Facsimile Patents (Class 358/400)
  • Patent number: 7145685
    Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitate printing N collated copies of a document on a printer, where N is an integer greater than one. The method detetermines whether the printer has sufficient capacity to print N collated copies of the document. If the printer has insufficient capacity to store one copy of the document, then the method performs the following step N times: sending a single copy of the document to the printer. The capacity may be memory to store one copy of the document in print ready form. The apparatus comprises a memory, a spooler connected to the memory, a status agent and a control logic connected to the spooler and the status agent. The memory is configured to store the document. The spooler is configured to send an outgoing print job to the printer. The status agent is configured to receive from the printer information regarding whether the printer has sufficient capacity to collate the document. The control logic controls the spooler on the basis of this information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Shell S. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7142333
    Abstract: A method of document scanning comprises wirelessly communicating a request, initiated by a mobile computing device, to a scanner to image a paper document into an electronic document. After imaging the paper document with the scanner to produce an electronic document, the method includes sending the electronic document from the scanner to a document server identified by the mobile computing device. A document scanner comprises an imaging mechanism configured for creating an electronic document from a paper document and a wireless communication module configured for wirelessly receiving an imaging request from a mobile computing device and for sending the electronic document to a document server based on the imaging request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Christian L. Struble
  • Patent number: 7139088
    Abstract: When a data communication apparatus as a sender gateway receives instruction information for instructing a communication system via ITU recommendation T.38 or a communication system via ITU recommendation T.37 from a sender facsimile apparatus as an analogue communication terminal, data communication is executed with respect to a recipient connected gateway on the basis of the communication system instructed by the instruction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Murata, Takehiro Yoshida, Yoshio Yoshiura, Shigeo Miura, Shunichi Fujise, Daisuke Suga
  • Patent number: 7139104
    Abstract: A facsimile machine having a semiconductor DAA provided in a line I/F part performing facsimile data communication with a network includes a tone signal reception part in the form of a semiconductor device. The tone signal reception part is provided in the semiconductor DAA and receives a tone signal with high impedance through a path different from a path for receiving the facsimile data. The tone signal is supplied from the network or a downstream device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shouji Okabe
  • Patent number: 7136202
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding documents in a facsimile includes a pickup roller for picking up documents one by one, a white roller that faces a read module and rotates, the read module for reading data from the documents transferred by the pickup roller, a discharge roller for discharging the documents after the documents are passed through the white roller and the read module, a driving unit, a power transmission mechanism for selectively transmitting a power of the driving unit either only to the pickup roller, or to all of the pickup roller, the white roller and the discharge roller simultaneously, and a controller for controlling the power transmission mechanism to selectively transmit the power either one of the pickup roller, the white roller, and the discharge roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Deok-Hwan Jang, Heon-Soo Park, Do-Hyung Kweon
  • Patent number: 7133166
    Abstract: A document printing system and methodology wherein plural, potentially useable printers are reviewed in a preliminary discovery process to assess (1) which ones are currently available for use, and (2) of these, which have the best-suited operational characteristics relative to a particular printing job. The latter “collection” of printers is then treated as a cluster to which a scanned document is appropriately sent for implementation of that job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Ferlitsch, Roy K. Chrisop
  • Patent number: 7126713
    Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus which includes a non-volatile memory device that stores parameters of various kinds, and a control device that performs an operation based on at least the parameters. The non-volatile memory device includes a read-only non-volatile memory, for example, a ROM, storing parameters regarding a plurality of geographical divisions, such as countries, areas and the like, and a re-writable non-volatile memory, for example, an EEPROM, capable of storing at least the parameters. When a geographical division is selected, the control device initializes the re-writable non-volatile memory on the basis of at least the parameters regarding the selected geographical division read from the read-only non-volatile memory, that is, the control device reads the parameters regarding the selected geographical division from the read-only non-volatile memory, and stores the parameters into the re-writable non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokunori Kato, Susumu Chida
  • Patent number: 7124209
