Abstract: The invention teaches using a directional light source to direct light at a target having directional indicia thereon. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A mobile printer having an electronic (e)—book function and a printing method thereof. The mobile printer includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) to display an electronic (e)—book, a printing part to print a text corresponding to a printing range selected of the electronic (e)—book displayed on the LCD, and a controlling part to control the printing part to display the electronic (e)—book on the LCD and to print the text corresponding to the selected printing range. Accordingly, it is possible to view and print the electronic (e)—book anywhere and anytime, so that a user's convenience increases.

Abstract: An input image is analyzed into document components. Preview data of the input image is generated based on a result of analysis. A function item that can be processed on the input image is selected based on the result of analysis. A function item is specified from among function items displayed on an operation display unit. A target area for specified function item is displayed together with the preview data on the operation display unit. A target area is specified from among target areas displayed on the operation display unit. New preview data that reflects the specified function item processed on specified target area is generated, and output to the operation display unit.

Abstract: A write control circuit for controlling driving of a plurality of light sources each including a laser diode for emitting light includes a plurality of write control mechanisms configured to control the plurality of laser diodes to perform writing for image forming with a plurality of colors. Each of the plurality of write control mechanism includes at least one image development part for developing and processing image data and at least one laser diode control part for controlling driving of the laser diodes.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an image processing section which conducts image processing on image data, wherein the image processing section compresses a hue reproduction angle in a range of flesh color area corresponding to a flesh color in the image data.

Abstract: A process for the development of a proof of an image without press setup and trial runs and including visually useful multiple acceptable variations in the color scheme of multiple images of an image outputted from a given printing press, for judging the presence of unacceptable variations, relative to the visually observable proof and its accompanying acceptable color variations.

Abstract: Transparent content and opaque content that is contained within a document is treated differently for printing. The transparent content within a document is rasterized and stored in a system-managed bitmap before printing. While rasterization is effective for maintaining visual fidelity of transparent content it can lead to large spool files and poor performance if excessively performed. In order to help optimize the performance of output devices, the transparent content within the document is rasterized and the opaque vector content within the document is drawn into a metafile before printing. The metafile is replayed onto the printer and into the bitmap such that the opaque content can be blended with the rasterized transparent layers that are contained within the bitmap. The bitmap is then drawn on the printer.

Abstract: An image processing system performing image processing on input image data includes an accepting part that accepts selection of a machine recognition processing mode intended for outputting a print image on the assumption that the image, after being output, is subjected to machine recognition processing, and a processing part that performs specific image processing adapted for the machine recognition processing instead of normal image processing, when the selection of the machine recognition processing mode has been accepted by the accepting part.

Abstract: An image generation apparatus and a method of generating a color gamut information thereof, and an image playback apparatus and a method of detecting a color gamut information thereof are provided. The image generation apparatus includes a format converting unit converting a video stream from a first format into a second format; a color gamut information encoding unit encoding color gamut information in a section of the video stream ; and an output stream generating unit generating an output stream by combining the encoded information with the video stream. The image playback apparatus includes a stream inputting unit inputting a video stream encoded with color gamut information; a color gamut information decoding unit; a color gamut mapping unit mapping a color gamut of the video stream; and an image signal playback unit processing and playing back the video stream.

Abstract: The image producing method and apparatus obtain an input image that has a region covering all of the different output images and has a resolution corresponding to one output image of the different output images whose resolution is highest, subject the input image to at least one color conversion process, or a first scaling in accordance with the one output image whose resolution is highest and the at least one color conversion process to produce an intermediate image and subject the intermediate image to at least one of cropping appropriate to each output image, a second scaling based on a difference in resolution between the intermediate image and each output image, and color conversion into a color space of each output image to thereby produce the different output images.

