Abstract: A lithographic printing method including exposing an imaging surface layer of a printing plate to a first expose source to render the surface layer uniformly hydrophilic; the surface layer comprising a compound having reversible light controlled wettability whereby the surface layer is reversibly hydrophilic and hydrophobic. The surface layer is disposed over a variable image portion of the printing plate imaging surface or disposed over substantially all of the printing plate imaging surface. The surface is exposed to a second expose source to render image areas of the surface layer hydrophobic. Polar liquid attracts to non-image hydrophilic areas. Hydrophobic liquid colorant attracts to hydrophobic image areas. The surface layer is contacted an offset receiving member and the image is transferred to an image receiving substrate.

Abstract: What is provided are a system, method, and computer program product for protecting information displayed on a fax confirmation page. Several embodiments are provided. In one embodiment, for example, a Gaussian kernel is used to blur the digitized image to be printed on the confirmation page. In one method, a large enough blur kernel is selected so that text of a certain size will be rendered illegible. A method is also provided wherein a copy of the first page of the faxed document used to provide the content to be displayed on the confirmation page of the faxed document is stored on a storage device. A character sequence which references the stored original content on the storage media is printed on the confirmation page. A new confirmation page can be reconstructed and printed if it is desirable to have the altered content made visibly legible. Various other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A light controlled laser imaging method includes exposing a surface layer of an imaging member substrate to a first expose source to render the surface layer uniformly hydrophilic, wherein the surface layer comprises a compound having reversible light controlled wettability whereby the surface layer is reversibly hydrophilic and hydrophobic; exposing the surface layer to a second expose source in an image-wise fashion to render image areas of the surface layer hydrophobic; exposing the surface layer to a polar liquid wherein the polar liquid attracts to non-image hydrophilic areas; exposing the surface layer to a hydrophobic liquid colorant wherein the hydrophobic liquid colorant attracts to hydrophobic image areas; contacting the surface layer with an image receiving substrate to transfer the image thereto; fixing the image; and optionally, treating the surface layer to remove residual hydrophobic liquid colorant.

Abstract: A light controlled laser imaging method includes exposing a surface layer of an imaging member substrate to a first expose source to render the surface layer uniformly hydrophilic, wherein the surface layer comprises a compound having reversible light controlled wettability whereby the surface layer is reversibly hydrophilic and hydrophobic; exposing the surface layer to a second expose source in an image-wise fashion to render image areas of the surface layer hydrophobic; exposing the surface layer to a polar liquid wherein the polar liquid attracts to non-image hydrophilic areas; exposing the surface layer to a hydrophobic liquid colorant wherein the hydrophobic liquid colorant attracts to hydrophobic image areas; contacting the surface layer with an image receiving substrate to transfer the image thereto; fixing the image; and optionally, treating the surface layer to remove residual hydrophobic liquid colorant.

Abstract: A lithographic printing method including exposing an imaging surface layer of a printing plate to a first expose source to render the surface layer uniformly hydrophilic; the surface layer comprising a compound having reversible light controlled wettability whereby the surface layer is reversibly hydrophilic and hydrophobic. The surface layer is disposed over a variable image portion of the printing plate imaging surface or disposed over substantially all of the printing plate imaging surface. The surface is exposed to a second expose source to render image areas of the surface layer hydrophobic. Polar liquid attracts to non-image hydrophilic areas. Hydrophobic liquid colorant attracts to hydrophobic image areas. The surface layer is contacted an offset receiving member and the image is transferred to an image receiving substrate.

Abstract: What is provided are a system, method, and computer program product for protecting information displayed on a fax confirmation page. Several embodiments are provided. In one embodiment, for example, a Gaussian kernel is used to blur the digitized image to be printed on the confirmation page. In one method, a large enough blur kernel is selected so that text of a certain size will be rendered illegible. A method is also provided wherein a copy of the first page of the faxed document used to provide the content to be displayed on the confirmation page of the faxed document is stored on a storage device. A character sequence which references the stored original content on the storage media is printed on the confirmation page. A new confirmation page can be reconstructed and printed if it is desirable to have the altered content made visibly legible. Various other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments herein begin by receiving user input. The embodiments herein create a fixed data file and a text string based on the user input using a process manager located within a system. The embodiments herein also supply the fixed data file and the text string from the process manager to at least one node within the system. The system comprises a plurality of such nodes. The node executes the text string to add variable data to the fixed data and create a variable information print file. More specifically, the node retrieves the variable data from a database within the system. Then, the method can print the variable information print file.

Abstract: A mobile telephony device is provided having a print request dedicated key, a digital image acquiring assembly for acquiring at least one digital image, and a processor in operative communication with the print request dedicated key for initiating printing of the at least one digital image in response to selection of the print request dedicated key by a user of the mobile telephony device. The processor includes a memory module configured for storing digital images acquired by the digital image acquiring assembly. The processor further includes a transmission module programmed with transmission instructions for transmitting the at least one digital image in response to the selection of the print request dedicated key. The processor further includes a payment module programmed with payment-related information capable of being transmitted by the transmission module for use in effecting payment to a service provider or an order fulfillment location for printing the at least one digital image.

