Patents Examined by Mark Wallerson
  • Patent number: 7088464
    Abstract: An image processing device is structured such that it is possible to simply and appropriately determine presence/absence of an image for which overprinting has been designated, or the image. In a print server, when an overprint warning function is set, detecting and extracting of an image for which overprinting has been designated are carried out. Thereafter, when the image for which overprinting has been designated is detected, warning is given to a client terminal, and image processing and printing processing for a corresponding image are set so as to clarify the corresponding image. In this way, the image for which overprinting has been designated can be correctly determined on a printed matter outputted from a printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mari Kodama, Ryuichi Ishizuka, Yasushi Nishide
  • Patent number: 7084996
    Abstract: Three waveform generators are provided in order to generate three kinds of basic waveform signals. The waveform generators generate the basic waveform signals in correspondence with parameter data inputted from a parameter register. A head driver selects one waveform signal from the basic waveform signals based on image information, and outputs a driving pulse of the same waveform to a corresponding driving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 7085000
    Abstract: A printing system for use in printing objects of any of a plurality of different object types includes a printer; and a printer control device with a user interface having a first option for associating printer-independent print-quality characteristics with a selected object type to be printed by said printer. A printer-independent print-quality characteristic is an instruction associated with an element, such as object type, in an electronic page which indicates printer-independent features that are preferentially emphasized when printing the element. Examples of printer-independent print quality characteristics include “make sharp edges”, “reduce mottle”, “distinguish neighboring colors”, “reduce moiré”, “distinguish tone and edges”, “maximum tone depth”, “perceptual colors” and “compress without loss of detail”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Coleman
  • Patent number: 7084995
    Abstract: Provided are a print layout device, a print layout method and a storage medium therefor with which all data can always be printed by ensuring that data to be printed do not extend out beyond the limits of a printable area, as may occur when the conventional margin setting process is used, with which a margin can be set by employing an additional special print method, such as an N-up print method, and with which a binding margin can be set for bookbinding. In addition, provided is a configuration for implementing those apparatuses and devices without modifying the conventional portions. A host computer comprises a despooler, which calculates a printable area using margin parameters set by a user, enlarges/reduces print data in consonance with the obtained printable area, performs a layout for the resultant data to be printed and margins on a sheet, and prints the data using that layout. The despooler outputs prepared drawing data to a graphic engine to provide a printer driver in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Mori, Koji Nakagiri, Satoshi Nishikawa, Yasuhiro Kujirai
  • Patent number: 7081969
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for print load balancing, cluster printing and color and black-and-white page splitting. Print load balancing methods and apparatus route print jobs to the most available printer or split printing over more than one printer. Cluster printing methods and apparatus specify a group of printers from which a print job can be performed. Color and black-and-white page splitting methods and apparatus split a print job, and send non-color pages to black-and-white printers and pages with color to color printers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Motamed, Ravi Someshwar, Ravindranath Gunturu
  • Patent number: 7079277
    Abstract: When received mail contains divided data, the divided data is stored in a RAM until it accumulates a predetermined amount. Then, the predetermined amount of divided mail data is combined to restore the undivided original data file for printing. Accordingly, the original image can be readily restored even from mail data which has been received as a plurality of pieces of mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koshi Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 7079274
    Abstract: A communication terminal device by which it is possible to reduce the communication expenses, and to improve operational performance. The communication terminal device includes a CODEC circuit which has communication ability of a V.34 mode, is formed by a hardware, and codes and decodes image data. The communication terminal device includes a CODEC program which has the communication ability equal to or lower than a V.17 mode, and codes and decodes image data. When reading an image by an image reading unit and coding the image data by the CODEC circuit, or when decoding a coded image data by the CODEC circuit and printing the image of the image data by an image printing unit, if a calling demand for the communication is generated, a main control unit waits for processing completion of coding or decoding by the CODEC circuit, and starts the calling of the communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7079294
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, wherein it comprises a conveying unit for conveying an original, a reading unit for optically reading the information recorded in the conveyed original at a predetermined reading location, an original pressing unit for pressing the original to the reading unit, and a color reference member used as a color reference a the time when the information is read by the reading unit, and wherein the color reference member is arranged between the reading unit and the original pressing unit and the pressing location of the original to the reading means by the original pressing unit is disposed at a location within the original conveying region and other than the reading location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigo Nakagawa, Takashi Awai
  • Patent number: 7075668
    Abstract: A printing method, comprising the steps of: receiving data at a printer; detecting a network address in the received data; if a network address is detected, then displaying or sending a message notifying of the network address detection and requesting authorization to access the network address; if authorization to access is received, sending on the Internet or other network an access request for a document to the network address; retrieving the document from the network address; and printing the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Travis J. Parry
  • Patent number: 7075671
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a printing capability using peripheral or stand-alone devices are disclosed. In the system and method, portions of a multimedia presentation, transcribed text, or both are output to a printing device. In the preferred embodiment, transcribed text is output to a fax machine by means of a Real Time Transcription Fax Server, which can also interleave other material into the fax output, and/or synchronize the fax output with other devices, such as monitors and speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Sara H. Basson, Peter G. Fairweather, Alexander Zlatsin
  • Patent number: 7075675
