Patents Issued in March 2, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170061227
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to enable detection of linear objects such as utility poles in complex and heterogeneous outdoor surroundings. The methods deal with shape and orientation as prominent features of a pole model. Candidate trapeziums from 2D images of the face of the poles are extracted, some of which represent parts of the pole. To overcome the missed detection of certain parts due to problems of occlusion and diffusion into background, shape based techniques, that extrapolate and capture a longer trapezium representing the pole is implemented. The region growing stage or extrapolation is driven by orientation-based clustering of trapeziums. Context information is further used to identify objects of interest, by discarding false positives. Besides detecting poles of interest, the detected poles are further analysed to identify damages, if any.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Hrishikesh SHARMA, Adithya VELLAIAPPAN, Balamuralidhar PURUSHOTHAMAN
  • Publication number: 20170061228
    Abstract: A method for parsing the text of a complex graphical image comprises obtaining a series of blocks of text from a complex graphical image. Those blocks of text are used to generate location scores, size scores and length scores. Each of the scores is weighted and linearly summed. The highest resulting sum is identified as the most likely to be a desired text block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Lee Maltun, Michael Anthony Stock, II, Jake Sanders
  • Publication number: 20170061229
    Abstract: Various aspects of a method and system for object tracking are disclosed herein. The method comprises computation of an overlap value between a first bounding box and a second bounding box, associated with an object in an image frame of a video stream. The overlap values are utilized to track the object in the video stream. The first bounding box encompasses at least a partial first portion of an object. The second bounding box encompasses at least a partial second portion of the object. A first score associated with the first bounding box and a second score associated with the second bounding box is computed based on a comparison of the computed overlap value with a pre-defined threshold value. The first bounding box is updated to a new bounding box that at least partially encompasses the object, based on the computed first score and the computed second score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: HOUMAN RASTGAR, ALEXANDER BERESTOV
  • Publication number: 20170061230
    Abstract: A signal process apparatus includes a contour extraction unit that acquires a plurality of image data items generated by sequential imaging of a subject, and extracts contour components from the acquired plurality of image data items; a shift amount detector that compares shift amounts of contour components extracted by the contour extraction unit between image data items included in each of a plurality of image sets, each of the image sets having a predetermined number of the image data items, and detects a shift amount between image data items included in each of the image sets; and an image selection unit that selects at least one image set among the image sets based on a detection result of the shift amount detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoya SATO
  • Publication number: 20170061231
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing device that can suppress deterioration in the accuracy of identifying a subject, even in cases where the shape of the subject in an image is deformed. A feature amount calculation means 81 detects feature points from an image, and calculates, for each feature point, a local feature amount for the feature point on the basis of a peripheral region of said feature point, including said feature point. A correlation identifying means 82 specifies the correlation between feature points in a first image and feature points in a second image on the basis of the local feature amount of each feature point in the first image and the local feature amount of each feature point in the second image. A partial region detection means 83 detects, from one of the first image or the second image, partial regions each including a feature point in said image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kyota HIGA
  • Publication number: 20170061232
    Abstract: During a description technique, a local descriptor for an object may be generated by computing a 2-dimensional histogram of pairs of angles between pairs of line segments that are aligned with edge pixels associated with the object. The pairs of line segments belong to a subset of k neighboring or proximate line segments. Moreover, this 2D histogram may represent the relative displacement and the relative orientations of the pairs of line segments in the subset as weights in bins or cells defined by angular quantization values, and the 2D histogram may exclude lengths of the line segments. Subsequently, the generated 2D histogram may be compared to predefined sets of descriptors in a model library that are associated with a set of objects, and the object may be identified as one of the set of objects based on a group of match scores determined in the comparisons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Federico Tombari, Alessandro Franchi, Luigi Di Stefano
  • Publication number: 20170061233
