Patents Examined by Jacky X. Zheng
  • Patent number: 10956098
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a plurality of processing apparatuses. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, storage, an acquiring section, a first specifying section, a receiver, a second specifying section, and a notifying section. The storage stores therein a position of each of the processing apparatuses. The acquiring section acquires state information from each of the processing apparatuses. The state information indicates whether a corresponding one of the processing apparatuses is in a normal function state or a malfunction state. The first specifying section specifies, from among the processing apparatuses, a malfunctioning processing apparatus for which the malfunction state is indicated by the state information. The second specifying section specifies a relative position of the malfunctioning processing apparatus with respect to a mobile terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakatsuka, Makoto Kowaka, Hironori Okamoto, Kentaro Kishida, Koichiro Tazuke, Masakazu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10951782
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for executing a plurality of applications associated with specific functions to perform image processing includes a first registration unit that, when executing any one of the plurality of applications, automatically registers first setting data set for the application in a storage unit in association with the application, a second registration unit that, according to a registration instruction from a user, registers second setting data set for any one of the plurality of applications in association with the application, and a display control unit that displays a calling-up and setting screen including a first button group for calling up the first setting data automatically registered in the storage unit and a second button group for calling up the second setting data registered in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10936262
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main CPU 70. During an unused period in which the image forming apparatus is not used, the main CPU 70 detects, based on the output of a first operation detection sensor, the presence of a first operation, which is an operation that causes a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen. When the main CPU 70 detects the first operation, theft alert audio which indicates that there is a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen is output from a speaker. Also, the main CPU 70 transmits an email to a pre-registered destination which includes a theft alert message, which indicates that there is a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sohichi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 10939016
    Abstract: An image processing method includes an image encoding step of encoding data in which one channel in each pixel of image data including a plurality of pixels is configured by 2 bits or more into data in which the one channel is configured by 1 bit, a transfer step of transferring the encoded data to a printing apparatus, and an image decoding step of decoding the encoded data using the printing apparatus, in which, in the image encoding step, flag information indicating whether the pixel is a character or a line image or a photograph is assigned, and in the image decoding step, decoding is performed by selecting a first decoding method or a second decoding method based on the flag information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shin Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10911626
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing apparatus that prints an image on a sheet, a sheet processor that executes sheet processing, and a sheet detection sensor that detects a sheet on which the sheet processing is performed not in association with the printing of an image, where the printing of an image is restricted in response to detection of a sheet by the sheet detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Mutsuno, Masaki Kashiwagi, Akinori Takeo, Satoshi Totsuka
  • Patent number: 10897555
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry receives information related to a print job requested by a user, and determines whether the information related to the print job meets a previously determined condition. When the user requests an image forming apparatus to execute the print job and it is determined that the information related to the print job meets the previously determined condition, the circuitry executes a first authentication process for the user. When the user requests the image forming apparatus to execute the print job and it is determined that the information related to the print job fails to meet the previously determined condition, the circuitry executes a second authentication process for the user. The second authentication process is different at least partly from the first authentication process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuichiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10893153
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a storage medium, an input device, and a processor. The storage medium stores photograph data and comments. The processor generates album page data in which selected pieces of photograph data are placed. The processor adds an enclosure image and one of the comments to each of the pieces of photograph data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Harada
  • Patent number: 10893156
    Abstract: Systems and methods relate generally to scan authorization. For example, a memory has stored therein at least one keyword in a word bank, at least one permission in at least one profile, and at least one action to be performed responsive to a scanning operation of a document including the at least one keyword. A scan file and a user identification associated therewith of the scanning operation are obtained. A recognition operation is performed on an image in the scan file. A check for the at least one keyword in a recognized content obtained from the image is performed. Responsive to recognizing the at least one keyword in the recognized content, a check for the at least one permission having the user identification is performed. The at least one action for the scanning operation is performed responsive to an outcome of the checking for the at least one permission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Moua
  • Patent number: 10893154
    Abstract: A personalized souvenir producing interactive kiosk system and method of producing a personalized souvenir using the personalized souvenir producing interactive kiosk system. The system includes a vending machine-like kiosk configured to communicate with a user's electronic device, such as a smartphone, to accept an upload of a user-selected digital image. The kiosk then creates a personalized souvenir in the form of a refrigerator magnet using the digital image and printing the digital image on a section of magnetic sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Alicia Kline
  • Patent number: 10846037
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a communication interface, an image forming device, a user interface, a memory, and a controller, is provided. The controller controls the user interface to display a print standby screen including a specific object, on condition that received reservable print job data indicates a first parameter being applied to the received reservable print job. The controller controls the image forming device to print images for the reservable print job in compliance with the first parameter when the execution instructing operation is rendered through the user interface without accompanying an operation to the specific object in the print standby screen, but controls the image forming device to print images for the reservable print job in compliance with a second parameter when the operation to the specific object in the print standby screen and the execution instructing operation are rendered through the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Ohhashi
