Patents Examined by Paul F Payer
  • Patent number: 10997844
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a memory that stores evacuation information for use in an event of a disaster, a printer that prints the evacuation information stored in the memory in the event of a disaster, and a display controller that performs, if the printer is unable to print the evacuation information, control to display information on an installation place of a different image forming apparatus that is able to print the evacuation information in place of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10972621
    Abstract: A printer includes: a restriction unit that is in a rotation allowing state in which opening of a scanner unit from a closed state is allowed when a panel unit is in a first posture and is in a restriction state in which opening of the scanner unit from the closed state is restricted when the panel unit is tilted from the first posture to a second posture; and a posture holding unit that is in a tiltable state in which the posture of the panel unit is tilted from the first posture to the second posture when the scanner unit is in a closed state and is in a posture holding state in which the posture of the panel unit is held in the first posture when the scanner unit is rotated from the closed state in an opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Miyamoto, Kensuke Tamai, Kazunori Takabayashi, Yoshiyuki Okazawa, Yoshikazu Nagai
  • Patent number: 10965826
    Abstract: A first soft key for use of a function that differs from a function available by selecting a second soft key displayed in a second display area of an information processing apparatus or a first soft key for use of a function that is the same as a function available by selecting a second soft key displayed in the second display area is displayed in a first display area displayed together with the second display area in accordance with a display condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaori Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10922931
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is configured which includes an acquisition unit that acquires print data from a receipt printer that prints a printed matter based on the print data, a determination unit that determines a type of the printed matter based on text data included in the print data, and an application unit that selects a script corresponding to the type from a plurality of scripts and applies the selected script to the text data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidehisa Omiya
  • Patent number: 10915276
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus may determine whether encrypted data may be transmitted or received between the image forming apparatus and one or more external devices, and determine a defect in security set to the image forming apparatus based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Jong Seob Kwak
  • Patent number: 10911633
    Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of adding number information differing from copy set to copy set, to a printing target image includes a judging unit configured to judge whether to add user information indicating a current user to a printing target image, and a determination unit configured to determine a position to which the number information is to be added, based on a result of the judgment performed by the judging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Unno
  • Patent number: 10908856
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming part forming an image includes a user authenticating part, a terminal selecting part and an installation instructing part. The user authenticating part authenticates a user on the basis of authentication information peculiar to the user in installing operation making an external terminal communicably connected to the image forming apparatus install a driver of the image forming apparatus. The terminal selecting part selects the external terminal registered in association with the user authenticated by the user authenticating part as an object terminal in the installing operation. The installation instructing part establishes remote access to the object terminal on the basis of log-in information previously registered with regard to the object terminal selected by the terminal selecting part and transmits installation instruction making the object terminal execute automatic installation of the driver to the object terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Fujii
  • Patent number: 10887474
    Abstract: A method for converting a facsimile includes receiving the facsimile via the public-switched telephone network, generating an enhanced portable document format (EPDF) file that includes information in addition to image information and communicating the EPDF file to an e-mail server. The EPDF file can then be communicated as an attachment to an e-mail message addressed to the intended recipient of the facsimile. A facsimile processing system includes a public-switched telephone network interface, a packet-switched network interface, a mail transfer protocol server, an input agent, a job processor and a translator. The input agent identifies and forwards the incoming facsimile to the job processor. The job processor determines when an EPDF file is desired and communicates appropriate instructions to the translator. The translator generates the EPDF file in response to the instructions and the image information from the facsimile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: OPEN TEXT HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Francis Toscano, Felix Moletteri
  • Patent number: 10880454
    Abstract: A supply item has toner for use in an imaging device. A chip has memory storing quanta indicating allowed usage of the supply item over its lifetime and a multiplier correlating the quanta to toner mass. The imaging device requires quanta to conduct imaging operations and loads the quanta and multiplier by way of a certificate stored in the memory. The imaging device retrieves quanta from the chip over time and both devices keep tally. Initialization between the supply item and imaging device includes providing encrypted and unencrypted instances of firmware versions and certificates from the supply item that the imaging device can compare for security. Alternatively, the supply item defines a fuser assembly, imaging unit, intermediate transfer member, or other component installed for use in the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Porter Bush, Timothy John Rademacher, Christopher Alan Adkins
  • Patent number: 10855859
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a transmission unit that transmits an object to a particular external device connected to the apparatus; and a guidance output unit that predicts a setting item that should be changed in a case where the object is not transmitted to the particular external device, and that outputs guidance information that suggests changing the setting item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haruhisa Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10848638
    Abstract: A processing system includes a storage unit that receives and stores information on electronic equipment from an equipment control unit, and a command relay unit that receives a control command from an information processing unit that performs processing which is based on the information stored in the storage unit. The command relay unit transmits the control command along a second communication path that is different from a first communication path that is a communication path between the information processing unit and the equipment control unit with the storage unit in between, and thus performs relay of the control command between the information processing unit and the equipment control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamakado, Tsuyoshi Kameda, Yusuke Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10832105
