Patents Examined by Helen Q Zong
  • Patent number: 9262114
    Abstract: An information apparatus includes an apparatus information obtaining unit that obtains apparatus information from a plurality of apparatuses connected via a network to the information apparatus, an apparatus selection unit that selects a target apparatus from the plurality of apparatuses based on the obtained apparatus information, and a process result obtaining unit that sends a request to the target apparatus to request the target apparatus to perform a process corresponding to the request, and obtains a result of the performed process from the target apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Nakabayashi, Kenji Yamada
  • Patent number: 9262104
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first replacing unit, an obtaining unit, and a second replacing unit. The first replacing unit replaces, in first document data including plural character strings, a first character string which satisfies a predetermined condition by a second character string including a character string which is not included in the first document data so as to generate second document data. The obtaining unit obtains a processing result generated by processing the second document data. The second replacing unit replaces the second character string included in the processing result by a character string corresponding to the first character string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yasushi Amano, Kohshiro Inomata, Fumihisa Suzuki, Yosuke Kinoshita, Hirochika Shionoiri
  • Patent number: 9253351
    Abstract: In an original reading apparatus, a conveying mechanism and a reading device start a conveying operation and a reading operation to acquire a read image when a detecting device detects an existence of an original. The read image is acquired in a first direction and has a prescribed width in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first direction corresponds to a conveying direction of the original. A control device determines whether or not the read image includes an overall solid region with a single color. The overall solid region has: a length in the first direction longer than or equal to a prescribed length; and a width in the second direction equal to the prescribed width. When the read image includes the overall solid region, the control device outputs a signal indicative of incorrect detection of the existence of the original due to external light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoya Ito
  • Patent number: 9250836
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus is disclosed. The mobile apparatus includes a user interface unit which is selected with a web page to be printed, an obtaining unit which obtains a size of the selected web page, a calculating unit which calculates a plurality of capture areas regarding the web page based on the obtained size of the web page so that there is not repeated area, an image processing unit which generates a capture image regarding the web page per calculated plurality of capture area, and combines the generated capture images to generate a print image, and a communication interface unit which transmits the generated print image to the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong-Jin Park, Jae-young Soh
  • Patent number: 9253336
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus including an imaging unit that images light incident from a medium on which an image is formed, a measurement unit that measures a color value on an image, based on image data obtained by the imaging unit, in correspondence with a position on the image, a generation unit that generates error information indicating an error included in the color value according to the color value measured by the measurement unit and a relative position of the position on the image with respect to an optical axis of the imaging unit, and an output unit that outputs the error information generated by the generation unit and the measured color value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Fukunaga, Kiyofumi Aikawa, Takashi Hiramatsu, Michio Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9247096
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus and an image reading method are provided by which a top face image and a back face image of a document can both have an improved reading accuracy while simplifying a circuit configuration and providing a higher processing speed. A period within which a reading operation is interrupted is set based on a relation with a free capacity of a buffer memory so as to avoid a period within which the top face image and the back face image of the document are both read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kuniaki Sato
  • Patent number: 9232082
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of processing units capable of performing different support processing for a user asking for support, and a remote support apparatus operated by an operator are connected via a communication path. The remote support apparatus transmits to the image forming apparatus a request to perform the support using the selected processing unit, or a request to switch the processing unit to a selected specific processing unit and a request to perform the support. The image forming apparatus allows the processing unit which follows the request to perform the support, to perform the support, and switches the processing unit according to the request to switch the processing unit to allow the switched processing unit to perform the support. Further, the image forming apparatus returns a result which should be returned, among results of the performed support, to the remote support apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenta Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9229672
    Abstract: An auditing system that stores job history information of a job to be executed by an image forming apparatus may include a setting unit and an acquisition unit. The setting unit sets page filtering conditions. In response to the page filtering conditions including a setting of a ratio of pages containing image data to be acquired to all pages included in the job to be executed by the image forming apparatus, the acquisition unit randomly acquires image data of a number of pages corresponding to the ratio, from the pages included in the job, as the job history information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriko Takagi
  • Patent number: 9225876
    Abstract: Systems and method for improving the quality of document images are provided. One method includes identifying a plurality of image fragments within a previously received document image that includes text. The method further includes separating the plurality of image fragments into a plurality of classes. Each class includes a subset of the plurality of image fragments that are substantially similar to one another. The method further includes, for each of the plurality of classes: (1) processing a class of image fragments to generate a combined and substantially enlarged image fragment for the class; and (2) filtering the combined and substantially enlarged image fragment to generate a filtered image fragment for the class. The method further includes generating an improved document image by replacing or modifying the image fragments within the document image based on the filtered image fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ABBYY Development LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail Kostyukov, Ivan Zagaynov
  • Patent number: 9218150
    Abstract: A system is provided in which printer driver update work is not required, and in addition, print queue creation work can be hidden. When a virtual printer driver is installed, a generic printer driver is installed in the system without creating a print queue. Then, for execution of printing, the installed generic printer driver is used to create the print queue, and a print job is input to the print queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 9213815
