Abstract: This invention can provide an information processing apparatus and control method thereof, and a program, which can efficiently execute processing associated with font settings. To accomplish this, font information of a first character and font information of a second character, which are located before and after the position of an input character are acquired. When the acquired font information of the first character and the acquired font information of the second character include the same font type, the font type is set as font type information used for the input character. When the acquired font information of the first character and the acquired font information of the second character include different font types, parsing is executed for the character string including the input character, and font type information used for the input character is set based on the parsing result.

Abstract: A document processing device comprises: a document data acquiring part for acquiring document data; a character string extracting part for extracting character strings satisfying a predetermined condition for character string extraction from the document data acquired by the document data acquiring part; a format creating part for deriving the respective features of the character strings extracted by the character string extracting part, and for creating a format containing the derived features in the form of data; a display part on which the character strings extracted by the character string extracting part are displayed in a list form, and on which the format created by the format creating part is displayed; and a format correcting part for correcting the format displayed on the display part. The character string extracting part extracts character strings again to conform to the format corrected by the format correcting part.

Abstract: To provide a print character selector of a printer and assembling method of operating member of the print character selector which configures both the axial direction regulation mechanism for the indexing regulation of the selector wheel 6 and the rotational direction regulating mechanism for the selection regulation of the print character of the endless print band 8 at the knob shaft 16. The print character selector includes a plurality of regulating recesses at a periphery of the knob shaft of the operating member (5) both in axial and rotational directions of the shaft. An urging member for regulation engages and disengages from the regulating recesses. A plurality of regulating recesses (16A) capable of selecting any one of the selector wheels (6) by moving the knob (15) along the axial direction, and configured for selecting any one of the print characters by rotating the knob around the axial direction are provided on the knob shaft.

Abstract: A handheld portable printer includes a top member, a front member, a bottom member and a handle that are joined together to form a generally O-shaped device. The top member defines a hole through which a scroll dial protrudes and is adapted to support a retractable display on its top surface. The front member provides an area for storing consumables, a battery, and houses a projector to project an image on the print surface of the image to be printed. The bottom member houses optical sensors to detect and measure movement of the handheld printer; and a print head for outputting ink on the print surface. The handle provides additional buttons for inputting command to lock an image or begin printing, and in one embodiment housing electronics for control and projection of the image to be printed, providing user feedback, and communicating with other devices.

Abstract: A watermark embedding method for embedding a secret message sequence in a document. The techniques include obtaining layout information of the document, extracting a digest of the document by using a Hash function, calculating embedded positions where the secret message sequence is embedded in the document, and dispersedly hiding the secret message sequence in each of the calculated embedded positions by altering the layout of the document. Also provided is a watermark embedding apparatus, a corresponding watermark detecting method and apparatus, and a method and system for detecting document integrity. The integrity of documents in various forms can be detected, and secret information to be hidden can be embedded therein and extracted therefrom. The techniques described are not limited to the document either in soft copy or in hard copy and have good robustness.

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.

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.

Abstract: An image forming system comprising an information terminal device and a printing device that is connected to the information terminal device through a network and a local connection and performs a printing process of image data sent from the information terminal device, in which the information terminal device includes a network identifier acquisition unit that obtains through the local connection a network identifier of the printing device on the network at the time of the local connection between the information terminal device and the printing device, and a data communication unit that performs data communications with the printing device through the network according to the network identifier obtained by the network identifier acquisition unit.

Abstract: A variable data pantograph is formed by receiving a variable data string and retrieving at least one character representation from a vocabulary of character representations stored in memory. The retrieved at least one character representation corresponds to the variable data string. Each of the character representations in the vocabulary is associated with a foreground region including a character shape and a background region suitably sized and arranged for encompassing the foreground region. The background region incorporates a first pattern of elements and is controlled to render a target color using a first set of color separation control data and the foreground region incorporates a second pattern of elements and is controlled to render the target color using a second set of color separation control data.