    Abstract: An image processing device includes an inscribed sphere acquiring section that acquires an inscribed sphere which intersects line segment and is inscribed in torus in calculation of an intersection of the torus and a line segment, a calculating section that calculates an intersection of the inscribed sphere and the line segment, a reacquiring section that acquires the position of a new inscribed sphere in such a manner that a contact circle between the new inscribed sphere and the torus gets closer to the intersection, a recalculating section that calculates an intersection of the new inscribed sphere and the line segment, and an intersection output section that outputs the intersection of the torus and the line segment on the basis of an intersection of the inscribed sphere and the line segment obtained by at least one time of calculation of the intersection of the new inscribed sphere and the line segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Hiroshi MATSUIKE
  • Publication number: 20170061234
    Abstract: An image processing pipeline may perform noise filtering and image sharpening utilizing common spatial support. A noise filter may perform a spatial noise filtering technique to determine a filtered value of a given pixel based on spatial support obtained from line buffers. Sharpening may also be performed to generate a sharpened value of the given pixel based on spatial support obtained from the same line buffers. A filtered and sharpened version of the pixel may be generated by combining the filtered value of the given pixel with the sharpened value of the given pixel. In at least some embodiments, the noise filter performs spatial noise filtering and image sharpening on a luminance value of the given pixel, when the given pixel is received in a luminance-chrominance encoding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, David R. Pope
  • Publication number: 20170061235
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising computing a saliency value for a video based on saliency values a set of pixels in each frame of the video, computing, for the video, an expected value for a metric by a predictive algorithm based on the saliency value for the video, and outputting the expected value for the metric as an indication of an expected outcome for the metric achieved by the video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Seth FREY, Anthony M. ACCARDO, Robert SUMNER, Rafael HUBER, Alexandre CHAPIRO
  • Publication number: 20170061236
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting keypoints in image data may include an image sensor interface receiving pixel data from an image sensor. A front-end pixel data processing circuit may receive pixel data and convert the pixel data to a different color space format. A back-end pixel data processing circuit may perform one or more operations on the pixel data. An output circuit may receive pixel data and output the pixel data to a system memory. A keypoint detection circuit may receive pixel data from the image sensor interface in the image sensor pixel data format or receive pixel data after processing by the front-end or the back-end pixel data processing circuits. The keypoint detection circuit may perform a keypoint detection operation on the pixel data to detect one or more keypoints in the image frame and output to the system memory a description of the one or more keypoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: David R. Pope
  • Publication number: 20170061237
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an object region detection unit; a main object region detection unit; a representative luminance value calculation unit configured to calculate one representative luminance value of each object region, by weighting the main object region in that object region; a luminance distribution calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance distribution in each object region, by weighting the main object region in that object region; a tone characteristics determination unit configured to determine tone characteristics for controlling tones of the input image, based on the representative luminance values of the object regions and the luminance distributions in the object regions; and a tone correction unit configured to correct the tones of the input image, using the tone characteristics determined by the tone characteristics determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Satoru Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20170061238
    Abstract: A method identifying electronic communication components employed for transmitting and receiving electronic communications for subsequent testing thereof is provided which identifies each electronic communication component using a digital photo thereof. Communications characteristics required for communicating with each identified component are discerned using the component identity ascertained from the digital image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: David Webster
  • Publication number: 20170061239
    Abstract: A method includes the following steps. A video sequence including detection results from one or more detectors is received, the detection results identifying one or more objects. A clustering framework is applied to the detection results to identify one or more clusters associated with the one or more objects. The clustering framework is applied to the video sequence on a frame-by-frame basis. Spatial and temporal information for each of the one or more clusters are determined. The one or more clusters are associated to the detection results based on the spatial and temporal information in consecutive frames of the video sequence to generate tracking information. One or more target tracks are generated based on the tracking information for the one or more clusters. The one or more target tracks are consolidated to generate refined tracks for the one or more objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Lisa M. Brown, Sayed Ali Emami, Mehrtash Harandi, Sharathchandra U. Pankanti
