Patents Examined by Fan Lee
  • Patent number: 6427064
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for the communication of data which is maintained in a database within a memory of a paging receiver. The data maintained in these fields may be utilized during page requests to provide possibly useful information to the page-receiving communicant. The data is communicated via one or more alternative techniques described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel A. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6278862
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for enhancing the communication of data in an alphanumeric paging network. In accordance with the present invention, caller-identification information is automatically transmitted through a telephone network to a central office of a alphanumeric paging network when a page-originating communicant engages the network. The caller-identification information preferably includes numeric data which identifies the telephone number of the particular telephone unit utilized by the page-originating communicant to engage the alphanumeric paging network, and alphanumeric text which identifies the entity associated in the telephone directory with that particular telephone number. This information may be utilized in an automated fashion to reduce the required interaction between the alphanumeric paging network and the page-originating communicant. In particular it is helpful in minimizing the amount of human interaction required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel A. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6236464
    Abstract: An image forming system which freely combines functions of a plurality of devices connected on a network in accordance with necessity, and a control system for the system. Each of the plurality of devices stores information indicating functions which can be provided by the device in advance. A functional unit which serves as a supervisor collects these stored information and analyzes a combination of functions to perform operation designated by a user, based on the collected information. Then the supervisor combines the functions based on the result of analysis and performs the desired processing operation by the combination of functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideto Kohtani, Toshiyuki Kitamura, Kenichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6154295
    Abstract: A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer's home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John Randall Fredlund, David Lynn Patton, Roger R. A. Morton, Steven Bruce Paciocco
  • Patent number: 5960117
    Abstract: To reduce computational time of adaptive arithmetic encoding/decoding according to JBIG standard, a step (S21) of reading the learning table and a step (S22) of reading the prediction probability table in a pixel encoding step, which is performed when a context of all white can be applied, are omitted for a pixel following a preceding pixel whereof a normalization process (S27) is not performed, by making use of the prediction and the false approximation applied for the preceding pixel, in the method of invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Hiratani
  • Patent number: 5898510
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light emitting unit having a plurality of light emitting elements each having a different spectral characteristic, a light source having a plurality of light emitting means disposed on a substrate, and a photoelectric conversion unit for converting light from an object applied with light from the light source into an image signal, wherein the light emitting unit has at least two light emitting elements having a peak wavelength difference less than 30 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Kaihotsu, Akihiko Yushiya
  • Patent number: 5880856
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of storing and of progressively transferring a still image so that it can be conveniently previewed during the transfer and so that a user can terminate the transfer at an early stage if the image turns out to be undesirable. The methods of the invention include transforming the image into a plurality of decomposition levels using a discrete wavelet transform. Each decomposition level comprises a plurality of subimages which allow reconstruction of an image representation of the still image. The decomposition levels are transmitted beginning with a base decomposition level providing a low level of image resolution and then proceeding with decomposition levels providing increasingly higher levels of image resolution. Within each decomposition level, rows of the various subimages are arranged or interlaced together in contiguous blocks, so that all data for a single row, at a single decomposition level, is transmitted together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Philippe Ferriere
  • Patent number: 5872643
    Abstract: A film image reproducing apparatus includes an image pick-up device which picks up a film frame image recorded on a film to generate image data; an information reader which reads information about photographing conditions of the film frame image; a reproducing area designator which designates a reproducing area of the film frame image; a measuring device which measures a domestic light condition having to do with the designated reproducing area when the film frame image is picked up; a correcting device which corrects image data corresponding to the designated reproducing area using either the domestic light condition of the designated reproducing area or an undomestic light condition not having to do with the designated reproducing area; and a judging device which judges based on the information which is proper to use for image data correction, the domestic light condition or the undomestic light condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukari Maeda, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Hiroshi Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 5850296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanner housing structure which includes a scanner shell for mounting therein a scanning circuit, and the scanner housing structure is drawably mounted in a scanner-receiving space of a computer and allowed to be partially or completely drawn out of the scanner-receiving space. The scanner housing structure according to the present invention provides a more convenient environment in using a scanner, and the scanner can be a part of the computer so that no more effort of a user to choose and install a scanner is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Storm Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver Wang, Hwang Chyi Lee
  • Patent number: 5838458
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving document images including portions linked to one or more electronic addresses. The linked portion of the document is identified using a predetermined visual attribute, such as bold-face text, or delimiters to mark the portion. The document image is then transmitted using, e.g., existing apparatus for transmitting images, such as a facsimile machine. An electronic address associated with the identified portion of the document is also transmitted using existing techniques, such as by touch-tone telephone. The address may be a voice telephone number, facsimile telephone number, World Wide Web address, or any other address with which communication can be established. At the receiving end, both the document image and electronic address are received. Pattern matching is performed on the document image to identify the portion with the predetermined attribute as a linked portion. The received electronic address is then correlated with the linked portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Irving Tsai