Abstract: A form printing system comprising an information processing apparatus, a server, and a printing apparatus that are connected to each other, wherein the server includes: a device identification information management unit that manages device identification information in association with user-specific user authentication information; an encryption unit that encrypts the field data and the form information received from the information processing apparatus; an encoded code generation unit that generates the first encoded code from an encrypted character string generated by the encryption unit; an encoded code sending unit that sends the first encoded code generated by the encoded code generation unit to the information processing apparatus; a form data distribution unit that, in a case where a form data acquisition request that includes form information is received from the printing apparatus, sends form data that is in accordance with the acquisition request to the printing apparatus.

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.

Abstract: An output control data generating device for controlling an output device includes a character selection unit that receives a selection of a desired character code set and a desired character from a group containing at least one character code set that can be used on the output control data generating device; a font selection unit that receives a selection of output font data, which is information for outputting the selected character to the output device, from among a plurality of different font groups disposed to the output device; a mapping unit that produces a font group definition file that stores the selected character mapped to the output font data; and an output control unit that controls output to the output device, using the font group definition file.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of scanning a document (e.g. a newspaper or a book) is provided where the text may be legally protected from unauthorized copying, comprising the steps of: acquiring to a memory at least one recording confined to a field that covers a delimited area of a document; processing the at least one recording to perform character recognition; when a character is recognized, registering it in a memory, and performing the above steps repeatedly while recording at shifted positions so as to progressively obtain a string of characters; and evaluating the string against a predefined condition; if condition is not satisfied, determining whether to clear from the memory at least a portion of the at least one recording; if condition is satisfied, provide an output and clear from the memory at least a portion of the string and at least a portion of the at least one recording.

Abstract: A computer readable recording medium storing a printer driver causing a computer to execute a process for generating, based on printing target data, printing data and sending to a printing device, the process which includes: selecting a character with a specific typeface from the printing target data; performing conversion of the selected character with the specific typeface into a character with other typeface; and generating the printing data based on the printing target data including the converted character.

Abstract: Confirmation sheets would be more useful if they provided status information for each service, for each destination or recipient and/or images of each page of a multi-service and/or multi-destination job. A confirmation sheet provides the status of multi-destination and/or multi-service document distribution jobs. The services that can be included in a multi-service document distribution job include sending the documents as a facsimile, scanning the documents to a file or to a file repository, e-mailing the documents to an individual or other address, and/or printing the documents. Thumbnail images of one or more pages of the multi-destination and/or multi-service job can also be included on the confirmation sheet. In various exemplary embodiments, when elements of a multi-destination or multi-service job are not completed at the time the confirmation sheet is requested, the confirmation sheet can include various structures or information usable to obtain job status at a later time.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which creates and delivers an image file whose layer can be managed comprises a first image data acquisition unit which acquires first image data, a second image data acquisition unit which acquires second image data, receiving unit for receiving a delivery destination of the created image file, a determination unit which determines whether the first image data and the second image data are stored in the same layer or the different layers, depending on the delivery destination received by the receiving unit, an image file creation unit which creates the image file in which the first image data and the second image data are stored in the same layer or the different layers, based on a result of the determination of the determination unit, and transmitting unit for transmitting the image file to the delivery destination received by the receiving unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an on-line system for facilitating the production of forms, such as business cards, stationery, catalogues and generally any printed matter. Relatively permanent material for the production of forms is stored as a form structure in a computing system repository. The system receives copy information input by a user and combines it with the form structure to produce a finished artwork which is transmitted to a printery.

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.

Abstract: A storing unit stores document information received from an OS through an AP processing unit. A character size information extracting unit extracts representation character size information that represents a maximum size of characters whose accumulated number reaches a predetermined ratio of a total number of characters included in the document information. A resolution information extracting unit extracts resolution information. A page number deciding unit decides an arranged page number serving as the number of logical pages from the representation character size information and the resolution information. A page arranging unit converts the document information stored in the storing unit into the logical pages and arranges them to a physical page based on the logical pages and the arranged page number. The inputted document information divided into a plurality of logical pages is converted into image information consisting of physical pages of the number smaller than the number of logical pages.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus previewing on a display screen ink-character information and braille information which are printed and embossed on the same process sheet, the apparatus including: an ink-character previewing device for previewing the ink-character information; a braille previewing device for previewing the braille information; and a preview switching device controlling the ink-character previewing device and the braille previewing device and capable of selectively switching a display mode among a display of only the ink-character information, that of only the braille information, and that of the ink-character information and the braille information when printing and embossing operations are performed in a manner in which the ink-character information and the braille information are at least partially overlapped with each other on the process sheet.