Abstract: A document containing lines printed at an interference scanning frequency which causes conventional scanning and copying devices to introduce distortions in a copy of the document and prevents color separating copies of the document. The document bears an image which has lines printed at a line frequency which is an interfering scanning frequency. A document containing an image which has several layers, each of which has lines printed at an angle and color which may be different from the other layers. At least one of the layers in document may be printed at an interfering scanning frequency. Also, the intersection between the lines of the layers may form a white space which has an interference scanning frequency by selecting appropriate angles between the lines. Interference scanning frequencies of a scanner may be determined by a document bearing a plurality of line frequencies, each line frequency being in a row and being printed at a variety of densities.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for reproducing an optimized preference color using candidate images and natural languages, in which user-oriented optimized picture quality can be provided through a printer. The apparatus includes a preference color-natural language information memory which stores characteristic information of a preference color mapped on a natural language, a candidate image provider module which provides candidate images having characteristic information applied to original images, and a candidate preference image input module which inputs one image, which satisfies a user's preference, among the candidate images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images are provided that include an image reconstruction path that receives a digitized image and provides a processed RGB or CMYK image that may be printed or stored in memory. The image reconstruction path is configured to operate in either a multiple scan or single scan environment if the source of the digitized image is a scanner. A plurality of optional functional units in the reconstruction path can be controlled by user or internal controls. These functional units perform preliminary color adjustment, automatic deskew, background and dust removal, descreen, text detection and enhancement, color conversion, scaling, and color manipulation.

Abstract: An image which has been color-converted in correspondence with the output characteristics of a printing press as a target for the purpose of proof may often be printed by a copying machine or printer. Prior to the proof, a generation history of a generated profile of an output device is preferably managed. The operator sets whether or not to save parameters (saving location and profile name) associated with saving of a file and colorimetric values, whether or not to save history management information, and the like.

Abstract: In a method of generating hardcopy output, a printjob description is provided to a print operation. The print job is in a native format where the print job includes the print operation in the native format and the print job description. A modified print operation is formed in a meta-format in response to the print job description. The modified print operation is submitted in the native format to a print engine to perform the print operation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and software products are disclosed for transforming print jobs. A transform system of the invention includes a segmenting system and a plurality of compute systems. The segmenting system receives a print job comprising logical pages in a first encoding, and segments the print job of logical pages into work units. A plurality (some or all) of the work units each includes multiple logical pages. The segmenting system then transmits the work units to the compute systems. Responsive to receiving a work unit, a compute system converts the logical pages in the work unit to a second encoding thus performing the transform.

Abstract: A method is claimed for preprocessing a vector-raster image file which contains a text image. The method comprises the steps of: fragmenting the image to obtain regions containing non-separable, logically connected fragments of text of the maximum possible size; processing text, vector, and raster objects; discarding excessive information; analyzing each object with the help of all available information. The step of processing text objects includes the steps of: dividing into separate characters and character groups according to supposed locations of blank spaces or other non-indicated symbols, and analyzing and assembling character groups into words. The step of processing vector objects includes the step of identifying separators, background, and substrates of blocks. The step of processing raster objects includes the steps of: analyzing non-text objects on order to detect text images within them, and/or detecting vector objects other than separators.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which performs image processing includes: a computing unit equipped with a plurality of arithmetic units each of which performs calculations based on a supplied microprogram; a storage unit adapted to store correspondence information between image processing and allocation of the plurality of arithmetic units to modules involved in the image processing; an acquisition unit adapted to acquire allocation information about allocations to the modules involved in image processing to be performed, from the storage unit; and a supply unit adapted to supply microprograms corresponding to processes of the modules involved in the image processing to be performed to the arithmetic units based on the acquired allocation information, wherein the storage unit stores the correspondence information according to device configuration of the image processing apparatus, and the acquisition unit acquires the allocation information according to the device configuration of the image processing apparatu

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to externally receive print data including information on an attribute of an image to print, a rasterizing unit configured to generate raster image data based on the print data received by the receiving unit, an attribute data generating unit configured to generate attribute data representing an attribute of an image included in the raster image data generated by the rasterizing unit based on the information on an attribute of an image to print included in the print data, and a vectorizing unit configured to vectorize at least a part of the raster image data. The vectorizing unit identifies the attribute of the image included in the raster image data based on the attribute data generated by the attribute data generating unit, and performs vectorization based on the identified attribute of the image.

