Patents by Inventor Masafumi Miyazawa

Masafumi Miyazawa 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: 9948807
    Abstract: A multi-function device may acquire specific use information corresponding to a specific user who uses the multi-function device, request a service providing server to provide a specific service in a case where the specific service among plural types of services is selected by the specific user, and acquire screen information from a screen providing server so as to display a screen according to the screen information. The multi-function device may display a first screen for receiving the specific service from the service providing server in a case where the specific use information indicates that the specific user is allowed to use a specific function related to the specific service, and display a second screen indicating that it is not capable of receiving the specific service in a case where the specific use information indicates that the specific user is not allowed to use the specific function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Miyazawa, Ken Saito
  • Patent number: 9912823
    Abstract: A server receives a correlation instruction from an information processing apparatus when the storage stores first device information uniquely assigned to an image processing apparatus. The correlation instruction is for correlating first device information with a service that a service-providing apparatus provides. The server receives first authentication information from the information processing apparatus. The server stores the first authentication information in association with the first device information in the storage. The server receives, from the image processing apparatus, second device information and first information. The second device information is assigned to the image processing apparatus. The first information is generated in the image processing apparatus for receiving the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Watanabe, Hirokazu Banno, Hiroaki Fujino, Takeshi Nagasaki, Masafumi Miyazawa, Kiyotaka Ohara
  • Patent number: 9904881
    Abstract: When cartridge replacement has occurred, reference use information that is acquired for the first time after occurrence of the cartridge replacement and reference time information indicative of when the reference use information is acquired are stored. Every time target use information, which is acquired after the reference use information is acquired, is acquired, a first period, which is defined from a particular time until printing by a printing execution section using printing agent in a presently-connected cartridge is estimated to become impossible, is computed based on the target use information, target time information indicative of time when the target use information is acquired, the reference use information, and the reference time information. When the first period is shorter than a first set period, output information corresponding to the state of use of the presently-connected cartridge is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9906678
    Abstract: An image processing device is configured to provide a service relating to at least one of (1) the image data generated by the function of the image processing device and (2) image data representing the image to be formed, in response to a request from the image processing device. The image processing device may include a parameter designating unit, a service request unit, and a function implementation unit that is adapted to implement the function of the image processing device based on the service providing parameter designated by the parameter designating unit. The service providing device is provided with a service provision executing unit that is adapted to execute a process to provide the service to the image processing device after receiving the request from the service request unit provided to the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuma Aoki, Satoru Yanagi, Masatoshi Kokubo, Makoto Matsuda, Kiyotaka Ohara, Masafumi Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20180024786
    Abstract: A controller in a control device is configured to perform: acquiring a first value from a printer, the first value being related to a residual quantity of printing material remaining in a first cartridge at a first calendar date; acquiring a second value from the printer, the second value being related to a residual quantity of printing material remaining in a second cartridge at a second calendar date, the second cartridge being attached to the printer later than detachment of the first cartridge; estimating a third calendar date using the first value, the second value, the first calendar date, and the second calendar date, the third calendar date being a calendar date when a third value related to the residual quantity of printing material remaining in the second cartridge is assumed to be smaller than a prescribed quantity; and executing an output process according to the third calendar date.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventor: Masafumi MIYAZAWA
  • Patent number: 9876919
    Abstract: A mediation server for mediating target service provision from a service provision server to an image processing apparatus, including a processor causing the mediation server to supply specific information for displaying a condition setting screen to an external apparatus, receive a plurality of selected setting values from the external apparatus, supply, to the image processing apparatus, a determination execution instruction including the plurality of selected setting values and for executing a determination about validity of a combination of the plurality of selected setting values, receive a result of the determination from the image processing apparatus, and when the result indicates that the combination is valid, supply, to the image processing apparatus, a processing execution instruction including the plurality of selected setting values and being for executing the target image processing in accordance with the determined processing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Miyazawa, Takeshi Nagasaki
  • Patent number: 9860231
    Abstract: A relay apparatus is connected to a communication apparatus, a service providing apparatus and a browser-equipped apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi Miyazawa, Yusuke Shimada, Takeshi Nagasaki, Kazutaka Yamamoto, Hirokazu Banno, Satoshi Watanabe, Katsuaki Ito
