Methods and apparatus for media selection in cluster printing systems
Granted: December 13, 2005
Patent Number:
6974269
Methods and apparatus are provided for specifying media in cluster printing systems that include printers that use device-specific media selection techniques, such as paper catalogs, media tray pulldown menus and media attribute pulldown menus. A universal media selector is provided that includes a universal paper catalog, an editor, a paper catalog translator and a tray associator. The universal paper catalog is a two-dimensional array that includes one or more entries that associate a…
Reusable and transferable printer driver preference system
Granted: November 22, 2005
Patent Number:
6967728
A system is provided for supporting multiple platforms with common personal preferences for printer drivers. The set preferences for the printer driver are therefore reusable and may be moved from one driver to another. The system involves the provision of a common format for printer driver preferences. When a new printer is brought to a system or a user moves to a station that uses a different printer, the preferences are readily moved to that location. Further, an MIS department may…
Methods and apparatus for media selection in cluster printing systems
Granted: November 8, 2005
Patent Number:
6962449
Methods and apparatus are provided for specifying media in cluster printing systems that include printers that use device-specific media selection techniques, such as paper catalogs, media tray pulldown menus and media attribute pulldown menus. A universal media selector is provided that includes a universal paper catalog, an editor, a paper catalog translator and a tray associator. The universal paper catalog is a two-dimensional array that includes one or more entries that associate a…
Method and apparatus for automated image correction for digital image acquisition
Granted: October 18, 2005
Patent Number:
6956966
A method and apparatus for automatically correcting colors in digital image space comprises taking an image file of the object using a digital device, such as a digital camera or scanner. One embodiment of the invention involves registering to obtain access to a profiling software. When registered, one obtains a target test sheet and accompanying manuals. The registration itself involves using a password or access code for using the software on the computer. The profiling software checks…
Methods and apparatus for converting color values
Granted: September 27, 2005
Patent Number:
6950110
Color conversion apparatus and methods are provided for converting a first color value, such as an RGB, L*a*b* or XYZ color value, to a second color value, such as an RGB, CMY, CMKY, L*a*b*, L,C1C2, or XYZ color value, without saturation error.
Printing method and apparatus having multiple raster image processors
Granted: August 16, 2005
Patent Number:
6930795
The invention provides a printing method and apparatus, comprising a software application that works with proprietary printing utilities, and that may include one or more additional software components for adding additional printing technology. The invention also comprises an automatic print load-balancing component in a centralized or distributed raster image processing (RIP) printing environment that enables faster system performance over single or multiple processors.
Printing system and method
Granted: May 10, 2005
Patent Number:
RE38732
A image is printed from a source of drawing instructions. The image is reducible to pixels arranged in a plurality of ranked image lines. The system employs a storage device having compressed and uncompressed regions. Each region has a designated capacity and each is arranged to store pixels of one or more of the plurality of image lines. A drawing processor is coupled to the storage device and can be coupled to the source of drawing instructions for responding thereto. This drawing…
Method and apparatus for determining toner level in electrophotographic print engines
Granted: May 3, 2005
Patent Number:
6888644
A method for determining the amount of toner required to render a print job using a print engine at a printing location without prior information about the toner level thereof, comprising the steps of accumulating in a first register the toner values of all the pixels in a rasterized image prior to sending the print job to the printing location; decrementing the toner level register for the print engine at the printing location if the accumulated value is less than or equal to the toner…
Methods and apparatus for smoothing text outlines
Granted: April 26, 2005
Patent Number:
6885477
Methods and apparatus are provided to smooth a jagged outline of a reconstructed text generated through any of a variety of systems, such as, for example, an image scanner. Given the reconstructed text with a jagged outline, the methods smooth the outline of the text first through location of horizontal and vertical edges, and subsequent gray scale reconstruction of the edge ink level from a one-bit or a low number of bits edge pattern. The methods then provide identification of the…
Printing method and apparatus having multiple raster image processors
Granted: April 12, 2005
Patent Number:
