Seiko Epson Corporation

Nobuhisa Takabayashi

Masaru Hoshino

Atsushi Hatta

Satoshi Fujioka

Hiromu Hirabayashi

Mikiya Shimada

Kiyoto Komuro

Atsushi Nishizawa

Hiroki Okabe

Masayasu Fujio

Takashi Kato

John S Meyer

James R Van Lieu

Takashi Hori

Steven K Boicourt

Pilar Calderin

William D Cockrell

Huang M Nguyen

An image processing device includes an acquisition unit that acquires a read image generated by reading a receipt or a bill and including a special character having a size different from a basic size of a character, a conversion unit that performs conversion processing on the size of the special character included in the read image into a size close to the basic size, and a character recognition unit that performs character recognition processing on the conversion-processed read image.

Image processing device and image processing method

Provided is photo retouching software which is easy for photo studio personnel to use. Upon opening photo image(s), special photo retoucher converts photo image data thereof to working color space image data. At such time(s), if working ICC profile(s) is/are set which is/are different from ICC profile(s) previously embedded in such photo image file(s), color perceptual matching is carried out on the photo image data thereof based on such embedded ICC profile(s) and working ICC profile(s) when such photo image file(s) is/are opened. Furthermore, when such photo image(s) is/are displayed at monitor(s), such image data is converted to monitor color space image data through color matching using working ICC profile(s) and monitor ICC profile(s).

Image retouching program

Provided is photo retouching software which is easy for photo studio personnel to use. Upon opening photo image(s), special photo retoucherconverts photo image data thereof to working color space image data. At such time(s), if working ICC profile(s) is/are set which is/are different from ICC profile(s) previously embedded in such photo image file(s), color perceptual matching is carried out on the photo image data thereof based on such embedded ICC profile(s) and working ICC profile(s) when such photo image file(s) is/are opened. Furthermore, when such photo image(s) is/are displayed at monitor(s), such image data is converted to monitor color space image data through color matching using working ICC profile(s) and monitor ICC profile(s).

Each print job received from a client computeris divided into minimum printing units as divisional jobs, which are stored in a job folder. When either of an upper spoolerand a lower spoolerhas any vacancy for next allocation, one divisional job is allocated to a printer corresponding to the spooler having the vacancy. The name of the printer that has received allocation of the divisional job is written into the job folder. When any allocated divisional job having an identical image file name and an identical customer ID with those of a current object divisional job is present in the job folder, the current object divisional job is allocated to the printer, to which the allocated divisional job has been allocated. This arrangement allocates multiple divisional jobs for printing an identical image demanded from an identical customer to the same printer, thus ensuring substantially equal quality of resulting printed images.

Print management system and print management method

The technique of the invention retrieves any print job of redundant image data having identical image identification data with the image identification data of an object job, which is specified among print jobs stored in a print server, deletes image data present on a reference path of the retrieved print job, and overwrites the reference path of the retrieved print job with a reference path of the object job. The print job in which the image data was deleted is executed by utilizing the common reference path to read remaining image data and converting the image data into print data printable with a printer. This arrangement desirably prevents identical image data from being stored redundantly and thereby effectively saves the storage capacity of print jobs.

Print job management apparatus and print job management method

Disclosed is a printing system suitable for use at photo studio(s) and permitting printing of color photograph(s) as desired by user(s). Client machine(s)A,B may acquire photo image(s) from digital camera(s)and may carry out editing (retouching and/or print layout/design editing) of photo image(s). At the start of editing, working color profile(s) may be set for photo image(s) editing operations, and color matching may be carried out on photo image(s) using color profile(s) for digital camera(s)and working color profile(s). During editing, such photo image(s) may be displayed at monitor(s), at which time color matching may be carried out on such photo image(s) using monitor color profile(s) and color profile(s) for such photo image(s). After editing is completed, edited photo image(s) and working color profile(s) for same may be sent to print server machine(s). Print server machine(s)may carry out color matching using printer color profile(s) for output printer(s) and working color profile(s) for such photo image(s), may create print image(s) for such photo image(s), and may send such print image(s) to output printer(s)A and/orB.