    Abstract: The present invention includes a reception section which receives a change occurring in an event generated by an information terminal, and an automatic creation section which automatically creates a template in accordance with a change in the event received by the reception section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 7119933
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a movable image-capturing printed circuit board including an image device, and a controlling printed circuit board which is fixed to the image reading apparatus and which controls the driving of the image device. Both printed circuit boards include connectors. When electric connection is established between the connectors, signal transmission and reception is performed. The connectors are connected only in a predetermined position. This can eliminate the need for using cable wires. Thus, a simplified structure can reduce emission generated by using cable wires to transmit a driving signal for the image device and a read image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7113300
    Abstract: A system and method for providing secure, on-demand printing of documents delivered to a printing device is disclosed. A user logs onto a delivery system using a mobile device and selects a document to be printed along with a destination printing device. The delivery system encrypts the document to be delivered and creates a key that is sent to the mobile device. The delivery system sends the encrypted document to the destination printing device where it is stored. When the user is physically at the destination printing device, a connection is established between the mobile device and the destination printing device. The mobile device identifies to the printing device the document to be printed and sends the key to the printing device. The printing device uses the key to decrypt the document and then prints the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Strobel, James R. Norris, Jr., John W. Rojas
  • Patent number: 7113293
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus, which enables cover sheets and original data to be previewed in the case where facsimile transmission data comprised of original data and cover sheets attached thereto is previewed before transmission thereof to a plurality of destinations in a manner not giving a sense of incompatibility to the conventional display method and operating method which are applied to preview of data in producing multiple prints. In a personal computer as the information processing apparatus, a spooler temporarily stores facsimile transmission data in an intermediate code format, and a despooler generates facsimile transmission data changed from the data stored in the intermediate code format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Mori, Koji Nakagiri, Satoshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7111068
    Abstract: A communication control apparatus detects a predetermined signal type in accordance with SMTP protocol from a first interface section connected to an IFAX. The communication control apparatus controls communication with the IFAX in accordance with the SMTP protocol when the predetermined signal type is detected. On the other hand, the communication control apparatus controls communication with a server via a second interface section connected to a network, to which the IFAX is connected. The network is managed by the server. The communication control apparatus receives email data from the IFAX, converts it into HTML data, and transmits the HTML data to the server. Accordingly, the communication control apparatus is capable of enabling the IFAX to operate on the network managed by a HTTP protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Akimoto, Matsutoshi Murata
  • Patent number: 7106466
    Abstract: A communications terminal is connected to at least one of a telephone line and a local area network and includes a first memory, a second memory, a detector, and an indicating mechanism. The first memory stores service information including availability information representing availability of a specific communications service provided by a service provider through at least one of the telephone line and the local area network and condition information suitable to the specific communications service. The second memory stores message information indicating that the specific communications service is not usable. The detector is configured to detect whether the service information stored in the first memory is appropriate each time the communications terminal starts a call connection operation to use the specific communications service based on the condition information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Takaoka
  • Patent number: 7095521
    Abstract: In a color facsimile apparatus, a plurality of image data are grouped for each destination, and the groups are further sub-grouped on the basis of data types such as color and monochrome images. In addition, these groups may be sub-grouped on the basis of encoding types such as MR encoding and JBIG encoding. Each sub-group created in this manner includes a plurality of image data having the same destination and data type. Image data are transmitted on a sub-group basis. That is, a plurality of image data can be transmitted by originating a single call. Since only image data of the same type are transmitted with a single call, confusion on the receiving side can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7095517
    Abstract: The invention provides a communication apparatus that broadcasts facsimile data by electronic mail (e-mail) on the Internet. In the communication apparatus, recipient's position information, and other broadcast recipient's disclosure information, can be included in a header of the e-mail to which facsimile data is attached, according to the recipients' e-mail addresses. With such information included in the header of the e-mail, the facsimile data attached to the e-mail can be broadcast to a plurality of recipients, so as to meet the various sender's usage patterns, while effectively using functions unique to e-mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Hori
