Patents Assigned to Hewlett-Packard Company
  • Patent number: 6557005
    Abstract: A web-site can provide data entry forms for a number of purposes in a number of different languages. The remote user accesses the web-site and specifies the data entry form and language desired. The server at the web-site then accesses a template database defining the layout of the requested data entry form and a question database containing the text and data entry devices for the requested data entry form. If the remote user has requested a language other than a default language, a third database, a language database, is accessed from which counterpart text for the requested data entry form in the language specified by the remote user is obtained. The server then compiles the requested data entry form according to the appropriate template and in the requested language. The completed data entry form is then transmitted to the remote user as an interactive web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Brenda Burget
  • Patent number: 6557147
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for performance counter verification of an electronic circuit. The apparatus and method sends a transaction to a circuit under test causing counter values to change and retrieves these counter values from the circuit under test for comparison with known or expected counter values to measure the performance of the electronic circuit under test. The apparatus and method may also generate the known or expected counter values by monitoring the transactions sent to the circuit under test. The apparatus and method may also measure elapsed time for comparison with counter values retrieved from the circuit under test. The counter values can reflect a wide variety of events, including the occurrence of certain predefined events or the amount of time that elapses between two events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Myeong S. Lee, Debendra Das Sharma, Jon Bock
  • Patent number: 6556315
    Abstract: A segmented photosensor array for an image scanner has segments with imperfect alignment. During scanner manufacturing, photosensor segment alignment data, such as segment position offset and segment angle, is measured. The offset and angle are stored in non-volatile memory within the scanner. A position correction system uses the stored alignment data to correct position and angle values before being processed by a rectification system. Most pixels require simple geometry calculations. However, a more complex state machine is needed to handle the transition from one photosensor segment to the next. Correcting for segment position offset and angle errors enables a cost reduction for the sensor array and, in particular, reduces costs associated with scrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Steven J Kommrusch, Randy T Crane
  • Patent number: 6556501
    Abstract: A multi-port computer register file has shared word lines for read and write ports and storage elements that power down during write operations. Assume that a register file in accordance with the present invention has R read ports and W write ports, and R is greater than W. In such a register file, each register will be accessed by W combined read/write word lines, a single direction line, and R-W read-only word lines. The direction line is asserted during a write operation, and is not asserted during a read operation, and also allows the storage elements comprising each register of the register file to be powered down or enter a high-impedance state during a write operation. During a read operation, the direction line remains deasserted and the storage elements remain powered up and active. For read ports sharing combined read/write word lines with write ports, the direction line is used as a multiplexer signal to enable a read operation at the read port represented by the combined read/write word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Samuel D. Naffziger
  • Patent number: 6556435
    Abstract: A height adjustable docking station and a mobile computing device for use therewith. The docking station includes a structure for receiving the screen of a mobile computing device. This structure is coupled to a docking station body in such a manner that the height and viewing angle of the screen of a mobile computing device mounted in the structure can be adjusted. A mobile computing device with a flip around screen and a port configured for docking when the screen is flipped around is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Jacques H Helot, Daniel I Croft, David A Williams
  • Patent number: 6554415
    Abstract: A hardcopy apparatus includes a media drive roller and an independent media holddown unit. Such holddown unit includes a platen, on which a print zone is defined, and a vacuum source for generating a negative pressure for holding at least a portion of a medium substantially flat on the print zone. The platen is extending towards, and partially overlapping, the drive roller. In addition, a method for holding a medium to be printed on substantially flat over a print zone of a hardcopy apparatus includes indexing the medium over the print zone, generating a negative pressure capable of holding a portion of the medium flat on the print zone, extending the negative pressure generated to the print zone, to achieve a substantially uniform holding force over the print zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Fernando Juan
  • Patent number: 6554267
