Character Or Font Patents (Class 358/1.11)
  • Patent number: 8520005
    Abstract: An image processing system includes a setting section and an image processing section. The setting section sets a process condition of electrophotographic image formation suited to reading of an information image that represents data by a pattern. The image processing section performs an image process for preventing degradation, in image quality, of an image other than the information image under the process condition set through the setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyatsu, Mitsuru Iioka, Noribumi Sato, Sato Okamoto, Kaoru Koike
  • Patent number: 8514446
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus which is capable of efficiently performing color/monochrome determination of characters as a print object. A printer driver determines whether a character as the print object is a character which is necessary to be drawn or a character which is not necessary to be drawn. Then, when the character as the print object is determined to be a character which is not necessary to be drawn, the printer driver determines that the character as the print object is in monochrome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsu Oishi
  • Patent number: 8508752
    Abstract: An image data producing apparatus includes: a page dividing portion that divides data described in a page description language into a page unit; a plurality of image processors that form raster data from divided data; and a controlling portion that allocates pages on which the raster data is formed to each of the plurality of the image processors, and causes each of the plurality of the image processors to execute registration of a printing resource on respective pages with at least a change of the printing resource by controlling each of the plurality of the image processors irrespective of a page allocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Torii
  • Patent number: 8493575
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming characters for microprint and an image forming apparatus using the same. The method of forming characters for microprint includes determining for every image character a size font taking into account the rules to create small prints, rasterizing a character into a bitmap, skeletonizing the bitmap, reformatting the bitmap maintaining a character legibility, storing the bitmap, and forming halftoning cells from the reformatted bitmap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilia Vladimirovich Safonov, Sergey Yur'evich Yakovlev
  • Patent number: 8488141
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a controller generating image data and a print control signal and outputs the image data and the print control signal together with a print request; and an engine driving print process devices to perform print processing according to the image data. Upon receipt of the print request, the engine initiates the print process devices to print an image according to the image data. When receiving no next print request within a predetermined waiting time, the engine inquires the controller whether there is a next page image to be printed. When receiving a response from the controller such that there are next page image data, the engine sets a predetermined second waiting time while stopping termination of the print process devices for the predetermined second waiting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masaru Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8482325
    Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a recording unit which records image data on a recording medium; a first spread spectrum clock generator receiving a first clock signal, providing the first clock signal with frequency diffusion to have a first predetermined frequency diffusion width, and outputting a second clock signal; a PLL circuit outputting a third clock signal synchronously oscillating at a frequency obtained by multiplying the frequency of the first clock signal; an image processing unit receiving the third clock signal, and outputting the processed image data in synchronism with the third clock signal; a speed conversion unit receiving the second and third clock signals, and receiving and outputting the image data in synchronism with the second clock signal; and an input and output control unit outputting the image data to the recording unit in synchronism with the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Ohmine
  • Patent number: 8467082
    Abstract: Processes and systems for creating and/or modifying font glyphs comprising the addition of variably-sized negative space perforations in various shapes placed among the glyph body black space and within the glyph body outline. Within each negative space perforation may be placed nested positive space perforations of variable size and shape. A user of font glyphs generated in accordance with the invention can employ the font glyphs for on-screen digital viewing and/or for hardcopy prints. By using variable-sized perforations and variable-sized nested perforations, font glyphs are generated that consume less printing compound when generating hardcopy text. Font glyphs generated in accordance with the invention are more efficient to use when printing hardcopies due to intelligently arranged negative/positive space that utilizes print compound bleeding, when available, and display only the most distinct sections of each font glyph, assisting in maintaining sufficient text legibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventors: Jonathan Miller, Mariemma Miller
  • Publication number: 20130148142
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, storing a fixed form print information processing program for executing steps on a control device. The steps comprises a fixed form print producing step for producing fixed form print information, a margin area deleting step for deleting a width direction margin area of the width direction margin area and a longitudinal direction margin area respectively set on each side of both ends in a tape width direction as well as each side of both ends in a tape longitudinal direction of font data corresponding to a character string included in the fixed form print information, a fixed form print displaying step for displaying on the display device the fixed form print information from which the margin area has been deleted, and a fixed form print transferring step for transferring the fixed form print information to the print label producing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8462360