Abstract: A print management apparatus is disclosed which includes a print-data producing device that produces print data based on original data, and which allows a downloading of font data from the print management apparatus to an image forming apparatus. The print management apparatus further includes: a sequence modifier modifying a sequence in which the print management apparatus outputs the print data to the image forming apparatus, from an original sequence in which original pages represented by the original data are arranged, into a printing sequence in which print pages printed by the image forming apparatus are arranged; and a redundant-range detector detecting a redundant range over which an identical downloadable font is redundantly used within the print pages arranged in the printing sequence.

Abstract: A printing system that includes: a printing condition command receiving unit that receives a primary printing condition command, the primary condition command being included together with printing image data in printing control data; printing condition command converting unit that converts the primary printing condition command to a secondary printing condition command corresponding to a printing apparatus; and a printing apparatus that carries out processing related to printing the printing image data based on the secondary printing condition command.

Abstract: In order to transmit fixed-image/text drawing data to print a character contained in a fixed image placed at a predetermined position of paper and body-text drawing data to print a body (text) image in a body, a host apparatus gives the unique download (DL) font ID using a numeric value in different numeric area to each text drawing data stored in external memory attached to a printer. The printer stores the text drawing data identified by the DL font ID in the external memory and upon reception of an image formation command, the printer reads the text drawing data from the external memory and forms an image. Thereby, appropriate text drawing data can be used to print.

Abstract: Each small region positioned just before a large region according to a reading order is determined as a first candidate, and an evaluating process to evaluate whether each first candidate is an index or not is performed based on a difference in feature from the related large region with respect to each first candidate. Each small region positioned just before a first index according to the reading order is determined as a second candidate, and an evaluating process to evaluate whether each second candidate is the index or not is performed based on a difference in feature from the related first index with respect to each second candidate. Small regions determined as the first index and the second index are extracted as index regions.

Abstract: A character output apparatus includes an intermediate character information generating section, an intermediate character information modification section and a character output section. The intermediate character information generating section generates intermediate character information indicating a certain character. The intermediate character information is formed by element information pieces. And each element information piece has a start point and an end point in an X-axis direction in a two-dimensional coordinate system for characters. The intermediate character information modification section performs modification processing for changing a thickness of the certain character onto each element information piece of the generated intermediate character information, by changing the start point and the end point of each element information piece in accordance with a modification amount.

Abstract: A feature section including a feature of a candidate region but not including a feature of a related large region is set as for a style type different in feature from the related large region among a plurality of style types, with respect to each index candidate region. At least one or both of the large regions and the candidate regions having the feature included in the set feature section are grouped. An index evaluation degree is calculated, based on the grouped result, with respect to each candidate region. It is determined whether or not a logical element of each candidate region is an index, based on the calculated index evaluation degree.

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

Abstract: The print controller used as an image processing device analyzes whether any printing setup information is embedded or not in the received PDF file, and sets up the printing condition in accordance with the printing setup information obtained by the analysis.

Abstract: A document printing control apparatus determines, when an output paper size is set by a keyboard operation, block sizes of individual blocks from the output paper size. The apparatus determines the size of an output area and font size from the block sizes determined, and places the output area and characters with the sizes determined. After placing the characters in the output area, followed by editing a layout, the apparatus places the output area and characters according to the edited layout. The apparatus can carry out the scaling of the sizes of the output area and font according to the sizes of the output area and font determined.

Abstract: A disclosed device includes a document managing apparatus including an image data acquiring unit acquiring original data of original documents in a predetermined layout, a layout information storing unit storing IDs and layout information, an original document determining unit determining the IDs of the original documents, a partial area information storing unit storing partial area information for the original data respectively for the IDs, a partial area extracting unit, an arrangement information storing unit storing arrangement information on paper in association with the IDs respectively for the partial areas, a synthetic image data generating unit forming synthetic image data in conformity with the arrangement information and forming identification information into the synthetic image data, a data accumulating unit causing a data storing unit to store the identification information and the original data, and a printing unit that prints a synthetic document having the synthetic image data.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for providing a variable data guilloché shaped pattern comprised of variable data differential line pattern fonts comprising decodable template symbols which are capable of being selectively assembled into a predetermined variable data code. The code representations are embedded in the guilloché pattern amongst a plurality of unvaried standard base patterns. The representation can be decoded with a digital scan capable of identifying the embedded patterns and communicated it to a user for verifying a document containing the code.