Abstract: A page exception icon is provided for programming a page exception during a document processing job. The page exception icon is pre-programmed by selecting at least one document job processing parameter from a plurality of document job processing parameters and storing the document job processing parameter in association with a name provided for the page exception icon. The page exception icon can be dragged and dropped onto objects representing pages of a document processing job to perform a page exception in accordance with the document job processing parameters pre-programmed for the page exception icon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus spools normal print requests received from external equipment as normal print jobs which are sequentially executed by a printer, spools a private print request received from an external equipment in a spooler as a private print job executed by a printer in response to an instruction by a user who has requested the private print, and changes a normal print job in an execution waiting state of the user which is spooled in the spooler to a private print job of the user in response to a request from the user authenticated by a user authenticating portion.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating documents for approval or rejection and/or rating. The method comprises comparing the document to one or more criteria determining whether the document contains an element that is substantially identical to one or more of a visual element, an audio element or a textual element that is determined to be displeasing.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a reading portion that reads an image of an original document, a detecting portion that detects a specific pattern image embedded in image data, a document size detecting portion that detects a size of the original document, and a controller that controls an output of the image data in accordance with the specific pattern image, and also controls not to output the image data if the size of the original document detected is smaller than a given size.

Abstract: An image-processing apparatus includes a scanning portion that scans a document in which information is embedded; an image-outputting portion that outputs an image of the document that has been scanned; a detecting portion that detects information from the image of the document that has been scanned; an abnormality determining portion that determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the image of the document that has been scanned; and a controller that controls outputting of the image from the image-outputting portion, on the basis of a detection result by the detecting portion and a determination result of the abnormality determining portion.

Abstract: There is provided a computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a function for an image processing. The function comprises: executing a job; creating a log image from an image handled in the job; setting a creation guarantee level of the log image; and controlling the execution of the job to be completed after the log image is created, if the creation guarantee level is set to a high level.

Abstract: A method for controlling an image processing apparatus includes a determining step of determining, on the basis of a given first area in an original document image, a second area in the original document image that does not overlap with the first area, and a compositing step of combining a first copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with the first area and combining a second copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with the second area.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a casing, an accommodating section, a reading unit, a determining unit, and a printing unit. The casing defines an outer frame. The accommodating section is detachably mounted in the casing and configured to accommodate a stack of sheets, each sheet having a storage section capable of storing data. The reading unit reads data stored in the storage section. The determining unit determines, based on data read by the reading unit and additional data, whether to print an image corresponding to image data, the additional data being added to the image data. The printing unit prints the image on a sheet based on the image data when the determining unit allows to perform printing.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for forming a cluster of networked devices, such as multifunctional devices (MFDs), by scanning a configuration document. The configuration document is printed using a seed device and is scanned and read by one or more devices which are desired to join the cluster. The configuration document includes encoded data corresponding to the attributes and other characteristics of the seed device. Each device decodes the encoded data corresponding to the configuration document and determines if it is compatible with the seed device. If a device determines that it is compatible with the seed device and is thus able to share its resources with the seed device, and vice versa, the device can decide whether to join the cluster. The cluster self-administers itself; each device independently determines whether to leave the cluster, remain in the cluster, and rejoin the cluster.

Abstract: A printing system is provided having a plurality of networked printing devices, each printing device of the plurality of printing devices having a communication port for operatively communicating with another printing device of the plurality of printing devices via a network. Each of the printing devices of the plurality of printing devices is assigned a respective network address for use when communicating via the network. A first printing device of the plurality of printing devices includes a first communication device having circuitry for being sensed by a second printing device of the plurality of printing devices independently of the network. The second printing device includes a second communication device having circuitry for sensing the presence of the first communication device of the first printing device independently of the network, and a processor for executing application software for determining the network address of the sensed first printing device via the network.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for forming an image by receiving image data directly from an image acquisition device such as a digital camera using a USB interface or the like. The method includes receiving image data of a first image of a plurality of images to be printed from the image acquisition device; printing the first image; and while the first image is being printed, receiving image data of a second image of the plurality of images from the image acquisition device. When printing a plurality of images by receiving image data corresponding to the plurality of the images directly from the image acquisition device, the image forming apparatus receives image data corresponding to one image to be printed. After receiving the image data, the image forming apparatus immediately requests the image acquisition device to send image data of the next image to be printed and receives the image data.