    Abstract: A printing device, to be connected to a network system including network devices sharing image data in a particular format, comprises: a print instruction receiving unit which receives print data containing font information from a network device; a query transmitting unit which transmits a supply query, inquiring whether each network device is capable of supplying a printer font regarding the font information as image data in the particular format, to the network devices; a response receiving unit which receives affirmative responses, indicating that the supply of a printer font regarding the supply query as image data in the particular format is possible, from network devices in response to the supply query; and a printing unit which prints out the print data by use of a printer font held by a network device transmitting the affirmative response as image data in the particular format in response to reception of the affirmative response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Miyazawa, Masaru Yasuda, Yasuhiro Kudo
  • Publication number: 20130135640
    Abstract: A function executing device may obtain any of a plurality of screen information from a server, and display a screen represented by the obtained screen information. The function executing device may store in a device-side memory two or more code information corresponding to two or more character strings for displaying a first screen in a case where a creation instruction for creating a shortcut corresponding to the first screen is given, and supply the two or more code information within the device-side memory to the server in a case where a selection instruction for selecting the shortcut is given. In a case where the two or more code information is supplied to the server, the function executing device may obtain first screen information that represents the first screen from the server, and display the first screen represented by the obtained first screen information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8451488
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus reads out job ticket data indicating first conditions used for executing a job and a permission to change each of the first conditions and lack thereof. The image processing apparatus, then, reads out a functional conditions table indicating a first group made by grouping second conditions having a common concept and a second group made by grouping the first group having a common concept. Then, the image processing apparatus presents, as options for changing a first condition to which applying a change is prohibited, second conditions included in a first group to which a second condition that is the same as the first condition belongs. The image processing apparatus presents, as options for changing a first condition to which applying a change is allowed, second conditions included in a second group to which a second condition that is the same as the first condition belongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Minako Kobayashi, Takehisa Yamaguchi, Katsuhiko Akita, Kazuya Anezaki
  • Patent number: 8451462
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a specification unit configured to specify character information included in document data, a generation unit configured to generate image data of the specified character information, a conversion unit configured to convert the generated image data or a parity value of the generated image data into a two-dimensional code, and a printing unit configured to print a printed matter in which the two-dimensional code is combined with the document data, wherein a size of the generated image data is smaller than a size of image data of the document data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryousuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8451491
    Abstract: Outline font data showing the original outside shape having a single closed curve made up of a parenthesized outside shape portion of the parenthesized image and a connecting line portion to connect both open ends is stored. The height and line width are determined. Based on the above data, a first-size solidly shaded image is formed having the determined height and is entirely filled inside the original outside shape thereof with effective pixels of logic “1.” A second-size solidly shaded image is formed of a second size which is smaller by the line width than the first-size solidly shaded image, along the parenthesized outside shape portion. Non-equivalence operation is performed with corresponding pixels by displacing the first-size solidly shaded image and the second-size solidly shaded image by the line width along the parenthesized outside shape portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tanaka, Akinori Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20130128292
    Abstract: A system and method for providing formatted content in a user-defined print area. In one or more embodiments, a database is stored on one or more processor readable media that are operatively coupled to one or more processors. A computing device associated with the one or more processors provides a user interface for defining at least one user-defined print area. The computing device provides one or more prompts for one or more parameters associated with the at least one user-defined print area. The one or more processors stores at least one of the one or more parameters received in response to at least one of the one or more prompts, and the one or more processors formats content provided in the user-defined print area in accordance with the at least one parameter of the one or more parameters. The formatted content is output by at least one printing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Staffan Gribel, Peter Jonsson
  • Patent number: 8446609
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus obtains an amount of sheets remaining in its accommodation unit and from that amount determines whether a print job of interest can successfully be processed for printing. If so, then the print job of interest is processed for printing. If not, a print notification dialog box is output to provide notification that the print job cannot successfully be processed for printing and that it is necessary to resupply sheets required to process the print job for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Kagumi Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 8446607
    Abstract: A method and system for data loss prevention controls and protects sensitive data from being printed in an unauthorized manner. A method for controlling printing activities implemented in a computer system comprises intercepting a print job comprising print data intended for a printer driver, delaying performance of the print job, analyzing content of the print data to determine whether to allow or cancel the print job based on a security policy, and resuming or canceling the print job based on the analysis of the content of the print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventors: Elad Zucker, Eran Werner
  • Patent number: 8441654