  • Publication number: 20170061240
    Abstract: A key identification system is provided. The key identification system comprises an imaging system to capture an image of a master key, and a logic to analyze the captured image. The imaging system may be capture an image of a groove in the master key from an angle between perpendicular and parallel to the blade of said master key. The logic analyzes the captured image to compare characteristics of the groove with groove characteristics of known key blanks to determine the likelihood of a match between the master key and a known key blank. The key identification system may further compensate for displacement or orientation of the master key with respect to the imaging system when analyzing characteristics of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Chester O.D. Thompson, William R. Mutch
  • Publication number: 20170061241
    Abstract: Various aspects of a method and system to track one or more objects in a video stream are disclosed herein. In accordance with an embodiment, the method includes computation of a first confidence score of a first geometrical shape that encompasses at least a portion of an object in a first image frame of the video stream. The first geometrical shape is utilized to track the object in the video stream. The first geometrical shape is split into a plurality of second geometrical shapes. The split of the first geometrical shape is based on a comparison of the computed first confidence score with a pre-defined threshold score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: HOUMAN RASTGAR, ALEXANDER BERESTOV
  • Publication number: 20170061242
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying features in an image. The method comprises fitting a plurality of second models to the image, the plurality of second models together modelling a region of interest, wherein each part of the region of interest is modelled by at least two of the plurality of second models; and identifying the features in the image based upon the fit of the plurality of second models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Graham Richard Vincent, Michael Antony Bowes, Gwenael Alain Guillard, Ian Michael Scott
  • Publication number: 20170061243
    Abstract: A discrepancy detection system for detecting a discrepancy between a plurality of video images of a same scene captured by an imaging device at different times, the system including a correspondence point detection device configured to detect corresponding points matching each other between a first video image sequence of the plurality of video images and a second video image sequence of the plurality of video images and a comparison device configured to compare image content of the first video image sequence and the second video image sequence for the discrepancy in the image content between the first video image sequence and the second video image sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Chung-Ching LIN, Sharathchandra U. PANKANTI, John R. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170061244
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for range image generation. An input image and a reference image are used to compute raw and optimized disparity-space correlation disparity results for each pixel in the reference image. A bilateral filter is applied to both the raw and optimized disparity space correlation disparity results within a neighborhood of a given pixel. For each pixel in the neighborhood, a mean of sub-pixel disparity estimates includes the raw disparity-space correlation disparity result, and another mean of sub-pixel disparity estimates is computed using optimized disparity-space correlation disparity results. The output of the bilateral filter is a weighted sum of the means, with the weights being proportional to the ratio of valid, non-optimized sub-pixel correlation disparity results to optimized sub-pixel correlation disparity results, thereby favoring non-optimized estimates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brett Miller, John Woodfill
  • Publication number: 20170061245
    Abstract: A face clustering system for video face clustering in a video sequence, the system including an inherent supervision summarization device configured to collect group-level supervision and instance level supervision within a same chunklet based on a user input of face images for a person, a discriminative projection learning device configured to embed group constraints of the group-level supervision into a transformed space, and configured to generate an embedding space from the original image feature space, and a clustering device, in the embedding space, configured to execute pair-wise based clustering to cluster the video images into different clusters with the instance level supervision collected by the inherent supervision summarization device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Yu Cheng, Sharathchandra U. Pankanti, Nalini K. Ratha
  • Publication number: 20170061246
