Patents Examined by Mark Wallerson
  • Patent number: 7209249
    Abstract: Common portions of applications are extracted as common system service. A platform is formed by the common system service and a general purpose OS. A printer application, a copy application, and various applications are mounted on the platform. As a result, each software (application) corresponding to a printer, a copier, a facsimile device, and so on can be developed efficiently and the productivity of the apparatus as a whole can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Morita
  • Patent number: 7209244
    Abstract: A method of printing multiple images with differing line screen frequencies with a printer is print sensitive to differing line screen frequencies, the method comprising the steps of: converting the images into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; reassigning the digital value of the interior pixels to a fixed interior pixel value; and reassigning the edge pixel values so as to minimize print sensitivity to differing line screen frequencies between images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Foster
  • Patent number: 7206081
    Abstract: When data to be output in accordance with a predetermined protocol and attached information of the data are input in setting output conditions of an output apparatus capable of setting a plurality of output parameters, information concerning output of the data is detected from the attached information. An output parameter is selected in accordance with the detected information, and the data is converted in accordance with the selected output parameter. This reduces operations by a user, so an appropriate output corresponding to the data can be obtained without any expert knowledge. This invention is applicable to, e.g., an output system for printing medical images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Sada, Kenichi Suzuki, Keiji Okoda, Kazumasa Matsumoto, Satoshi Shimizu, Hidehiko Saito
  • Patent number: 7206085
    Abstract: A network facsimile machine (1) is connected to PSTN (3) such that it can receive fax data from a remote facsimile machine (2) over the PSTN (3). The network facsimile machine (1) is also connected to LAN (6) such that it can deliver the received fax data to a designated recipient (4 or 5) on the LAN (6). When a communication control unit (11) of the network facsimile machine (1) receives a ring signal over the PSTN (3) from the remote facsimile machine (2), it performs a communication procedure with the remote facsimile machine (1) and receives data identifying a network final recipient (4 or 5) to which the fax data will be delivered. The network facsimile machine (1) then references a delivery recipient table (12) based on the data identifying the final recipient, and reads out the reception capabilities of the identified recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7184167
    Abstract: In a data processing, a print area is divided into a text area for arranging text data and an image area for arranging image data. The image data is proportionally modified before arranging the data in the image area. Also, the text data is reformatted by, for example, deleting unnecessary line feed codes before arranging the data in the text area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chitoshi Ito, Hirokazu Kuwabara, Tatsuhiro Ikedo
  • Patent number: 7167254
    Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an image scanning system which has both a printer function and image scanning function but allows simple operation for scanning an image. In order to achieve this object, a system has a print device with a scanner function, which allows printing and scanning by selectively mounting a print head and scan head on a head mounting portion, and a host computer which is connected to the print device to be able to communicate with it, and includes a scanner driver which can control scanning of the print device. When the scan head is mounted on the head mounting portion in a state an original to be scanned is prepared on the print device, the print device communicates with the host computer to start the scanner driver and to read an image of the original into the scanner driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Abe
  • Patent number: 7133147
    Abstract: An image-processing apparatus and a control method for this apparatus. Image data is received through a communication section and is recorded by a recording section onto a recording material fed from a manual-feeding tray. Recording materials of various sizes can be set on this tray. The correct recording-material size is obtained based on the size of the received image data and is displayed, and an indication is also given to check whether the recording operation is to be performed. If the manual-feeding operation has been selected, an alarm sound indicates that the image data has been received. The processing then proceeds according to the instruction given in response to the display. Further, if it is determined that a recording error has occurred when the recording operation is performed through manual feeding, the image data is stored in a non-volatile storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Komada
  • Patent number: 7116444
    Abstract: The toner in the toner cartridge is determined by taking each of the rasterized images output by the RIP and evaluating the pixel levels over the surface thereof. The average value is determined as a percentage of the maximum toner that can be applied to the page. This is then subtracted from a toner value and a remaining toner level determined. Further, all pages of the rasterized document can be evaluated to predetermine the toner level after printing. If this falls below a predetermined minimum, printing is inhibited for that document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Barry, Jack N. Bartholmae, Francis A. Rowe, E. Neal Tompkins, Peter A. Zuber
  • Patent number: 7110136
    Abstract: In a reading apparatus, mask data of entry box lines thicker than lines of a layout printed on a form is stored in a storage portion of a reading apparatus, a layout code printed in the vicinity of the entry box of the layout read by a reading portion is read, and with detection marks as a reference, the mask data corresponding to the layout and the image data read by the reading portion are superimposed for deletion, thereby detecting only the entered data. Then, the detected data is transmitted to a printing apparatus, a client terminal or the like. When data printing is performed, the layout data of a layout management apparatus and the detected data are superimposed and printed by the printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyoshi Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7106466
    Abstract: A communications terminal is connected to at least one of a telephone line and a local area network and includes a first memory, a second memory, a detector, and an indicating mechanism. The first memory stores service information including availability information representing availability of a specific communications service provided by a service provider through at least one of the telephone line and the local area network and condition information suitable to the specific communications service. The second memory stores message information indicating that the specific communications service is not usable. The detector is configured to detect whether the service information stored in the first memory is appropriate each time the communications terminal starts a call connection operation to use the specific communications service based on the condition information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Takaoka