    Abstract: Provided herein is a cable label forming apparatus having an edit screen display device, a selection candidate display instructing device, and a selection candidate display device. The selection candidate display device displays a last selected candidate among the plurality of selection candidates on a priority basis in a normal edit screen when displaying the plurality of selection candidates is instructed, and displays a specific candidate among the plurality of selection candidates on a priority basis in a cable label forming edit screen when displaying the plurality of selection candidates is instructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Kurashina
  • Patent number: 8441684
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for text vectorization for bitmap images with reduced artificial discontinuities. Dominant points are identified in a bitmap character image. An initial curve is fitted to edge points of the character image in a vicinity of a selected dominant point. A set of boundary parameters in a vicinity of the selected dominant point are estimated based upon the initial curve. The selected dominant point is then classified as one of a sharp dominant point and a smooth dominant point based upon the boundary parameters or alternatively upon predefined classifications produced by an optical character recognition process. Curves are fitted between the selected dominant point and adjacent dominant points. The fitted curves maintain the estimated boundary parameters in the vicinity of smooth dominant points. A vectorized representation of the text character image based upon the fitted curves is produced as output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Zhigang Fan, Francis Kapo Tse, Bingfeng Zhou, Yadong Mu, He Tao
  • Patent number: 8437013
    Abstract: A method of defining a glyph font character representing an input binary code includes defining a first portion of a matrix using an input binary code including a plurality of input bits. A second portion of the matrix is defined by performing a transformation on the input binary code so that the second portion of the matrix includes a plurality of transformed bits. A glyph character is derived that corresponds to the matrix. The glyph character is defined by a plurality of components corresponding in location to said bits of said matrix, wherein the components of the glyph character comprise a first component (e.g. a forward slash /) that corresponds to and represents a “1” bit of the matrix and second component (e.g., a backslash \) that corresponds to and represents a “0” bit of the matrix. The transformation operation includes a NOT operation or other logic operation, and includes a shift operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Reiner Eschbach, Zhigang Fan
  • Publication number: 20130107299
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to perform direct printing of print data, wherein the image forming apparatus receives print data encoded in a first encoding method, determines whether the received print data includes a character expressed in 2 bytes, converts the print data encoded in the first encoding method to be encoded in a second encoding method of analyzing the character expressed in 2 bytes in the image forming apparatus if the print data includes the character expressed in 2 bytes, and forms an image of the converted print data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, CO LTD
    Inventor: Young-hee Huh
  • Patent number: 8432555
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a document image acquiring unit, a first specifying unit and a second specifying unit. The document image acquiring unit acquires a document image representing a document. The first specifying unit specifies positions, in the document image, of a plurality of areas in interest which are arranged in a specific direction and which correspond to each other. The second specifying unit specifies a start position of an item in the document, based on the positions of the areas in interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 8427679
    Abstract: An image communication apparatus that includes an image-data receiving unit that receives image data, a storing unit that stores therein the image data received by the image-data receiving unit, and an output unit that outputs the image data stored in the storing unit, the image communication apparatus includes a scanning unit that scans the image data output by the output unit; a difference extracting unit that extracts a difference between the image data scanned by the scanning unit and the image data stored in the storing unit; a difference determining unit that determines whether the difference extracted by the difference extracting unit satisfies a predetermined condition based on condition information obtained together with the image data; and a control unit that controls so that a message is transmitted to a transmission source of the image data based on a result determined by the difference determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Susumu Fujioka
  • Patent number: 8422054
    Abstract: A remote copy system capable of improving the quality of an image formed by remote copy. The remote copy system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network. A controller unit of a local apparatus that reads an image of an original accepts input settings and determine an image process to be executed, based on the input settings. The controller unit determines an image forming apparatus that is to execute the determined image process, based on performance of each of image forming apparatuses connected to a network. Remote copy is executed by causing the determined image forming apparatus to perform the determined image process on data of the image of the original read by the local apparatus, and causing a remote apparatus to perform image formation based on the processed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuka Masuyama
  • Patent number: 8411313
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a reader reads an image of one page of an original thereby obtaining image data. A determining unit determines whether embedded data has been embedded in the image data. An extracting unit extracts the embedded data, acquires a target page number of a reading unnecessary page based on the embedded data, and saves the page number in a storage unit. A page number determining unit determines whether a page number of a next page of the original matches with the target page number. Upon the page number of the next page matching with the target page number, the reader does not read image data of the next page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yuka Kihara
  • Patent number: 8405848