    Abstract: A training method and a training apparatus for a neutral network for image recognition are provided. The method includes: representing a sample image as a point set in a high-dimensional space, a size of the high-dimensional space being a size of space domain of the sample image multiplied by a size of intensity domain of the sample image; generating a first random perturbation matrix having a same size as the high-dimensional space; smoothing the first random perturbation matrix; perturbing the point set in the high-dimensional space using the smoothed first random perturbation matrix to obtain a perturbed point set; and training the neutral network using the perturbed point set as a new sample. With the training method and the training apparatus, classification performance of a conventional convolutional neural network is improved, thereby generating more training samples, reducing influence of overfitting, and enhancing generalization performance of the convolutional neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Li CHEN, Song WANG, Wei FAN, Jun SUN, Naoi SATOSHI
  • Publication number: 20170061247
    Abstract: A method and device for transforming 2D images into 3D are disclosed. The disclosed device includes a dictionary storage unit configured to store a word-depth gradient dictionary; a color patch obtainer unit configured to obtain color patches from an input image; a matching word search unit configured to transform each of the color patches obtained by the color patch obtainer unit into a SIFT descriptor form and search for words closest to the SIFT descriptors of the obtained color patches from among the words of the word-depth gradient dictionary; a matching depth gradient obtainer unit configured to obtain depth gradient information of the words matching the obtained color patches from the word-depth gradient dictionary; and a depth map generation unit configured to compute a depth from the obtained matching depth gradient for each of the obtained color patches and generate a depth map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Kwang Hoon SOHN, Sun Ok KIM
  • Publication number: 20170061248
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a system, method and device for detecting offensive content on a portable electronic device, by monitoring communications sent, received or stored on the portable electronic device, and wherein monitoring comprises collecting content data, classifying content data by calculating an alert score for content data wherein an alert score corresponds to offensive content detected, and sending an alert notification to a second portable electronic device to alert the detection of offensive content on the first portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: James Ronald Ryan, JR., Jason Otis France, David Lee Etter
  • Publication number: 20170061249
    Abstract: A system for automated geospatial image analysis comprising a deep learning model module and a convolutional neural network serving as an automated image analysis software module. The deep learning module receives a plurality of orthorectified geospatial images, pre-labeled to demarcate objects of interest, and optimized for the purpose of training the neural network of the image analysis software module. The module presents marked geospatial images and a second set of unmarked, optimized, training geospatial images to the convolutional neural network. This process may be repeated so that an image analysis software module can detect multiple object types or categories. The image analysis software module receives a plurality of orthorectified geospatial images from one or more geospatial image caches. Using multi-scale sliding window submodule, image analysis modules scan geospatial images, detect objects present and locate them on the geographical latitude-longitude system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Adam Estrada, Andrew Jenkins, Benjamin Brock, Chris Mangold
  • Publication number: 20170061250
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are technologies directed to discovering semantic similarities between images and text, which can include performing image search using a textual query, performing text search using an image as a query, and/or generating captions for images using a caption generator. A semantic similarity framework can include a caption generator and can be based on a deep multimodal similar model. The deep multimodal similarity model can receive sentences and determine the relevancy of the sentences based on similarity of text vectors generated for one or more sentences to an image vector generated for an image. The text vectors and the image vector can be mapped in a semantic space, and their relevance can be determined based at least in part on the mapping. The sentence associated with the text vector determined to be the most relevant can be output as a caption for the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Jianfeng Gao, Xiaodong He, Saurabh Gupta, Geoffrey G. Zweig, Forrest Iandola, Li Deng, Hao Fang, Margaret A. Mitchell, John C. Platt, Rupesh Kumar Srivastava
  • Publication number: 20170061251
    Abstract: The application provides a liveness detection method capable of implementing liveness detection on a human body, and a liveness detection system that employs the liveness detection method. The liveness detection method comprises: obtaining video data acquired via a video acquisition module; determining, based on the video data, a feature signal of an object to be detected; judging whether the feature signal meets a first predetermined condition, and if the feature signal meets the first predetermined condition, identifying that the object to be detected is a living body, wherein the feature signal is indicative of eye movement of the object to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Haoqiang FAN, Kai JIA, Qi YIN
  • Publication number: 20170061252