    Abstract: A bitmap processing system for creating digital documents on a digital printing press by a fulfiller includes a fulfiller operated raster image processor that receives customer application Page Description Language (PDL) job files containing information for creating the digital documents and generates bitmaps in accordance with the files and a fulfiller operated editor that modifies the bitmaps so that the resulting documents process more efficiently in production steps downstream of a printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Broadridge Output Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Delfer, Marc J. Fagan, Charles Preston
  • Patent number: 10827089
    Abstract: A method for creating a consolidated work-flow on a multi-function device (MFD) is disclosed. For example, the method is executed by a processor and includes monitoring user interactions with the MFD, determining that an interaction threshold is exceeded, creating the consolidated work-flow for a particular user interaction with the MFD, and creating a short-cut associated with the consolidated work-flow, wherein the short-cut is to be displayed on a user interface (UI) of the MFD, wherein the consolidated work-flow is executed when the short-cut is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy David Thomas, Kim P. Ciulla, Janine M. Gates, Michael William Barrett, Steven Vincent Rosekrans, Sooraj Kumar, Stephanie Jill Cruz, Connor Sterling Seiden, Timothy Luke Dioguardi, Paul Roberts Conlon
  • Patent number: 10812669
    Abstract: A recognition system including: a specifier that specifies a person who approaches an image forming apparatus using predetermined user information; a memory that stores the person specified by the specifier; a recognizer that recognizes at least any of the stored persons as a candidate who carries away a recording medium on which an image is formed on the basis of a user's print job; and a notificator that notifies a message regarding carrying away of the recording medium on which the image is formed to the recognized candidate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Shoichi Ayukawa
  • Patent number: 10809656
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus provide an improvement to user guided operation or troubleshooting of a device by illuminating an area of the device for the user's attention. Embodiments may include a plurality of lights. Each light is positioned respectively in a predetermined location in the printing apparatus, which may comprise known locations for paper jams to occur. Embodiments may also include a voice recognition module and a controller module connected to the plurality of lights. The controller module may be configured to: receive, from the voice recognition module, a user generated message requesting identification of the location of the paper jam; identify which of the predetermined locations has the paper jam; and activate a selected one of the plurality of lights, wherein the selected one of the plurality of lights is positioned to illuminate the predetermined location with the paper jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Pugh
  • Patent number: 10757285
    Abstract: There is provided a storage medium storing a printing control program that causes a processor controlling a printing apparatus which has a normal state, in which electric power is supplied to a display device, and a power saving state, in which the electric power is not supplied to the display device, to execute a process. The process includes causing a printing mechanism to execute a printing process in a state in which the electric power is not supplied to the display device when a first key that is a physical key is operated in the power saving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Kimura, Masato Tsukioka
  • Patent number: 10728416
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a sending unit and a controller. The sending unit sends a fax to a destination. The controller executes control for printing identification information for identifying the destination in accordance with selection made by a sender of the fax on paper output at the destination in response to sending of the fax. In a case where the sender of the fax selects a destination name as the identification information, if the destination name is unprintable as it is on the paper, the controller executes control for printing a phone number of the destination as the identification information on the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Soejima, Hirotaka Kawabata, Hideki Fujii, Manabu Wada, Satoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10694049
    Abstract: A management system includes an electronic device, a plurality of image pickup devices, a storage unit, and a server. A first control unit in the server detects an image portion indicating a face of a person in a captured image, collates the detected image portion to face images stored in the storage unit, and specifies, as a person inside a building, a person whose face image is identical to the image portion. When an error is detected in the electronic device, a second control unit in the electronic device specifies, among persons specified by the first control unit, a person whom error handling capability information stored in the storage section indicated as capable of handling the error, obtains, among the captured images captured by the plurality of the image pickup devices, a captured image showing the specified person, and allows a display to display the obtained captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Fumiya Sakashita, Yoichi Hiranuma, Shoichi Sakaguchi, Shohei Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10671006
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: an edge determination unit configured to detect an edge pixel to which a white pixel and a black pixel are adjacent in a first direction in an image in which each pixel is represented as a white pixel or a black pixel; a first detection unit configured to detect a number of consecutive pixels up to the edge pixel in the first direction in the image; a second detection unit configured to detect a number of consecutive pixels whose number of consecutive pixels in the first direction is larger than a first threshold in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the image; and a type determination unit configured to determine a type of the edge pixel based on detection results by the first detection unit and detection results by the second detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Otani, Yoichi Takikawa, Hisashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10656884
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing a printed sensitive or secured print job being left unsecured after a print recovery process by determining if a printer has encountered an interruption in a printing of a print job; determining, when it is determined that a printer has encountered an interruption in a printing of a print job, an identification of a user associated with the interrupted print job; obtaining an authentication code and sending the obtained authentication code to the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job; recovering from the interruption in the printing of the print job; placing, after recovery, the interrupted print job on hold; determining if a proper authentication code has been received from the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job; and releasing the held print job when it is determined that a proper authentication code has been received from the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Barrett