    Abstract: A stapling apparatus for a booklet maker is described which provides a compact and low cost booklet maker for desktop publishing. The stapling apparatus includes a sheet receiving saddle for receiving sheets to be stapled into a booklet. A plurality of staple clinch units are arranged along the spine of the saddle. A single movable stapler head moves along the saddle to the plurality of clinch units to staple a booklet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Steven W Trovinger
  • Patent number: 6556309
    Abstract: An imaging device and method provide memory management tasks on data of a page being composed in response to feedback generated by memory management tasks that are performed on pages in the page pipe that are waiting to be imaged. The feedback is throttled relative to memory management tasks that occur in the pipe. Advantageously, the memory management tasks are performed on the page being composed without waiting for an already composed page to finish imaging. Accordingly, page throughput of a multi-page print job is improved. The memory management tasks include compressing, relocating, and/or compressing and relocating data. Page data on which the memory management tasks are performed include raster patches, fonts, patterns, video bands, monster bands and vector bands. Atomic operations and/or a critical section locking mechanism provide collision avoidance as between the memory management tasks performed on data in the pipe and a video imaging task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Russell Campbell, Timothy P. Blair, David L. Lanning
  • Patent number: 6556228
    Abstract: Solar powered electronic display devices and methods are described. In one embodiment, a device comprises a housing (102) and a display area (104) within the housing to display content for a user. Memory (310, 312) is provided within the housing to hold data that is to be rendered into user-viewable content. An electrophotographic assembly (200) is provided within the housing and is configured to electrophotographically render user-viewable content from the data that is held in the memory. A loop of material (202) is disposed proximate the electrophotographic assembly (200) and is configured to receive electrophotographically rendered content and present the content for user viewing within the display area. A power source is provided and comprises a solar panel member (107) disposed on the housing for converting solar power into electrical power to power the device. The power source can also include one or more batteries, with the solar panel member supplementing the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Thomas Camis
  • Patent number: 6554392
    Abstract: A system and method for substantially optimizing print quality or throughput based upon user preferences through use of a left spittoon to perform servicing operations on the printhead of a printer. By virtue of the fact that print quality is inversely proportional to throughput, sacrificing one aspect yields an improvement in the other aspect. When a certain printmode is selected, e.g., draft, print, or the like, the throughput associated with printing according to the selected printmode may vary. Accordingly, a user may select to improve either the print quality, the throughput, or a combination thereof through implementation of the auxiliary spittoon to perform servicing operations on the printhead at various times during a printing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Ramon Vega, Xavier Girones, Xavier Bruch
  • Publication number: 20030078863
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for discounting printing, comprising a) receiving information about printing by a consumer of content that has been selected by the consumer for printing and specified by a content provider as printable at a discount; b) obtaining, for use in discounting printing consumables, an estimation of printing costs incurred by the consumer in said printing of the selected content; and c) preparing a bill, using said estimation, for billing a stakeholder in the content for said printing. There is also disclosed causing information to be provided in association with viewable content. The information communicates to a viewer that specified content, comprising or related to the viewable content, is printable by the consumer at a discount. The discount is directly related to costs incurred by the consumer in printing said specified content. The information may, for example, be provided in the form of a GUI element activatable by a user input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
    Inventor: Maurizio Pilu
  • Publication number: 20030076325
    Abstract: In one embodiment, selecting a pixel in a screen region on a screen of a monitor of a computer graphics display system to activate in rendering a straight line segment by a rasterizer assigned to the screen region. Steps of aligning a rectangular grid to pixel boundaries, wherein the screen comprises a screen space divided into at least one screen region, wherein the screen region comprises multiple pixels, identifying each pixel in the screen region through which the straight line segment passes, and selecting each identified pixel to activate for rendering the straight line segment on the screen when the straight line segment passes through a diamond shaped area of the pixel whose boundary is defined by the lower, upper, left, and right pixel grid mid-points are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Thomas L. Thrasher
  • Patent number: 6553136
