Patents by Inventor Kaoru Fukuoka

Kaoru Fukuoka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11368561
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a scanner and a printer, a server, and a local network circuit connecting the image forming unit and the server. In each of the image forming unit and the server, a hardware processor selects one of a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol in accordance with data to be transmitted by a transceiver. The first communication protocol includes a provision for ensuring reliability of communication, and the second communication protocol does not include a provision for ensuring reliability of communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Tomiyasu, Kaoru Fukuoka, Hiroaki Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20200412844
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a scanner and a printer, a server, and a local network circuit connecting the image forming unit and the server. In each of the image forming unit and the server, a hardware processor selects one of a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol in accordance with data to be transmitted by a transceiver. The first communication protocol includes a provision for ensuring reliability of communication, and the second communication protocol does not include a provision for ensuring reliability of communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro TOMIYASU, Kaoru Fukuoka, Hiroaki Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20200184075
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which an external storage device is attachable and from which the external storage device is detachable, includes a hardware processor, wherein the hardware processor, in response to detection of attachment of the external storage device, checks presence of a computer virus in a plurality of data pieces stored in the external storage device, determines a target data piece to be processed from among the plurality of data pieces stored in the external storage device, and in response to determination of the target data piece while the plurality of data pieces stored in the external storage device are being checked, checks presence of a computer virus in such a manner that the target data piece is given a higher priority than other data pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro TOMIYASU, Kaoru FUKUOKA, Hiroaki SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200151333
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a hardware processor that detects multiple files stored in the external storage when an external storage is installed to the image forming apparatus, determines a scan order of each of the multiple files detected by the hardware processor, and scans each of the multiple files for viruses in the scan order; and an acceptor that accepts a print instruction for a file stored in the external storage, wherein the hardware processor determines whether it is necessary to execute virus scanning on a print target file before printing depending on whether the hardware processor has completed virus scanning on the print target file, which is the file for which the print instruction has been accepted by the acceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro TOMIYASU, Kaoru FUKUOKA, Hiroaki SUGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10540126
    Abstract: An image processing device that provides an operation terminal device with an operation screen and receives input information from the operation terminal device, comprising a hardware processor that: communicates with the operation terminal device in either a first communication mode or a second communication mode, which is different from the first communication mode; determines whether the communication with the operation terminal device is in the first communication mode or the second communication mode; and creates a first screen, which is the operation screen imposed with no limit, and provides the operation terminal device with the created first screen when the communication is determined to be made in the first communication mode, and creates a second screen, which is the operation screen imposed with a limit, and provides the operation terminal device with the created second screen when the communication is determined to be made in the second communication mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoko Maruyama, Hideyuki Matsuda, Kaoru Fukuoka, Jun Shiraishi, Hiroyuki Ohno, Eisaku Owada
  • Patent number: 10509352
    Abstract: When an image forming apparatus such as an MFP runs out of supplies, such as paper or toner, the user will need to load paper in the paper tray or replace the toner cartridge. However, the user occasionally has difficulty in opening the paper tray or the front cover because his/her hands are carrying the additional supplies. For example, the user may have to put the belonging down to open up the paper tray or the front cover. The image forming apparatus reacts to the user's desire in a mechanical manner by opening the paper tray or the front cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoko Maruyama, Kaoru Fukuoka, Hideyuki Matsuda, Jun Shiraishi, Hiroyuki Ohno
  • Publication number: 20190042168
    Abstract: An image processing device that provides an operation terminal device with an operation screen and receives input information from the operation terminal device, comprising a hardware processor that: communicates with the operation terminal device in either a first communication mode or a second communication mode, which is different from the first communication mode; determines whether the communication with the operation terminal device is in the first communication mode or the second communication mode; and creates a first screen, which is the operation screen imposed with no limit, and provides the operation terminal device with the created first screen when the communication is determined to be made in the first communication mode, and creates a second screen, which is the operation screen imposed with a limit, and provides the operation terminal device with the created second screen when the communication is determined to be made in the second communication mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoko Maruyama, Hideyuki Matsuda, Kaoru Fukuoka, Jun Shiraishi, Hiroyuki Ohno, Eisaku Owada