Printing system and printing method

In photo studio system, a count which represents a number of printing operations with regard to each of the printerandis reset to zero in response to successful establishment of connection of a print serverwith the management server. The printerandare allowed to continuously carry out printing operations as long as the count is reset to zero before reaching the preset value. On the other hand, failed establishment of connection with the management servercauses the count to reach the preset value and imposes restrictions on the printing operations with regard to each of the printerand. Each of the printers is not allowed to continue printing operations over a long time period in the state of disconnection from the management server. This arrangement desirably prevents the management server from suffering significant losses.

Print system and print system control method

A color correction profile is generated, based on a color difference between an original image prior to arbitrary color adjustment and a resulting color-adjusted image. The generated color correction profile is stored in mapping to an ID of a digital camera used for taking the image. The profile attachment technique of the invention receives each input image, sets an ID of a digital camera included in the input image as a key of retrieval, and retrieves a color correction profile stored in mapping to the ID of the digital camera (step S). When any color correction profile is retrieved successfully corresponding to the ID of the digital camera, the retrieved color correction profile is attached to the image (step S).

Image processing apparatus and image processing method for correcting color of image

The image processing technique of the invention receives an input image with an ID of a digital camera used for taking the input image (step S) and performs color adjustment of the input image (step S). The technique then specifies a color difference between an original image prior to the color adjustment and a resulting color-adjusted image after the color adjustment and generates a color correction profile based on the specified color difference (step S). The generated color correction profile is stored in mapping to the ID of the digital camera (step S). In response to input of each image with the ID of the digital camera, the generated color correction profile is attached to the each input image.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method

Disclosed is/are printing system(s) suitable for photo studio(s) and having capabilities permitting proper management of print job execution history or histories, printer status(es), and/or the like. Photo studio(s)has print server machine(s)and plurality of client machinesA,B connected via LAN(s). Client machine(s)A,B create print job data which is received by print server machine(s), the print job(s) being assigned to plurality of printersA,B where it or they is or are executed. Print server machine(s)manage print job execution history, printer status, and/or other such print information. User(s) may employ WWW browser(s) of client machine(s)A,B to access print information at print server machine(s). Furthermore, print server machine(s)automatically inform client machine(s)A,B upon completion of execution of print job(s) and/or upon occurrence of printer error(s). From a multiplicity of photo studio(s), center server machine(s)gather, by way of the Internet, print information of respective photo studio(s), create web page(s) indicating status(es) of operations at respective studio(s), and make same available to respective studio(s) and/or dealer(s). Occurrence of error(s) at respective studio(s) may be communicated in real time from center server machine(s)to user(s) of respective studio(s) via electronic mail.

Printing system and server monitoring printing job

Moveable cabinet for holding computer system components

Code conversion tables for some major language spheres are stored in a ROM 13 in a printer. Pattern information of all kinds of characters, discriminately represented by their internal codes, are stored in a character generator 15. For code conversion tables for other language spheres than major language spheres, the definition information of each code conversion table is registered in an EEPROM 17 in the printer, from a host device. The definition information of a code conversion table may be prepared by defining the internal codes corresponding to all of the external codes. The definition information may also be prepared in such a way that a code conversion table is selected from among the code conversion tables stored in the ROM 13 and used as a base code conversion table, and only information of the code conversion table which is different from that of the base code conversion table, is defined. Before the printing operation is performed, a CPU 19 prepares a code conversion table in a RAM 7 on the basis of related definition information in the EEPROM 17. During the printing operation, the CPU 19 refers to the code conversion table in the RAM 7.

Printer

An ink jet printer comprising a recording device for jetting ink droplets from a printer head while moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of a recording medium in the form of a sheet, to form a dot image on the recording medium according to an input time, further including a pair of sheet retaining devices respectively arranged before and behind in the direction of travel of the recording device, where one of the pair of sheet retaining devices arranged before in the direction of travel is displaced to push against the recording medium in order to form a predetermined clearance between the printer head and the recording medium, while the other is displaced to leave from the recording medium.

Growing community of inventors

Nagano-ken, Japan

Nobuhisa Takabayashi