Patents Examined by Madelein Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9052860
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that prints and edits a document includes a user identification portion, a print management portion that records print management information indicating a user who performs abort operation of printing, an edit management portion that records edit management information, a determination portion that determines, based on the print management information, whether or not the user is a print suspended operator who has performed the abort operation previously, a page extraction portion that, when the print suspended operator performs reprinting operation for giving instructions to print the document that has been updated, extracts pages of the document which were printed successfully when printing of the document was suspended and have been updated thereafter, and a print controller that controls the image forming apparatus such that the image forming apparatus prints at least unprinted pages of the document and the pages extracted by the page extraction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Taketoshi Yamahata, Tsumoru Matsuura, Eiichi Yoshida, Takatsugu Kuno, Kenichi Komaba
  • Patent number: 9055183
    Abstract: Methods of determining a known location of a sensor head in a scanner without the use of contact sensors are described. Upon initialization of a scanner, the sensor head is moved rapidly to quickly detect a known pattern at a known location in the scanner. As the scan head is moved, windows moving along lines of pixels detected by the sensor head are used to perform pixel averaging to detect the known pattern in the scanner. Parameters associated with the windows custom fit the windows to the known pattern to facilitate rapid detection of the known pattern and determine a known location of the scan head to facilitate calibration of the scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Sandra Capri
  • Patent number: 9049313
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to receive reflection light emitted by a light emitting unit, and output a detection signal corresponding to an amount of received reflection light; a detection unit configured to output, as an output signal, a signal corresponding to a difference between a value that corresponds to an amount of reflection light from a first position at which a detection image having one or more lines in a direction different from a movement direction is formed and a value that corresponds to an amount of reflection light from a second position different from the first position; and a control unit configured to control an image formation condition related to density of an image to be formed, based on a peak value of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Mukaibara, Kenichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 9049330
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for managing electronic documents. In particular, embodiments of the present invention are focussed on managing ingestion of documents into an information system, such as ingestion of documents generated by a device having scanning functionality. Embodiments include devices, software (defined by computer executable code), carrier media, and methodologies. In overview, a document is received from an ingestion source, such as a Multi Function Device (MFD) having a scanner. For example, the document is a scanned into an electronic form from a paper form. This electronic form is subjected to additional processing thereby to implement a predefined security protocol prior to the document (or a modified version thereof) being released into an information system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Berkeley Information Technology PTY LTD
    Inventors: Scott David Coles, Mark Peter Naglost, Philip James Hawthorne
  • Patent number: 9041964
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a communication unit, a scanning unit, an issuing unit, a storage unit, an information receiving unit, an identification unit, an authentication unit, and a communication control unit. The image data number issuing unit issues a unique image data number for image data. A user inputs the image data number of the image data, cloud information, a login ID, and a password into an external terminal. The external terminal transmits the input content to the image forming apparatus. The login authentication unit performs authentication on a cloud identified by the target cloud identification unit using the transmitted login ID and password. When login is successful, the upload control unit transmits the image data of the image data number to the cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Akuta, Akihiro Umenaga, Sachiko Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9013772
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a read image obtainer and a setting value calculator implemented by circuitry. The read image obtainer obtains a scanned determination image, including a plurality of different dot patterns output by an image forming apparatus on a recording medium. The setting value calculator, for each of the different dot patterns of the obtained scanned determination image, determines densities of different colors of the respective dot pattern and a total number of pixels influencing the density of each coefficient of a dot gain correction filter, with respect to each target pixel. The setting value calculator further configured calculates the coefficients of the dot gain correction filter based on the determined densities of the different colors of the different dot patterns and the total number of pixels, determined for each coefficient of the dot gain correction filter and for each of the different dot patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kitai, Takahiro Fukase
  • Patent number: 9007633
    Abstract: Capturing a sequence of images of a multi-page printed document is performed by a handheld device, such as a Smartphone. The device has one or more processors, memory, and a digital image sensor. The device monitors preview images of a first printed page of the multi-page printed document, where the preview images are generated by the digital image sensor. Without user indication of when to capture an image, the device captures a still image of the first printed page when a first quality metric of the preview images exceeds a first quality threshold. The device repeats the monitoring and capturing of additional pages until receiving indication from the user that capturing images is complete. In response to receiving indication from the user that capturing images is complete, the device concatenates the captured still images into a single digital document and stores the single digital document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakaida, Scott Carter, John Adcock, David M. Hilbert, Francine Chen
  • Patent number: 8995012
    Abstract: An automated document processing system, particularly for mobile image capture and processing of financial documents to enhance images captured on a mobile device with camera capabilities for data extraction. The systems comprise a mobile device that includes a capture device configured to capture color images of documents, and that has a processor for performing certain operations, such as color reduction, and a transmitter for sending an image from the mobile device to a server. The server is configured to optimize and enhance the image, and to apply an improved binarization algorithm using a window within a relevant document field and/or a threshold for the document field. Orientation correction may also be performed at the server by reading the MICR line on a check and comparing a MICR confidence to a threshold. A check image may also be size corrected using features of the MICR line and expected document dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: RDM Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Heit, Dhammika Botejue, Frank McGovern, Dima Shamroni
  • Patent number: 8982394
    Abstract: In a conventional scan system, even in the case where an image forming device has an image processing function, since image processing such as OCR processing and OCR preprocessing for increasing a character recognition rate in the OCR processing is performed by only a scan server, a processing load is concentrated in the scan server. In the scan server of the present invention, scan setting and the OCR preprocessing are described in a scan ticket (instruction data), and the image forming device performs, on a scanned image, the OCR preprocessing described in the scan ticket received from the scan server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuuhei Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8976430
