Abstract: When two or more sheets of images, which have been read from two or more sheets of originals are printed on a single sheet of first printing paper, original information related to the originals is stored into an IC chip attached to the first printing paper. Thereafter, when a user desires to reproduce the originals by using this first printing paper, the original information stored in the IC chip is read therefrom. Based on the read original information, the images read from the originals are printed respectively in the same sizes as those of the respective originals.

Abstract: A raster image processor (RIP) can process data for one page for each of a plurality of small areas, and handles each individual small area as a display list. Each individual display list holds information required to determine a rendering resolution. The RIP renders a small area including a text object with a high resolution, and a small area which does not include any text object with a low resolution. The RIP renders the respective small areas with the designated resolutions, and temporarily holds the rendering results in a memory for respective small areas. Upon generating a page image, the RIP directly transfers the high-resolution rendering result to a page memory. The RIP transfers the low-resolution rendering result to the page memory with applying an enlarging pixel process to the rendering result.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image input unit that inputs image data, a storage unit that stores the image data inputted by the image input unit, an image output unit that reads the image data from the storage unit to output the read image data, and a data deleting controller that controls a deleting operation of the image data stored in storage unit based upon a condition of an acceptance of a next job.

Abstract: For page data containing shadow-casting objects, trap graphics are generated according to the following procedure. First, an ID drawing process is performed for all objects within a page, and based on the process result, a related graphic list indicating relative positional relationships between the objects is generated. Thereafter, an ID drawing process is performed for all objects in the area of each shadow-casting object, excluding the shadow-casting object. The result of the ID drawing process in the shadow-casting object area is reflected in the related graphic list, and thereafter, trap graphics are generated based on settings information in the related graphic list.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a sensing device that reads coded data off of a surface. Interaction data is generated from the read coded data and the interaction data is processed in accordance with the image portion of the image that is extracted from an image sensor.

Abstract: In an image processing system including an image processing apparatus 30 for receiving and memorizing image data created based on print data of a Page Description Language onto a memory section 35 while performing a processing based on the image data, the image processing system includes a control section (memory management section 31a) for calculating a remaining amount of a capacity of the memory section 35 and a remaining amount of a quantity of the image data that can be memorized to the memory section 35, for selecting the lesser of the remaining amount of a quantity of the image data and the remaining amount of a capacity of the memory section 35 and for performing a control based on the selected remaining amount.

Abstract: Planar substrates are printed, cut, and folded to form three-dimensional cartons. Given graphics intended to appear on a carton surface or panel, printed graphics are laid-out and automatically positioned and manipulated using structural information associated with the cartons. Preferably a single computer-generated graphics file is created for use in printing the various panels and flaps. The graphics design can be overlaid on a computer image of the substrate, and graphic portions can be rotated, scaled, and aligned to properly fit printing areas on what will be panels and flaps (after cutting occurs). A computer generated three-dimensional image of the carton showing graphics printed on the panels and flaps can be manipulated by a graphics artist to confirm accuracy of the graphic file data before actual printing occurs.

Abstract: An image processor is connectable with a storing medium storing at least one set of still image data each corresponding to a still image and at least one set of moving image data each including a plurality of sets of frame image data corresponding to a plurality of frame images. An extracting unit extracts at least one set of frame image data from the plurality of frame image data sets of each moving image data set. A layout order determining unit determines a layout order of still images each corresponding to the still image data sets and frame images each corresponding to the frame image data set extracted by the extracting unit according to a predetermined criterion. An output unit outputs an image list with the still images and the frame images laid out therein in the layout order determined by the layout order determining unit.

Abstract: Methods for performing rasterization on a display list are presented, wherein the display list can include bands associated with a virtual page object belonging to a first class of virtual page objects in the display list. In some embodiments, the method comprises: parsing the virtual page object to identify at least one geometric band; identifying at least one available rasterization process to rasterize the at least one geometric band; creating a second virtual page object including the geometric band, wherein the second virtual page object belongs to a second class of virtual page objects derived from the first class of virtual page objects; sending the second virtual page object including the geometric band to an available rasterization process; and rasterizing the one geometric band using the available rasterization process, wherein the rasterization process operates on the geometric band in the second virtual page object.