Abstract: The invention generates a page description language compliant data stream, that has been pre-designed and pre-processed to create unique and predictable page element ordering, overlay layout, and for splitting large page elements into multiple independent elements. In this way, multiple processors can be used to render the document without merging the data stream.

Abstract: The invention generates a page description language compliant data stream, that has been pre-designed and pre-processed to create unique and predictable page element ordering, overlay layout, and for splitting large page elements into multiple independent elements. In this way, multiple processors can be used to render the document without merging the data stream.

Abstract: Structuring a raster image data file includes accessing image data containing set-up information and image data, determining a structure of the image data, sequencing contents of the image data file such that different parts of the set-up information are grouped together, segmenting the image data, and constructing an output image data file. The structure of image data may include one or more layers. The set-up information may be sequenced to precede the image data. Therefore, segmented image data can be distributed to more than one processor and sequentially processed and reproduced. This results in shortening the printing time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stick shift, especially a steering column switch for motor vehicles with an, into a receiver part insertable, substantially stick-shaped part (3), in whose insert region (3a) are provided electrical connection contacts (25) for transmission of switching functions to the receiver part, and an actuating part (5) supported rotatably and/or displaceably inside or at the stick-shaped part (3) for actuation of switching functions, whereby the mechanism for realization of the switching functions is provided outside the insert area (3a) of the stick-shaped part (3).

Abstract: A head lamp piece, actuating piece, or similar piece with functional symbols adapted for illumination with transmitted light and a method of manufacturing same is provided. A support element (1) is formed in such a manner that there is provided on the surface (5) thereof within at least one predetermined area, a first raised structure (7) corresponding to the shape of at least one first function symbol (9, 11). One or more temperature stable color layers (13, 15) are applied on the support element (1) in the first predetermined area. The surface (5) of the support element (1) is covered by a non-transparent material (17) leaving the raised structures (7) and color layers (13, 15) uncovered. The top surface (7a) of the color layer extends essentially parallel to the surface (5) of the support element (1) and remains free of non-transparent material (17).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the control of darkness/lightness in a digital image rendered by a printing system. The technique preferably employs templates to selectively apply different amounts of darkening (lightening) to borders of structures detected within the image dependent upon the need for darkening (lightening).

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for the fast rotation of binary images represented as a run length encoded data stream. The system employs a cache memory for efficiently representing parsed RLE data in a rotated orientation, where only the white-black transition points are recorded. Subsequently, the cache memory is further processed using a logic operation to fill in the runs between the recorded transition points during concurrent transfer of the image data to a band of page buffer memory. The process is repeated for a plurality of bands to complete the rotation/decoding process for an entire bitmap image.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for the efficient processing of binary images represented as a run length encoded data stream. The system employs a CPU and cache or other memory for efficiently scaling or scaling and rotating parsed RLE date. Subsequently, the scaled RLE data can be decoded to produce a scaled image bitmap.

Abstract: There is provided a method of processing an input data stream including compressed image data in which an extended tree, characterized by a plurality of words, is developed. Each word is associated with a token set and the words are corresponded with the token sets, respectively, by way of, for example, a look-up table. In practice, a sample word, representing a portion of the compressed image data, is sampled from the input data stream and matched with a selected one of the words from the tree to obtain the token set corresponding with the selected one of the words. The compressed image data portion is then processed in accordance with the obtained token set.

Abstract: An image compensation system which provides dilation or erosion of image features using halfbitting or fullbitting in the rendition of bitmap images, especially on a write-white printer. A region of pixels of an image is isolated which includes two or more correctable pixel locations. A set of state determination rules, based on the formation of pixels in the isolated region, is used to determine a corrected binary pixel state for each of the correctable pixels. Corrections for one correctable pixel may be considered in the state determination rules for adjacent correctable pixels. A single enhanced output pixel is provided for each image input pixel, thereby preserving the original image resolution. Performing enhancements on multiple input pixels simultaneously increases the system throughput.

Abstract: A method for use with an imaging system server of the type having a first processing arrangement coupled with a second processing arrangement is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a sheet is advanced into registration with different color information developed on master sheets secured releasably on different drums. Each master sheet is secured to a gripper bar having outwardly extending pins. The pins in the master sheet gripper bars mount in holes in the drum and extend outwardly therefrom. A chain driven gripper bar advances the sheet into registration with successive master sheets. The sheet gripper bar is mounted pivotably and slidably on the chain. The sheet gripper bar has notches in the leading edge thereof to mesh with the pins extending from the master sheet gripper bar. This detachably couples the sheet and the master sheet to move in unison with one another. In this way, the sheet is placed in registration with the different color information developed on each master sheet.