  • Publication number: 20180275576
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming apparatus; an imaging portion that performs imaging of a belonging of a user, the user being adjacent to the image forming apparatus; a belonging analyzer that identifies the belonging by performing analysis on an image obtained by the imaging portion; a memory that stores a user assistance lookup table including the following pieces of information associated one another in advance: a belonging of a user; a user assistance action; and a target member of the image forming apparatus, the target member to be affected by the user assistance action; a searcher that retrieves a user assistance action and target member both associated with the identified belonging by searching the user assistance lookup table for a record associated with the identified belonging; and a hardware processor that makes the image forming apparatus take the user assistance action by the target member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoko MARUYAMA, Kaoru FUKUOKA, Hideyuki MATSUDA, Jun SHIRAISHI, Hiroyuki OHNO
  • Patent number: 9870142
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus as a displaying device receives a pinch out operation on a touch panel of a portable telecommunication terminal device, when displaying the operation screen on the touch panel of the portable telecommunication terminal device. The image forming apparatus determines whether there is an identified area in the operation screen or not when receiving the pinch out operation. The image forming apparatus enlarges the image around a center of the enlargement in the identified area, in case that there is the identified area in the operation screen. The image forming apparatus enlarges the image around a center of the enlargement as a point moved from a midpoint of the pinch out operation in a direction determined based on displacement of the two contact points, a distance of the movement is determined based on displacement of the two contact points, in case that there is not the identified area in the operation screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Atsumi, Kaoru Fukuoka, Masao Hosono, Takashi Oikawa, Tatsuya Kitaguchi
  • Patent number: 9661173
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a receiver which receives facsimile or print data file in a page description language, from an information processing apparatus; a spooler which stores the facsimile or print data file received therefrom, on the spooler itself; a converter which converts the facsimile or print data file stored on the spooler, to an image data format; a job generator which generates a job based on the obtained image data file; a facsimile transmitter; a printer; and a job controller which instructs the facsimile transmitter or the printer to perform facsimile transmission or printing according to the generated job, respectively. And the converter selects the facsimile or print data file among those stored on the spooler, based on the state of the printer and the state of the facsimile transmitter, before converting the facsimile or print data file to an image data format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Atsumi, Kaoru Fukuoka, Shin Ohba, Eiichi Narimatsu, Tomohide Tatara
  • Patent number: 9477434
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a receiving portion that receives an authentication print job sent by a user; a comparison portion that compares identification information received through the user's input with identification information included in image data; a job execution portion that executes the authentication print job in the case where the comparison between the received identification information and the identification information included in the image data has succeeded; and a password storage portion that stores identification information in the case where the authentication print job is in the process of being received in order to enable the comparison made by the comparison portion with respect to the authentication print job that is being received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kana Yamauchi, Kaoru Fukuoka, Tomoyuki Atsumi, Hiroshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9448518
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operation panel to preview an image page by page. The image forming apparatus stores a feature of an image of a page previewed on the operation panel and extracts a regularity from the stored feature of the image. When a feature of an image of a page previewed on the operation panel does not agree with the extracted regularity, the image forming apparatus displays a menu for correcting the feature that does not agree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Businss Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Atsumi, Kaoru Fukuoka, Shin Ohba, Eiichi Narimatu
  • Patent number: 9386174
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a touch panel connected to a network, for displaying an icon accepting an inquiry about an operation and a control unit for controlling an operation. The control unit is configured to transmit an inquiry about an operation to a terminal through the network, to receive an answer based on the inquiry from the terminal, and to display on the touch panel, an operation instruction based on operation method instruction information indicating the answer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ueda, Kaoru Fukuoka, Tomoyuki Atsumi, Masao Hosono, Takashi Oikawa, Tatsuya Kitaguchi
  • Patent number: 9124739
