Patents Examined by Ngon Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9891871
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processor and a memory including instructions. The instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including: receiving a print job data in a PDL format from an external apparatus; determining whether a Generator of the print job data satisfies a guarantee condition guaranteeing compatibility with the image processing apparatus; upon determining that the generator of the print job data does not satisfy the guarantee condition, executing a preflight processing of checking a syntax of the print job data and then developing the print job data subjected to the preflight processing into an image data; and upon determining that the generator of the print job data satisfies the guarantee condition, skipping the preflight processing and then developing the print job data not subjected to the preflight processing into an image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuya Nakatani
  • Patent number: 9888139
    Abstract: A portable terminal may display a first screen for receiving a first inputting operation and a second inputting operation on a display. The portable terminal may transmit first scan instruction information to the image processing device. The portable terminal may receive the first scan image data generated by the scan process from the image processing device. The portable terminal may generating first FAX image setting information that reflects the scan image setting information. The portable terminal may display, on the display, a second screen including a first setting image indicating the first FAX image setting information and a preview image of the first scan image data. The portable terminal may generate first FAX image data. The portable terminal may transmit first FAX instruction information and the first FAX image data to the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokazu Sato
  • Patent number: 9881241
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that prints an image on a transfer medium based on image data; a conveyance unit that conveys the transfer medium; a duplex printing mechanism that inverts and conveys the transfer medium on one surface of which an image is formed, and conveys the transfer medium to a conveyance direction upstream side of the image forming unit; and a control unit that controls the image forming unit and the conveyance unit, the control unit has a function of printing a first additional image outside an image forming area of the transfer medium by the image forming unit, and when printing the first additional image, the control unit is capable of control of inhibiting printing of the first additional image on one or both of a leading transfer medium and a final transfer medium in a bundle of piled up transfer media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Eiichi Narimatu
  • Patent number: 9858511
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a set unit on which a print medium can be set; a projection unit (projector) capable of projecting a first image onto the print medium set on the set unit; a printing unit capable of printing a second image on the print medium set on the set unit; and a control unit configured to modify a printing specification of the second image to be formed on the print medium based on modification information regarding a modification made to a projection specification of the first image projected onto the print medium by the projection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norihiro Yamashita, Sumito Anzai
  • Patent number: 9851932
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of flexibly coping with charging in various protocols. A user information storage unit allows registering relating user information related with a protocol. A reception unit receives a print job that includes the relating user information and that is requested to execute according to a protocol from an external apparatus. A determination unit determines whether the relating user information in the print job is registered in the user information storage unit. A storing unit stores the print job without starting to print when the determination unit determines that the relating user information included in the print job is not registered. A registration unit registers the relating user information included in the print job to the user information storage unit, when printing of the print job stored is started according to an instruction from a user who logged in to the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Dohi, Kazuhiro Sugawara
  • Patent number: 9851931
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a memory, a first obtaining unit, a second obtaining unit, and an updating unit. The memory stores setting information that is information for indicating a condition in which a user has utilized a function of the information processing apparatus. The first obtaining unit obtains, from a terminal apparatus, a user identification information for identifying the user, a function identification information for identifying a function utilized by the user, and apparatus identification information for identifying an apparatus that stores latest setting information used when the user has utilized the function most recently. The second obtaining unit obtains, in a case where the apparatus identified by the apparatus identification information is an external apparatus, the latest setting information from the external apparatus. The updating unit updates the setting information stored in the memory to the latest setting information obtained by the second obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takanori Masui
  • Patent number: 9843688
    Abstract: At least one image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store configuration information of an image forming apparatus, a return unit configured to return the image processing apparatus from a power saving state when the image processing apparatus detects a predetermined condition, and a request unit configured to transmit a request for acquiring the configuration information of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus when the return unit returns the image processing apparatus from the power saving state. The image forming apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit the configuration information of the image forming apparatus to the image processing apparatus based on the request transmitted by the request unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Oba
  • Patent number: 9836254
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that facilitates management of information security policy even for an extended application installed from exterior. A scanning unit scans an original to generate image data of the original. A printing unit prints an image based on image data. A management unit manages applications dynamically installed. At least one of the applications executes a job using at least one of the scanning unit and the printing unit. A setting unit sets an operation mode for the image forming apparatus, based on security settings that are received from an external apparatus. A determination unit determines whether each of the applications supports the security settings. A control unit restricts an operation of an application that the determination unit determines that the application does not support the security settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Tsuchitoi, Akari Yasukawa, Shota Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9836262
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a document audit trail for print jobs in a workflow. One system includes a controller that directs a device of a print shop in accordance with a workflow. The controller detects a deletion event of a document of the print job while the document is in the workflow, advances the document to a store step defined in the workflow, identifies document properties to record for the document based on configurable parameters of the store step, and to record values of the document properties in a history file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Nathan Bilan, Linda Sue Liebelt, Michael Glen Lotz, Marquis G. Waller
  • Patent number: 9834027
    Abstract: A method for the production of a print job by sequential or quasi-sequential digital printing includes forming at least one stack including signatures, print sheets and/or individual sheets produced by the digital printing. Components of the stack are transferred at least to a book-related printed product by means of at least one additional processing. The formation of the stack and the components thereof is carried out by means of production-related data or data sets which, by means of at least one workflow system, firstly select a specific sequence of individual book-related printed products made of the stack, and which secondly control a layout of the individual main printed products having same or different thicknesses and/or formats and/or having same or individual contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MUELLER MARTINI HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Markus Bracher, Daniel Lutziger, Markus Schluep, Stefan Bulgheroni, Roland Rotach
