Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for automatically registering and de-registering custom EIP service application solutions across a fleet of multi-function document reproduction devices in peer-aware network. As described herein, through an implementation of the present method, custom EIP service solutions installed on one computer platform can be automatically replicated and shared across a fleet of multi-function devices without requiring manual registration of the newly deployed service with each device. Registration makes the service user-selectable directly from the device's UI. Further, when a service goes off-line or otherwise becomes available, the service is automatically de-registered with devices whereon the service has been registered. A single instance of an application service can be rapidly replicated without manual intervention. The present system is scalable from a few nodes to many nodes as additional resources are brought online.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for improving vector halftoning in ink-jet printers capable of dot-on-dot printing. In one embodiment, n input Ci/Mi/Yi channel and a colorant Ki are received. If any of the Ci/Mi/Yi is greater than 100?Ki then that channel is clipped to 100?Ki. Next, a minimum total coverage area of a secondary color RGB dot required to achieve a remaining CMY coverage area is determined. If the minimum total coverage area is non-zero, then the following steps are performed. Each of a primary output Co/Mo/Yo is determined. Each of the primary outputs is then scaled by a ratio of the remaining primary color area over the total remaining toner coverage. The results are sorted and secondary color RoBoGo outputs are determined from the sorted results.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type. According to the method, there is detected when a change of the load applied to an output terminal of the converter occurs. All the phases of the converter are simultaneously turned off, and a driving interleaving phase shift is recovered so as to restart a normal operation of the converter. A controller for carrying out such a method is also provided.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for edge transition detection when improve print quality when rendering via high-addressable vector error diffusion in an image processing environment. In order to detect an “ideal” edge and compensate for the adverse effects described in the background hereof, local pixels are detected and local gradient values are calculated and compared against an adjustable threshold to determine the interpolation method needed for that particular pixel. A nearest neighbor interpolation is performed when a local gradient exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, if the difference between two successive pixels is greater than “200”, nearest-neighbor interpolation is used to calculate the intermediate sub-pixel level(s). Otherwise linear interpolation is used. Dynamically switching between these two interpolation schemes significantly improves the integrity and sharpness of the edges.

Abstract: What is provided are a novel system, method, and computer program product for hierarchical (telescopic) color error diffusion which effectively controls the dot distribution for both primary and secondary dot formation which covers the class of error diffusion that follow telescopic dot firing constraint principles. In one example embodiment, an input CMYK ink coverage is received. The input CMYK ink coverage is transformed into a CMYKRGB domain using a CMYK to CMYKRGB conversion. A weighted error value can be added to each color component of the CMYKRGB domain. The color components of the CMYKRGB domain are hierarchically grouped into a plurality of subgroups based on relative dot visibility. More visible subgroups are half-toned earlier to achieve maximum uniform dot distribution. Dots of specific color channels within subgroups are fired based on thresholding and a set of decision rules provided herein.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a signal emanating from a multi-path transmission medium. Echoes of the signal that is received are detected, and a rejection processing is performed. The rejection processing includes estimating the cross-correlation between temporally neighboring echoes, and if this cross-correlation satisfies a test, rejecting the one of the two neighboring echoes that exhibits the lower energy. Also provided is a rake receiver that can perform such a method.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Moiré-free color halftone configuration for clustered dots. Unlike conventional methods, the disclosed method produces periodic hexagon rosettes of identical shapes. These exemplary hexagon rosettes have three fundamental spatial frequencies exactly equal to half of the fundamental frequency of the three halftone screens. The resultant halftone outputs are truly Moiré free, as all the fundamentals and harmonic frequencies are multiples of and thus higher in frequency than the rosette fundamental frequency. The halftone outputs resulting from the employment of the exemplary rosette design methodology provided herein, are also robust to the typical misregistration among color separations commonly found in color systems.

Abstract: A novel email rating system for enabling a user to rate an email based on characteristics selectable from several categories. In one example embodiment, a sender's email is received by an email receiver. The sender of the email is identified. If the sender is a person whose emails are to be rated by the receiver, cumulative ratings and other information associated with the sender and the recipient are retrieved from a database over a network. The retrieved ratings for the sender are displayed to the receiver either on the email or in a pop-up window. Various other information and selectable options are also displayed for the receiver. After reading the email, the receiver can rate the email in any of a plurality of defined categories such as, for example, usefulness, educational, motivational, helpfulness, productivity, spelling/grammar.

