Abstract: A question answering system includes a question dividing unit, a question answering unit, and an answer determination unit. The question dividing unit applies a predetermined question dividing rule to an input question, to divide the input question into sub-questions. The question answering unit acquires answer candidates corresponding to the sub-questions generated by the question dividing unit, together with certainty values serving as reliability indexes. The answer determination unit selects an answer to the input question from among the answer candidates acquired by the question answering unit.

Abstract: A color converter has a setting section, a determining section, and a converting section. The setting section sets the ratio between plural color rendering intents. The determining section determines a color conversion function for converting a first image signal in a first color space into a second image signal in a second color space different from the first color space, based on the ratio between the color rendering intents. The converting section converts the first image signal into the second image signal based on the color conversion function determined by the determining section.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (300) that adjusts a fuser nip width in an apparatus that can include a fuser member having a fuser nip configured to fuse an image on media is disclosed. The method can include feeding (320) a media sheet in a media sheet travel direction through the fuser nip. The method can also include sensing (330) a media sheet exit temperature of the media sheet after the media sheet exits the fuser nip. The method can also include adjusting (340) a fuser member nip width according to the sensed media sheet exit temperature, where the fuser nip width is substantially parallel to the media sheet travel direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for detecting thin lines in image data. The method is performed by a processor to process contone image data. The processing includes combining a first result of thin line detection using a first method and a second result of thin line detection using a second method to produce an improved thin line determination in the image data. The methods include processing and thresholding in the contone and binary domain to determine if a thin line exists in the window of image data. The thin line determination may also be merged with the image data as processed using other image segmentation techniques. The disclosed method produces better quality output images and reduces the addition of false lines in an image.

Abstract: A method and system for additively, manually sequentially or manually in parallel, selecting multiple points or regions of interest in the analog or digital viewfinder of a photo or video camera with automatic controls like auto-focusing, auto-metering and auto white-balancing. Points or regions capable of being selected, within a grid of elements comprising a camera's evaluative matrix and represented to the user in a viewfinder or other display, may be hard-coded (pre-defined, selectable regions) or any point, pixel, or group of pixels. Data from the selected regions is used to simultaneously, dynamically adjust focus related parameters, light metering and white balancing of the camera and is tied into these features. Point selection may be via touch screen or by holding down a lock button. The selected points or regions may be applied to focus and aperture related adjustments or for any other camera function related to measurement of the scene.

Abstract: An electronic document management system includes: a reading unit that reads a code image from a document in which the code image is formed; an analysis unit that analyzes code information from the code image read by the reading unit; and a discard processing unit that executes discard processing of the document if the code information is correctly analyzed by the analysis unit, and does not execute discard processing of the document if the code information is not correctly analyzed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including: an image forming unit that forms toner images having the colors being different from each other; a intermediate transfer body that has a belt-shape, and that is arranged in an upper portion of the image forming unit being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the toner images being transferred onto the intermediate transfer body; an intermediate transfer body unit that detachably holds the intermediate transfer body with respect to the apparatus body; and a guide rail member that detachably guides the intermediate transfer body unit in a direction of one side of the apparatus body, and that is set so that the direction, in which the intermediate transfer body unit is guided, is changed in the middle of guiding.

Abstract: An image digest based search approach allows images within an image repository related to a query image to be located despite cropping, rotating, localized changes in image content, compression formats and/or an unlimited variety of other distortions. In particular, the approach allows potential distortion types to be characterized and to be fitted to an exponential family of equations matched to a Bregman distance. Image digests matched to the identified distortion types may then be generated for stored images using the matched Bregman distances, thereby allowing searches to be conducted of the image repository that explicitly account for the statistical nature of distortions on the image. Processing associated with characterizing image noise, generating matched Bregman distances, and generating image digests for images within an image repository based on a wide range of distortion types and processing parameters may be performed offline and stored for later use, thereby improving search response times.

Abstract: An optical waveguide includes: an optical waveguide core through which light propagates, at least one end portion of the optical waveguide core in a longitudinal direction thereof having an inclined surface; a reflective layer provided on the inclined surface and formed by a metal layer of silver or a silver alloy; a protective layer disposed to cover the reflective layer; and a cladding portion enclosing the optical waveguide core and having a lower refractive index than that of the optical waveguide core.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a modified area deciding unit, a modified area correlation deciding unit, a display selecting unit and a displaying unit. The modified area deciding unit executes processing of deciding a modified area containing a pixel area, which is distinguished as postscript information, based on input image data. The modified area correlation deciding unit specifies a related information area corresponding to the modified area, which is decided by the modified area deciding unit. The modified area correlation deciding unit executes processing of deciding a correlation between mutual areas. The display selecting unit selects the postscript information and related information of the postscript information, based on the correlation between the mutual areas, which are decided by the modified area correlation deciding unit. The displaying unit executes processing of displaying output data in response to a selecting mode of the display selecting unit.