    Abstract: A print system includes a digital camera serving as an information device for storing image data, order reception servers adapted for accepting a print order from a digital camera and connected to the digital camera over a network, and a registration center server for managing the information in an order reception server which can accept a print order from the digital camera. When the digital camera sets up communication with the order reception server, the digital camera inquires the URL of the order reception server of the registration center server over the network. The registration center server sends the URL of the order reception server which can accept a print order from the digital camera to the digital camera. The digital camera sets up communication with the order reception server of the URL acquired from the registration center server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takehito Yamaguchi, Akihiro Tamura, Masayuki Yoneyama
  • Publication number: 20130063742
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an extraction unit configured to extract a character from an input character string and a generation unit configured to generate a printTicket with the character extracted by the extraction unit as an Option of a plurality of Features, wherein print data is generated from the printTicket generated by the generation unit and a rendering command from an application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8395802
    Abstract: In a printing system in which a digital camera (DSC) and PD printer apparatus are directly connected via a USB, and image data is transmitted from the DSC to the PD printer apparatus and printed, Capability of the PD printer apparatus is transmitted from the PD printer apparatus to the DSC after communication procedures are established by an application (NCDP) installed in the PD printer apparatus and DSC. The PD printer apparatus is caused to execute print operation in accordance with print conditions set by the DSC on the basis of the transmitted Capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Yano, Kazuya Sakamoto, Takao Aichi, Fumihiro Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Tatsuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8395819
    Abstract: An image processing device including a registration unit that registers plurality pieces of style information is provided. In the device, one object or a plurality of objects is extracted from image data. By comparing the extracted objects with objects included in the plurality pieces of style information that are registered on the registration unit, style information to be output is selected. An object which is not included in the selected style information is selected among the extracted objects as an output object. An electronic file in which the selected output object is recorded on a page description part, and the selected style information is recorded on a style description part, is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuuichi Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 8390827
    Abstract: A drawing processing apparatus is provided and includes: a plurality of character definition information memories each storing definition information on a character shape; a registering portion that, when a drawing command containing the definition information on the character shape is received, determines one of the plurality of character definition information memories for each character contained in the drawing command, depending on whether the definition information on the character shape is simple definition information that defines the character shape itself of the character or is a combinational definition information that defines a combination of simple or combinational definition information defining components of the character; and a drawing process instructing portion that instructs to read, from the plurality of character definition information memories, the definition information on the character shape corresponding to the character to be processed, to execute a drawing process of the each charac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8384917
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for font reproduction in electronic documents are provided. The method includes: receiving an image of a printed document; extracting pairs of consecutive characters from the image of the printed document; storing the extracted pairs as images of the characters; and reproducing the printed document as an electronic document with text of overlapping extracted character pair images. Extracting pairs of consecutive characters includes extracting adjacent horizontal characters, extracting spaced horizontal characters, and extracting spaced vertical characters. Reproducing the printed document as an electronic document includes reproducing the spacing between words and between lines using the spaced horizontal characters and the spaced vertical characters as anchors in the reproduced document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Asaf Tzadok
  • Patent number: 8384918
    Abstract: A method for enforcing a user specified minimum font size (USMFS) in a hardcopy document (HD). The method includes: receiving a request to print an electronic document (ED) according to a magnification ratio; identifying a first character in the ED having a first font size smaller than a quotient of the USMFS divided by the magnification ratio; and increasing the first font size by a scale factor to match the quotient; where the HD is generated by scaling the ED according to the magnification ratio, and wherein the HD comprises the first character in the USMFS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaonong Zhan
  • Patent number: 8384953
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operating and display unit that displays information and receives inputs entered by a user; a display control unit that displays, on the operating and display unit, a detailed display, on which setting contents of setting items are specifiable, and a simplified display that contains function-selection information that represents setting contents of a predetermined setting item among the setting items displayed on the detailed display in a manner that setting contents of the predetermined setting item are specifiable; an input control unit that receives selection of a desired setting item made on the detailed display displayed on the operating and display unit; and a registration unit that registers the function-selection information of the setting item, the selection of which has been received, on the simplified display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8378824
    Abstract: An image-forming system includes a data-reading unit, a data-writing unit, and a restricting unit. The data-reading unit reads additional data from a first storing member of an original document. The data-writing unit writes the read additional data to a second storing member of a recording medium. The restricting unit gives a restriction to the additional data stored in the first storing member after the additional data is read, in order to prevent the additional data stored in the first storing member from being read subsequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ohmiya