    Abstract: A memory management device enables to effectively use a memory which permits its stored data to be erased only in blocks. A facsimile apparatus is arranged to temporarily store sending information and received information in the memory and then to send or receive the information. The facsimile apparatus includes a flash memory whose data is allowed to be erased only in blocks and a storage unit for storing the sending or the received information in its own blocks if the sending or the received information is stored in the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Matsuo, Kazumi Anzai, Hitoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7072079
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supporting analog fax calls between two wireless subscriber stations in a tandem configuration are presented herein. To support the tandem configuration, full duplex communication may be established between the two base stations. Full duplex communication may be realized by incorporating an echo canceler in the base station, or by utilizing both BFSK channels of the V.21 fax system for communication. The tandem configuration may also be supported by advanced flag synchronization, wherein a second base station will immediately start sending preamble flags to a first base station after a message is transmitted from the first base station to the second base station. The first base station may then synchronize its receiver for immediate receipt of the return message from the second base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Nikolai K. N. Leung
  • Patent number: 7072053
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for saving power in a printing system, by prioritizing printer jobs. Using a graphical user interface an end-user assigns a print time to a first job. The print time designation is attached to the first job and the first job is transmitted from the end-user station to a printer. Based on whether the printer is in ready state or in power save mode the first job is printed immediately or stored in memory. When the first job is stored in memory, computations are made to determine a printing time to initiate printing of the first job. The first job is then printed at the printing time or at an earlier printing time if a second job with an earlier printing time is stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Srinivas Guddanti
  • Patent number: 7068386
    Abstract: This invention provides an image processing system which is built by connecting a host device which reads out and executes program data stored in a storage medium, and a device added with a card device function, and which allows easy device connection and has high convenience. In this system, the device connected to the system has a communication controller (11) for controlling a communication between the host device and the device, a card interface (31) for connecting a card device, a card controller (30, 40) for controlling a card device which is detachably connectable to the card interface, a communication unit (2, 3) for sharing device information between the host device and the card device via the card controller and the communication controller, and a controller (10) for allowing another device connected via the card device to use information shared by the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kawanabe
  • Patent number: 7064849
    Abstract: Data processing apparatus for controlling operation of a peripheral device, e.g., a printer. The data processing apparatus is adaptable to different operation environments of a peripheral device, e.g., geographic difference. Control means of the peripheral device stores a local ID indicative of environment data e.g., a country where the device is used. The local ID is acquired, and then a resource file corresponding to the local ID is acquired. The resource file stores control data of the peripheral device, which changes in correspondence with environment data. Based on the control data, setting of the peripheral device is performed. The local ID is stored so that the local ID can be used in the subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Nishikawa, Koji Nakagiri, Yasuo Mori, Yasuhiro Kujirai
  • Patent number: 7061646
    Abstract: In a color correction table generating method, an image processing method, an image processing device and a recording media, which performs a better color reproduction, after a scaling section correlates a white point of a color space of an image input signal to a maximum brightness point having the same chromaticity as the white point and having the maximum brightness in a color space of an output device, a three dimensional color correction table, which correlates a color point of the color space of the image input signal to a color point of the color space of the image output device, is generated in the color space wherein the white point substantially corresponds to the maximum brightness point, When a color of the image input signal is reproduced by the output device, by executing a white point correction and using the three dimensional color correction table, a better color reproduction is obtainable by way of a wider color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7061632
    Abstract: A program module operates with an application program and a printer driver to allow assignment of features to arbitrary pages of a document generated by the application program. Additionally, the program module operates to permit printing on one or more imaging devices of the document pages according to the features assigned to the document pages. The features available for assignment include watermarks, multiple pages per unit of printing media, destination printer, paper source, and stapling. In addition to allowing a user to specify an arbitrary page range for application of the selected feature or features, the program module allows the user to select from preset page classes for application of the feature or features. These preset page classes include options such as, first page, last page, even pages, and odd pages. Furthermore, the program module permits assignment of features to document pages based upon characteristics of pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Kris R. Livingston
  • Patent number: 7061653
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for transmitting plural images including an image of cover page, an image held by application software, and an image of original to be read, by facsimile transmission respectively in a mode desired by a user (monochrome, color/gray scale or the like). In a dialog for detailed setup of facsimile transmission, a Cover Page field 47 has a pop-up menu for selecting color or monochrome transmission to send the cover page, an Application field 48 has a pop-up menu for selecting color or monochrome mode to transmit the image held by the application software, and a Document field 49 has a pop-up menu for selecting color or monochrome transmission to transmit the image of the original set on a scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Kohri
  • Patent number: 7057751
    Abstract: An image output control apparatus includes a recognition unit for recognizing mounting of a recording medium, a reading unit for reading image-reproduction instruction data recorded in the recording medium based on the recognition of the mounting, and a generation unit for performing image generation for output by selectively reading necessary image data from the information recording medium in accordance with the image-reproduction instruction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Shiraiwa
  • Patent number: 7054014
    Abstract: A method of estimating toner consumption of a input digital image when printed, the digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising the steps of identifying each pixel as background pixels or foreground pixels; adding the digital values of foreground pixels together; and, estimating toner usage based on the sum of the added values. The rendering of the present invention occurs post RIP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Foster, Anne F. Lairmore, Edward M. Eck, David G. Watson