Abstract: A document authenticating method is disclosed by which numerous small-sized two-dimensional barcode stamps are generated and placed in a distributed manner on a printed document. The small-sized barcode stamps collectively encode the content of the document to be used for document authentication. In one example, the stamp size is 1 cm by 1 cm and the tile size for the stamps is 4 by 4 pixels at a resolution of 400 dpi. A total of approximately 80 such small barcode stamps are placed on the page to form a pattern that resembles a border on one or more sides of the page. In one particular example, the stamps are placed on all four sides of the page to form a frame. Such a stamp layout minimizes undesirable visual effect and can create a decorative effect. Small-sized stamps also allow reduced tile sizes and increased information density.

Abstract: A method implemented in a print job management apparatus for processing print jobs in a multiple-printer print shop environment is described. When an operator manually assigns a print job to a printer, the print job requirements are compared with capabilities of the printer to detect any constraints (i.e. incompatibilities between printer capabilities and print job requirements). The job is printed if no constraint is detected. If a constraint of a first category is detected (e.g. incompatible color capabilities, paper size and type, layout, etc.), printing will not proceed and an error message is displayed. If a constraint of a second category is detected (e.g. inadequate finishing capabilities), a warning message is displayed with a request for operator instruction regarding whether to proceed with printing. If the operator chooses to proceed, the job will be printed, and a banner page containing instructions regarding uncompleted job requirements is generated.

Abstract: A printing method is described where, when a print job requires printing multiple copies of a document and a simulated insert sheet option is selected as a part of the print job requirements, simulated insert sheets are automatically generated and inserted between the printed copies that are outputted to the output tray of the printer. The simulated insert sheets are printed using the same paper as the document. The simulated insert sheets may be numbered, and may include a printed pattern extending to an edge of the sheets. The layout and content of the simulated insert sheets may be specified by the printer driver or the printer itself. The method can also be used with copiers when making multiple copies of an original document. Further, simulated insert sheets can be used to separate groups of pages within a single document, such as chapters or sections.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selectively printing multiple PDF files currently open in a PDF viewer (including editor) application. A GUI lists all PDF files currently open within the viewer. A user selects files from the list and specifies page ranges for the selected files. The PDF viewer submits data from the user-selected files to a printer as a single print job. In one implementation, the viewer generates a master PDF file from the selected files and transfers it to the printer. In another implementation, the viewer interprets the PDF data in the selected files into PDL data and transfers it to the printer. In another implementation, the viewer generate a separate PDF file containing selected data for each open PDF file, composes a job ticket using the generated PDF files and transfers the job ticket and the generated PDF files to the printer.

Abstract: A method implemented in a print job management apparatus for processing print jobs in a multiple-printer print shop environment is described. Each print job specifies job ticket parameters representing printing requirements. Each received job is processed by comparing the printing requirements of the job with capabilities of the printers. If a printer cannot satisfy all printing requirements of the job, it is eliminated as a candidate printer. Then, from all printers that can satisfy all printing requirements of the job, one printer is selected based on a pre-defined priority preference and the job is submitted to the selected printer. The printer priority preference is created by the operator based on cost and other factors. The operator can also select an alternative execution mode where, among all printers that can satisfy all requirements of the job, the one with minimum wait time is selected.

Abstract: A method for printing only text objects within a PDF document is described. PDF data is transmitted from a host computer to a printer, along with job information that specifies a text-only mode. If printer controller detects that the text-only mode is specified, it interprets only the text objects within the PDF data. As a result, only text objects are printed on the recording medium, and the graphics and image objects are not printed. The interpretation step preserves position, font, size, and style (e.g. bold, italic, underline) of the text objects. Representation may be generated and printed on the recording medium to indicate the presence of graphics or image objects in the original PDF document.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for matching two images having areas of overlapping text, first image data, and second image data is provided. The method includes dividing the first image data into a plurality of scene segments and dividing the second image data into a plurality of scene segments, finding a text segment among the scene segments of the first image data and second image data, and detecting common text data in the text segments of the first image data and the second image data, the common text data having identical text data in the text segments of the first image data and the second image data. The method further includes extracting feature points from the first image data and the second image data based on the common text data, and combining the first image data and the second image data according to the feature points.

Abstract: The present application relates to an image processing apparatus and a method for matching and combining two map images with at least some overlap area. In some embodiments, color features of a first map image data and a second map image data are extracted and areas of matching color are determined. Border features in areas of matching color in the image data for the first and second maps may be extracted and map areas common to the first map image data and the second map image data may be determined based on the areas of matching color and the border features. Feature points of map areas common to the first and second maps may be extracted and the first map image data and the second map image data may be combined using common feature points.

Abstract: A method used in a print shop for collecting and tracking the amount of resources used for a print job is described. The print shop includes a plurality of copy production devices such as printers and finishing devices and a server for managing them. Each copy production device collects information regarding actual resource usage for a copy production job, such as the amount of paper used, the amount of toner used, the number of staples used, etc., and provides the information to the server after the job is executed. The server generates total resource usage information for executing the job, and stores the information. The actual perjob resource usage information may be analyzed to enable the print shop to set a price structure that more accurately reflects and ultimately recaptures the cost incurred.

