Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for automatically scanning documents based on at least a user's credentials. The user's credentials are used to select a highest tier (from a plurality of tiers) for scanning the image data, and the image data is scanned according to the selected highest tier. Alternatively, if the highest tier selected is not authorized by a user's credentials, then a next highest tier is selected in accordance with the credentials, and then the job is automatically scanned. The credentials may be based on a time period (e.g., time of day), bandwidth, or a user's authorization (e.g., to scan color documents), for example. The tiers may be based on one or more thresholds, such as a percentage of color content in a document or scan resolution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for automatically outputting documents based on at least a user's credentials. A highest billing tier for processing the image data from a plurality of billing tiers and which is based on credentials for the specified user is selected, and the image data is processed and output. Alternatively, if the highest billing tier selected is not authorized by a user's credentials, then a next highest billing tier is selected in accordance with the credentials, and the job is automatically processed and then output. The credentials may be based on an available amount of credit in a user's account (e.g., to print at billing cost) or a user's authorization (e.g., to print color documents), for example. The tiers may be based on one or more thresholds, such as a percentage of color content in a document.

Abstract: An automated system and method for recognizing handwritten edits contained on a hard-copy document, the hand-written edits being made in one of two colors, and creating an electronic version of the hard-copy document with the edits applied, the edits being applied according to the highlighted color of the edit.

Abstract: A method for representing, in a network data structure, a minimum amount of protection bandwidth required to be reserved on each link in a mesh network, to restore service upon failure of another node or link in the network. The method includes (1) receiving a request for a new service in the network, wherein the new service is represented by a service data structure having an identification of each link and transit node in a primary path for the new service, (2) determining, using the network and service data structures, whether the new service requires additional protection bandwidth to be reserved on any link in the network, and (3) updating the network data structure if any additional protection bandwidth is determined to be needed. In one implementation the network and service data structures are vectors and the steps of determining and updating involve vector operations between these structures.

Abstract: A method for associating text with image data of documents is herein described. The method includes receiving image data of a document with manually marked text and recognizing the manually marked text. The image data is then annotated (e.g., tagged) using the manually marked text and the image data of the document is stored. When manually marked text is recognized, recognized text may be generated for annotating the image data of the document and used to populate a field associated with the image data. The field may be a name of the document or a subject line of an e-mail message, for example. A method including identifying the location of manually marked text in a first scanned document to automatically identify and annotate text in a corresponding location in a second scanned document is also disclosed.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for performing a background deletion that exploits both local and global context to remove background and other white space between objects with the aim of retaining structural relationships between objects in the document. A document image is received and seams are carved through the image. Seams composed of uniform background pixels are identified. Adjacent seams containing background pixels are collected into groups of seams. The background seam groups are classified according to their widths. A target number of seams to be removed for each background seam group is then determined based on the classification. Seam groups which are wider will have at least the same or a greater target number of seams to be deleted therefrom than will seam groups of narrower widths. The document image is then resized by deleting seams from the seam groups based on the assigned target number.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for iterative seam selection in an image resizing system utilizing a seam carving technique. In one embodiment, an importance map is generated for a received source image. Seams are carved through the image from one edge to an opposite edge. An energy is computed for each seam based on pixel importance values. A distance is computed from each seam to a previously selected seam. A weighting for each seam is computed using a defined weighting function and the calculated seam distances. The weighting is applied to the energy of each seam produce a revised energy for each seam. A seam is selected based on the produced revised energy. The image is resized at a location of the selected seam. The process repeats until the image has been resized to a desired target output dimension. In such a manner, unnatural image resizing results are avoided.

Abstract: An exemplary device for allocating revenue among providers of products that are offered together for purchase as part of a unit includes a processor that is configured to automatically determine a number of unit or offering purchases. The processor is configured to automatically issue a corresponding number of virtual shares to each of the providers. The number of virtual shares issued to each provider is based on the number of unit or offering purchases and a predetermined allocation of a number of virtual shares for each provider, respectively for each purchase. The processor is also configured to determine a value of each issued virtual share using at least one selected revenue sharing rule according to a determined schedule. A virtual share redemption module facilitates payment responsive to redemption of issued virtual shares at the determined value.

Abstract: An information dissemination system that obtains information from a multifunction document production device that is programmed to store documents along with user provided dissemination level authorizations and with one or more keywords extracted from the document, and to disseminate such documents according to persons authorized to receive the documents based on prior and real time inquiries of a requestor, with a knowledge agent matching the extracted keywords against the queries.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for automatically outputting documents based on at least a user's credentials. A highest billing tier for processing the image data from a plurality of billing tiers and which is based on credentials for the specified user is selected, and the image data is processed and output. Alternatively, if the highest billing tier selected is not authorized by a user's credentials, then a next highest billing tier is selected in accordance with the credentials, and the job is automatically processed and then output. The credentials may be based on an available amount of credit in a user's account (e.g., to print at billing cost) or a user's authorization (e.g., to print color documents), for example. The tiers may be based on one or more thresholds, such as a percentage of color content in a document.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for diagnosing a failure condition of an image processing apparatus. When a failure condition is detected in an image path during output of a document, a fault code is issued. The image processing apparatus is then capable of performing an internal diagnosis to generate a diagnostic report, and send the diagnostic report and fault code to an operator at a remote location. The system and method allows one to diagnose a problem or failure condition more quickly and efficiently, thereby cutting down on service time and costs.