Abstract: When long binding is selected in a double-side record copy mode, images read from documents by a scanner section are stored in a memory in such a manner that image data of odd pages are stored as compressed data whereas image data of even pages are stored as not-compressed data. Print data are read from the memory at the time of formation of images page by page. Whenever a page of not-compressed data is read from the memory, the not-compressed data are inverted in terms of data sequence and sent to a printer section so that formation of an image on a sheet of recording paper by the printer section can start at the bottom of the page. Whenever a page of compressed data is read from the memory, the compressed data are expanded and sent to the printer section in order of reading data from the memory.

Abstract: An image processing unit includes an image data input unit, a page-description language (PDL) converter, a special document determination unit, and an image treatment command adding unit. The image data input unit inputs image data. The PDL converter converts the input image data to page-description language data, and transmits an end-of-page command when a page-description language conversion for image data is completed. The special document determination unit determines whether the input image data includes a special document. The image treatment command adding unit instructs the PDL converter to wait for a transmission of the end-of-page command until the special document determination unit issues a determination result. When it is determined that the image data includes a special document, the image treatment command adding unit generates an image treatment command for the image data. The image treatment command adding unit transmits the image treatment command with the end-of-page command.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a retaining unit to retain one or more print jobs, an input unit configured to input (a) a joining instruction that specifies a plurality of print jobs among the print jobs retained by the retaining unit and that instructs joining of the plurality of specified print jobs into one joint print job, and (b) a joint print attribute for the one joint print job, and an applying unit to apply the joint print attribute to execute printing for the one joint print job based on the plurality of print jobs specified by the joining instruction input by the input unit.

Abstract: An image information processing apparatus includes a language selecting section and a print job creating section. The language selecting section selects a first page-description language and a second page-description language from among a plurality of page-description languages. The first page-description language describes a first part of an image and the second page-description language describing a second part of the image. The print job creating section creates an item of image data that contains a first item of data based on a first command system written in the first page-description language and a second item of data based on a second command system written in the second page-description language.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reliably canceling a DMA transfer mode and accelerating printer initialization. A host device 3 for controlling a printer having a DMA transfer mode for printing by transferring image data associated with a received image print command to a print buffer 15. The host device 3 has a print data generating unit 33 for generating the image print command, memory 35 for storing the data size of the image data associated with the image print command generated by the print data generating unit 33, and a printer control unit 34 for sending to the printer 1 an initialization command having null data of the data size stored in memory 35 added to the beginning of the initialization command.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a printer for printing an encoded data stream. The stream includes a section of complex text data. The code is preferably Unicode, and the complex text data is preferably Unicode complex text. The printer includes a font, a text parser, and a layout engine. The font includes a plurality of glyphs. The text parser parses the data stream to determine the section of complex text data in the data stream. The layout engine is coupled to the text parser and with the font. The layout engine receives the section of complex text data from the text parser and determines at least one of the plurality of glyphs and glyph positions corresponding to the section of complex text data.

Abstract: An image data processing circuit including: an input section for inputting image data; a plurality of compressing sections which are capable of compressing the input image data solely or in parallel; a plurality of decompressing sections which are capable of decompressing the compressed image data solely or in parallel; an output section for outputting the decompressed image data; a transferring section for transferring image data between a memory and of the input section, the compressing sections, the decompressing sections and the output section individually; and a transfer controlling section for selecting a mode from a parallel input/output mode, a parallel input mode and a parallel output mode.

Abstract: A method for detecting potential counterfeiting of print cartridges includes transmitting a message regarding date information stored on a print cartridge installed in a printing device, the message being transmitted to a monitoring server.

Abstract: The state of an HDD provided in an image processing apparatus is divided into a plurality of levels and information is given to call user's attention when the state of the HDD is set at a level which indicates that attention should be paid to the state of the HDD. When the state of the HDD is set at a level indicating that the HDD should be exchanged, a warning is given to the user and information indicating that the HDD should be exchanged is issued to a service center. Further, data of the HDD is backed up in an external device if the state of the HDD is set at a level indicating a state which is set up immediately before the HDD becomes faulty.

