Patents by Inventor Minako Kobayashi

Minako Kobayashi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090059280
    Abstract: Personal address books of users are stored in an address server. Each user registers, with the personal address book of his/her own, conditions (transmission conditions) that should be satisfied when other users transmit image data to the user. The conditions are registered in correspondence with addresses of the other users. When one of the other users transmits (as a transmission source) to the user (as a transmission destination) who has set the transmission conditions, from an MFP, the transmission conditions, which were set by the transmission destination user with respect to the transmitter, are downloaded from the address server to the transmission source MFP. And then the MFP transmits the image data to the transmission destination user under the downloaded transmission conditions. This enables the transmission destination user to cause the image data to be transmitted thereto under such conditions that match the needs of the transmission destination user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takehisa YAMAGUCHI, Hirohisa Miyamoto, Minako Kobayashi, Katsuhiko Akita, Okihisa Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20090055644
    Abstract: An address list management apparatus stores, for each user of an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), a different address list that lists address information pieces for transmission of image data by the MFP. Upon being instructed by a logged-in user to transmit image data, the MFP transmits, to the address list management apparatus, a request for the address list that specifies the user. Upon receiving the request, the address list management apparatus transmits, to the MFP, a sending list pertaining to the user. The sending list is created by deleting secret information from address information pieces in the address list, and modifying such address information pieces so that image data is transmitted to the address list management apparatus. The address list management apparatus refers to the address list, and transfers the image data to the specified address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hirohisa MIYAMOTO, Minako Kobayashi, Katsuhiko Akita, Okihisa Yoshida, Takehisa Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080239374
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus (2) capable of providing a box for each user is provided. The image processing apparatus (2) includes a user grouping process portion (205) that determines a total of an amount of a box of a first user that has been used by a second user and an amount of a box of the second user that has been used by the first user, determines whether or not the total is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and groups both the users when the total is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, and a box reset process portion (207) that performs a reset process for providing again the boxes of the grouped first user and the grouped second user in an identical image processing apparatus if the boxes are provided in different image processing apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takehisa Yamaguchi, Minako Kobayashi, Hirohisa Miyamoto, Katsuhiko Akita, Okihisa Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20080079998
    Abstract: A document administration apparatus, comprising: a transmitter to transmit a document to a plurality of destinations; a memory to record status information of said transmitted document therein; and a changer to change status information of said document recorded in said memory, according to an operation by a destination user to whom said document is transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kamei, Takeshi Morikawa, Kei Shigehisa, Minako Kobayashi, Masayuki Yoshii
  • Publication number: 20080043594
    Abstract: A data transmission apparatus, comprising: a recording unit for recording data output settings for respective users preliminarily; a communication unit for transmitting to a recipient user target data with the output setting either for a sender user or the recipient user, which is recorded in said recording unit, according to an instruction by the sender user; and a display unit for previewing at least one of output settings for the sender user and the recipient user among those recorded in said recording unit, before transmitting said data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Morikawa, Nobuo Kamei, Minako Kobayashi, Kei Shigehisa, Masayuki Yoshii
  • Publication number: 20070250535
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a storage unit storing therein a database that contains a plurality of setting value strings of executed jobs. Here, each setting value string (i) indicates a setting condition used in a corresponding executed job, and (ii) includes setting values, each of which is associated with a different one of setting items and indicates a setting mode of the associated setting item. When a reception unit receives a setting value for a new job from a user, a search unit searches the database for a setting value string related to the received setting value. A display control unit displays the setting value string found by the search unit on a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Morikawa, Minako Kobayashi, Kei Shigehisa, Nobuo Kamei
  • Publication number: 20070242299
    Abstract: A document management apparatus 101 that manages saving of an original electronic document and an additional electronic document to which additional information is added to the original electronic document includes an original registration unit 10131 that acquires the additional electronic document inputted by a user, and a saving format determination unit 10133 that determines a saving format of the additional electronic document based on at least one of an attribute of the user and an attribute of the additional electronic document, and saves the additional electronic document in the determined saving format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Minako Kobayashi, Takeshi Morikawa, Nobuo Kamei, Kei Shigehisa
  • Publication number: 20070055741
    Abstract: Network image processing apparatuses constituting a network image processing system display, in list form, a document in units of action. When a user selection is received, a script that defines document handling is remanded to an apparatus that executed an action corresponding to the user selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Murakami, Hironobu Nakata, Kazumi Sawayanagi, Minako Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20070028207
    Abstract: A work flow management system, a work flow management apparatus and a management method capable of managing the work flow through a plurality of devices are provided. The work flow management system includes a work flow management apparatus, and the desired job history information included in the job history information having the performance information of the job executed by the device in accordance with the work flow information is acquired from the device based on the job ID specifying the job. Even with the work flow through a plurality of devices, therefore, the job history information can be acquired thereby to manage the work flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hironobu Nakata, Masakazu Murakami, Kazumi Sawayanagi, Minako Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20070013943
    Abstract: In a management apparatus for managing a flow of linked jobs to be executed by a plurality of devices connected to a network, a storage device stores one or more flows. When a change of function in the devices is detected, one of the one or more flows stored in the storage device and affected by the change of function detected by the detector is corrected. Then the corrected flow is stored in the storage device. Alternatively, the corrected flow is presented to a user who owns the one of the one or more flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kazumi Sawayanagi, Hironobu Nakata, Masakazu Murakami, Minako Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20060274361