    Abstract: A page image displaying device includes a display control portion configured to keep displaying, when a designated region is set, and when a touch-sensitive panel detects a touch action of giving a command to changes pages to be displayed from one to another, a page image of a first page in a region other than the designated region of a page display region in which the page image is displayed, and, to change partly what is displayed in the page display region in a manner to display a part of a page image of a second page of the document in the designated region, said part corresponding to a part in position in the designated region of the page image of the first page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Hosono, Kaoru Fukuoka, Hiroki Ueda, Tomoyuki Atsumi, Takashi Oikawa, Tatsuya Kitaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150242170
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a receiving portion that receives an authentication print job sent by a user; a comparison portion that compares identification information received through the user's input with identification information included in image data; a job execution portion that executes the authentication print job in the case where the comparison between the received identification information and the identification information included in the image data has succeeded; and a password storage portion that stores identification information in the case where the authentication print job is in the process of being received in order to enable the comparison made by the comparison portion with respect to the authentication print job that is being received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kana YAMAUCHI, Kaoru FUKUOKA, Tomoyuki ATSUMI, Hiroshi SUGIURA
  • Patent number: 9069513
    Abstract: A print control device, comprises: a receiving part for receiving an email; an address extracting part for extracting an address designated as a recipient of the email received by the receiving part; and an output controlling part for controlling production of a printed output based on the email when the receiving part receives the email. The output controlling part does not produce the printed output based on the email received by the receiving part if the multiple addresses are extracted by the address extracting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ueda, Tomokazu Kato, Kaoru Fukuoka, Mitsutaka Morita
  • Patent number: 9052856
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a receiving portion that receives an authentication print job sent by a user; a comparison portion that compares identification information received through the user's input with identification information included in image data; a job execution portion that executes the authentication print job in the case where the comparison between the received identification information and the identification information included in the image data has succeeded; and a password storage portion that stores identification information in the case where the authentication print job is in the process of being received in order to enable the comparison made by the comparison portion with respect to the authentication print job that is being received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kana Yamauchi, Kaoru Fukuoka, Tomoyuki Atsumi, Hiroshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9027118
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs specific processing on images read out of a document having pages as follows. Each of the pages is a member assigned to at least any one of groups. The apparatus determines a second security level of each group based on a first security level of each page of the corresponding group; before the specific processing on the N-th group, determines whether or not password entry is necessary based on the second security level of the N-th group and any of the second security levels of the first group through the (N?1)-th group; and performs the specific processing on the N-th group if it is determined that password entry is unnecessary for the N-th group, or, alternatively, if it is determined that password entry is necessary for the N-th group and if a password is appropriately entered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolota, Inc.
    Inventors: Shin Ohba, Tomoyuki Atsumi, Kaoru Fukuoka, Eiichi Narimatu, Tomohide Tatara
  • Publication number: 20150074601
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus as a displaying device receives a pinch out operation on a touch panel of a portable telecommunication terminal device, when displaying the operation screen on the touch panel of the portable telecommunication terminal device. The image forming apparatus determines whether there is an identified area in the operation screen or not when receiving the pinch out operation. The image forming apparatus enlarges the image around a center of the enlargement in the identified area, in case that there is the identified area in the operation screen. The image forming apparatus enlarges the image around a center of the enlargement as a point moved from a midpoint of the pinch out operation in a direction determined based on displacement of the two contact points, a distance of the movement is determined based on displacement of the two contact points, in case that there is not the identified area in the operation screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ATSUMI, Kaoru FUKUOKA, Masao HOSONO, Takashi OIKAWA, Tatsuya KITAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140333964
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a touch panel connected to a network, for displaying an icon accepting an inquiry about an operation and a control unit for controlling an operation. The control unit is configured to transmit an inquiry about an operation to a terminal through the network, to receive an answer based on the inquiry from the terminal, and to display on the touch panel, an operation instruction based on operation method instruction information indicating the answer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki UEDA, Kaoru Fukuoka, Tomoyuki Atsumi, Masao Hosono, Takashi Oikawa, Tatsuya Kitaguchi