation of the printer.

Abstract: This facsimile device comprises inputting means for inputting image data of a subject copy having a width in a main scanning direction larger than an A3-size width, reading means for divisively reading lines of the image data in a sub-scanning direction by dividing the image data into divisional lines of data having a predetermined width, image rotating means for performing an image rotation with respect to each of the divisional lines of data so as to supply rotated divisional lines, encoding means for encoding each of the rotated divisional lines into encoded data, and outputting means for outputting the encoded data.

Abstract: A data embedding technique that adds a watermark in the form of embedded data in the RGB domain in a duplex color laser printer. The data embedding algorithm employs a two-color (cyan and magenta) patch based coding scheme. Each bit of raw data is coded by a rectangular patch (“data area”) of either cyan or magenta color surrounded by white space (“space area”). The combination of a single data area and corresponding space area is a “data cell”.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus can automatically register its own facsimile number into TTI, the own facsimile number being previously registered in the facsimile apparatus. In the facsimile apparatus, information containing the own facsimile number is input to the facsimile apparatus. The input own facsimile number is automatically incorporated into transmitter terminal identification (TTI) information as information regarding a transmitting end.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a document placed in the scanning widow of a flatbed scanner is disclosed. The method can correctly determine the precise position of a document from a pre-scanned image, including portions of a pressing cover (background color), illuminator (different color from the background) and the document. By color identification, a preliminary range having a rectangular area covering the document and the illuminator is first determined. Then, the colors of the four corners of the preliminary range are identified. Finally, the precise position of the document is determined by color identification, approaching from the rim of the preliminary range toward the the document.

Abstract: A combined printing and binding device which is designed to print and bind a multi-page interactive publication. The device includes a communicator which is designed to receive a set of page descriptions from a computer system. The page descriptions correspond to the pages of the interactive publication and each page description includes content information and coded data. The device also includes a printer which is designed to print, onto media sheets, each of the page descriptions received by the communicator. The printer does this by simultaneosly printing the content information in visible ink and the coded data in substantially invisible ink. The device also includes a binder that is designed to bind the printed media sheets together to form the printed, bound, interactive publication.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a feeder for feeding a sheet, an image forming unit for performing an image formation job so as to form an image on a sheet fed from the feeder, a controller for interrupting a current image formation job, performing an interrupt image formation job, and resuming the current image formation job after completion of the interrupt image formation job. When the current image formation job uses a sheet feeder for feeding sheets set in a predetermined order, the controller prevents the sheet feeder used in the current image formation job from being used in the interrupt image formation job.

Abstract: This invention provides a system which can obtain the same output irrespective of a reading system by previously storing different parameters used at the image processing times for respective reading systems and performing image processing operation by selectively using one of the parameters corresponding to the reading system used even in a case where different reading systems such as a through read system and document table fixed type system are provided to read a color document.

Abstract: A device that scans an image from source media automatically detects the source media type being scanned. Interpretation of scanned data may be automatically adjusted based on the source media type sensed. In this way, the quality of the scanned data and the images produced from it can be improved by making adjustments appropriate to the source media type scanned.

Abstract: A data management method and system for expediting the flow and handling of print data from a creation source to one or more printers. Data in a stream is examined in light of assessed available and capable printers, and is block boundaried accordingly to divide the stream appropriately into compressed and uncompressed data blocks. This activity, which occurs upstream from where rasterization occurs, and which results ultimately in the handing off of data to printers on a block-by-block basis, minimizes data traffic volume and increases data flow speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system through which the nature of a problem in an apparatus is analyzed and the appropriate countermeasures displayed automatically by a computer that is capable of responding to an inquiry in the proper manner, thereby making it possible to determine the cause of the problem accurately and to deal with the problem quickly in round-the-clock support. A printer includes a controller having an internal store of information concerning sites to which inquiries regarding printer problems may be directed. A service depot computer is queried with regard to printer problems requiring maintenance by a serviceman. In a case where, depending upon the measures taken by the customer, it is possible for the customer to solve the problem himself without the assistance of a serviceman, a customer support computer is queried in regard to the nature of the problem. A message concerning countermeasures is received from the service depot computer or customer support computer and is displayed on a host computer.

Abstract: An active matrix display device comprises an array of picture elements, e.g. liquid crystal picture elements, first and second sets of address conductors (16, 18) extending in row and column directions respectively and connected with the picture elements, and a set of connection conductor lines (30?) extending in the same direction as one set of address conductors (18), each of which is connected to a respective one of the other set of conductors (16), and via which address signals are supplied to that other set. To avoid unwanted display artefacts, each connection conductor line (30?) extends from one side of the array and terminates adjacent its connection point (32) to its associated address conductor (16) and a respective complementary conductor line (30?) is provided which extends from close to the connection point (32) to the opposite side of the array, the complementary conductor line being electrically separate from the connection line (30?) and coupled to reference signal supply (40).

Abstract: A system and method of processing an image before printing of the image by a print provider includes defining a print processing system controller having a network communication link. The print processing system controller receives a print request and a data file for the image via the network communication link, and processes the print request and the data file to determine an appropriate application for the image.

Abstract: A duplex image reading apparatus has a transportation path for transporting a sheet original to a reading region by an original transporting device, and first and second reading devices placed corresponding to respective transportation sides of the sheet original in the reading region of the transportation path, and is constructed in such structure that each of the first and second reading devices is of such a configuration that a color reference portion used as a color reference for reading is opposed to a reading portion while the color reference portion and the reading portion are placed on two sides with the transportation sides of the sheet original in between, wherein the first and second reading devices are arranged so that either one of the reading portion and the color reference portion is supported so as to be movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to an image reading surface of the reading portion.

Abstract: A scan system and method provides users the ability to quickly and efficiently transfer images from a scanner to a destination location. In particular, the scan system can be implemented as follows. The scan system includes a scanner and a transferring mechanism. The scanner generates a scanned document or image. The transferring mechanism connects to a destination location and transfers the scanned document or image to the destination location for storage. The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for scanning documents directly to a destination location. The method operates by selecting a scanner icon and associating the icon with the destination location. The association of the icon with the destination location causes the scanner to connect to the destination location, scan a document or image using the scanner, and transfer the scanned document to the destination location for storage.