  • Patent number: 7102777
    Abstract: The present invention provides a predetermined image processing service via a network to an image processing apparatus having an image information input/output function. In this case, the image processing service is provided by a dedicated server connected to a network or by a local or remote image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 7102782
    Abstract: A multi-functional peripheral is configured to, when fax data is received from a PC, store the received fax data, notify receipt of the fax data to a distinction PC and, when a divisional control code is input, print out the fax data stored in accordance with an operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7102767
    Abstract: Printing architecture for direct printing of an imaged document in a print controller. Document image data is generated representative of document information of an input document. A conversion module is called to format the document image data into a second data, which second data includes the document information of the input document. The second data is enqueued for output, and output as an output document at the highest output speed of the print controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Vincent Wu, Wichan Jarasrattanapaiboon
  • Patent number: 7102776
    Abstract: In the case where facsimile receiving is carried out while a failure occurs with a printer, a CPU creates a notification E-mail having the received image data attached thereto as a attachment file, and transmits to Internet the created E-mail when an E-mail address registered in a notification destination address area in the information storage is defined as an address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7102774
    Abstract: A system and method of processing a print job of a user includes providing a print processing system registry having at least one of a storage capability of a print job storage provider, a processing capability of a print job processing provider, and a printing capability of a print job print provider registered therewith. A communication network links a print job service provider and at least one of the print job storage provider, the print job processing provider, and the print job print provider. The print job service provider receives the print job and distributes the print job to the at least one of the print job storage provider, the print job processing provider, and the print job print provider via the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Craig R. White
  • Patent number: 7099028
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing access to a restricted web site to users of certain brands of printing device replaceable components are described. When a replaceable component is installed into a printing device, the printing device determines whether the replaceable component is a particular brand of component. If it is a particular brand of component, the printing device provides access, either automatically or on command, to a web site that is restricted to users of components of the brand. The restricted web site offers incentives and information to such users that is not available to printing device users that use other brands of components in their printing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandra L. Schneider, Mary B. Baumunk
  • Patent number: 7099021
    Abstract: In a multifunction printer having a scanner section and a printer section in one piece, upon reception of a printer section reset command, an interface control task forcibly writes NULL into an input buffer and a job control task sets a reset flag RSF. Various nested loop processes are executed in a main task. Since NULL is stored in the input buffer, the process is terminated in due time and since the reset flag RSF is set, control gradually returns to the main loop process. Thus, if the scanner section and the printer section operate concurrently, the main task can be initialized and only the printer section can be reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Oyanagi
  • Patent number: 7095522
    Abstract: Method for the transmission and reproduction of image data in which image data are transmitted to a communication terminal and reproduced the current viewing direction of the communication terminal's user being determined. First image data are transmitted with a low resolution over a first transmission channel, for example a DVB, whilst second image data corresponding to the image areas viewed currently or in future by the user are transmitted with a higher resolution over a second transmission channel. The first and second image data are superimposed and simultaneously reproduced in the communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Eric Lauper, Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 7088478
    Abstract: Linear chromaticity conversion is used to perform color reproduction of a liquid crystal display (LCD) compatible with a cathode ray tube (CRT). An inputted signal is subjected to processing similar to processing used in the CRT display. A light source chromaticity conversion processing portion carries out a ? correction to the signal in a ? operation portion by using ?1=?crt of the same nonlinear characteristics as the CRT, and performs an operation of a chromaticity conversion matrix in a matrix operation portion. An LCD inverse ? correction portion uses ?2 establishing ?_lcd=?lcd/?2=1 to perform an inverse ? correction to the inputted signal. An LCD ? characteristic operation portion performs a ? correction using ? characteristics of the LCD to the signal inputted from the LCD inverse ? correction portion, outputs a picture signal, and causes an image to be displayed on the LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Shirochi, Hiroaki Endo
  • Patent number: 7088479
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, which performs color conversion for input tone data in an RGB color space to obtain tone data for a CMY color space, and which performs halftone processing to convert the tone data in the CMY color space to image reproduction data, is characterized in that a gamma characteristic A for an output density for a tone in the RGB color space is identical to a gamma characteristic B for an output density for a tone in the CMY color space in the halftone processing. In accordance with the invention, for the color conversion, even when the tone data for the RGB color space between the grid points of a color conversion table is obtained by interpolating the tone data for the CMY color space, the halftone process is performed for the RGB tone data in accordance with the same gamma characteristic B. Thus, image reproduction data can be obtained that provide the same output density as the output density allocated for the tone data of the RGB color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Fujita