  • Patent number: 9830545
    Abstract: An image processing system includes a reception unit configured to receive an input of authentication information from a user, an authentication unit configured to authenticate the user based on the authentication information received by the reception unit, a setting unit configured to set a destination of image data, an operation key configured to set a folder of the user as a destination of the image data, and a transmission unit configured to send the image data to a destination set by the setting unit. The image processing system performs control not to allow a destination setting using the operation key, in the case where a destination to be set by the setting unit is limited to a destination to be set using the operation key and a folder to be set in response to an operation of the operation key is the one to be registered by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihide Terao
  • Patent number: 9832341
    Abstract: A mobile data processing method, in which a request for performing an imaging data request by an image processing apparatus is initiated from a user of a mobile device. The method includes receiving first information generated by an image processing apparatus and second information generated by the mobile device. The first information and the second information are received by an information processing apparatus via a public network. The first and second information are stored in association with each other. The method continues by determining if a print job was received with the first information and the second information. The method may conclude by transmitting the imaging data request to the image processing apparatus from the information processing apparatus via a private network in response to determining that the imaging data request was received with the first information and the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nigel Brady
  • Patent number: 9821590
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a color erasing apparatus comprises a conveyance path, a color erasing section and a control section. The conveyance path conveys a sheet. The color erasing section erases the color of an image formed with color erasable recording agent serving as recording agent containing coloring agent the color of which can be erased by heating. The control section carries out a control, in a case where the image formed on the sheet is not an image formed with the color erasable recording agent, so that the sheet is not subjected to a color erasing processing by the color erasing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Takeda, Tsuyoshi Itou, Masahiro Ikuta, Takafumi Hara, Motonari Udo, Takayasu Aoki, Yasuhito Noda
  • Patent number: 9819836
    Abstract: A printing system is described. The printing system includes a printer having a control unit to perform color mapping from an input color space defined in a printer input profile to a printer color space defined in a printer output profile and a printing condition matching module to automatically determine a printer input profile based on a selection of one of a plurality of printing conditions, wherein a printer input profile corresponds to each of the plurality of printing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yue Qiao, Chao Ma, Scott R. Johnson, Hong Li
  • Patent number: 9811771
    Abstract: If elements (curves) of a tone reproduction curve increase application of marking material, the magnitudes of the elements of the tone reproduction curve are summed. If the summed magnitudes of the elements of the tone reproduction curve exceed marking material limits, a warning message is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Smith
  • Patent number: 9813577
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main processor, a first memory, a sub processor, and a second memory. The second memory stores a snapshot that includes an executable program obtained by loading one or more programs in the first memory. The main processor switches from a drive mode to a stop mode. The sub processor activates the main processor in response to any one of a plurality of activation factors being detected, cuts off power in response to an operation mode being switched to the stop mode, and supplies power to the main processor and the first memory before the main processor is activated. The main processor reads out a snapshot associated with an activation factor from the second memory and stores the snapshot into the first memory in response to being activated by the sub processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takehisa Yamaguchi, Atsushi Ohshima, Toshihiko Otake, Hiroaki Kubo, Masaya Hashimoto, Toshimichi Iwai, Tomoaki Nakajima, Takeshi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 9807253
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predicting colorant usage by printing devices are provided. A prediction server can receive a request to predict colorant usage for a first printing device. The prediction server can determine first plurality of functions to predict colorant usage for the first printing device. The first plurality of functions can include at least one linear function and at least one non-linear function. The first plurality of functions can be based on colorant-usage rates indicating historical rates of change in colorant used by the first printing device. The prediction server can determine a prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device using the first plurality of functions. The prediction server can provide an output involving the prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device, where the prediction of colorant usage can include a confidence interval related to the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Oleksandr Osadchyy
  • Patent number: 9807260
    Abstract: A method of using a cloud print service includes registering a virtual printer with a server, designating the virtual printer as an output device and transmitting a content file to the server, monitoring the virtual printer and acquiring print data generated by converting the content file from the server, and requesting printing while transmitting the print data to a local printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: S-PRINTING SOLUTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In-chang Park, Jeong-hun Kim
  • Patent number: 9807271
    Abstract: A function performing apparatus may perform: judging whether the function performing apparatus is in a placed state or a non-placed state; causing a scan performing unit to perform a scanning of the document, in a first case where a communication session is established while the function performing apparatus is in the placed state; not causing the scanner to perform the scanning of the document, in a second case where the communication session is established while the function performing apparatus is in the non-placed state; creating, in a case where the scanning of the document is performed, image data based on a scan result obtained from the scanner; and sending the created image data to a communication apparatus via an interface by using a wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Asakura, Takanobu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9794443
    Abstract: A document processing system and method includes a display, and an embedded controller that includes a BLUETOOTH low energy network interface that is configured for communications with mobile computing devices. When a mobile computing device of a user approaches to within a threshold distance of the document processing system, the user can be presented with directions to the document processing system or service related information about the document processing system. With the mobile computing device is within close proximity of the document processing system, the embedded controller sends the user interface of the document processing system to the mobile computing device for display to the user. The distance between the mobile computing device and the document processing system can be approximated using the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of BLUETOOTH low energy communications received from the mobile computing device by the document processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: William Su, Jenny Zhang