Apparatus and methods for editing hue and saturation in color profiles
Granted: October 6, 2009
Patent Number:
7598964
Apparatus and methods are provided for editing color profiles. In particular, apparatus and methods in accordance with this invention receive an output color including a first hue, identify from the color profile a plurality of output color values that have a hue substantially equal to the first hue, provide a user interface that allows a user to create an edited output color including a second hue, and shift the hue of the identified plurality of output color values from the first hue…
Iterative constraint collection scheme for preparation of custom manufacturing contracts
Granted: September 8, 2009
Patent Number:
7587336
A series of iterative customer submissions and vendor responses are used to collect sufficient information concerning a custom manufacturing project so as to produce a sufficiently constrained job request as to allow at least one of the vendors to submit a quote for the project. The submissions and responses are preferably made through Web forms and, in one example, the custom manufacturing project is a print job. The collection process is preferably computer assisted so as to…
Methods and systems for the provision of printing services
Granted: September 8, 2009
Patent Number:
7587468
The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing printing services over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at an unspecified location which may be remote from the source of the print job. A spooling server is used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. A printer polling device is capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify whether any print jobs…
Radiation curable ink compositions and applications thereof
Granted: August 25, 2009
Patent Number:
7579388
Radiation curable ink compositions that include a curable component having a functionality that is greater than two, is present in the ink composition in an amount greater than 30 percent by weight, and has a molecular weight in the range of about 400 g/mole to about 10,000 g/mole; a component that has a functionality that is less than or equal to 2; and an initiator component. A solvent component, pigment, a surface tension modifier and other materials also can be included. The…
Method and apparatus for controlling a document output device with a control request stored at a server
Granted: August 11, 2009
Patent Number:
7574545
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling a document output device. A control request for controlling the document output device is forwarded from a client device to a server via a network. The control request is stored at the server and communicated to the designated document output device in response to a polling request received via the network from a polling device associated with the designated document output device. Once received, the control request…
Methods and apparatus for requesting and receiving a print job at a printer
Granted: August 11, 2009
Patent Number:
7574546
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for requesting and receiving print jobs over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at a location which may be unspecified, and which may be remote from the source of the print job. A spooling server is used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. A printer polling device, which may be used at a location remote from the client device, is…
Methods and apparatus for backlit and dual-sided imaging
Granted: July 21, 2009
Patent Number:
7562957
Methods and apparatus for backlit and dual-sided imaging are described. A print head array is provided comprising first and second print heads arranged along a single print head axis. The first print head is adapted to print first and second images on a substrate, and the second print head is adapted to print a coating layer between the first and second images. The coating layer may comprise a specialized printing fluid such as a layer of substantially white ink. The substrate may…
Methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images
Granted: July 21, 2009
Patent Number:
7564583
Methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images are provided that include an image reconstruction path that receives a digitized image and provides a processed RGB or CMYK image that may be printed or stored in memory. The image reconstruction path is configured to operate in either a multiple scan or single scan environment if the source of the digitized image is a scanner. A plurality of optional functional units in the reconstruction path can be controlled by user or…
Simple and inexpensive high capacity output catch tray for document production machines
Granted: June 30, 2009
Patent Number:
7552923
The invention is relates to a simple, inexpensive high capacity output catch tray for copiers and other document production machines. The output tray automatically increases in capacity as the stack of copies in it accumulates, without external power source or control.
Methods and apparatus for determining toner level in electro-photographic print engines
Granted: June 30, 2009
Patent Number:
7554687
The toner in the toner cartridge is determined by taking each of the rasterized images output by the RIP and evaluating the pixel levels over the surface thereof. The average value is determined as a percentage of the maximum toner that can be applied to the page. This is then subtracted from a toner value and a remaining toner level determined. Further, all pages of the rasterized document can be evaluated to predetermine the toner level after printing. If this falls below a…
Systems for the provision of printing services
Granted: June 23, 2009
Patent Number:
7552207
The present invention relates to systems for providing printing services over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at an unspecified location, which may be remote from the source of the print job. Spooling means are used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. Polling means, which may be at a location remote from the print job source, are capable of polling the spooling means via the network to…
Methods and apparatus for routing pages to printers in a multi-print engine as a function of print job parameters
Granted: May 12, 2009
Patent Number:
7532347
Methods and apparatus are described for routing page data of a print job to printers in a multi-engine printing system based on print job parameters associated with the page data. One or more virtual printers are configured, each with a plurality of individual print engines, each having associated printing characteristics. Page data of the print job are rasterized and stored as bit-mapped images in print buffers associated with the multi-engine printing system. The bit-mapped images are…
Methods and apparatus for providing universal print services and asynchronous message services
Granted: May 5, 2009
Patent Number:
7528974
Methods and apparatus are provided for providing print capability in connection with SMS messages to mobile device users. A content source communicates information regarding a print job to a mobile device user using SMS messages. The mobile device user then may obtain a hardcopy printout of the print job by designating any print device that is configured to receive print jobs via a universal printing network. The content source provides the print job to the universal printing network for…
Methods and apparatus for colorant reduction
Granted: April 21, 2009
Patent Number:
7522311
Methods and apparatus for performing colorant limitation are provided that receive input data, desired output response data and measured (or specified) output response data for a print output device, and determine converted input data that accounts for differences between the measured (or specified) output response data and the desired output responses of the printer. Converted input data may then be provided to a conventional colorant limitation algorithm for performing colorant…
Methods and apparatus for automated image correction for digital image acquisition
Granted: April 21, 2009
Patent Number:
7522770
Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically correcting colors of a digital image. The methods and apparatus create a first digital image of a target test sheet under a predetermined lighting condition, the target test sheet including a plurality of regions, each region including a known color value, the first digital image including a plurality of regions, each region including an acquired color value, compare the acquired color values to the known color values to align the…
Methods and apparatus for recording web information
Granted: March 17, 2009
Patent Number:
7506253
Methods, systems and apparatus are provided that capture a full page of information displayed in a web browser in a native format, convert the native format data to an intermediate format, and communicate the intermediate format data over a network to an output server. The intermediate format data are received from the network at the output server, converted to an output format, and then communicated to an output device, such as a printer, copier, facsimile device, document storage…
Printing device using color profile calibration and method for operating a printing device using color profile calibration
Granted: February 24, 2009
Patent Number:
7495812
The invention relates to a printing device and a method of operating the printing device, it being possible for the following steps to be carried out: printing a calibration print by means of the printing device, the calibration print having a plurality of measuring areas with different colour mixture relationships, spectrophotometric measurement of the measuring areas, producing a colour profile, the spectrophotometric measurement of the measuring areas being carried out at a plurality…
Methods and apparatus for real time calibration of a print system marking engine
Granted: February 10, 2009
Patent Number:
7489422
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for modifying the rendered output of a marking engine for a print job in progress. A marking engine commences printing print data for a print job. A parameter of a printed page of the print job is measured while the marking engine prints the print job. The measured parameter is compared to a reference, and the print data are modified before the print job completes, such that all subsequent portions of the print job are rendered with modified print…
Spot color pattern system
Granted: January 20, 2009
Patent Number:
7480070
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…
Apparatus and methods for selectively distributing print pages in multiple print engine systems
Granted: December 30, 2008
Patent Number:
7471403
A multiple print engine configuration allows a plurality of workstations to create individual print jobs and then transfer them to a distributing processor. The distributing processor spools the jobs in a print spooler and then performs a software raster image processing (“RIP”) operation on the print jobs. The RIP operation divides the jobs into multiple individual jobs which are stored in a page buffer. An image task manager in conjunction with an engine manager selectively s the…