Abstract: A document editing device has a editing unit and a supplementary information editing unit. The editing unit edits a manuscript element of a document. The supplementary information editing unit edits the supplementary information of the document based on a result of editing the manuscript element by the editing unit. The document is a electronic document read by a reading device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal-containing composition includes a first cholesteric liquid crystal having a peak wavelength of selective reflection in the range of from 600 nm to 800 nm and encapsulated in a microcapsule and a second cholesteric liquid crystal having a peak wavelength of selective reflection in the range of from 400 nm to 500 nm as the only liquid crystals, and the content of the second cholesteric liquid crystal with respect to the entire cholesteric liquid crystal content is from about 5 weight % to about 40 weight %.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a user interface device. The image forming apparatus accepts a print command and forms an image according to the print command. The user interface device communicates with the image forming apparatus. Power control and power supply are performed for the image forming apparatus and the user interface device separately. The image forming apparatus includes a detection section, a storage section, a re-establishment section and a mode control section. The detection section detects as to whether or not communication between the image forming apparatus and the user information device is disconnected. The storage section stores modes of the image forming apparatus and user interface device when the detection section detects disconnection. The re-establishment section re-establishes the communication. The mode control section controls modes, after the re-establishing, of the image forming apparatus and user interface device based on the stored modes.

Abstract: A linking information making device including a service list acquisition unit which acquires a service list expressing services which execute predetermined processing of document data; an interface information acquisition unit which individually acquires pieces of interface information from service processing devices respectively providing the services expressed in the service list which has been acquired by the service list acquisition unit; and a linking information making unit which makes linking information to link services provided by the respective service processing devices, based on the interface information which has been acquired by the interface information acquisition unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of providing an electronic device and a corresponding localization key to a customer for localization of the electronic device, as well as a corresponding localization key and computer-readable medium. The methods select a localization key corresponding to the location of the customer, and provide the electronic device and the selected localization key for delivery to the customer. The selected localization key includes a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for execution by a processor of the electronic device. When the localization key is interfaced to the electronic device, the instructions cause the processor of the electronic device to select one of a plurality of localization profiles indicated by the instructions to correspond to the location of the customer and to implement the selected localization profile on the electronic device.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive substrate having a photosensitive layer and a protective layer thereon, the protective layer comprising a crosslinked film having a phenolic structure, in which the relationship between a pH of the exfoliated protective layer extracted with distilled water (pHOCL) and a pH of said distilled water (pHw) satisfies the following formula (A):pHOCL?pHW?0.5.

Abstract: The communication system includes: an apparatus that mounts a processing unit which executes transmission and reception of a signal with an external apparatus and which processes the received signal; and a relay apparatus that relays transmission and reception of a signal between the external apparatus and the apparatus. The relay apparatus is provided with: a transmission and reception unit that receives a signal from the external apparatus and transmits a signal to the external apparatus; an analysis unit that analyzes whether or not the signal received by the transmission and reception unit is a signal to be processed by the processing unit of the apparatus; and a determination unit that determines whether or not to execute transfer processing of the received signal to the apparatus based on a result of the analysis by the analysis unit.

Abstract: A location based notification system for a shop having multiple components that are susceptible to a fault event includes an electronic data storage device and a fault event sensor apparatus associated with each susceptible component. The electronic data storage device has identification data for the associated component stored therein. Operators carry a portable device having an electronic data storage device reader and a memory. The fault event sensor apparatus generates fault event data when a fault event occurs in the associated component and transmits the fault event data to the electronic data storage device or the portable device. The data stored in the electronic data storage devices is read with an electronic data storage device reader of the portable device as the operator moves through the shop.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for background suppression in the image path. In one example embodiment, an image is scanned and RGB color values generated for each pixel. Each of the pixels is converted into a Lab color space to obtain luminance and chrominance values. A background luminance and a luminance variation are determined for the scanned image. For each pixel, a determination is made whether that pixel is a white pixel or a non-white pixel based. If the pixel is a white pixel, an adjustment chrominance value for that pixel is determined. The value of the chrominance adjustment is modulated as a function of a difference between the white pixel's luminance and the background luminance. The modulated chrominance adjustment is applied to the white pixel. Adjusted and non-adjusted pixels are stored in a memory. A printer controller converts the pixels to an output space.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first feeding unit and a second feeding unit. In the first feeding unit, a hand-feeding unit having a hand-feeding accommodating portion is mounted. The first feeding unit includes a first mounting portion into which a medium is conveyed from the hand-feeding accommodating portion. And a connection unit for consecutive installation is mounted to the first mounting portion in a state where the hand-feeding unit is removed from the first mounting portion. The connection unit includes an added conveyance path for consecutive installation. The second feeding unit includes a second mounting portion in which the hand-feeding unit is mounted and into which a medium is conveyed from the hand-feeding accommodating portion. And the second feeding unit is connected to the added conveyance path.