Abstract: A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a function for displaying information on an image log, the function includes: generating an image log from an image which is used in processing a job, the job performed by an image processing apparatus; transferring the generated image log to a device that is connected to the image processing apparatus; generating information which includes status of at least one of the generating the image log or the transferring the image log; and displaying the generated information.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store electronic data including first data for identifying policy data that is information indicating an authority for handling the electronic data and is managed by a server apparatus. The data processing apparatus includes a print job data production unit configured to produce print job data based on electronic data to be printed, an acquisition unit configured to acquire the first data included in the electronic data, an adding unit configured to add the first data acquired by the acquisition unit to the print job data, and a sending unit configured to send the print job data having the first data added thereto to an image processing apparatus.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus which can output the same data in a plurality of different output forms according to one operating flow and therefore improve user's working efficiency. In response to an input operation by a user, an operation flow for causing an output device provided in the data processing apparatus to output the same input data in at least two different output forms is created. At least one operation flow thus created is registered. An operation flow designated by the user from among the registered operation flows is selected and then set for the output device.

Abstract: A printing program allows a host apparatus to perform print request processing on a printer. The host apparatus includes at least one first file each storing a printing condition. The printing program allows the host apparatus to execute detecting a second file including an object to be printed and one of the at least one first file, the second file and the one first file being designated by a user; and issuing a print request for printing the detected second file under the printing condition stored in the detected first file to the printer.

Abstract: Job processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a reception unit adapted to receive a job ticket; a recognition unit adapted to recognize a processing content of a processing step of interest defined in the job ticket; a detection unit adapted to detect a processing status of the process; an identification adapted to identify a processed part of a print job and an unprocessed part of the print job based on the processing status, when the processing status satisfies a job ticket dividing condition; a job ticket generation unit adapted to generate a first job ticket that describes a processing parameter of the processed part for a next step, in order to process the processed part in the next step; and a delivery unit adapted to deliver the first job ticket to a device which executes processing in the next step.

Abstract: An order processing system for performing reproduction processing according to a reproduction processing order by receiving an input image and the reproduction processing order of the input image is provided. The system has a management unit and an execution unit. The management unit is for generating per order a piece of job instruction information to instruct process contents, a process execution sequence, and a process execution destination for reproduction processing according to contents of the reproduction processing order, and managing an execution of the reproduction processing. The execution unit has a plurality of components for executing one or more of a plurality of steps of the reproduction processing, for receiving the input image and the job instruction information and executing the reproduction processing according to the job instruction information.

Abstract: A print system includes a communication path, a client device which transmits print data to said communication path, a host device connected to said communication path, and a printer device which prints the print data after receiving the print data from said client device via said communication path, and automatically sends the print data together with printer output information to said host device via said communication path, said printer output information including keywords for identifying said print data.

Abstract: A method and system for managing documents, where the system includes a document manager server connected to image processing devices and to applications via a network. The document manager server receives an identification from the image processing devices; looks up a profile and transmits the profile to the image processing devices. The profile includes information about the applications connected to the document manager server. The document manager server can receive a job information, e.g., a document, from the image processing devices; process the job information and transmit the processed information to the applications connected to the document manager server. The applications can include for example an e-mail server, a fax server, a file format conversion system, an optical character recognition system, a document management system and a file storage system.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for managing documents. The system includes an image forming apparatus configured to display interactive menus so as to allow an operator of the image forming apparatus to interact with a document manager. The display interactive menus are downloaded from the document manager to the image forming apparatus based on a request by the operator. The document manager is configured to search for application services providers (ASPs) over a network and based on operator inputs. The document manager can search documents within the ASPs, retrieve documents and URLs, store documents and data. The system can provide basic and/or customized interactive menus displayed on the screen of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a print system for transmitting and receiving a data object by a PTP between a camera-equipped mobile phone (CP) and a PD printer and printing an image by the PD printer according to image data supplied from the CP. First information indicating presence/absence of the direct print function capable of printing by transmitting image data from the CP directly to the PD printer and second information indicating presence/absence of the cooperated processing function with the CP and the PD printer are embedded in a data object which is transmitted and received. When it is judged that the received object contains the first and the second information, the CP and the printer are set to the direct print function and the cooperated processing function mode.