  • Patent number: 7092113
    Abstract: In an image communication apparatus for communicating a color image with a distant apparatus according to the ITU-T recommendations upon line connection, an original image is read by a scanner unit, and the size of the read original image is identified. If the identified size of the original image is smaller than the page size defined by the ITU-U recommendation, image data is generated by reading the original image upon adding invalid data to the original image to make it have a main scanning length equal to the main scanning length of the minimum page size defined by the ITU-T recommendation in reading the original image through the scanner unit, and the image data is compressed by a JPEG compressing unit and transmitted. In this case, the valid image area of the compressed data is set in accordance with the size of the original image. This allows the receiving side to read only the valid image area, decode the valid image area, and reproduce the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Saito, Takehiro Yoshida, Yuji Kurosawa, Shoichi Yamaguchi, Daisuke Suga
  • Patent number: 7088475
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image reading device, comprises a stacking section for stacking a document, a reading section for reading an image of the document, a separating section for separating the document stacked on the stacking section sheet by sheet, a conveying section for conveying the document separated by the separating section to the reading section and a discharging section for discharging the document to the outside of the device. In the device, sheet separating performance is enhanced. Additionally, the device body is reduced in cost and size, excellent reading operation can constantly be realized, and device assembling property is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Terashima, Keizo Sasai, Naohiro Iwata, Kazuyuki Morinaga, Katsumi Obana, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7086055
    Abstract: The host computer parses through a task to be performed and generates a sub-task that is to be distributed to a remote peripheral, such as a printer. The task is comprised of data and instructions for execution, such as an executable file. The task is formatted into a packet that is labeled such that the remote peripheral knows that this task is to be performed during the remoter peripheral processor's idle time. The remote peripheral processes the task according to the instructions, captures the results, and transmits the results back to the host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gary G. Stringham
  • Patent number: 7081974
    Abstract: A handheld mobile communications device comprising: a support structure; an antenna mounted on the support structure for transmitting and receiving radio signals; radio signal processing circuitry positioned on the support structure to process the radio signals; a speaker and microphone arrangement positioned on the support structure and operatively connected to the radio signal processing circuitry; a printhead positioned on the support structure to carry out a printing operation; a capping mechanism configured to selectively cap the printhead when the printhead is not in use; and printing processing circuitry positioned on the support structure, the printing processing circuitry being configured to: generate dot data; supply the dot data to the printhead; and control operation of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7079291
    Abstract: A user is enabled to obtain a hard copy of a Web page readily when the user browses a Web page using an Internet connection device such as a portable telephone that has no printer connected thereto. A fax transmission request icon is displayed on the Web page. When the user clicks the fax transmission request icon, a fax server is notified of the URL of the Web page and the display screen switches to present the Web page of the fax server. The user then enters his/her member ID for accounting and the fax number of a destination fax machine. The fax server then accesses the notified URL, generates fax output data based on the Web page and sends it to the destination fax machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7080166
    Abstract: A communication apparatus has a communication unit that transmits data to a designated destination, and a management unit that manages ID information determined for each user and address location information associated with the ID information, wherein the address location information indicates a location that stores address information for designating the destination to transmit the data by said communication unit. The user inputs the ID information via an input unit, and an obtaining unit specifies the address location information managed by said management unit based on the input ID information, communicate with an external apparatus via a network based on the address location information, and obtains the address information residing at the external apparatus corresponding to the location specified by the address location information. The communication unit transmits the data to the destination designated from the address information obtained by said obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidehiko Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7075666