  • Patent number: 5838462
    Abstract: A hybrid system for digitally screening black and white and/or color images using a number of imaging techniques is disclosed. Cyan, yellow, magenta and black color separation may be processed according to the same or different methods according to gray levels or other factors, in order to optimize output print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Fritz F. Ebner, Tse-Kee Chan
  • Patent number: 5828466
    Abstract: An apparatus stores image data sent as a facsimile signal through a line in an image memory (103) and records the image data on a recording medium upon reducing the data. The apparatus further includes an interface for connection with an external information processing unit such as a personal computer so that image data input from the external information processing unit through the interface can be stored in the image memory (103) and recorded on a recording medium. Designation of image data in the image memory (103) is allowed from the external information processing unit. The designated image data is retained after a recording operation. In addition, a reducing/recording operation is inhibited when the designated image data is to be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Imai, Yasuhide Ueno, Nobuyuki Hirai, Atsushi Ikeda, Koji Okamura
  • Patent number: 5825928
    Abstract: A motion image decoding apparatus receives encoded image data which has first, second and third data regions, such as MPEG macroblocks which have predetermined sizes, and a motion vector for each of the data regions. The motion image decoding apparatus conceals errors in the first data region by generating an error signal and using a motion vector of a second data region which is located on a line preceding a line containing the first data region having the error and which is in a same picture as the first data region and also by using a motion vector corresponding to a third data region which is located in a column preceding the column containing the first data region having the error and which is also in a same picture as that of the first data region. If no error is generated in the first data region, the motion vector for that data region is used to perform motion compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pil-ho Yu
  • Patent number: 5812286
    Abstract: A digital color processing method for images from scanners and digital cameras processes image data suitable for display on monitors or color hardcopies produced by digital color printers and correct hue shift and incorrect exposure based on the image content. The method automatically corrects the data based on the histogram of the acquired image normalizing the image data to correct for the hue shift and determining the gamma parameter to correct the exposure of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Qian Lin
  • Patent number: 5808756
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for book-like document includes a height detecting device which detects a height of the document, a luminance detecting device which detects a luminance of a background portion of the document image, a gloss calculating device which calculates gloss of a surface of the document in accordance with the height and the luminance, a luminance calculating device which calculates luminance corresponding to a background portion of the document image in accordance with the gloss and the height, a selecting device which selects either the detected luminance or the calculated luminance, and a density correcting means for correcting a density of the image data in accordance with said selected luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5809213
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic color correction is described. The method and apparatus implemented technique in which a nonlinear interpolation technique is applied to a relatively small number of measured sample values generated from color image patches to provide a color lookup table having a larger number of calibration values stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Anoop K. Bhattacharjya
  • Patent number: 5805307
    Abstract: A contact image sensor assembly for use in a facsimile comprises a scan roller and a contact image sensor to allow a manuscript to be passed therebetween during the rotation of the scan roller. The scan roller is rotatably mounted to a pair of side brackets having a slit, respectively, the slit having a roller fixing groove and a bent groove upwardly bent. A screw consists of a fastening portion fastened to a tap hole of the contact image sensor and an axle inserted into the slit. During the rotation of the scan roller, the axle of the screw is upwardly shifted along the bent groove while the contact image sensor is leftwardly biased by two springs, thereby automatically aligning with a desired scan point of the contact image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Telecom, Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon-Oh Park
  • Patent number: 5798844
    Abstract: A specific mark adding unit adds a specific mark to a read-in image and a specific mark detecting unit detects the specific mark present in a read-in image. Further, a control unit changes a mode in which a read-in image is duplicated from an ordinary duplicating mode into a specific duplicating mode, the mode changing being made if the specific mark detecting unit has detected the specific mark present in the read-in image. The specific mode comprises a mode in which the read-in image is invalidated in data before being used in the duplicating operation. A unit is further provided causing the specific-mark adding function of the specific mark adding unit either to be activated or not to be activated. A unit is further provided causing the mode changing function of the mode changing unit either to be activated or not to be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Sakano, Yasuhiro Tabata, Nobufumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 5784500
    Abstract: A binarization circuit compares the density value of the target pixel with the density value of surrounding pixels in the vicinity. A judging unit judges whether or not the target pixel is isolated from the surrounding pixels. A detection unit detects the density values of the target pixels which make the target pixels isolated by a binarization process. A calculation unit calculates the accumulated isolated pixel frequencies of each density value detected by the detecting function when the judging unit and the detecting unit have finished processing all of the original image. A determination unit determines a threshold value on the basis of the accumulated isolated pixels frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toru Homma, Koji Yura, Yoshikatu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5774233
    Abstract: A document image processing system includes a menu display part determining the layout of menu data on the basis of the height Ha and the width Wa of the displayable area of the display unit when the display unit is rotated to its vertical position, the height Hb and the width Wb of the displayable area when the display unit is rotated to its horizontal position and the width Wc and the height Hc of a selection item display area displaying menu data, and displaying the menu on the basis of the layout thus determined, so that the menu can be displayed with a maximum size on the displayable area of the display unit regardless of the height and width of the displayable area changing depending on the direction of rotation of the display unit and without changing the size and arrangement of the menu data in the menu display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Sakamoto