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for classifying an object of a current image, a plurality of first landmarks representative of the shape of the object being associated with the current image, a first unique identifier being associated with each first landmark. According to the disclosure, the method includes, for at least a first landmark, a step of obtaining at least a first descriptor describing an area of the current image having the at least first selected landmark. Then, the first landmark is selected according to its first identifier, and when its first identifier corresponds to a second identifier of a second landmark, a second descriptor is used in a classifier for classifying the object. Finally, the method determines information representative of confidence of the shape according to the first descriptor and according to weighting information associated with the second descriptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Xavier BURGOS, Nezha Kabbaj, Francois LE CLERC
  • Publication number: 20170061253
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining the shape (St) of an object represented in a current image, a plurality of landmarks being associated with the object. According to the disclosure, the method includes determining a plurality of features (Ft) representative of the current image, and the features being determined from at least a part of the plurality of landmarks. The method further obtains information (St) representative of the shape of the object by using at least one parameter (Pt) representative of an estimation of the pose of the object in the current image, the at least one parameter being obtained by implementing a multivariate regression applied to at least a part of the set of features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Xavier BURGOS, Nezha KABBAJ, Francois LE CLERC
  • Publication number: 20170061254
    Abstract: A method for processing an image of pixels is described. The method includes determining a plurality of features representative of the image, obtaining both information representative of a probability of presence of an object in the image and information representative of a shape of the object by implementing a unique multivariate regression applied to at least a part of the features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Xavier BURGOS, Julien FLEUREAU, Francois LE CLERC
  • Publication number: 20170061255
    Abstract: A method for surveilling a monitored environment includes classifying an individual detected in the monitored environment according to a role fulfilled by the individual within the monitored environment, generating a trajectory that illustrates movements and locations of the individual within the monitored environment, and detecting when the trajectory indicates an event that is inconsistent with an expected pattern for the role.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ana Paula Appel, Maira Athanazio de Cerqueira Gatti, Rogerio Abreu de Paula, Claudio Santos Pinhanez
  • Publication number: 20170061256
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for changing the appearance of an original image comprising N>1 classes of image elements, the method comprising the step of: for each pixel and for at least one subset of the original image: calculating N probability values, each probability value defining a probability for the pixel of belonging to a corresponding one of the N classes of image elements, transforming a color of the pixel by using predetermined color transforms for each of the N classes of image elements and the N probability values for the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: CELLAVISION AB
    Inventors: Sven HEDLUND, Adam MORELL
  • Publication number: 20170061257
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for classifying visual patterns into a plurality of classes are presented. Using reference visual patterns of known classification, at least one image or visual pattern classifier is generated, which is then employed to classify a plurality of candidate visual patterns of unknown classification. The classification scheme employed may be hierarchical or nonhierarchical. The types of visual patterns may be fonts, human faces, or any other type of visual patterns or images subject to classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: JIANCHAO YANG, GUANG CHEN, HAILIN JIN, JONATHAN BRANDT, ELYA SHECHTMAN, ASEEM OMPRAKASH AGARWALA
  • Publication number: 20170061258
    Abstract: An apparatus may be provided including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform various operations. Those operations may include: receiving a plurality of positive sample images comprising images of image capture devices; receiving a captured image captured from an image capture device; determining if the captured image comprises an image of an image capture device; and causing an image provided for presentation on a display to be changed in response to the captured image comprising an image of an image capture device. The apparatus may optionally be caused to analyze the plurality of positive sample images including images of image capture devices to learn to detect images of image capture devices in a captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Xin Chen, Ruigang Yang
  • Publication number: 20170061259
    Abstract: A payment card receiver including at least one element defining a payment card receiving slot, a shutter, pivotably mounted with respect to the payment card receiving slot for selectably blocking the payment card receiving slot and a card-operated shutter movement restricting switch operative to retain the shutter in a shutter movement restricting operative orientation, in which the shutter blocks the payment card receiving slot, in the absence of at least partial insertion of a payment card in the payment card receiving slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: VERIFONE, INC.