Abstract: A method for compensating for color variations among multiple user printers by providing a target simulation process in each user printer that modifies its default color characteristics so that it has the same color characteristics as a designated target printer. In a WCS implementation, a target CDMP and a user CDMP representing color characteristics of the target printer and the user printer, respectively, are stored and used by the WCS workflow to perform color conversion when printing an image on the user printer. In an ICC implementation, a color simulation profile is generated that matches the color characteristics of the user printer to those of the target printer. The color simulation profile is combined with the default color profile of the printer to generate a combined color profile which is used to perform color conversion when printing an image on the user printer.

Abstract: A method for managing a print shop system having a plurality of printers connected to a management server is described. A paper name database is maintained on the server and each printer, and contains a plurality of paper name definitions each associating a paper name to a plurality of paper attributes such as paper size, weight, etc. The paper name databases are synchronized with each other. When creating a job ticket on the server, the operator specifies the paper name but does not need to specify the paper attributes. The server generates a job ticket containing the paper name and/or the paper attributes (retrieved from the paper name database using the paper name entered by the operator). When a printer receives a job ticket that contains a papa name, it retrieves the paper attributes associated with the paper name from the local paper name database and executes the job.

Abstract: A color barcode can record much more amount of information than black white barcode. However, the problem of the color barcode is that it is easy to lose integrity or authenticity in printing and copy generation. This invention provides an apparatus and a method to keep the integrity or authenticity of the color barcode. Such is accomplished by the color reference portion of the color barcode including reference color tiles filled with colors which are used in a data portion of the color barcode and an apparatus and a method for producing, reproducing and reading such color barcode.

Abstract: A print shop management system for automatically handling overage for customer print or copy jobs is described. An overage refers to extra copies of a customer job produced for internal use at the print shop. The print shop management system allows the operator to create overage formulas, each formula specifying a set of criteria and an overage value for customer jobs meeting the criteria. The system then automatically applies the overage formulas to each customer job to print the requested number of copies and the extra copies.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide for a method for preserving and maintaining document integrity. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the contents of a document, or contents of a document layer may be encoded into a machine-readable form. In some embodiments, the encoded information may be represented using a 2-dimensional bar code. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the contents of the document are printed on one side of a page and the machine-readable code is printed on the other side of the page. In some embodiments, a printed document containing the machine-readable code may be scanned and digitized, and content extracted from the scanned data. In some embodiments, the machine-readable code printed on the document is used to recreate layer data from the printed document.

Abstract: Systems, methods and storage mediums are disclosed for processing images and two-dimensional barcodes for two-way verification of document data. In one exemplary embodiment, image data of a document is obtained, processed and rendered into a barcode for incorporation into a reproduction of an original image of the document. The resolution of the barcode may be higher than the resolution of the original image which allows the size of the barcode to be reduced. Moreover, the amount of data associated with the original image may be decreased which allows for smaller data storage requirements and faster data transfer of the document.

Abstract: The present application relates to a printing system in which a printing apparatus can produce print data utilizing image enhanced data stored in the printing apparatus without complicated calculation on the side of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconnecting a host computer with a networked printer having a dynamic network address without manually entering the printer's network address. In a first method, when a user presses a reconnect button on the printer, the printer broadcasts a reconnection event containing the printer's network address over the network. The host receives the event, extracts the network address and reconnects the printer accordingly. In a second method, the host obtains the network addresses of candidate printers, displays a list of them on a UI, and sends a flash signal to the candidate printers to cause them to generate an alarm one by one. The user observes the desired printer and correlates its alarm with the timing of the flash signals sent by the host. Based on the observation, the user selects one of the candidate printers on the UI and the host reconnects it.

Abstract: A method for compensating for color variations introduced by printer hardware limitations and other factors is described. First, for each printer model or each individual printer, the extent of color variation throughout a printed page is determined. Based on this determination, each page is partitioned into a plurality of image areas. Then, in an actual printing process, the page of image is printed in a multi-pass process where each image area is printed in a separate pass. The digital image data is shifted and/or rotated for each pass, and the paper is shifted and/or rotated correspondingly, so that the different image areas printed in different passes form a complete image on the final printed page. From the standpoint of the pointer hardware, all passes involve printing the same area of a physical page, resulting in reduced color variation across the page.

Abstract: A method for compensating for color variations introduced by printer hardware limitations and other factors is described. First, the extent of color variation throughout a printed page is determined. Based on this determination, each page is partitioned into a plurality of image areas. A color profile is generated for each image area. The partition and the multiple color profiles are stored in the printer. In an actual printing process, the page of image to be printed is divided into a plurality of image areas based on the paper size and the stored partition, and the respective stored color profiles for the image areas are retrieved and used to process the digital image for printing.

Abstract: An improved gamut map model (GMM) useful in conjunction with Windows Color System (WCS) is described. The method uses the WCS Minimum Color Difference (MinCD) GMM to handle gamut mapping for the Saturation rendering intent at low input chroma values. For input values to the gamut map model profile (GMMP), if the chroma value C falls within a predetermined chroma value range, the MinCD GMM will be applied, otherwise the Hue Mapping GMM is applied. The predetermined chroma value range can be determined by experimentation. The range is 0?C?10 in a preferred embodiment. This method will improve the gradation fidelity of the rendered images and reduce or prevent major hue shifts at low chroma values. The method may be implemented as a plug-in utility for a computer.