  • Patent number: 10846034
    Abstract: Problems may be caused by incompatibility between a print job and print settings. An image processing device controls displaying content by a display, and has a controller configured to determine whether or not a print job containing multiple image layers is compatible with a print setting, and displays an error report on the display when the print job and print setting are not compatible. The controller displays a first input field to receive a number of image layers as part of the print setting, and displays the error report when the number of image layers set according to an operation on the first input field is not compatible with the number of image layers contained in the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasutake Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 10841455
    Abstract: Use of a replacement image forming apparatus is immediately performed. When a first system control unit of a first MFP is instructed to start backup of data stored in a first HDD and a first EEPROM, the first system control unit transmits the data to an information management server, and when a second system control unit of a second MFP is instructed to start setting, the second system control unit issues a download request including a storage capacity of the second HDD and the second EEPROM to the information management server, and a third system control unit of the information management server stores data from the first MFP in a third HDD, reads data from the third HDD according to a storage capacity of the second HDD and the second EEPROM, and transmits the data to the second MFP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuki Shimotsu
  • Patent number: 10831416
    Abstract: A subset of pages in a job are analyzed for page complexity to determine if a repeating complexity pattern is present in the job. If a repeating complexity pattern is found, then the page complexities can be extrapolated to other pages in the job. One embodiment comprises a plurality of Raster Image Processors (RIPs) and a scheduler. The scheduler receives a print job, identifies a subset of logical pages in the print job for complexity analysis, and calculates a page complexity value for logical pages in the subset. The scheduler determines that a repeating pattern of page complexity values is present in the subset, and assigns page complexity values to remaining logical pages in the print job by extrapolating the repeating pattern of page complexity values to the remaining logical pages. The scheduler assigns the logical pages in the print job to the RIPs based on their page complexity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Justin J. Coulter, David Ward
  • Patent number: 10812676
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an information processing method, and more particular an image processing apparatus including an acceptance unit configured to accept an operation performed on the image processing apparatus, and a controller configured to perform control such that an operation performed on the image processing apparatus is not accepted by the acceptance unit while a service associated with remote assistance is accepted based on an access from an external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoya Kakutani
  • Patent number: 10802770
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating print data are described herein. An apparatus comprising an image processor (110) is configured to select a region of an image spanning an intersection between at least two adjacent sub-images that partition the image. The spanning region is divided based on a non-linear path that is determined on the basis of a user input, resulting in at least two modified adjacent sub-images. Print data operable to cause a printing device (150) to print the respective modified adjacent sub-images are generated on the basis of the dividing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Zelidor Fineberg, Eli Velner, Noam Shaham, Oren Haik
  • Patent number: 10805477
    Abstract: In an example, a method includes determining, by a processor, at least one separation distance between defects in a scanned image of a printed substrate sheet bearing a printed image, wherein the separation distance determined in a predetermined direction. The method may further comprise determining, by the processor, if the defects have a characteristic separation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Oren Haik, Oded Perry, Avi Malki
  • Patent number: 10776061
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a storage device, an entry operation unit, and a control unit. The storage device stores a document box in which document data is accumulated and stored. The entry operation unit accepts entry of a box name of the document box. The control unit includes a processor and, when the processor executes a control program, functions as a deletion controller. The deletion controller stores a predetermined plurality of keywords each indicating a saving period of the document data, and deletes the document data stored in the document box including at least one of the plurality of keywords in the box name thereof, the delete being performed in accordance with the saving period indicated by the included keyword.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Diana Denise Basa-Martinez
  • Patent number: 10778864
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes data for printing an image by relatively moving a printing unit and a printing medium. The printing unit includes a plurality of printing elements arranged in a first direction, and the relative movement is in a second direction that intersects with the first. The apparatus includes an acquisition unit to acquire image data corresponding to an image of one page, a first processing unit to process first image data corresponding to a first processing area of the image by using a common parameter for each pixel arranged in the second direction, for generating first print data that is used for the printing unit, a second processing unit to process second image data corresponding to a second processing area of the image by using a common parameter for each pixel arranged in the second direction, for generating second print data used for the printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10778863
    Abstract: Electronic device is linked with a mobile terminal, screen transition of the electronic device is eliminated, and various operation input is performed while confirming operation content from the mobile terminal on a screen of the electronic device. When proximity of the mobile terminal is detected in a state of displaying a specific screen on an operation display portion, an image forming apparatus transmits operation input information associated with the specific screen in advance to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal displays an operation input screen based on the operation input information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and transmits operation content instructed by a user from the operation input screen to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus updates the specific screen in accordance with the operation content transmitted from the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuto Nishii
  • Patent number: 10768869
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of this invention, an image processing apparatus generates image data to be used to print an image on a print medium, based on a print job transmitted from a host, generates first print data by performing image processing on part of the generated image data, stores the first print data in a first memory, generates second print data by performing image processing on a remaining part of the generated image data, and stores the second print data in a second memory. The apparatus further transfers the first print data from the first memory to the second memory, composes the first print data and the second print data stored in the second memory, and transfers the composite data as print data to a continuous area of a third memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hironori Nakamura