    Abstract: A system and a method for preventing counterfeiting activities utilize an image detection scheme that uses only a few portions of restricted-document images, i.e., templates, to determine whether an input image is a duplicate of a restricted-document image. The image detection scheme can reliably operate at very low resolutions, which allows the use of small kernels for image correlation and reduces the number of pixels that have to be actually processed. The system is designed to be incorporated into a host device, such as a copy machine, a scanner, a personal computer or a printer, to detect a potential counterfeiting activity, so that an appropriate action can be taken to prevent and/or to report the detected activity. The image detection scheme allows the system to operate at an increased detection speed, while minimizing the memory requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Renato Keshet, Doron Shaked
  • Patent number: 6550899
    Abstract: An ink supply for an ink-jet printer is provided with a main reservoir, which is typically maintained at ambient pressure. The main reservoir is coupled to a variable volume chamber via a one-way valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and prevents the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet which is normally closed to prevent the flow of ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Bruce Cowger, Norman Pawlowski, Jr., John A. Barinaga, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6553389
    Abstract: A distributed data storage system is provided with a mechanism for determining data storage resource availability during data system failures. When a partition occurs, a coordinator requests all reachable replicas to begin a new epoch and each replica responds with its most recent epoch number and the list of replicas that it believes were active in that epoch. From the responses, the coordinator finds the maximum epoch number and the list of replicas in that epoch is taken as the list from which a quorum must be drawn. The coordinator establishes a quorum when, for each byte in the virtual store, the coordinator receives responses from more than half of the replicas for that byte. The coordinator then determines resource availability and sends out a message to all the reachable replicas with a new epoch number greater than the previous epoch number and the list of replicas active in this new epoch. The replicas receive this message, record the epoch number and the list of replicas, and proceed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Richard Andrew Golding, Elizabeth Lynn Borowsky
  • Patent number: 6552672
    Abstract: A method of providing a backup of data of a memory portion, by at least one compressor and writer pair, to at least one storage medium having a plurality of segments is disclosed. The method includes partitioning the memory portion into a number of memory blocks. The compressor compresses data, block by block, to produce compressed data for each block. The writer writes the compressed data for each block to an associated segment of the storage medium. Compressing and writing are synchronized to occur in a pipelined manner so that the compressor is able to compress data of a next block without having to wait for the completion of writing of compressed data of an earlier block to the storage medium. A program storage device and a system for providing the above method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Ramkrishna Ghildiyal, Manabendra Mazumdar, Shakul Gupta, Basker Ponnuswamy, Gopal Bhaskaran
  • Patent number: 6550883
    Abstract: To substantially avoid the effects of bleeding of ink printed in successive printing passes in a hardcopy apparatus, the drying time between the passes is varied to take into account the amount of ink deposited in a preceding pass and/or to be deposited in the next pass. The type of ink being used, the prevailing temperature, the prevailing humidity and/or the type of print media being used may also be taken into account. At the end of a plot, the drying time is also varied so that the total drying time can remain constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Aleix Oriol
  • Patent number: 6552913
    Abstract: A retaining device for a card slot assembly, the retaining device comprising; a retaining portion, a connection element operable to permit angular movement of the retaining portion between an opened position and a closed position, and a releasable locking element operable to maintain the retaining portion in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Vincent Tournadre
  • Patent number: 6550757
    Abstract: A stapler for driving a staple into a sheet stack. The stapler includes a first cartridge configured to receive a first staple defined by a first leg length, and a second cartridge configured to receive a second staple defined by a second leg length. The stapler includes a stapling head configured to drive the staples into the sheet stack, and a cartridge positioning actuator configured to selectively position either the first or the second cartridge over a predetermined position on the sheet stack. The stapler can have a single stationary stapling head, and the cartridges can be moved in position over the stapling head. Alternately, each cartridge can have its own associated stapling head. The stapler can include a sensor to determine the thickness of the sheet stack. A controller can receive a thickness signal from the sensor and determine which of the cartridges to position over the sheet stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Robert Sesek
  • Patent number: 6550513
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding documents by individually binding each media sheet to previously bound media sheets using imaging material as the binding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Roland Boss