Abstract: A method for smooth trapping of thin graphical objects, wherein a thin graphical object has a width dimension which is substantially less than the object's length dimension, includes receiving from a trap generator the location of a trap pixel that should be changed in color; determining the width of the object containing the trap pixel; comparing the width of the object with a trap threshold width; if the size of the object is less than the trap threshold width, reducing the width of the trap region according to a predetermined relationship; and applying a trap correction to the trap pixel according to the reduced trap width. The predetermined relationship may be a linear relationship which reduces the trap width monotonically for object widths less than the trap threshold width. The method may be applied to small objects and small font text objects.

Abstract: A method of categorizing objects in which there can be multiple categories of objects and each object can belong to more than one category is described. The method defines a set of categories in which at least one category is dependent on another category and then organizes the categories in a hierarchy that embodies any dependencies among them. Each object is assigned to one or more categories in the set. A set of labels corresponding to all combinations of any number of the categories is defined, wherein if an object is relevant to several categories, the object must be assigned the label corresponding to the subset of all relevant categories. Once the new labels are defined, the multi-category, multi-label problem has been reduced to a multi-category, single-label problem, and the categorization task is reduced down to choosing the single best label set for an object.

Abstract: A method for repairing a wrapper associated with an information source, includes defining a classifier, based on content features of extracted and labeled information using the wrapper, using the classifier to extract content information from the file according to a set of classifier extraction rules; analyzing the extracted content information according to the content features and assigning a label to any extracted content information which satisfies the label's rules; and defining a repaired wrapper as the classifier and those labels in the set which have been assigned to extracted content information. Additional content information and labels can be extracted by iteratively creating a classifier based on both content features and structure features of extracted strings.

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 the 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”.

Abstract: In a wireless network, two or more devices can determine how close they are from one another in a peer-to-peer way, by exchanging the network characteristics they observe in real time. A method for determining device proximity in a wireless network, includes characterizing at a first device any detected wireless network radio signals; receiving any broadcast network characteristics from at least one other device on the network; comparing the first device network characteristics with the received network characteristics from the at least one other device on the network; if the network characteristics are within a predetermined relationship, the first device and the at least one other device are in proximity with one another. Network characteristics may include signal strength, noise level and MAC address of the transmitting device. The method eliminates the need to calibrate WiFi signal strength as a function of location in a particular area.

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 the 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”.

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”.

Abstract: A mobile device, for determining location in a wireless network, includes a motion detector for detecting motion of the mobile device; a memory for storing wireless signal strength calibration data comprising a list of wireless signal strengths and known locations; a location detection module for measuring a wireless signal strength of any received network radio signals and for determining the location of the mobile device with reference to the wireless signal strength calibration data; and a location correction module, for applying a statistical correction to the measured wireless signal strength determined by the location detection module when the motion detector detects that the mobile device is moving less than a threshold amount. The mobile device may further include an orientation detector for detecting the orientation of the mobile device, which can be compared with orientation data stored in the calibration data.

Abstract: A printer and associated programming for automatically requesting a PDL program from a storage site that is connected to the printer by a network for any document that requires a PDL program that is not already available to the printer. A computer for this purpose may be a user or host computer, or be built in to the printer. When the computer delivers a document to the printer, either the computer will request that the PDL program from storage to be sent to the printer, or the printer will determine which PDL program is needed by inspecting the received document, and request it when provided the location.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining query language operators of a Web information source, includes providing a set of known query operators, each known query operator in the set operating according to at least one syntax, wherein for a test query comprising a query operator and a test key word, each syntax of the operator produces a different number of document matches for the test query at a known Web information source; performing the test query on the Web information source, wherein the test query produces a number of document matches on the Web information source; comparing the number of document matches produced by the Web information source with the number of document matches produced by the known operator's different syntaxes; and using an established criteria for determining if comparing results indicate the Web information source supports the known query operator according its matching syntax.

Abstract: A high speed, serial interface employs a simplified protocol which minimizes overhead enabling uncompressed image data to be sent serially over a long distance in real-time devices, such as a color printer. Because the error rate experienced in high speed serial and fiber optic links is very small and finite, the protocol removes the requirement to retransmit real time data. The protocol for initiator device-target device communications includes an idle message frame for indicating a device is ready for communication; a control word frame for sending a data request from the target device; a control word frame for indicating a transfer mode from the initiator device; and a data frame, wherein in response to a data request from the target device, the initiator device transmits a control word frame followed by the requested data.