    Abstract: Generation of shading correction data is started before an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is longer than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point, and generation of shading correction data is started after an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is shorter than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Morita, Akiko Kanno, Satoshi Seki, Yohei Katto
  • Patent number: 8964192
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes reading image data from a print medium and performing image processing on the image data by querying a database to verify that each object to be included on the print medium appears on the medium in a manner in which it is supposed to appear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Yann LeCostaouec, Michael Jeffrey Holley, Ward Fisher, Cheyenne Wills, Jason Walp, Nenad Rijavec, Sathya Vadlamani
  • Patent number: 8964250
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the acquisition of color images by a sensor including a plurality of photosites comprising spectral sensitivities that can to be different between photosites. The invention provides for a digital processing of signals emitted by the photosites, which comprises applying a spatial-chromatic transfer function to said signals, taking into account a variety of spectral sensitivities of the photosites. The sensor can then be devoid of a physical matrix of color filters. Spectral calibration of the sensor is also provided for this purpose, thus comprising the following steps: obtaining spectral sensitivity data of each photosite (S91), building a spatial-chromatic transfer function (S94) taking into account a variety of said spectral sensitivities of the photosites, and applying same to the signals emitted by the photosites in order to compensate for the aforementioned variety of sensitivities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique—CNRS
    Inventor: David Alleysson
  • Patent number: 8964239
    Abstract: An embodiment discloses a method utilizing a device for handling multiple documents during scanning. The method includes receiving multiple documents on or within a sleeve to enable scanning of at least one of a first side and a second side of each of the documents in a single scanning operation. The method includes identifying one or more dimensional characteristics of the sleeve and each document arranged on or within the sleeve. The method further includes scanning at least one of the first side and the second side of each document. Moreover, the method includes tagging the scanned documents based on at least one of content characteristics and the dimensional characteristics of the documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Girish Prabhu, Rinku Gajera, Atul K Saraf, Kovendhan Ponnavaikko, Nischal M Piratla
  • Patent number: 8953232
    Abstract: An image reader includes a moving portion, a transparent plate, a reference member, and a detecting portion. The reference member that is provided in at least one of a position that is not the manuscript contact surface in the first scanning direction and a position that is further to a side in a first direction from the transparent plate than the manuscript contact surface. The detecting portion is supported by the moving portion and includes a plurality of detecting elements, in the second scanning direction, detecting reflected light of light irradiated from a light source. A height position of the detecting portion when the reference member is on the side in the first direction is further to the side in the first direction than a height position of the detecting portion when the manuscript contact surface is on the side in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kasugai, Kazuma Hojo
  • Patent number: 8947726
    Abstract: A screen image displaying image-data items in list form is displayed over a predetermined time period. Then, the display color of an image-data item of the image-data items, the image-data item corresponding to predetermined classification information, is changed so that the image-data item can be differentiated from other image-data items. Consequently, a user can clearly identify the classification of the image-data items and easily find an image-data item satisfying a condition without performing a complicated operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Hachiro
  • Patent number: 8928913
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for switching service process and a media server, wherein the method for switching the service process comprises: after a first service process performed together with a facsimile terminal is completed, and when a message, which is sent by an application server and which indicates to carry out a second service process, is received by a media server, the media server switching from the first service process to the second service process; and the facsimile terminal switching from the first service process to the second service process. Therefore, the switching of the facsimile is not limited by the switching control requirements of the media gateway, which is favorable for flexible expansion and interconnection of the facsimile services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Wang
  • Patent number: 8922853
    Abstract: A dynamically applicable system to calibrate a number of printers having a controller including a processor and memory to control printing a document relative to characteristics of the document using the printer. Calibration settings for the printer may be manipulable. Calibration may be performed by comparing a calibration pattern to a marking on a calibration document. Additionally, calibration may be performed by comparing a calibration pattern with a crease. The controller may calculate calibration settings from calibration information received using an interface. Calibration settings are storable on memory or a database. The system may communicate with other devices over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: WILopEN Products LC
    Inventor: Richard Wilen
  • Patent number: 8922799
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming device that has a duplex printing function, and suspends execution of a printing operation to allow internal temperature to decrease when the internal temperature increases and reaches predetermined limit temperature at which toner in a developing unit is fusible, the image forming device storing, each time a print job is received, the received print job therein as a waiting print job; selecting, from among a plurality of waiting print jobs, a print job that is estimated to cause the smallest increase in the internal temperature as a print job to be executed preferentially, based on printing conditions set on the respective waiting print jobs; and controlling execution order of the waiting print jobs so that the selected print job is executed preferentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 8922807
    Abstract: Conventionally, during a copy operation, certain advanced mode settings make the extraction of additional security information impossible. In order to solve this problem, the print control apparatus includes: determining unit for determining an interval between a pattern element and a pattern element adjacent to the pattern element from the received image data; and control unit for performing a control so as to scale the image at a magnification specified by a user and have the scaled image printed by a printing apparatus when the product of the magnification specified by the user and the interval determined by the determining unit falls within a predetermined range, and configured to terminate or interrupt the printing of the image by the printing apparatus when the product of the magnification specified by the user and the interval determined by the determining unit does not fall within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Tsuchitoi
  • Patent number: 8917420
    Abstract: A method for processing black point compensation parameters for a color image to be printed so as to enhance image quality of the color image is provided. The method includes converting a received color image to a gray scale image; determining, using the received color image and the gray scale image, a performance attribute to estimate the effect of the black point compensation parameters on the image quality of the received color image, respectively; deriving a model to estimate relationships between the black point compensation parameters and the determined performance attribute; maximizing the performance attribute of the derived model so as to process the black point compensation parameters for the color image; and using the processed black point compensation parameters to construct output device profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Alvaro E. Gil, Himanshu J. Madhu, Lina Fu, James M. Sanchez, Connie F. Purdum