Abstract: In a method of programming for image enhancement, a content addressable memory is accessed. At least one template is transferred into the content addressable memory. A random access memory is accessed. Enhancement data is transferred into the random access memory. Video data input is inputted into the content addressable memory. Enhancement data is outputted from the random access memory based on the video data matching at least one template.

Abstract: A storage medium is readable by a computer. The storage medium stores a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function for managing a job log. The function includes: creating a job log after execution of a job; generating a log image from an image handled by the job; and storing the log image in association with the job log.

Abstract: An electronic photo book for storing and displaying digitized images. The electronic photo book includes two displays each having a top half and a bottom half in which individual images are displayed in each half.

Abstract: Adjustment processing is suitably executed in accordance with the type of post processing. To accomplish this, an image forming apparatus includes, for example, an adjustment part, specifying part, and control part. The adjustment part performs at least one of adjustment operation for an image formation position and adjustment operation for an image formation density by forming adjustment patterns using a developing material on an image carrier and measuring the adjustment patterns. The specifying part specifies the size of an image to be formed on a sheet and the content of post processing in case of executing a job which requires post processing on the sheet. The control part controls, in accordance with the size of the image and the content of the post processing, whether to perform the adjustment operation by the adjustment part concurrently with the formation of an image made from a job requiring post processing.

Abstract: A print data processing apparatus performs combined printing of a plurality of pages including a page on which an image is oriented in a different direction from images on other pages. In the print data processing apparatus, the layout unit lays out, in a memory, print data of target pages in a number specified to be combined into a single print to create print data of a physical page and sends the print data to a printing apparatus to print the print data. The rotation-angle determining unit determines a rotation angle of an image on the target pages based on the specified number of the target pages, the paper feeding direction, the direction of an image on the first page of the target pages, the order in which the target pages are arranged, and the direction of an image on the target pages.

Abstract: An image forming control apparatus includes: a gradation correction curve generator and a calibration data generator. The gradation correction curve generator generates a gradation correction curve based on a correspondence between an output instruction values each representing a density of an image to be formed by an image forming apparatus and actual density values each representing a density of the image formed by the image forming apparatus. The gradation correction curve represents a correspondence between predetermined standard density values and the output instruction values. When an output instruction value corresponding to a maximum standard density value is smaller than a maximum output instruction value, the calibration data generator corrects the gradation correction curve so that the output instruction value corresponding to the maximum standard density value coincides with the maximum output instruction value, and generates the calibration data based on the corrected gradation correction curve.

Abstract: A method to capture any user-selected image such as a corporate logo, a photograph, or a key word or phrase, and to convert that image into a microscopic halftone dot with tonal variation features, and to allow substitution of theses dots for conventional square, round, elliptical, diamond and/or other shaped dots typically used in normal commercial printing. Through this invention, all or selected graphical elements of a printed image can be rendered in “logodots” that can be verified with a magnifying device and that are difficult to copy using commercial photocopiers and scanners and result in pronounced streaking patterns in copies so made. Through this invention an economical, graphical manufacturing technique is provided for printing security documents such as checks, certificates, transcripts, and other objects having monetary or intrinsic value.

Abstract: A method for generating a halftone image includes the steps of, for each input pixel, adding a previously determined error term to the input pixel value to obtain a modified input pixel value; determining an error diffusion threshold level based on the input pixel value; applying a quantization operation to the modified input pixel value using the determined error diffusion threshold level for obtaining an output pixel value; and determining an error contribution. The error diffusion threshold level depends on a result of a comparison operation performed between the input pixel value and a threshold value selected from a set of threshold values, the selection of the threshold value being based on the position of the input pixel in the input image.

Abstract: A method for tone calibration and an apparatus using the same are provided. The method for tone calibration includes outputting a reference patch of a predetermined color and a plurality of sample patches having different tone levels of constant intervals of the color, receiving an input of identification information of any one of the sample patches, and generating a lookup table, which is obtained by reflecting a distortion level of the reference patch, in accordance with the input identification information.

Abstract: A method is described to match an original binary image with the dynamic range of a desired target document. The original binary image is restored first to contone and a histogram of the contone image is processed to generate a TRC for the contone image with improved dynamic range. The histogram processing includes determining a histogram of the contone image, and generating the TRC based on matching the determined histogram with a target histogram profile. This helps in matching outputs from legacy devices to a desired quality.