6879409
A multiple raster image processor (“RIP”) system is described that enables faster system performance over multiple processors, and includes a zero RIP feature consisting of a language interpreter sub-RIP that interprets a print instruction file but does not process the graphics rendering steps or the post-language processing operators. A skip RIP interprets selected pages in a way that skips all or most of the processing for that page. Pages to be skipped are scheduled for a…
Methods and systems for the provision of remote printing services over a network
Granted: February 22, 2005
Patent Number:
6859832
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, which may be at a location remote from the print job source, is capable of polling the spooling…
Black text printing from page description languages
Granted: February 15, 2005
Patent Number:
6856428
A technique for printing black text on a colored background, in which the graphics are broken down into three categories: text, polygons (also referred to as line drawing or vectors), and images (also referred to as bitmaps or raster data) when the incoming graphic information is a Page Description Language (PDL) data file (e.g. Adobe Postscript-PS- or Hewlett-Packard PCL). If the object is not a text object, it is processed in a normal manner. If the object is a text object, a…
Method and apparatus for distributing pages to individual print engines in a multiple print engine
Granted: February 1, 2005
Patent Number:
6850335
A multiple print engine is provided wherein a plurality of print engines are configured as a single virtual print engine. A software RIP engine is provided for receiving a print job, ripping that print job to provide a rasterized image, which rasterized image is parsed into a plurality of pages. Each of the pages has associated therewith information as to the printing characteristics for that page. Each of the print engines also has associated therewith printing parameters. A job…
Variable data print job system
Granted: December 28, 2004
Patent Number:
6836342
This invention relates to variable data print job systems. In particular, this invention relates to variable data print job systems that reduce the master and variable jobs to a single job that does not require indefinite disk storage on a printer. A first part of the job contains the master data pages and a second part of the job contains the variable data. The print job is assembled and sent to the printer, which detects that the job is a two part job. The printer places the master…
Simple and inexpensive high-capacity output catch tray for document production machines
Granted: December 21, 2004
Patent Number:
6832865
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, while maintaining a relatively constant elevation relative to the copier output port, and automatically returns to its original position when partially or completely unloaded.
Efficiently scheduled multiple raster image processors
Granted: November 9, 2004
Patent Number:
6816276
A method of printing multi-page documents with multiple raster-image processors (RIP's), the method comprising the steps of profiling the command stream complexities and resource dependencies of a series of pages to be printed. Then, associating a profile of the command stream complexities and resource dependencies of a series of pages to be printed with a printing command stream. And dispatching individual raster-image processor jobs for each of the pages to be printed to…
Methods and apparatus for converting color values
Granted: August 24, 2004
Patent Number:
6781596
Color conversion apparatus and methods are provided for converting a first color value, such as an RGB, L*a*b* or XYZ color value, to a second color value, such as an RGB, CMY, CMKY, L*a*b*, L,C1C2, or XYZ color value, without saturation error.
Method and apparatus for text detection
Granted: August 17, 2004
Patent Number:
6778700
A text detection technique comprises local ramp detection, identification of intensity troughs (candidate text strokes), determination of stroke width, preliminary detection of text based on contrast and stroke width, and a consistency check.
Methods and apparatus for data compression
Granted: June 29, 2004
Patent Number:
6757440
The invention provides for the application of a plurality of compression schemes to data such that improved compression ratios are achieved. A first embodiment provides for compression of each pixel by one of a plurality of different entropy-based compression schemes based upon a probability cost analysis. A second embodiment provides for compression of each pixel based on a hybrid context formed using a plurality of compression schemes for improved probability determination, and thus…
Methods and apparatus for addressing pixels in a display
Granted: June 22, 2004
Patent Number:
6753845
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for addressing pixels in a display. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for addressing pixels in a display using one or more movable mechanical scanning mechanisms. The mechanical scanning mechanisms and one or more stationary addressing elements provide electrical field addressing for control of the desired pixel(s) in a display.