    Abstract: A network image processing system that includes a plurality of apparatuses connected to a network and performs jobs in a linkage process in which an upstream apparatus passes a workflow specifying a job to be completed, together with image data to be processed, to a downstream apparatus according to a procedure specified in the workflow. The downstream apparatus has a completion notification transmitting unit that when a predetermined job assigned to the downstream apparatus has been processed completely, transmits to the upstream apparatus a completion notification indicating that the predetermined job has been processed normally. The upstream apparatus has a linkage unit that if the completion notification is not received from the downstream apparatus, updates the workflow to specify, as a new downstream apparatus, another apparatus that can process the predetermined job, and continues to process the predetermined job in the linkage process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Minako Kobayashi, Hironobu Nakata, Masakazu Murakami, Kazumi Sawayanagi
  • Publication number: 20060245006
    Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a job history memory portion for storing job history information that indicates process contents of image processing every time when the image processing is performed, a next process predicting portion for performing prediction of process contents of image processing that is probably designated by a user next after the image processing of process contents designated by the user was performed in accordance with job history information stored in the job history memory portion, and a screen setting portion for performing a display process for displaying a screen on which process contents of the predicted image processing is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hironobu Nakata, Masakazu Murakami, Kazumi Sawayanagi, Minako Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20060176507
    Abstract: An image processing device, which performs an image-related process about an image in cooperation with another image forming device via a network, is provided with a device configuration detection portion for detecting a function that is added to the image processing device itself, and a new function information notifying portion for notifying another image processing device that a function is added to the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Minako Kobayashi, Kazumi Sawayanagi, Hironobu Nakata, Masakazu Murakami
  • Publication number: 20060095399
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a box for each user for storing a file, a table management portion for storing a file change in the box together with a time when the change happened as change history information, an inbox change detection portion for detecting a file change in the box of the user when the user logs in that happened before the user logs in this time in accordance with the change history information of the box and a screen display process portion for displaying a result of the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Murakami, Hironobu Nakata, Kazumi Sawayanagi, Minako Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20060082805
    Abstract: An image processor for executing an image-related process includes a portion for storing first usage situation information that indicates a usage situation of the image processor, a portion for obtaining second usage situation information that indicates a usage situation of a second image processor for executing the image-related process, a portion for determining a second image processor that can execute the image-related process more suitably than the image processor in accordance with the first usage situation information and the second usage situation information when an execution instruction of the image-related process is given by a user, a portion for controlling so that the execution of the image-related process is suspended in the image processor if it is determined that there is a second image processor that can execute the image-related process of the execution instruction more suitably than the image processor and that the image-related process is executed in the image processor if it is not deter
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Minako Kobayashi, Hironobu Nakata, Masakazu Murakami, Kazumi Sawayanagi
  • Publication number: 20060085676
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a table for storing link service function information that indicates a function necessary for providing the link service among functions installed in a computer for each link service, a computer status check portion for checking a function of the computer that is available at present, a provision appropriateness determination portion for determining whether or not each link service can be provided at present in accordance with the link service function information and the check result, and a screen display process portion for displaying identification information of the link service that is determined to be able to be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Minako Kobayashi, Masakazu Murakami, Hironobu Nakata, Kazumi Sawayanagi
  • Publication number: 20060077417
    Abstract: An image forming device executes a job of a process about an image in accordance with an instruction given by a user. The image forming device includes a job execution history table for storing cause information that indicates a cause for which a job could not be executed normally and user ID information of the user who instructed the job, a notification object determination portion for determining the job that could not be executed normally due to the cause in accordance with the cause information stored in the job execution history table, and an error cause removal notification portion for notifying the user indicated in the user ID information corresponding to the determined job that the cause for which the job could not be executed normally has been removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies,Inc.
    Inventors: Hironobu Nakata, Masakazu Murakami, Kazumi Sawayanagi, Minako Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20060077425
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a user job history database for storing execution condition information that indicates an execution condition of the job in relationship with user identification information for distinguishing a user who made the instruction for each executed job, a device structure detection portion for detecting a change in a state of the image processor, a notification target determination portion for determining a notification target user who is a user to be notified of the change in accordance with the execution condition information and the user identification information stored in the user job history database, and a new function notification portion for notifying the change to the determined notification target user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hironobu Nakata, Masakazu Murakami, Kazumi Sawayanagi, Minako Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20050060564
    Abstract: A processing device is provided in which unauthorized processing is prevented from being preformed at the time of executing a program or others. The processing device includes a processing portion for executing processing, a program memory portion for memorizing a program that makes the processing portion execute processing, a judge portion for judging whether or not the program is permitted to start, and a control portion for controlling the processing portion so that processing is executed in accordance with the program when the judge portion determines that the program is permitted to start, and for controlling the processing portion so that processing based on the program is not executed when the judge portion determines that the program is not permitted to start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Masakazu Murakami, Hironobu Nakata, Kazumi Sawayanagi, Minako Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5996278
    Abstract: A liquid fixing agent prepared by dissolving in dilute acetic acid chitosan and natural polysaccharide (such as cellulose, pectin, and alginic acid). It is used to fix planted soil (in a terrarium) by application to the surface of soil, followed by drying. Fixed soil prevents ornamental plants from falling or moving in the container during transportation and also remains in place even when the container is inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignees: The Aomori Prefectural Government, Koybayashi Hardware Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Takaya, Hidemitsu Uchisawa, Hajime Matsue, Kotaro Kobayashi, Minako Kobayashi, Takao Kobayashi, Mioko Kobayashi