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus receives, from a host computer, job data including image-formation data and a procedure for predetermined processing, and a computer controls image formation (printing) in accordance with the received procedure. Thereby, the image formation apparatus communicates with an external unit in accordance with the procedure, and based on a result of the communication, printing can be controlled, and by changing the content of the procedure, a control procedure for image formation can flexibly be changed. This enables detailed control of outputting, such as the restriction of the use of a printer, and the restriction of the use a printer in accordance with a user or the content of a document to be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Aiyama
  • Patent number: 7061653
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for transmitting plural images including an image of cover page, an image held by application software, and an image of original to be read, by facsimile transmission respectively in a mode desired by a user (monochrome, color/gray scale or the like). In a dialog for detailed setup of facsimile transmission, a Cover Page field 47 has a pop-up menu for selecting color or monochrome transmission to send the cover page, an Application field 48 has a pop-up menu for selecting color or monochrome mode to transmit the image held by the application software, and a Document field 49 has a pop-up menu for selecting color or monochrome transmission to transmit the image of the original set on a scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Kohri
  • Patent number: 7057755
    Abstract: A communication method and a communication apparatus for smooth facsimile data transmission in both of facsimile communication via the Internet and facsimile communication without the Internet. In a case where facsimile communication via the Internet based on the ITU-T Recommendation T.38 is selected in a FAX 100 and data is transmitted to a FAX 108, the upper limit of communication speed is set to 14.4 kb/s, a T4 timer is set to 4 sec, and a T2 timer is set to 8 sec. On the other hand, in a case where facsimile communication only via a PSTN which is not based on the ITU-T Recommendation T.38 is selected in the FAX 100 and communication is performed to a FAX 110, the communication speed up to 33.6 kb/s without upper limit can be performed. Further, the T4 timer is set to 3 sec and T2 timer is set to 6 sec in conformity with the ITU-T Recommendation T.30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7057753
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image processing apparatus provided with a reader for reading an original image, a connection unit for connection with a network to which plural computers are connected, and a transfer units for transferring the image data, read by the reader, to a computer through the connection unit, the apparatus comprises a specifying unit for specifying desired one among the computers connected through the connection unit, and a designation unit for designating image reading by the reader, wherein the transfer unit is adapted to transfer the image data, read by the reader in response to the designation by the designation unit, to a computer specified by the specifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kajita, Toshihiro Kadowaki, Seishi Ejiri, Soichi Yamamuro, Masaya Kondo, Takekazu Kumagai, Takeshi Tsukamoto, Masaru Saruwatari, Masaki Toyama
  • Patent number: 7050188
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which increases communication efficiency by classifying destinations into groups. Destinations inputted through an operation panel are classified into groups based on registration data stored in a registration memory of a destination judging section, and stored in a memory. A control section controls transmission of image data by group in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yajima, Shinichiro Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7050185
    Abstract: IFAX reads an original using a scanner in accordance with a transmitting instruction by an operator. Next, IFAX generates a menu screen in an HTML, image data filed by unit of page is registered to a WWW server together with a generated HTML document. IFAX decides the WWW server based on a recipient's mail address. Next, IFAX sends notification of URL of a WWW server to a recipient to which image data should be transmitted. The recipient accesses to the WWW server based on URL, fetches image data by unit of page, and instructs printing selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Panasonic Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihisa Sawada
  • Patent number: 7046392
    Abstract: A communication system serving as a transmitter terminal and a receiver terminal for communications with a second communication system via a communication line, the communication system includes a storage section for data storage; a communication section for data communications, the communication section being adapted for reception and transmission of data and size information indicative of the size of the data with respect to the second communication system; a detection section for detecting a free space in the storage section; a comparing section for comparing the data size contained in the size information with the size of the free space in the storage section; a calculating section for, if the storage section is short of free space for accommodation of the data size, calculating a waiting period required for recovery from the shortage of the free space in the storage section; and a timer section for timing the lapse of the waiting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shibata, Shigeki Nakahara, Tamotsu Shuto, Makoto Nakabayashi, Tsutomu Taniguchi, Katsumi Nagata
  • Patent number: 7038817