    Abstract: A user authentication device provided on an apparatus as an object of operation acquires feature data representing notable portion of the user, using a camera device, after user authentication. Based on the acquired feature data, the user authentication device tracks the user by the camera (step S1030). If it is detected by the tracking that the user has left the apparatus, the user authentication device displays a log-in screen image on an operation panel (step S1060). If it is detected that the user once left the apparatus has returned to a position where he/she can operate the apparatus, the user authentication device displays the screen image that has been previously operated by the user. On the other hand, if it is detected that the tracking has been interrupted after the user left the apparatus, the user authentication device executes a log-out process (step S1120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuto Nishii
  • Patent number: 9207899
    Abstract: A management apparatus designates a first installer program for installing a printer driver for a printer in an information processing apparatus, designates at least one second installer program for installing a program related to the printer driver in the information processing apparatus, designates an activation order of the first installer program and the second installer program, creates a setup program that includes the first installer program and the second installer program and is for activating the programs in the designated order, and registers the created setup program in a storage region in the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuhei Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9208413
    Abstract: A color correcting system mountable in an image forming apparatus comprises an imaging unit configured to perform image formation and a control unit configured to acquire a control parameter for use in image formation by the imaging unit and a status parameter indicating a status at the time of image formation. If a value for a color in an image formed by the imaging unit does not exceed a first threshold, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of adhering toner amount, gloss, line width, and line position for the image formed by the imaging unit does not exceed a second threshold, the control unit is configured to determine a control parameter on the basis of the acquired control parameter and the acquired status parameter, such that at least a color difference decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Toso, Tadayasu Sekioka, Naotoshi Kawai, So Yano, Noboru Oomoto, Takashi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9207894
    Abstract: A sheet preview system generates a print preview of a sheet that has a layout specifying a position and orientation for each page. To generate the print preview of the sheet, the sheet preview system displays a representation of the sheet that includes an image of each page of the sheet. The sheet preview system positions and orients the images in accordance with the layout of the sheet. The sheet preview system then displays in association with each displayed image of a page the page number of that page. The sheet preview system may orient the page number of the page in accordance with the orientation of the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Waltman, Zhao-Hong Max Mai
  • Patent number: 9195169
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet by using a consumable material contained in a consumable material unit. The consumable material unit includes a storage medium. The storage medium stores first information and second information. The image forming apparatus includes a control section and a reading section. The controlling section performs pre-processing. The pre-processing is for starting the image formation and performed based on the first information. The reading section reads the first information from the storage medium and transmits the first information to the control section before reading the second information. The first information is essential for the pre-processing. The second information is processable by the control section during or after the image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kentaro Kishida
  • Patent number: 9191544
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a signal to scan a document containing one or more coded objects, scanning the object coded document, decoding the one or more coded objects from the scanned object coded document into feature identification data, matching the feature identification data to one or more corresponding image production device features, and enabling the one or more corresponding image production device features on the image production device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Siddle
  • Patent number: 9180663
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a recording control unit for recording, by a recording head, a recording position adjustment chart including a pattern for adjusting a recording position of the recording head discharging ink and a mark formed in a position different from that of the pattern, a reading unit for reading the recording position adjustment chart as image data, a first detection unit for detecting a position and inclination of the recording position adjustment chart when reading the recording position adjustment chart based on the mark, a second detection unit for detecting the position of the pattern based on the position and the inclination detected by the first detection unit, and a determination unit for determining adjustment values for the recording position adjustment based on the image data of the recording position adjustment chart in which the position of the pattern has been detected by the second detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Kido
  • Patent number: 9172824
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and non-transitory recording medium storing an image inspection control program, each of which is capable of inspecting a printed image are provided. While generating an inspection image to be used for inspecting a read image obtained by reading the printed image, attribute data indicating, for each pixel in the inspection image, whether the pixel belongs to drawing data in the inspection image is generated. The attribute data is used to process inspection of the read image based on comparison between the read image and the inspection image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Kojima, Hiroyoshi Ishizaki, Tadashi Kitai, Hitomi Kaneko, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Keiichi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9164457
    Abstract: An image forming device provided with a restart unit and a deletion unit. If processing requiring a restart of the image forming device is requested by another terminal device that is connected via a communications circuit, the restart unit causes the image forming device to restart. If the processing requiring the restart is requested by the other terminal device while a service process relating to image processing is being provided by a service process provision device that is connected via the communications circuit, the deletion unit deletes data relating to use of the service process before the image forming device is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Machida
  • Patent number: 9159008
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for estimating usage of a print substance. The method comprises receiving a plurality of pixels of a page to be printed, and generating, for one of the plurality of pixels, a look-up address based on (i) pixel bits of the one of the plurality of pixels, and (ii) pixel bits of one or more other pixels proximal to the one of the plurality of pixels. The method further comprises estimating an amount of print substance deposited on the page at a location associated with the one of the plurality of pixels based on reference to a print substance amount in a table of print substance amounts, wherein the reference to the print substance amount in the table is made using the look-up address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy G. Moss, Douglas Gene Keithley, Nilotpal Sensarkar