  • Publication number: 20170371271
    Abstract: A control device may obtain, at each of a plurality of sets of date-and-time, a current value related to a current remaining amount of a print material used by the print performing unit. The control device may calculate N1 change values by using a plurality of current values obtained at the plurality of sets of date-and-time, each change value being related to a change per unit time of a remaining amount of the print material. The control device may specify a first greatest change value among the N1 change values. The control device may perform a first prediction process that includes calculating a first future value by using the first greatest change value, the first future value being related to a future remaining amount of the print material, and a first output process using the first future value in a case where the first prediction process is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Masafumi MIYAZAWA
  • Patent number: 9807262
    Abstract: In a relaying apparatus, a storage stores a plurality of sets of first device information, and second device information assigned to a first set of first device information identifying one image processing apparatus from among image processing apparatuses. The controller communicates with the one image processing apparatus and a service-providing apparatus. The controller receives replacement request information from the one information processing terminal via the communication interface. The replacement request information including old first device information and new first device information. The old first device information indicates the one image processing apparatus. The new first device information indicates another image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Ohara, Masafumi Miyazawa, Satoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9769333
    Abstract: A server includes: a storage; and a control device which determines whether the server is permitted to collect data of the image forming device when receiving inquiry information; transmits to the image forming device first permission information for checking whether a user permits data collection; transmits active information when receiving second permission information representing that data collection is permitted; when the server receives device identification information for identifying the image forming device of which data collecting function is activated, stores the received device identification information in the storage, and transmits instruction information for instructing the image forming device to transmit the data which should be collected, to the image forming device; and when receiving the collection data for generating the notification data from the image forming device, stores the received collection data in the storage in association with the device identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9681019
    Abstract: A control device is configured to: control the scanner unit, when a first instruction is received from a user to insert a first scanned data in a first file stored in a file storage server, to scan a document to generate the first scanned data; and to provide a first insertion request to the file storage server through a communication interface, the first insertion request requesting the file storage server to insert the first scanned data at a target location in the first file, the target location being a location designated by the user through a terminal device that is configured separately from the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masafumi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9674379
    Abstract: A relay apparatus to be connected through a network to a server apparatus configured to store image data and a communication apparatus configured to acquire the image data from the server and output an image based on the acquired image data, the relay apparatus includes: a first receiving unit configured to receive a request for acquiring location information from the communication apparatus; an acquiring unit configured to acquire the location information for acquiring the image data from the server apparatus upon receipt of the request; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the acquired location information to the communication apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Nogawa, Masafumi Miyazawa, Yusuke Shimada, Takeshi Nagasaki, Satoshi Watanabe, Katsuaki Ito, Hirokazu Banno, Kazutaka Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9648360
    Abstract: A relay apparatus configured to communicate with a server which transmits contents corresponding to identification information received by the server, and a terminal which acquires the contents corresponding to the identification information, the relay apparatus comprises: a communication unit configured to communicate with the server and the terminal; and a processor configured to: receive first identification information from the server through the communication unit; determine whether first contents corresponding to the received first identification information complies with a first format or a second format; transmit the first identification information to the terminal through the communication unit if the processor determines that the first contents complies with the first format; and transmits, to the terminal through the communication unit, second identification information corresponding to second contents which is acquired by converting the first contents if the processor determines that the first con
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sasaki, Masafumi Miyazawa, Yusuke Shimada, Takeshi Nagasaki, Katsuaki Ito, Satoshi Watanabe, Kazutaka Yamamoto, Hirokazu Banno
  • Patent number: 9614992
    Abstract: A function execution apparatus including a controller configured to receive an alert from a server, the alert indicating particular information about a function of the function execution apparatus, display a notification about the alert, receive the particular information from the server, in response to receiving a first operation to the notification, receive display information for displaying the particular information from the server, display the particular information in accordance with the display information, receive a second operation while the particular information is displayed, and in response to receiving the second operation, display a specific screen image, the specific screen image including a specific certain image for instructing the function execution apparatus to execute processing indicated by the particular information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minamikawa, Masafumi Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20170094078