    Abstract: Disclosed is a FAX signal transmission system, in which the transmission side and the reception side are inter-coupled by a bearer. Each side is constituted by DCME comprising a transmission side, which includes a signal identification circuit 3, a FAX data allotment control circuit 4, a delay circuit 9, a FAX data demodulation circuit 11, a FAX data allotment signal generation circuit 13 and a multiplexing circuit 14, and a reception side, which includes a FAX data distribution control circuit, a FAX data transmission circuit and a FAX data remodulation circuit. The transmission side is provided with a control terminal for inputting signal identification data. The input signal identification content of the signal identification circuit 3 can be changed according to the signal identification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Communication System
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Numata
  • Patent number: 7038800
    Abstract: A communication apparatus for processing a fax signal and an audio signal includes an audio compression unit for compressing the audio signal, a fax-termination/switching control unit for terminating the fax signal and for executing control to prevent the fax signal from being compressed by the audio compression unit, a detection unit for detecting a predetermined negotiation signal used in a negotiation procedure for a fax communication from an input signal before compression within a fixed period of time starting at the beginning of the negotiation signal and an exclusion processing unit for carrying out an exclusion process on the negotiation signal upon detection of the negotiation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ono, Naoji Fujino, Mitsuru Takahashi, Kimihide Ono, Norikatsu Tokairin
  • Patent number: 7031007
    Abstract: In Internet FAX communications, a CPU acquires a recipient mail address designated by a user or an originator mail address indicated in received mail. The CPU then stores the acquired mail address in a recipient-address storage area or an originator-address storage area that is included in an information storage section. If any one of mail addresses stored in the recipient- or originator address storage area is selectively designated when a recipient of the Internet FAX communications is designated, the CPU sets the selectively-designated mail address as a recipient address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Akiyama, Masashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7019869
    Abstract: A paperless image fax-scanning apparatus includes: an image scanning unit utilized to scan documents to be scanned to generate image data; a faxing unit, when connected to a telephone line, utilized to transmit the image data generated from the image scanning unit or to receive image data via the telephone line; a data storage unit, which can be connected to a portable data storage medium, utilized to store the image data received by the faxing unit at the above mentioned portable data storage medium; an input interface, which includes at least one set of operation keyboards, utilized to input various operation signals into the paperless image fax-scanning apparatus; and a control unit utilized to control the operation of the image fax-scanning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Avision, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Chen
  • Patent number: 7012720
    Abstract: A method of effacing zipper image, applicable to scan a document by a scanner with a stagger charge-coupled device. The nth (n is a positive integer) pixel obtained by scan on a scan line at which the zipper image is produced is subtracted by the (n+1)th pixel obtained by scan on the scan line. The absolute value of the result is then compared to a critical value. If the result is smaller than the critical value, the nth pixel is the nth pixel modified as the nth pixel after process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Chen-Hsiang Shih
  • Patent number: 7006261
    Abstract: A MODEM can shorten the processing time of an interface disposed between a data terminal equipment (DTE) and the MODEM. The MODEM stores an object program of a procedure in a memory and switches an operational mode of the MODEM automatically corresponding to the prescribed procedure thereby executing the procedure corresponding to the current operational mode. The MODEM further comprises a timer which monitors the transits time between a completed procedure and the next procedure, and the MODEM starts the process of a specified operational mode based on a mode-setting-instruction of the procedure as well as monitoring the transitions time by using the timer, and executing a next specified operational mode when the timer times out, thereby allowing the MODEM to perform the various operational mode switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Mizutani, Nobuhiko Noma, Eizo Katayama, Genzo Takagi, Yoshihiro Noguchi, Mitsuhiro Araki
  • Patent number: 6988123
    Abstract: In a network having an input device, such as a scanner, camera, or fax, and a destination device, the input device initiates transmission of input data to a destination device. The input device sends a request to the destination device notifying it of input data that is ready to be transmitted. If the destination device wants to accept the request, when the destination device is ready, the destination device gets, or “pulls” the data from the input device over the network. The input device can request and receive status information from the destination device. The destination device can also request and receive status information from the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory A. LeClair, Babulal J. Thummar
  • Patent number: 6987585
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of forming a trap polygon for trapping a color transition edge. The method includes identifying an interfering edge which intersects a keep away zone defined by the color transition edge, calculating a line on which traps the color transition edge and the interfering edge would optimally abut one another and shaping a trap polygon using the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas R. Becker