Abstract: A compression and storage device comprises: a compressor configured to compress data; a central processing unit (CPU) configured to control storage of the compressed data and to perform at least one additional task; an electronic memory organized as storage blocks each having a storage block size; a direct memory access (DMA) engine configured to operate autonomously from the CPU to transfer a current transfer block of compressed data into one or more storage blocks of the electronic memory; and a transfer block size estimator configured to select a transfer block size for the current transfer block based on previous DMA transfers of compressed data, the selected transfer block size being generally different from the storage block size.

Abstract: The image data processing system and method disclosed, processes intermediate compressed binary data representing images scanned for copy or exporting, thereby enabling storage of the copy or export file to a common memory storage device. According to an exemplary embodiment, the image data processing system comprises a binary lossless decompress module, a binary to contone restoration module, and an export processing module, the export processing module processing multiple bit image data for exporting to an image data receiving device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring an image path of an image processing apparatus is herein described. The image processing apparatus includes at least an input terminal or scanner for inputting or scanning document into image data and an output terminal or printer for printing documents. The method includes selecting one of a plurality of output modes using a selection device associated with the image processing apparatus. Based on the selected output mode, an image path among a plurality of image processing elements of the apparatus is selected among a plurality of image paths. Each image path corresponds to one of the plurality of output modes. After a document is scanned with the scanner into image data, the image data is processed with the processing elements in the selected image path, and output or printed based on the processed image data.

Abstract: A method and system for group call control in a broadband wireless network. A group call (push-to-talk) server initiates and regulates group call communication sessions. A wireless base station communicates with one or more group call participants. When a request to participate in a group call is received, it is examined to see if it contains a group call ID or other group call indicator. If not, regular call resources are allocated, if available. If so, it is determined whether another group member is attached to the base station. Group call resources are then reserved, if available, based on this determination. The resources allocated for the group call may also depend on whether the system supports multicast on the downlink to group members, or whether losing audio is supported. In some embodiments, network resources may be reallocated to support the group call.

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to systems and methods for transmitting a secure electronic fax or scan transmission report for a fax or scan job from a fax capable printer or a multifunctional device respectively. When the electronic confirmation (EConfirmation) option is selected, the machine sends an email comprising a status of the fax or scan job to the sender and a hyperlink. The sender then selects or “clicks” on the hyperlink, which connects to the machine Web (UI) Services. Web services automatically retrieves the job information and correctly displays all previously entered selections. The sender then simply verifies the information, makes any necessary changes and selects or “clicks” a button on the Web services to retransmit the fax or scan documents. In another embodiment, the sender is given an option to reformat a scan job by compressing or changing job parameters of the scan job.

Abstract: Various deficiencies in the prior art are addressed by embodiments for recommending applications to users. A method and apparatus are provided for selecting an application to recommend to a user based on user profile information associated with the user and application profile information associated with the application, and propagating recommended application information toward a user device of the user, where the recommended application information includes an application executable of the recommended application. A method and apparatus are provided for receiving, at a user device, recommended application information comprising an application executable of an application recommended for a user of the user device, and automatically installing the application executable on the user device.

Abstract: A capability for determining a media distribution tree for use in distributing content to a plurality of user devices is provided. Using the distributed content distribution capability, one or more of the user devices to which the content is to be distributed functions as a relay point that performs content replication and distribution functions for one or more other user devices. The content is distributed using a media distribution tree into which the user devices are arranged. A method for determining a media distribution tree for use in distributing content to a plurality of user devices includes grouping the user devices into a plurality of regions, determining, for each of the regions, a regional tree to be formed by the user devices grouped into the region, and connecting the regional trees to determine thereby the media distribution tree. By utilizing user devices as relay points within the media distribution tree, usage of network resources, such as ports at media servers, is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A method teaches monitoring at least one printing device via a communication network. A usage profile may be received from the printing device. The usage profile may include data that reflects usage of a consumable or a number of clicks by the printing device over a period of time. The usage profile may be compared to a service history profile to create a service-dependent usage profile. If the received service-dependent usage profile satisfies a reward criterion a user of the printing device may be provided with a reward.

Abstract: A method of billing for printing service costs is presented. The method entails examining the content of a page and applying a cost function to approximate the cost of printing the page. Examining the content of the page may include detecting at least one object in the page and determining an approximate area of coverage of the detected object within the at least one object in the page. The cost function can approximate the cost of printing the page using the detected object and the determined approximate area of coverage of the detected object.