  • Patent number: 8379254
    Abstract: An image-data receiving unit receives image data from other image communication apparatus. A storing unit stores therein the image data. An output unit outputs the image data stored in the storing unit. A reading unit reads the image data output by the output unit. An extracting unit extracts a difference between the image data read by the reading unit and the image data stored in the storing unit. A determining unit determines whether the difference extracted by the extracting unit satisfies a predetermined condition. A control unit controls a transmission of a message to other image communication apparatus based on a result of determination by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu Fujioka
  • Patent number: 8368917
    Abstract: A printing system, including an image data generator to generate at least a part of printing data as image data; a storage to store the image data and the printing data; a display part to display the image data stored in the storage; and a controller to make desired printing data selected by displaying the image data stored in the storage on the display part according to an input command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-sik Yang
  • Patent number: 8368943
    Abstract: There is provided an image creating apparatus including: an inputting device for inputting creation data composed of input data and creation condition data; an image creating device for creating a two-dimensional code image based on the inputted creation data; and an informing device for informing of a print size of the created two-dimensional code image, wherein the image creating device creates the two-dimensional code image based on the creation data being inputted, in the process of inputting the creation data by the inputting device, and the informing device informs of the print size of the two-dimensional code image created by the image creating device based on the creation data being inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Kim Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Takayama, Takayuki Uehara
  • Patent number: 8363231
    Abstract: A printing system in which a font manger monitors print jobs for execution by a printer having a memory operable to store font data. The font manger is arranged to identify fonts in a print job to be executed by the printer for which font data is not already stored in the memory of the printer; and cause font data corresponding to the identified fonts to be downloaded and stored in the printer memory for use in executing subsequent print jobs. By only including font data which is not already present in the memory of a printer, the size of print jobs can be reduced thereby increasing the speed at which print jobs can be generated and transmitted. The font manger may be provided on the printer, within the computer or as part of a printer server connected to the printer and the computer via a communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Software Imaging Group Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey Hammond Soord
  • Patent number: 8362816
    Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a recording unit which records image data on a recording medium; a first spread spectrum clock generator receiving a first clock signal, providing the first clock signal with frequency diffusion to have a first predetermined frequency diffusion width, and outputting a second clock signal; a PLL circuit outputting a third clock signal synchronously oscillating at a frequency obtained by multiplying the frequency of the first clock signal; an image processing unit receiving the third clock signal, and outputting the processed image data in synchronism with the third clock signal; a speed conversion unit receiving the second and third clock signals, and receiving and outputting the image data in synchronism with the second clock signal; and an input and output control unit outputting the image data to the recording unit in synchronism with the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Ohmine
  • Patent number: 8351068
    Abstract: The apparatus transmits first image data indicating form contents and setting information associated with the print sheet on which the form contents are printed in advance to a server managing data associated with the overlay-print process, for registration by the server. When an execution instruction of the overlay-print process is received, and the apparatus generates second image data of the image to be overlaid and printed on the print sheet used in the overlay-print process, generates associated information indicating association between a print attribute designated for the overlay-print process that uses the second image data, and transmits the second image data and the associated information to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Koyano
  • Patent number: 8351071
    Abstract: A print control apparatus enables a user to select an arbitrary print mechanism among a plurality of print mechanisms of a print apparatus. To this end, the print control apparatus can display a screen showing two or more print mechanisms usable in the print apparatus. The print control apparatus can determine an optimum print mechanism based on image contents and print conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Akimoto
  • Patent number: 8345305
    Abstract: An image-processing device includes: an acquiring unit that acquires image data representing a document which includes a plurality of pages; an extracting unit that extracts, from the acquired image data, a character area in a first page that is at least one of the plurality of pages; and an output unit that outputs first partial image data within the extracted character area associated with the acquired image data of a second page other than the first page, the second page determined by having a character area corresponding to the extracted character area in the first page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8345270
    Abstract: A print data generation apparatus generates print data to be used for printing a print result including a plurality of lines on a tape-shaped print medium. The print data generation apparatus includes an input device that inputs a plurality of character strings for the plurality of lines to be printed on the print medium, a storage device that stores the plurality of character strings for the plurality of lines, and a print data generation device that generates the print data in which each of the plurality of character strings are repeatedly arranged in a predetermined character size defined for each of the plurality of lines and at predetermined spacing in each of the plurality of lines until the print result reaches a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mai Fukutani, Tomoki Miyashita, Minako Ishida