    Inventor: James Kei Choong GOH
  • Publication number: 20170061260
    Abstract: A test apparatus comprising a portable reference element having colour and spectrophotometrically neutral gray elements of predetermined hues and saturations, and a digital software file provides identical colour and spectrophotometrically neutral grayscale data which, when printed or otherwise reproduced accurately, may be compared with the test colours and grayscale provided by the portable reference element, enabling appropriate adjustments to be made to the printer as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Ferrand D. E. Corley
  • Publication number: 20170061261
    Abstract: Print data in a predetermined format including information for specifying the type of binding and print data in a predetermined format excluding the information for specifying the type of binding are adequately handled, wherein on the basis of reception of print data in a predetermined format including information for specifying the type of binding, control is exerted in such a manner that binding of the specified type is performed on printed matter, and on the basis of reception of print data in a predetermined format excluding the information for specified the type of binding, control is exerted in such a manner that binding of a predetermined type is performed on printed matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Hiromi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20170061262
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a setting unit. The setting unit selects one or more statuses to be obtained among statuses indicating states of as image output apparatus, in accordance with content displayed on a display that displays the selected statuses. The setting unit sets a polling interval at which polling is performed to obtain the selected statuses, in accordance with a frequency of change of the selected statuses. The setting unit sets the number of parallel processes in accordance with the number of selected statuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kimihiko ISOBE
  • Publication number: 20170061263
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a server. The image forming apparatus transmits to the server image data representing an image. The image is read by the reading device from the recording medium on which the print device prints the image, in response to an instruction to print at the origin of the print area. The server acquires, from the image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus, a printing-complete reference position, as a position where the recording-medium origin is made a reference, in a location printed on the recording medium by the image forming apparatus in response to an instruction to execute printing at the print-area origin, and acquires the displacement as a difference between the acquired printing-complete reference position and the print reference position stored in the storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Daisuke Yoshida, Takeshi Nakamura, Toyoaki Oku, Ryuichi Ishizu, Ryosuke Mondo, Atsushi Matsumoto, Katsuhiro Minoru
  • Publication number: 20170061264
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit, a punch mechanism, a display unit, a hole formation request receiving unit, a demand input receiving unit, a region designating unit, an extraction unit, a selection unit, and a punch mechanism control unit. The demand input receiving unit receives an input of a demand about punch hole formation from a user. The region designating unit designates a region in which a punch hole is to be formed by the punch mechanism through the display unit. The extraction unit extracts punch hole formation portion candidates having a printing rate lower than a predetermined value in the designated region. The selection unit causes a user to select the hole formation portion satisfying the demand. The punch mechanism control unit performs control so that the punch hole formation by the punch mechanism is carried out in the selected hole formation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Yukihiro Shibata
  • Publication number: 20170061265
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus decides first growth points indicating positions at which dots for generating a screen having a low ruling are generated based on a predetermined screen ruling and screen angle, and second growth points that indicate positions at which dots for increasing the screen ruling of a screen represented by the first growth points are generated. The apparatus generates a screen for growing, in accordance with increase in pixel values of an input image, dots generated centered on the first growth points, and switching, when the pixel values exceed a threshold value, growth points from the first growth points to the second growth points, and growing, in accordance with increase in the pixel values, dots generated centered on the second growth points, and uses the generated screen for screen processing on image data to be printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Taiki Tezuka
  • Publication number: 20170061266
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes the following elements. A circuit forming device forms a circuit configured in accordance with configuration information. A first storage unit stores first configuration information externally obtained via a first communication line. The first configuration information is used for forming a first circuit implementing a function including a first communication function in the circuit forming device. A second storage unit stores second configuration information different from the first configuration information. The second configuration information is used for forming a second circuit implementing a function including the first communication function in the circuit forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuji SHIMIZU, Yoshinori AWATA, Masahiro ISHIWATA, Tsutomu NAGAOKA, Keiichi ITO
  • Publication number: 20170061267
    Abstract: A printer driver enables appropriately executing real-time commands without causing operating errors even when print data is compressed for transmission to a printer. A driver causing a host computer that connects to a printer to execute a process, including causing the host computer to generate first commands executed by the printer in the order received, and second commands executed with priority over the first commands; generate print data including the first commands and send the print data to the printer; and execute a compression process converting data of the first commands contained in the print data to compressed data not containing a data train identical to a second command when generating the print data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Shunichi Wakasa