Abstract: An image forming method that is capable of interpreting a plurality of image forming processes includes a setting step of setting an image forming process that is activated by the image forming method, and an issuing step of issuing a manufacturer identifier and machine-type identifier and process identification information representing the image forming process set in the setting step.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network includes an selecting unit for selecting an application mode and an image quality mode, a scanning unit for scanning an original document, a scanning correction unit for generating image data from the scanned document, a storage unit for storing the image data and the process mode information, a compression unit for compressing the image data, an extension unit for extending the compressed image data, a data format converting unit for converting a data format of the image data according to the application mode and the image quality mode, and a communication unit for communicating the image data with the external apparatus. The data format converting unit receives image data having a first data format, and outputs the image data having a second data format, wherein the first and second data format are either a data format dedicated to the image processing apparatus or a general data format.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which not only judges the occurrence of multiple feeding with a high accuracy, but also can identify later the location of occurrence of the multiple feeding even if the document reading operation is continued after detecting the occurrence of a multiple feeding. The detection device (the detecting and reading section 53) detects the information storage media attached to the documents which are being fed one sheet at a time by the automatic document feeder 20 and from which the images are being read out. The determining section 56 detects based on the result of this detection the occurrence of multiple feeding in which a plural number of sheets of the document are conveyed in an overlapping state. The information recording section 54 writes the multiple feeding information, indicating that a multiple feeding has occurred, in the information recording medium of the document that was judged to have been fed in an overlapping state.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image capture apparatus with a reduced size for capturing still image data. An extracting circuit extracts at least an area of still image data. A dividing circuit divides the area extracted by the extracting circuit into a plurality of first through nth areas. A memory circuit has a storage capacity smaller than a storage capacity required to store the still image data, and stores at least a portion of the image data of the first through nth areas provided by the dividing circuit. A transfer circuit transfers the image data stored in the memory circuit to an external device.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image, in which hardware resources for use in the forming of images are provided, and one or more processes run based on programs in respect of the forming of images. The apparatus includes an off-line unit which puts the one or more processes in a off-line state in which restriction is placed on the running of the one or more processes, a memory area releasing unit which releases one or more memory areas used by the one or more processes that are put in the off-line state, and a data laying-out unit which lays out data in the one or more memory areas released by the memory area releasing unit.

Abstract: Printer-based pre-ripping and caching of network documents allows an indication of a network document to be forwarded to a printer prior to a request to print the network document being received. This allows the network document to be converted to a print-ready format, and the converted document to be used for printing if a print request is subsequently received. Additionally, network documents can be cached at the printer (either in print-ready format or not in print-ready format) and the cached documents used for printing.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of processing plural jobs at a high rate. The image processing apparatus is comprised of first and second buffer memory devices, which are independent of each other and configured to be simultaneously accessible; a compression-extension device, which is exclusively connected to each of the buffer memory devices; a control section to assign a buffer memory device to input image data raster by raster (one page of the image data) when executing input processing of the image data, which is input from a scanner or executes output processing of the image data to a printer section, so that the control section regulates and changes the image data flow raster by raster.

Abstract: A print control apparatus, method and system that acquire a first band area for storing band data of a predetermined size according to band information for processing by a printer device. Print commands are divided into each band in which a printer device processes, and stored into the first band area in band units. If the print commands corresponding to a particular band cannot be stored in the first band area, a memory area for storing the print command is acquired as a second band area, the print commands stored in the first and second band areas are linked, and the linked print commands are transmitted to the printer device.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus including a reception buffer which stores setting data and printing data of printing element arrays transmitted from a connected host device, and a printing buffer which stores the printing data of the printing element arrays in association with printing positions in a scanning direction, the printing data are controlled to be stored in the printing buffer by adjusting the storage positions of the printing data of the printing element arrays on the basis of registration information which is contained in the setting data and corresponds to the relative distance between the printing element arrays in the scanning direction. Read address information for reading out the printing data stored in the printing buffer is controlled for each printing element array. Printing is performed by driving each printing element array in accordance with the printing data read out on the basis of the read address information.

Abstract: A facsimile device includes an outer case accommodating a circuit controller and a communication module. The communication module has a router function and can be directly connected to a broadband-capable modem, such as an ADSL modem, by a cable. The communication module can perform bi-directional communications with a web server on the Internet via the broadband-capable modem. The communication module also has a web printing function for printing images of data received from a web server on a recording unit. Hence, by connecting a broadband-capable modem to the communication module, the facsimile device can print data from web servers onto paper to facilitate viewing.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing on a print medium in accordance with information transmitted from a printer driver is provided with first and second automatic sheet feeders capable of feeding respective ones of print media of types that differ from each other, a memory for storing information relating to a type of print medium that has been detected, a media sensor for detecting the type of print medium that has been supplied by the first automatic sheet feeder, and a changeover switch for changing over to whichever of the first and second automatic sheet feeders is to be used in printing. If the fact that the changeover switch has been operated is detected, the information relating to the type of print medium is invalidated and information relating to the type of print medium is transmitted in response to a request from the printer driver.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first information acquisition unit, a second information acquisition unit, a third information acquisition unit, and an information embedder. The first information acquisition unit obtains target information. The second information acquisition unit obtains given information to be embedded in the target information. The third information acquisition unit obtains control information for accessing the given information. The information embedder generates embed information from the given information and the control information and embeds the embed information in the target information.