  • Publication number: 20120327438
    Abstract: Outline font data showing the original outside shape having a single closed curve made up of a parenthesized outside shape portion of the parenthesized image and a connecting line portion to connect both open ends is stored. The height and line width are determined. Based on the above data, a first-size solidly shaded image is formed having the determined height and is entirely filled inside the original outside shape thereof with effective pixels of logic “1.” A second-size solidly shaded image is formed of a second size which is smaller by the line width than the first-size solidly shaded image, along the parenthesized outside shape portion. Non-equivalence operation is performed with corresponding pixels by displacing the first-size solidly shaded image and the second-size solidly shaded image by the line width along the parenthesized outside shape portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji TANAKA, Akinori TSUJI
  • Patent number: 8339642
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for processing character data is provided, which selects a format of the character data to be used for generating print data. When a user instruction for printing character data according to character command data specifying the output of the character data is received, the format of the character data is selected based on the character command data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8339652
    Abstract: Provided herein is a label creating apparatus including: a memory unit to associate and memory a first character or graphic with a second character or graphic that has a pairwise relationship with the first character or graphic; an input unit to allow inputting the first character or graphic; a display unit to display according to the first character or graphic input with the input unit the second character or graphic memory in the memory unit; and a printing unit to print the first character or graphic that has been input and the second character or graphic that has been displayed. The label creating apparatus creates a pair of labels on which the characters or graphics that have a pairwise relationship are respectively printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tsukuda
  • Patent number: 8339658
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a video memory; a load management unit that loads page data on a print image into the video memory page by page; a print engine that performs printing using the page data stored in the video memory; and a main management unit that, when printing of a page is completed as part of an electronic sort process, causes the video memory to retain the page data if there is a subsequent page to be printed using the same page data as that on the page, and deletes the page data from the video memory if there is no subsequent page to be printed using the same page data as that on the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kozo Tao
  • Patent number: 8335007
    Abstract: A facsimile image reception portion obtains a facsimile image received through a communication line. An image storage portion stores a facsimile image obtained by the facsimile image reception portion. A destination storage portion stores at least one transfer destination of the facsimile image and a set value for limiting received data by making connection with each other for each of transfer destinations. A character recognition portion obtains character data by performing character recognition from a facsimile image obtained by the facsimile image reception portion. A character recognition operation control portion compares a set value for limiting received data to character data obtained by a character recognition portion to control whether or not character recognition by the character recognition portion is continued. An electronic mail creation portion creates an electronic mail in which character data obtained by the character recognition portion is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minami Sensu
  • Publication number: 20120314235
    Abstract: A system and method for parsing data formatted in a plurality of encoding schemes at a printer is provided. The method comprises receiving data from at least one host computer at the printer, wherein at least a portion of the data is encoded in a plurality of encoding schemes. The method also includes determining a parser state of the data based on a plurality of characters and/or at least one printer control command associated with the plurality of encoding schemes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ZIH CORP.
    Inventors: John Fay, Jessica Wettstein, Cabel Sholdt, Fred Susi
  • Patent number: 8331736
    Abstract: An image processing device is provided which generates an easily reusable electronic document from an input image in which different page sizes are mixed. The image processing device generates a plurality of pieces of display information from a plurality of document images, and, depending on the size and the direction of each of the images, converts the pieces of display information into electronic documents. That is, the plurality of pieces of display information are divided into a plurality of groups, depending on the size and the direction of each of the images, and the display information included in each of the groups is converted into a separate electronic document. Further, sequence information based on the input order of the plurality of document images is stored on an electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiko Nakanishi, Makoto Enomoto, Taeko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8331739
    Abstract: OCR errors are identified and corrected through learning. An error probability estimator is trained using ground truths to learn error probability estimation. Multiple OCR engines process a text image, and convert it into texts. The error probability estimator compares the outcomes of the multiple OCR engines for mismatches, and determines an error probability for each of the mismatches. If the error probability of a mismatch exceeds an error probability threshold, a suspect is generated and grouped together with similar suspects in a cluster. A question for the cluster is generated and rendered to a human operator for answering. The answer from the human operator is then applied to all suspects in the cluster to correct OCR errors in the resulting text. The answer is also used to further train the error probability estimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Abdulkader, Matthew R. Casey