Abstract: An image forming system including an image reading apparatus and a printing apparatus connected to the image reading apparatus through a communication line, in which the image reading apparatus includes a font information acquiring unit which acquires font information indicating a type of a font installed on the printing apparatus, a print data generating unit which generates desired print data by using the font information acquired from the font information acquiring unit, and a print data transmitting unit which transmits the print data generated by the print data generating unit to the printing apparatus, and in which the printing apparatus prints out the desired print data on the basis of the print data transmitted from the print data transmitting unit.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a data conversion unit that converts first image data into second image data; and an image output unit that outputs an image obtained by reproducing the second image data. The data conversion unit includes: a determination unit which divides the first image data into a dot block each includes plural pieces of dot data, and determines whether or not an array of dot data included in each dot block corresponds to a specific array; and a replacement unit which replaces the data out of the second image data, which is located in a portion corresponding to the dot block, with first replacement data including image forming dot data with which an image is formed. The specific array includes a first array in which the dot data to be thinned out is configured as the image forming dot data, and the dot data not to be thinned out is configured as non-image forming dot data with which an image is not formed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method to process an input image into a final image which is enhanced or improved. In accordance with the method, the input image is split into a plurality of layers. Each layer comprises objects of a single type. Each layer is for objects of a different type. Each layer is then processed separately to improve or enhance the quality of the objects therein. The final image is produced by integrating or synthesizing the plurality of layers. Apparatus to implement the method is also disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A method of printing an interactive document is provided. The document comprises user information and advertising material. The method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving a print request from a user; (b) formatting the user information in the document so as to include a first user interactive element, thereby allowing the user to effect a response to the information using a sensing device; (c) formatting the advertising material in the document so as to include a second user interactive element, thereby enabling the user to effect a response to the advertising material, using the sensing device; and (d) printing the document with coded data on a substrate, the coded data identifying the document and the first and second interactive elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying characters on a TV screen in an electronic appliance such as a DVD player is disclosed. Vertically compressed character fonts are stored. When it is requested to display a character, the stored character font is read and displayed in a video field and then the character font is displayed again in the next video field, whereby flickering can be effectively eliminated with a reduced-size memory for storing fonts data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a character recognition section for performing a character recognition process for a character included in a document, based on image data obtained by reading the document; and a formatting process section for generating an image file in which text data obtained by the character recognition process are associated with the image data, the character recognition section generating the text data corresponding respectively to a plurality of possible character recognition results, in a case where the character recognition section detects the plurality of possible character recognition results, the formatting process section generating the image file in which each of the text data produced by the character recognition section is associated with the image data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus wherein a removeable supplemental controller is used to adapt a paper processing system to changes in functionality, particularly when the processing system comprises a printer, and the supplemental controller is a MICR flash device, and the changes in functionality relate to accepting input from an electromechanical keylock added to the printer, and to sensing the presence of a MICR cartridge within the printer.

Abstract: Printing systems and methods for user-selectable dynamic soft font and print stream data template control processing in a printer driver are provided. The system utilizes a print job driver screen that provides the user with a selectable option to convert soft fonts into graphics that are transferred to the printer. When using multi-byte fonts, and in particular when using multi-byte fonts in a character mangling operating system, printer memory may be rapidly allocated and consumed. However, soft fonts persist in printer memory for the length of the print job. The printer system provided herein allows the user to dynamically select an option to forgo soft font loading for the entire print job and instead transmit appropriate font graphics that are discarded from memory after use after a character threshold has been reached.