Abstract: In a printing system for printing image data based on orders from customers, a load of a laboratory having a large amount of orders can be reduced. A user transfers order information and image data from his/her personal computer to any one of customer service systems. The customer service system receiving the order information and the image data generates flow information indicating an address of the user, a logistic code, or a laboratory specification, and transfers the flow information together with the order information and the image data to an order assigning system. The order assigning system selects one of laboratories to carry out printing, based on the flow information and a table in a database representing a relationship between the flow information and the laboratories. The order assigning system transfers the order information and the image data to the selected laboratory. The laboratory prints the image data, based on the order information transferred thereto.

Abstract: A device and a method for executing method steps wherein an output signal is produced. Dependent on whether an output mode is switched on, the output signal is outputted. The output signal comprises items of information concerning the environment wherein the output signal was produced.

Abstract: When paper needs to be loaded into a printing device but there is no particular hurry, a destination to issue a paper load notification is set to a user having the greatest amount of paper usage. When paper must be loaded into a printing device as quickly as possible, the notification destination is set to a user that has issued a print command within a prescribed time period prior to the current time.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of using a memory-equipped sheet, in which a memory device is provided to a sheet, comprises a selection part that selects a specific memory-equipped sheet from a plurality of memory-equipped sheets based on information stored in the memory device on the memory-equipped sheets.

Abstract: Systems in accordance with the presently claimed invention use parameters to choose the correct output file for translating the color values in a print job into device specific values in an output data file that may be used for printing. A data structure, such as a linked list of parameters, may be used to identify the correct output file to be used by the printer to form the correct device specific data file. The color values for each pixel in the device specific data file may allow a printed document to exhibit high color quality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient processing a page description language (“PDL”) data stream lacking page independence is described. The method and apparatus includes applying a single parsing pass for a PDL job and detecting PDL job producers by creator sniffer (83). Shared resources in the PDL job are detected by resource sniffer (85). Page boundaries in the PDL job are detected by page data sniffer (84) and an organized representation (63) is produced without rearranging data and resources in the PDL job. The system efficiently organizes PDL stream into pages, data and resources without rearranging the stream. The organized data can be efficiently submitted to plurality of PDL processors (65).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of erase information each showing whether or not to erase data for each of a plurality of divided areas into which the hard disk is divided, group erase information showing groups grouping the erase information, and erase count information determined based on the group erase information. Based on the erase count information whether or not there is a divided area to erase, the divided area is erased.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a first memory for storing 2-D image data wherein pixels are arranged in a matrix in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction orthogonal to each other; a second memory; and a data control section for controlling the first memory and second memory, wherein at least one of the first and second memories is constituted by a SDRAM. The data control section reads the image data from the first memory in blocks of m pixels in the main scanning direction and n pixels in the sub-scanning direction (where n and m are natural numbers), writes the read data into the second memory, and transmits data to the memory composed of the SDRAM by burst transmission and continuous supply of desired column addresses, thereby allowing the read image data to be rotated.

Abstract: An image processing device includes an accumulating unit an information deleting unit and an information updating unit. The accumulating unit accumulates image information of a plurality of pages as a multipage file, wherein the multipage file includes identification information associated with the image information of each of the pages. The information deleting unit deletes image information of any page of the multipage file. The information updating unit updates, when image information of one or more of the pages of the multipage file has been deleted by the information deleting unit, identification information corresponding to the image information of the deleted page.

Abstract: A printing system includes a data processing terminal and a printer. When the printer receives a print request of print target data from the data processing terminal, a data processing unit of the printer develops the print target data into print data in the bitmap format by page, concurrently with the creation of thumbnails by page. When the data processing unit requests the printer to deliver a print progress monitoring page, the printer displays a thumbnail of a printed page of the print job being currently processed, via a Web server. In addition, the Web server creates a data file, in which a command for automatically refreshing a Web browser is written, that is delivered to the data processing terminal.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the performance of a network printer comprising: scanning the input print data stream in a raster image processor and processing the entire input print data stream in a page parallel processing pathway where said input print data stream is in a page independent form; otherwise selecting the processing pathway corresponding to a lower processing time period and thereafter processing the entire input print data stream using said selected processing pathway.