Abstract: Present systems and methods enable digital color printers to consistently print color output from computer generated image data that includes spot color definitions. Colors that are defined as spot colors can be separated from colors that are defined as combinations of process colors. Accordingly, color corrections can be separately applied to objects that are defined by spot color definitions to provide customized image processing that provides printed color images with improved quality.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for minimizing visual artifacts, such as ROS skew and laserbeam bow, in a brick-layer halftone structure. The present method involves determining a line pattern from ROS skew and laserbeam bow profiles which traverses through successive halftone cells displacing pixels along scanlines in the process direction. The amount of displacement is varied as a function of the cross-process location as determined by the line pattern. Pixels along scanlines are shifted in a direction defined by the error profiles. In each halftone cell within which the line pattern traverses, extra pixels (empty pixel spaces created in the halftone cell by the shifting operation) are filled with lost pixels (pixels bumped from the halftone cell during the shifting operation) such that overall density of the halftone cell is maintained. The lost pixels are buffered such that lost pixels are preserved.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for diffusing pixel error in a halftoning process in a color management system. The present method divides a modified CMYK input into a real and imaginary portions. The real portion is the coverage achieved by a physically realizable positive dot. The imaginary portion comprises a an imaginary negative dot and an imaginary excess dot. Each of these dots are processed separately, on a per-pixel basis, in a novel CMYK to CMYKKpRGB conversion discussed in detail herein. Hierarchical thresholding is preformed on the conversion output to produce a high-quality halftone result. A cumulative pixel error sum is derived therefrom and combined with the input CMYK coverages of a next pixel. All pixels are processed. The halftone output generated hereby has the pixel error compensated. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: What is provided herein is a novel system and method for estimating the amount of color in a document. In one embodiment, a binary CMYK input image is received. Each of the CMYK plane is received at an offset from the previous plane, i.e., the 4 planes are not received simultaneously. Each plane is divided into M×N tiles. Pixel values of all four planes are examined separately and the number of on-pixels is counted for each plane. The number of on-pixel counts for each tile are aggregated for each plane. Total on-pixel counts are used to estimate the total number of white, black, color, and gray pixel counts. The total counts for all planes are used to estimate the amount of color. A document is determined to be color if the amount of color exceeds a predetermined threshold. A color billing strategy is determined based on the estimated color amount.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating transistors of first and second types in a single substrate. First and second active zones of the substrate are delimited by lateral isolation trench regions, and a portion of the second active zone is removed so that the second active zone is below the first active zone. First and second layers of semiconductor material are formed on the second active zone, so that the second layer is substantially in the same plane as the first active zone. Insulated gates are produced on the first active zone and the second layer. At least one isolation trench region is selectively removed, and the first layer is selectively removed so as to form a tunnel under the second layer. The tunnel is filled with a dielectric material to insulate the second layer from the second active zone of the substrate. Also provided is such an integrated circuit.

Abstract: What is provided are a novel system, method, and computer program product for estimating the amount of color in a document to be printed, with the capability to handle composite black. A color billing strategy can be dynamically determined based on the amount of color in the document. In one embodiment, a contone CMYK image is examined and the level of color is estimated based on information extracted from the four planes simultaneously. More specifically, it examines the pixel values from all the four planes to calculate the number of white, black, color, and gray or neutral pixel counts. Input CMYK values can be pre-adjusted via a look-up table to take into account neutral balance characteristics. The difference among the adjusted color values is compared against a threshold that is input level dependent. Color is further subdivided into fuzzy colors to handle highlights and neutral areas.

Abstract: An electronic differential switch is provided that is connected to a phase cable and a neutral cable of an electric network. The electronic differential switch includes a first winding associated with a second winding, at least one toroid associated with the first winding, a diode bridge, a driving relay for a main switch connected to the phase and neutral cables, an integrated circuit for measuring a differential current flowing in the first winding and generating a driving signal, and at least one driven switch coupled to the integrated circuit and driven by the driving signal. The first and second windings are coupled to one another through the integrated circuit and the diode bridge. The at least one driven switch is coupled to the driving relay through the diode bridge so as to excite the driving relay and close the main switch, or release the driving relay and open the main switch. Also provided is a method for controlling an alarm condition in an electric network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for moiré-free color halftone printing with up to five color image separations. The method and apparatus utilize a plurality of non-orthogonal halftone screens to produce outputs that are moiré free and form rosettes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting information from a multifunctional device to a centralized management server are disclosed. A method for transmitting information between a multifunctional device and a centralized management server includes collecting information from a multifunctional device using a wireless device; rendering the information secure using a secure functionality; and transmitting the secure information over a network to a centralized management server.

Abstract: A system and method to provide 180-degree rotation of image data at full throughput. The system includes a memory access controller that writes bursts of image data into a rotation buffer. The image data is then read out of the rotation buffer in the reverse order from which it was written to thereby accomplish rotation. By alternating the position in the rotation buffer in which the image data is written such that an image is either written into the buffer from top and read from the bottom or written into the buffer from the bottom and read out from the top, a one page rotation buffer of can be used to concurrently process two pages.

Abstract: A device is provided for electrically connecting an integrated circuit chip. The device includes a main board, an intermediate board, and electrical connection balls in a space separating the boards. In the space, a peripheral zone comprises a peripheral matrix of balls, a central zone comprises a central matrix of balls, a first secondary zone comprises a matrix of electrical connection vias linked to the balls of the two adjacent rows of balls of the peripheral matrix, and a second secondary zone comprises a matrix of electrical connection vias linked to balls of the central matrix. The first secondary zone and the second secondary zone are separated by an intermediate zone that includes at least a first part having at least one complementary row of electrical connection balls, and a second part having complementary electrical connection vias linked to the balls of this complementary row.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling services provided at a first electronic device at a second electronic device. A plurality of electronic devices connected to a network provide services in the form of providing data to the network, or allowing the data to be manipulated. Each service is represented as a manipulable data object created at the device providing the service. Each object contains sufficient information to allow the service the object represents to be controlled. The objects are transmitted over the network and are stored in an object list maintained by a master device. Any compatible device may then retrieve an object from the object list and use the information contained in it to fully control the service.