Abstract: A method for compressing font instruction data. The method includes analyzing a set of pixel-per-em values and fractional pixel shifts contained in font instruction for each glyph in a font data set to construct a database of values. The pixel-per-em values and fractional pixel shifts are converted into operational codes and argument values and these values are compressed into a compressed data stream including a series of multiple-bit words representing font instruction specifications for each glyph in the font data. In addition, fixed environmental variable values are set for each glyph based on the font instruction data. When a glyph is to be rendered using the compressed font instruction, the compressed instruction is decompressed and only relevant multiple-bit word or words corresponding to font instruction specifications for the respective glyph are executed, but not any of the 16-bit words corresponding to font instruction for the fixed environmental values.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an input receiving unit that receives a character to be printed and a font family of the character as inputs, a first outline specifying data generating unit that generates first outline specifying data corresponding to a combination of the character and the font family which are input to the input receiving unit, an image formation data generating unit that generates data for image formation, which corresponds to the combination of the character and the font family, based on the generated first outline specifying data, a cache unit that temporarily stores the first outline specifying data, a priority calculating unit that calculates priorities related to the first outline specifying data based on the number of curve commands included in the first outline specifying data.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for dynamically generating a textured font character. It enables any image to be selected and combined with a chosen character mask to produce a new font having the same content as the image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to improve image quality. An image forming apparatus includes an object dividing unit to divide scanned image data into objects, an object size estimation unit to estimate a size of each object, a controlling unit to determine whether to perform image quality enhancement processing for each object according to the estimated size of the object, and an image quality enhancement unit to perform image quality enhancement processing for the objects according to the determination of the controlling unit. Therefore, when a document is printed, data having optimum quality are provided.

Abstract: A print control apparatus carrying out a print control processing for print data undergoing a print processing in a print apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives print data; a processing unit that carries out image processing for the received print data, thereby generating image data; an image data analyzing unit that analyzes at least one draw object in the generated image data; a display control unit that displays object information relating to the draw object analyzed by the image data analyzing unit on a display unit; an object information change instruction receiving unit that receives a change instruction for the object information; an object information changing unit that changes object information relating to the draw object according to the change instruction for the object information received by the object information change instruction receiving unit; and a storage unit that stores image data and object information.

Abstract: Given a circular graph that is divided by four colors (red, blue, yellow, and green), for example. This circular graph shows information indicated by the corresponding colors in accordance with planar dimensions of respective areas (e.g., a ratio of items corresponding to the respective colors to total and the like). Furthermore, the items corresponding to the respective colors are described as a legend independently of the circular graph. For example, since for people with protanopia/deuteranopia, “red” and “green” look the same, they cannot identify these colors. In image processing according to a first embodiment, the information indicated by the colors is added to a graph as shown in FIG. A to generate an image as shown in FIG. 1C.

Abstract: In a method and system for generating document templates for print jobs, in which a document template is generated in a generation unit using static resource data that are combined into addressable data sets. The document template is registered in a resource administration unit. The resource administration unit generates a resource list in which the resource data sets used by the document template are listed. Using the resource list, the resource administration unit controls a transfer of the used resource data sets to a data processing device in which the document template is supplemented with variable data, whereby the resource administration unit in turn can be controlled via a superordinate program.

Abstract: An image processing device including a detector for detecting a characteristic feature formed from image data and a separator for separating halftone dot graphic regions and halftone dot photographic regions from the image data based on the characteristic feature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a printout of a section of a global position-coding pattern in a system comprising a computer unit and a printer unit connected to the computer unit. The method is characterized by the steps of generating in the computer unit boundary information that describes the boundaries of the section in the global position-coding pattern; transmitting the boundary information from the computer unit to the printer unit; generating graphical information in the printer unit by means of an algorithm that defines the global position-coding pattern and on the basis of the boundary information, which graphical information describes pattern symbols in the section; and printing out the graphical information on a base by the printer unit.

Abstract: A spool file modifying device employed in a print server is connected with a printer. Further, the print server and at least one external terminal are interconnected. A spool file representing a print job that is instructed at the external terminal is converted into print data adaptable to the printer. The spool file modifying device includes a font data extracting system that extracts font data included in the spool file, a registering system that registers the extracted font data with the print server, and a modifying system that modifies the spool file to create a modified spool file in accordance with modifying information included in the spool file. The modified spool file is converted into the print data using the extracted font data, and then transmitted to the printer.