Abstract: An image data storage method is provided for obtaining image drawing spot data to be inputted to an image drawing spot forming unit that forms image drawing spots on an image drawing surface. The method comprises the step of storing the image data in storage means in such a manner that a direction along which addresses in the storage means are consecutive agrees with a direction of arrangement of the image data corresponding to a predetermined scanning direction of the image drawing spot forming unit relative to the image drawing surface.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided by which image line data of an image frame is compressed before being stored to image line memory used in multiple image line processing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus having a memory to store taken image data, for effecting image processing on the stored image data, including: an image data storage control section for outputting block data end signals indicating data end of blocked image data in synchronization with the storing of the taken image data into the memory; and an image processing section having a stored a mount counting section for counting amount of the taken image data stored into the memory based on the block data end signals, and a processing progress control section for controlling the progress of the image processing based on the stored a mount counted at the stored amount counting section.

Abstract: A spot color pattern system provides a naming convention that allows the user to name a custom spot color pattern. A Raster Image Processing (RIP) has a database of spot color patterns that are user definable and are patterns which are images of a textile, fabric, metal, etc., that are repeatedly printed across the job. The RIP interprets a spot color pattern name in print job, looks up the spot color in its database, pulls up the image associated with the spot color pattern name, adds Postscript® pattern code to the print job to paint the spot color across the background of the print job, realistically simulating the final print media, and adds other code to perform other tasks, such as mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing. A RIP user interface gives the user the ability to create, modify, or delete spot color patterns. The invention also provides a mechanism that allows an application program to access a custom spot color pattern from the RIP.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is provided in which data is stored in a state distributed to a storage destination depending on the data property, so that the stored data is reused easily and that the storage of the data is managed efficiently on the basis of the data property. Storage means comprises a first storage section, a second storage section, and a memory controller serving as data distributing means. The first storage section temporarily stores data outputted (processed for output) from each section (a scanner section, a FAX section, a network processing section, etc.) of data processing means. The second storage section comprises storage regions partitioned in correspondence to the data properties, and stores data satisfying a predetermined condition among the data outputted (processed for output). The memory controller distributes the data to either the first storage section or the second storage section depending on the data property.

Abstract: A system and method for sequential kernel density approximation uses mode propagation to determine mode locations by the mean-shift method and reduce the generated modes. Hessians are calculated corresponding to the mode locations to determine the covariance. Density is approximated to update the density function depending on whether the Hessian is a negative indefinite.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a network data processing system to reduce traffic and time for the first printout. A client unit generates printing data, which is divided to correspond to respective constituent parts constituting printing contents, and transmits a printing request including header information to a printer. When the printing request is received, the printer analyzes the received printing request, determines whether partial data necessary for constructing the printing data are stored in a storage section, acquires missing partial data from a printer of which a hop count is smallest, stores the acquired partial data in the storage section, and then constructs the printing data on the basis of the partial data of the storage section. Furthermore, the printer retrieves a storage section for the partial data in response to an acquisition request and transmits the detected partial data to the printer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus applies a compression process to each of a plurality of areas within a page independently on a specified page of image data consisting of a plurality of pages, and stores thus obtained compressed image data in a storage unit. Next, the image processing apparatus identifies an area as a unique area if the area has different contents when a plurality of areas within the specified page are compared with a plurality of areas within a page different from the specified page respectively between the corresponding areas. The image processing apparatus corrects unique compressed image data among compressed image data of the specified page stored in the storage unit that corresponds to the unique area to be identical to corrected unique compressed image data obtained by compressing the unique area of a page different from the specified page, and outputs the corrected compressed image data to a printer.

Abstract: The present invention ascertains delimiting boundaries of print jobs quickly and accurately in a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus determines the type of PDL that describes print data received from a host computer. If a session is completed, data cannot be received within a fixed period of time, or if end of PDL defined by an end-of-job command is found, then the printing apparatus delimits a print job using the position at which the above event occurs. If none of the above apply, the printing apparatus stores the acquired print data in a receive buffer. If the data immediately follows end of PDL, then the printing apparatus regards this data as the beginning of another print job, newly assigns a job identifier to this print job and stores the same in the receive buffer. The stored print data is managed in correlation with the job identifier thereof.