Patents Examined by Douglas Q. Tran
  • Patent number: 10764451
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enlarging digital photographs in a dark room environment by interchanging the film carrier with a digital projection module, wirelessly receiving the digital photograph data within the digital projection module and then automatically and wirelessly configuring the enlarger to generate the enlarged photograph on photosensitive printing paper. The apparatus and method include a software application for use on a computing device containing the digital photographs that permits the user to wirelessly communicate with the enlarger to configure and control the enlarger for printing. The digital projection module permits the enlarger to be easily reconfigured for enlarging photographs produced from film. An alternative is also disclosed that uses a laser projector instead of the interchangeable digital projection module for generating enlarged prints from digital photographs. The software application also permits burn and dodge effects in the print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Charles Beseler Company
    Inventor: Matthew L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10764467
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a determination part that performs an accomplishment determination process which is a process of determining whether or not a job is accomplishable prior to a billing process using a pre-billing method which is a billing method of billing for execution of the job before completion of the job; and a decision part that decides whether or not to perform the billing process based on the determination result of the accomplishment determination process, wherein the decision part decides that the billing process is to be performed for the execution of the job when it is determined that the job is accomplishable, and decides that the billing process is not to be performed for the execution of the job when it is determined that the job is not accomplishable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yuji Kawamura, Yoichi Kurumasa, Takatsugu Kuno
  • Patent number: 10761784
    Abstract: The present invention offers a system including a transmission unit configured to transmit, based on a reception of predetermined information, first notification information for causing an audio control device to audibly notify a user of a first message related to a printing apparatus, and second notification information for causing a terminal device outside the audio control device and outside the printing apparatus to notify, through a notification screen, the user of a second message related to the printing apparatus and including a message not included in the first message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yu Tomioka
  • Patent number: 10764458
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a wireless communication circuitry configured to make a wireless communication with a portable information processing device including a display unit; and a computer and a memory storing a program causing the computer to execute: a recognition step recognizing a portable information processing device that is within a communicable range through communication via the wireless communication circuitry; a job setting step receiving a job setting; and a job control step receiving a start instruction and executing a job in response to the start instruction, wherein the job setting step receives the job setting, which is made in the portable information processing device, via the wireless communication circuitry after the portable information processing device falls within the communicable range, and the job control step accepts reception from the portable information processing device of an instruction to rearrange the order of the execution of the job among jobs which await the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masao Saeda
  • Patent number: 10757298
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an attachment portion, a log-in processing portion, a correlation processing portion, and a restriction processing portion. To the attachment portion, a storage device is attached in a detachable manner. The log-in processing portion authorizes a user to log in based on a predetermined authentication operation. The correlation processing portion correlates the storage device attached to the attachment portion with a user who has already logged in when the storage device is attached to the attachment portion, or with a user who first logs in after the storage device is attached to the attachment portion and kept to be attached. The restriction processing portion restricts access to the storage device attached to the attachment portion, to the user who is correlated with the storage device by the correlation processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yusuke Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 10754597
    Abstract: An printing apparatus is provided that controls printing based on restriction settings. When the printing apparatus receives a reserved print job in a state in which a use restriction for a print function is set to enabled by a user, the reserved print job is controlled not to be executed regardless of the set use restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10742836
    Abstract: In a server, a memory stores first correlation information for correlating first group identification information with both first device information assigned to a first communication device and second device information assigned to a second communication device. A first group includes the first communication device and the second communication device. In a case where device information matching the first device information and authentication information matching the first authentication information are received from the first communication device, the processor transmits to the first communication device a second file generated using a first file which is stored correlated with the first authentication information in the memory. In a case where device information matching the second device information and authentication information matching the first authentication information are received from the second communication device, the processor transmits to the second communication device the second file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Saito
  • Patent number: 10732909
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for optimizing an operating environment of a virtual machine executed therein includes a memory to store a computer executable instruction, and at least one processor to set the operating environment of the virtual machine by executing the computer executable instruction, based on configuration information regarding the operating environment of the virtual machine corresponding to one operating mode selected by a user from among operating modes of the virtual machine executed in the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: In Soo Sung, Myeong Koo Kang
  • Patent number: 10725714
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes circuitry to store, in a memory, primary address information indicating an address of a primary mail server and alternate address information indicating one or more addresses of corresponding one or more alternate mail servers. The circuitry performs authentication of a user and transmits, after the authentication succeeds, the e-mail using the primary mail server based on the primary address information, in response to a first transmission request for transmission using the primary mail server. When transmission using the primary mail server fails, the circuitry controls display of a selection screen for selecting one from the one or more alternate mail servers, based on the alternate address information and transmits, in response to a second transmission request for transmission using the alternate mail server, the e-mail using the one selected from the one or more alternate mail servers on the selection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 10728409
    Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a controller that performs control of the entire apparatus and a UI module that performs a display for a user interface by using an image data supplied from the controller. Then, the controller includes a first processor and the UI module includes a second processor, respectively. Then, the controller diagnoses an abnormality of at least the first processor at the time of boot of the electronic apparatus. Then, the UI module diagnoses an abnormality of the display and notifies, in a case where an abnormality of the display is detected at the time of boot of the electronic apparatus, the controller of the detected abnormality by communication between the second processor and the first processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kozuka