Abstract: Moiré free color halftoning is achieved through the use of two dot screens and one or two line screens. The line screens may be, for example hybrid line screens. Frequency vectors associated with the screens combine to produce moiré frequency vectors representing moiré frequencies above or below the visual range. In one embodiment lines screens are used to halftone yellow and black separations and dot screens are used to halftone cyan and magenta separations. The dot screens are oriented at 15 and 75 degrees. The line screens are oriented at 45 and 135 degrees. Selected screens and screen orientations minimize screen interaction with mechanical or optical artifacts of a rendering device, thereby minimizing mechanical and optical moiré.

Abstract: A system for network device location, includes an address server for associating IP addresses of devices on the network with a group name; a discoverable device located on a first subnet of the network, wherein the discoverable device has an IP address, and wherein the discoverable device's IP address is associated with the group name; and a discovering device, located on a second subnet of the network, for creating a list of known subnets and known devices on the network; for querying the name server for a list of IP addresses associated with the group name; for contacting each returned address of a discoverable device associated with the group name for the discoverable device's IP subnet information; for determining the discoverable device's subnet; and for adding the discoverable device and its subnet to the list.

Abstract: A recommender system employs implicit ratings generated from monitoring user interaction with an item, such as while listening to a music track on a MP3 player or reading an electronic book. A method for generating item recommendations includes: providing an item to a device having an application for engaging a repetitive activity with the provided item, wherein the repetitive activity occurs primarily during standalone operation of the device; generating a history of user interaction with the provided item, wherein user interaction includes engaging in the repetitive activity with the provided item; transforming the history of user interactions into an implicit rating of the provided item; and using the implicit rating of the provided item to generate recommendations of other items.

Abstract: In a system where the color space conversion process uses color profile look-up tables to select a profile for each of the possible attribute value combinations, assigning a value of wildcard to one or more attributes. In this case, if all of the values of one of the attributes can not be exactly matched, and that attribute has a wildcard value, the wildcard value is selected. The profile associated with the wildcard is designed to enable a reasonable color conversion in any case where an attribute calls for a particular value and the printer does not have a corresponding profile. The result is that the printer will most likely still print a reasonable image in the case where there is no matching profile.

Abstract: A method for determining whether an input image is defined in accordance with a luminance-chrominance color space, includes receiving an input image in three dimensional color space, S1, S2 and S3, where S1 is an image value in the first dimension, S2 is an image value in the second dimension and S3 is an image value in the third dimension; extracting low and high extrema of S1 values in the image; obtaining deviation of S2 and S3 from a predefined neutral axis for all pixels in the image whose S1 value is either the low or the high extremum; testing a condition that certain of the deviations are within predetermined thresholds; and determining, if the condition holds true, that the image is in a luminance-chrominance color space.

Abstract: An encoded sheet material includes a sheet of material having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material, the edge having indicia arranged thereon to form a code uniquely identifying the sheet of material. A system for managing an encoded sheet of material, includes a code reader operative in conjunction with the encoded sheet of material for reading the code, a sheet processing apparatus for reading information from and/or writing information to at least one of the first and second surfaces, and a processor in communication with the code reader device and the sheet processing apparatus for associating the information with the read code.

Abstract: A CF printing system includes at least three CF printing devices; a plurality of print-related devices to effect duplex printing; the printing and print-related devices being selectably operable in accordance with a defined print line segment; and a print line manager for defining and managing the defined print line segments. The defined print line segments include a first duplex print line segment defining a first duplex print path in which two CF printing devices have been configured for duplex operation and a second duplex print line segment defining a second duplex print path in which one of the two CF printing devices and a third CF printing device have been configured for duplex operation. In the event of a failure of the first duplex print line segment, duplex operation may be continued by selecting the second duplex print line segment and re-threading paper according to the second duplex print path.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a printer includes performing a series of parametric tests on the printer at the time of manufacture to generate a set of baseline values for the printer and storing the baseline results. The baseline results may be stored remotely or with the printer, or both. A set of maximum parametric test variations for the printer type is generated, such that each maximum parametric test variation is associated with a particular printer fault event. At the time of a suspected printer fault, the same parametric tests are performed and a set of suspected fault values generated. The difference between the suspected fault value and the baseline value is calculated for each parametric test. If the difference for a particular parametric test is greater than the maximum parametric test variation for that particular parametric test, the print fault event associated with the parametric test value may be indicated.

Abstract: The method of the invention overcomes the problems in a community when the amount of interaction drops off through the use of “community crickets.” A community cricket monitors the amount of community activity, establishes criteria for deciding when a community is sleeping and uses that criteria for initiating a recovery mechanism for “re-awakening” the community. A community is “sleeping” if the level of activity falls below some predetermined level or criteria. By monitoring the community's activity, the community cricket can prevent sleeping communities from dying. Various methods to detect and to re-awaken sleeping communities are defined.