  • Patent number: 6985265
    Abstract: A printer including a main body and a sheet-supply cassette attachable to and detachable from the main body. The sheet-supply cassette includes a sheet guide movable to a position that depends on size of sheets in the cassette, cam abutment portion that moves integrally with the sheet guide, a cam that moves away from the cam abutment portion when the cassette is detached from the main body, and a detected portion that moves in a linked manner with the cam. The main body includes a cam mover that, when the sheet-supply cassette is attached to the main body, moves the cam until the cam surface of the cam abuts the cam abutment portion and a detection portion that detects the detected portion moved in a linked manner with the cam. The cam surface has a shape that varies movement amount of the cam into abutment with the abutment portion by the cam mover in accordance with the position of the sheet guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 6982805
    Abstract: The present invention aims to effectively utilize a memory by changing a recording system for received images in accordance with a remaining amount of the memory. When images received by a facsimile are printed, in accordance with the memory remaining amount, images are read out from storing means and are recorded by recording means in such a manner that, after a predetermined number of one sides of recording media are successively recorded, the recording medium is directed into a recording medium reverse-rotating mechanism, and one side of another recording medium until the recording medium is picked up from the reverse-rotating mechanism and is recorded so as to record the other side of the recording medium. Further, in accordance with the memory remaining amount, front and back sides of the recording medium can be read out and recorded alternately, or only one sides of the recording media can be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6980331
    Abstract: Embedded writing or typing in a fax document or white board presentation are detected in a predetermined region of the document, recognized and converted into textual data corresponding to the fax telephone number or e-mail of the recipient of the document. The fax telephone number is automatically dialed without requiring the user to input the telephone number or even select a speed dial telephone number, although the use of confirmation of the scanned and textually converted fax telephone number or e-mail is within the principles of the present invention. In a first embodiment, the present invention adds the capability to a fax machine to scan the first page of the outgoing fax (e.g., the cover page) for detection and recognition (e.g., optical character recognition (OCR)) of the recipient's fax number and automatically dials it if found. Moreover, the sender's identification (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Mooney, Richard M. Ubowski, Joseph A. Zebrowski
  • Patent number: 6980313
    Abstract: A Fax-compatible Internet appliance includes a network connection section for communication with a network using both data protocols and fax protocols, a video section including a video signal output for outputting video signals to be displayed on a video display, a user interface signal receiver for receiving user interface signals generated by a reduced-keyset user interface device, and a processing unit which controls the network connection section and the video section to generate video signals for displaying received fax messages on the video display. The processing unit provides user interface functions via the video display and user interface signals, the interface functions enabling the user to control transmission, reception and display of fax messages solely through the reduced-keyset user interface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventors: Imran Sharif, William Knapp, Tawhidur Rahman, Glen Edward Ivey, John Bremsteller
  • Patent number: 6977740
    Abstract: A business method for centrally managing documents in a client server system. The business method is operable in a client-server system with a database, a voice response system and a fax reception system to a telecommunications network. A user through the voice response system, provides a login request over the telecommunications network using a fax machine with a telephone. The system checks to determine if the user has an account and if the user does not have an account setting up an account with the user over the telecommunications network. Next, the user via the voice response system provides a category to be associate with a document to be faxed from the user. The user faxes a document to be stored in the database that is associated with a category under an account for the user. To retrieve a document previously faxed for storage, the information relating to the document is searchable and the document can be faxed back to the user fax machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Baiju D. Mandalia
  • Patent number: 6976161
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a scanning device for converting indicia and markings on a printed medium into scan data and a configuration device that receives the scan data. The scanning device is capable of scanning a user-fillable configuration sheet marked by a user of the electronic device and creating the scan data, with the scan data including one or more configuration indicia. The configuration device is capable of decoding the one or more configuration indicia to create one or more corresponding configuration values and configuring the electronic device with the one or more configuration values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marvin Duane Nelson, Vincent C. Skurdal, Mark Louis Brown