  • 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: 20170061269
    Abstract: A card with a magnetic stripe and increased durability is described. A protective lamina or coating may be disposed on a card with a magnetic stripe to protect the magnetic stripe embedded into the card from scratches, fractures, or chemical damage. An adhesive in the protective lamina is compatible with a material composition of the magnetic stripe such that the bond established onto the card surface is also accomplished with the magnetic stripe. The magnetic stripe has high coercivity and is overlaminated. The overlamination is performed across the entire rear side of the card. Accordingly, stress lines in cards with magnetic stripes can be avoided thereby significantly reducing cracking and fractures in cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Victor L. Andelin, Robert Jones, Daoshen Bi
  • Publication number: 20170061270
    Abstract: In an approach for interpreting a matrix code with increased information density, a processor identifies a first portion of an extended matrix code and a second portion of the extended matrix code, where each portion of the extended matrix code has a different combination of at least one positioning marker and at least one location marker. A processor locates at least one location marker of the first portion of the extended matrix code and at least one location marker of the second portion of the extended matrix code. A processor concatenates the first portion of the extended matrix code and the second portion of the extended matrix code based on at least one location marker of the first portion of the extended matrix code and at least one location marker of the second portion of the extended matrix code. A processor generates the extended matrix code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Simon A. S. Briggs, James K. Hook, Hamish C. Hunt, Nicholas K. Lincoln
  • Publication number: 20170061271
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser element includes a substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface; a semiconductor layered body including an active layer, the semiconductor layered body being disposed on the first main surface; and a plurality of sub-patterns that, when combined, form an integrated pattern that allows reading of predetermined information, the plurality of sub-patterns being disposed on either one or both a first main surface side and a second main surface side of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi TANAKA, Mitsuhiro NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20170061272
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium (collectively, the “system”) are provided. The system may include a processor configured to perform operations and/or steps comprising storing, by a processor, a session key on a mobile device, wherein the session key is encrypted. The system receiving a transaction request, decrypting the session key, and broadcasting a signal configured for being received by a magnetic stripe reader. Track 1 data and/or track 2 data may be encoded in the signal. The track 1 data and/or the track 2 data may also comprise a dynamically generated value that is generated based on the session key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Manish K. Deliwala, Jonathan Lupton, Ajay B. Maddukuri, John G. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20170061273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrical circuit board. It includes the provision of a sheet of electrically conductive material and a layer of adhesive material. In order to have a colour appear in spaces cut or etched into the sheet of electrically conductive material, the adhesive material includes a colouring agent. The invention also relates to an electrical circuit board for a smart card, which circuit board is manufactured using this method, and a smart card including such an electrical circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Mara COPPOLA, Yannick DE MAQUILLE, Fabien MARCQ
  • Publication number: 20170061274
    Abstract: A card has: a substrate of ID-1 format according to the ISO 7810 standard; and at least one electronic component arranged on the substrate, all or part of said at least one electronic component being disposed in at least one of the two embossing regions defined in the ISO 7811-1 standard as regions in which embossed characters can be formed on the substrate; an encapsulation of the unit comprising the substrate and said at least one electronic component; such that the thickness of the card at the level of said embossing regions does not exceed 1.32 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Stephane PAVAGEAU
  • Publication number: 20170061275
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a microchip apparatus, where the microchip apparatus comprises a plurality of metallic layers. Each of the metallic layers may have a respective layer thickness. The microchip apparatus also comprises electronic components integrated within the metallic layers. The electronic components may be configured to communicate data. Further, the electronic components include an antenna feed. The microchip apparatus includes an antenna coupled to the antenna feed. The antenna includes multiple loops, each loop being formed by at least one layer of the metallic layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Sean Korhummel, Jiang Zhu, Stephen O'Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20170061276
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for receiving graph data representing an input graph comprising a plurality of vertices connected by edges; generating, from the graph data, vertex input data representing characteristics of each vertex in the input graph and pair input data representing characteristics of pairs of vertices in the input graph; and generating order-invariant features of the input graph using a neural network, wherein the neural network comprises: a first subnetwork configured to generate a first alternative representation of the vertex input data and a first alternative representation of the pair input data from the vertex input data and the pair input data; and a combining layer configured to receive an input alternative representation and to process the input alternative representation to generate the order-invariant features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick F. Riley, Marc Berndl