    Abstract: In a relaying apparatus, a storage stores a plurality of sets of first device information, and second device information assigned to a first set of first device information identifying one image processing apparatus from among image processing apparatuses. The controller communicates with the one image processing apparatus and a service-providing apparatus. The controller receives replacement request information from the one information processing terminal via the communication interface. The replacement request information including old first device information and new first device information. The old first device information indicates the one image processing apparatus. The new first device information indicates another image processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Ohara, Masafumi Miyazawa, Satoshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20170094079
    Abstract: A server receives a correlation instruction from an information processing apparatus when the storage stores first device information uniquely assigned to an image processing apparatus. The correlation instruction is for correlating first device information with a service that a service-providing apparatus provides. The server receives first authentication information from the information processing apparatus. The server stores the first authentication information in association with the first device information in the storage. The server receives, from the image processing apparatus, second device information and first information. The second device information is assigned to the image processing apparatus. The first information is generated in the image processing apparatus for receiving the service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Satoshi Watanabe, Hirokazu Banno, Hiroaki Fujino, Takeshi Nagasaki, Masafumi Miyazawa, Kiyotaka Ohara
  • Patent number: 9609029
    Abstract: A service registration system includes a server that provides a service through a network, a peripheral device capable of communicating with the server and using the service, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server and the peripheral device. When the terminal device receives the registration requesting information representing information related to registration necessary for using the service from a user, the terminal device transmits registration requesting information to the server. When the server receives the registration requesting information from the terminal device, the server transmits service information necessary for using the service. Further, the terminal device can transmit the service information to the peripheral device when it receives the service information from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Ohara, Kazuma Aoki, Makoto Matsuda, Masafumi Miyazawa, Satoru Yanagi, Masatoshi Kokubo
  • Patent number: 9591174
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is configured to: control a scanner unit to optically scans a document and generate scanned data; provide an input screen for allowing a user to input format information defining a particular file format of transmission data that contains the scanned data, wherein the format information includes additional information and wherein the input screen includes a first field for inputting item name of the additional information to be included in the transmission data and a second field for inputting a value of the additional information corresponding to the item name of the additional information; receive the format information input by the user; generate the transmission data, wherein the generated transmission data contains the scanned data and has the format according to the format information received in the receiving processing; and transmit the transmission data to the server through the communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masafumi Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20170061268
    Abstract: When cartridge replacement has occurred, reference use information that is acquired for the first time after occurrence of the cartridge replacement and reference time information indicative of when the reference use information is acquired are stored. Every time target use information, which is acquired after the reference use information is acquired, is acquired, a first period, which is defined from a particular time until printing by a printing execution section using printing agent in a presently-connected cartridge is estimated to become impossible, is computed based on the target use information, target time information indicative of time when the target use information is acquired, the reference use information, and the reference time information. When the first period is shorter than a first set period, output information corresponding to the state of use of the presently-connected cartridge is outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Masafumi Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20170048415
    Abstract: An image processing device is configured to provide a service relating to at least one of (1) the image data generated by the function of the image processing device and (2) image data representing the image to be formed, in response to a request from the image processing device. The image processing device may include a parameter designating unit, a service request unit, and a function implementation unit that is adapted to implement the function of the image processing device based on the service providing parameter designated by the parameter designating unit. The service providing device is provided with a service provision executing unit that is adapted to execute a process to provide the service to the image processing device after receiving the request from the service request unit provided to the image processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuma Aoki, Satoru Yanagi, Masatoshi Kokubo, Makoto Matsuda, Kiyotaka Ohara, Masafumi Miyazawa