  • Patent number: 6975423
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a data receiver that receives command data from a host device and a memory that stores the command data received by the data receiver. A printer controller reads out the command data stored in the memory in a first-in-first-out order and controls the printing apparatus in accordance with the command data. A command detector is provided to detect predetermined command data within the command data received by the data receiver without storing the command data in the memory or while or before command data is stored in the memory. An off-line recovery controller enables the printing apparatus to recover from an off-line state in accordance with the predetermined command data detected by the command detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiko Koakutsu, Kazuhisa Aruga, Masayo Miyasaka, Takuya Hyonaga, Takaaki Akiyama, Mitsuaki Teradaira
  • Patent number: 6963427
    Abstract: A supervising server (2) is connected to a communication network. The communication network includes a plurality of clients (3) and facsimile servers (1). The supervising server (2) has recipient information such as facsimile numbers of recipients, and the clients (3) can refer to the recipient information under predetermined constraint. All the information about recipients is administered by the supervising server (2). The facsimile servers and clients communicate with each other via the supervising server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 6963419
    Abstract: A facsimile server carries out facsimile communication, and notifies a forwarding destination computer of the confidential data reception when the facsimile server has confidentially received communication data. The facsimile apparatus transmits the confidentially received data in accordance with a demand by the destination computer. The facsimile server encrypts and decrypts the received data by using an encryption key produced based on peculiar information of the facsimile server and the forwarding destination computer at the time of carrying out communication with the destination computer via a computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 6961144
    Abstract: To enable image data to be transmitted and received in an efficient manner by making effective use of relatively narrow band communications circuits in image data reception devices, an image data management device transmits image data stored in the auxiliary storage section to a plurality of printing control devices connected thereto via the Internet. In this image management device, when transmitting image data, a transmission instruction registering section registers a transmission instruction including a transmission destination, transmission instruction timing, transmission priority, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Usami
  • Patent number: 6961147
    Abstract: A fax/copy key (61) is positioned in the center of a cover (130) of a control panel (60). When the cover (130) is closed, a plurality of one-touch speed dial keys (62) are arranged under the fax/copy key (61). In other words, the fax/copy key (61) and the one-touch keys (62) are superposed. At a pivot of the cover (130) is positioned a cover sensor (65) to detect the open/close status of the cover (130). When the fax/copy key (61) is depressed while the cover (130) is closed, several one-touch keys (62) are depressed via a plurality of protrusions (61b) of the fax/copy key (61). Because the cover (130) is closed, the depression of the one-touch keys (62) is interpreted as the depression of the fax/copy key (61). This contributes to miniaturization of the operational input unit (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsunori Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 6961152
    Abstract: A multi-functional device having a printer function, facsimile function, scanner function, and copying function houses a recording section for recording images on a recording medium and a reading section for reading images from a document. A shaft is supported between left and right covers of an outer casing. The reading section is disposed above the shaft and rotatable about the shaft to separate from the recording section. Thus, a space is provided above the recording section and the replacement of an ink cartridge in the recording section can be easily performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunori Watanabe, Hideki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6947186
    Abstract: A carrier device for a contact image sense optical scanner. The carrier device incorporates a pair of magnets with identical poles facing each other or a fluid filled sealed chamber for exerting an equal pressure on a scanning module within the scanner and maintaining close contact with a document platform throughout a scanning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Transpacific IP, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 6947156
    Abstract: A remote controller for exchanging information using infrared rays requests the direct transmission of a user interface (UI) to a device to be controlled, such as a printer or a facsimile machine, or the indirect transmission through another device that is connected to the device that is to be controlled. When the UI is returned upon receipt of the request, the menu of functions that the device that is to be controlled can execute using the UI is displayed on the screen of the remote controller, and a command to select function that is selected from the menu is transmitted to the device that is to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suresh Jeyachandran, Shouichi Ibaraki, Masayuki Takayama, Aruna Rohra Suda, Masanori Wakai, Shuichi Mikame, Kenichi Fujii, Satomi Takahashi