  • Patent number: 10719279
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a server, and a terminal device, all of which perform data communication with each other via a network. In the image forming apparatus, when a third communication unit receives input information written into a format, a third controller obtains on a basis of the input information written into the format an available capacity that can further write the input information into the format, compares the available capacity with a preset threshold value, and switches the image forming apparatus from a power saving state to a driving state on a basis of a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakao
  • Patent number: 10678486
    Abstract: When image data cannot be spooled in a non-volatile memory due to a shortage in an available capacity of the non-volatile memory, an attempt to spool the image data in a volatile memory is started after an available capacity of the volatile memory is increased to enable the volatile memory to spool the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Kazuya Sato
  • Patent number: 10681241
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a wireless interface configured to perform communication with an image forming apparatus, and at least one controller configured to function as a unit configured to acquire device information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus through the wireless interface, and a unit configured to selectively accept one of a first instruction to transmit the acquired device information to an external destination and a second instruction not to transmit the acquired device information to the external destination. The controller also functions as a unit configured to transmit, in a state where the first instruction has been accepted, the acquired device information to the external destination, and hold, in a state where the second instruction has been accepted, the acquired device information without transmitting the acquired device information to the external destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuichi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 10666814
    Abstract: A maintenance system includes a plurality of apparatuses and a maintenance server. Each apparatus: transmits log data indicating a state of the apparatus to the maintenance server; receives a prediction model from the maintenance server, the prediction model predicting the occurrence of an abnormal state of the plurality of apparatuses; determines whether the abnormal state of the apparatus occurs based on the prediction model to generate a determination result; and transmits the determination result indicating the occurrence of the abnormal state of the apparatus to the maintenance server. The maintenance server: generates the prediction model based on the log data received from each of the plurality of apparatuses; and issues an instruction of a maintenance work for one or more of the plurality of apparatuses that transmit the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Baba
  • Patent number: 10666820
    Abstract: In electronic device, a controller obtains, from an external device, a setting file containing setting item designating information and designated setting information, determines each of one or more setting items designated by the setting item designating information is which one of a fixed setting item and a variable setting item, stores the setting information regarding the setting item determined to be the fixed setting item based on the designated setting information, notify information asking for a user operation so that the receiving section receives the setting information regarding the setting item which is determined to be the variable setting item, and stores the setting information regarding the setting item determined to be the variable setting item in the memory based on the received setting information which is the setting information received by the receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sho Ogura
  • Patent number: 10654178
    Abstract: A robot has an optical signal transmitter that transmits an optical signal, the optical signal transmitter includes a light source, a supporting board that supports the light source, and a light guide part that transmits light emitted from the light source, and the supporting board includes a board main body, a penetration portion connected to the light source, penetrating in a thickness direction of the board main body, and formed using a metal material, and a heat dissipation portion connected to the penetration portion and formed using a metal material, wherein the penetration portion is placed between the light source and the heat dissipation portion, and the light source is placed between the light guide part and the supporting board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroto Tomioka
  • Patent number: 10656882
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a communication unit to transmit data to and receive data from an external device, an image forming job unit to perform printing, and a controller to control warming up of the image forming job unit to perform the printing, such that the image forming job unit performs the printing after the warming up is completed. The controller is to receive a print execution request to perform the printing and a predicted value of a print preparation time for the image forming device to create output image data, to perform the printing, from the external device via the communication unit, determine a warm-up start time of when to start the warming up of the image forming job unit by using the received predicted value of the print preparation time, and control the image forming job unit to start the warming up at the determined warm-up start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Mi-kyung Choi, Woo-chul Shin, Jun-young Choi
  • Patent number: 10656886
    Abstract: Provided is a server that is capable of directly sending a notification of an error to a non-registered user who is not authenticated and permitted to use an image forming apparatus. An authenticating unit performs authentication permission according to authentication information of a user. A notification-event-setting unit sets to send a notification of a server error as a recognizable event to a non-registered user, who is not registered to perform authentication permission by the authenticating unit. An event-notifying unit notifies about the event set by the notification-event-setting unit when the error actually occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Sun, Masafumi Sato, Tatsuya Hiwatari, Keiji Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10658666
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predicting colorant usage by printing devices are provided. A prediction server can receive a request to predict colorant usage for a first printing device. The prediction server can determine first plurality of functions to predict colorant usage for the first printing device. The first plurality of functions can include at least one linear function and at least one non-linear function. The first plurality of functions can be based on colorant-usage rates indicating historical rates of change in colorant used by the first printing device. The prediction server can determine a prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device using the first plurality of functions. The prediction server can provide an output involving the prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device, where the prediction of colorant usage can include a confidence interval related to the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Oleksandr Osadchyy
  • Patent number: 10659631
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires, from a terminal apparatus, control information including model identification information for identifying a model of the terminal apparatus and setting information concerning display setting of a screen of the terminal apparatus; and a controller that causes a screen on which fewer display items than an ordinary screen are displayed to be displayed on a display in a case where the model identification information included in the control information indicates a specific model or in a case where the setting information included in the control information indicates specific setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Sato