Cloud-based document quality assurance

• US 10,257,370 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Hui Un, Cayetano, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustin, Marcellus J
• Application Number:
  US16/159,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20190052758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 177 Days
• Field of Search: 358 11- 329, 358 111- 118, 399 15, 399 16, 399 46, 399 59- 76, 399197, 399371, 710 6, 710 29, 710 38, 710 46, 710 58, 713502, 713600, 718 1, 718100, 718101, 718102
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1836 Rasterization
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/751 Comparing pixel values or logical combinations thereof, or feature values having positional relevance, e.g. template matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/418 Document matching, e.g. of document images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00015 Reproducing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00039 Analysis, i.e. separating and studying components of a greater whole
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00061 using a remote apparatus H04N1/00066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3284 for error correction

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to cloud-based document quality assurance. One example embodiment includes a method for evaluating document quality. The method includes receiving, by a cloud server, document data associated with an image forming device. The method also includes accessing, by the cloud server, a cloud service. Further, the method includes performing, by the cloud service, a data-segment comparison between the document data and reference document data from a quality assurance database. In addition, the method includes generating, by the cloud service, a quality assurance report based on the data-segment comparison between the document data and the reference document data.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating document quality, comprising:

receiving, by a cloud server, document data associated with an image forming device, wherein the document data was received from the image forming device at a requested stage in a printing pipeline of the image forming device;

accessing, by the cloud server, a cloud service;

performing, by the cloud service, a comparison between the document data and reference document data from a quality assurance database,

wherein the reference document data comprises document data sent to the image forming device by a terminal device for printing;

generating, by the cloud service, a quality assurance report based on the comparison between the document data and the reference document data;

printing a document, by the image forming device, that corresponds to the document data sent to the image forming device by the terminal device for printing;

scanning, by the image forming device, the printed document, wherein the document data received by the cloud server corresponds to the scanned, printed document;

receiving, by the cloud server, the reference document data from the image forming device; and

storing, by the cloud server, the reference document data in the quality assurance database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison between the document data and the reference document data from the quality assurance database comprises an aggregate comparison of metadata relating to the document data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested stage is an interpretation stage, a graphic execution stage, a rasterization stage, a halftone stage, or a printed stage.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the cloud server, a stage request from the terminal device that indicates the requested stage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the document data is a portion of a document, and wherein the document data is received by the cloud server as a binary large object.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the image forming device, whether the document data is in a format supported by the image forming device;

converting, by the cloud service, the document data to a format supported by the image forming device;

transmitting, by the cloud server, the converted document data to the image forming device; and

printing, by the image forming device, the converted document data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the image forming device, whether the document data is in a format supported by the image forming device;

converting, by the image forming device, the document data to a format supported by the image forming device; and

printing, by the image forming device, the converted document data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the cloud server, the quality assurance report to the image forming device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the cloud server, the quality assurance report to the terminal device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, within the cloud server, the quality assurance report.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cloud server and the cloud service reside within a public cloud.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cloud server and the cloud service reside within a private cloud.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the cloud server, the reference document data from the terminal device; and

storing, by the cloud server, the reference document data in the quality assurance database.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the cloud server, a quality assurance request from the terminal device, wherein the quality assurance request indicates that a quality assurance test should be performed by the cloud service.

15. A cloud service for evaluating document quality, comprising:

a cloud service interface,

wherein the cloud service interface is configured to communicate with a cloud server to receive document data associated with an image forming device,

wherein the document data associated with the image forming device corresponds to a requested stage in a printing pipeline of the image forming device; and

a cloud quality assurance handler,

wherein the cloud quality assurance handler comprises an image processing engine configured to compare the document data with reference document data from a quality assurance database,

wherein the reference document data comprises document data sent to the image forming device by a terminal device for printing,

wherein the reference document data was received and stored by the cloud server,

wherein the document data associated with the image forming device corresponds to a document that was printed and scanned by the image forming device,

wherein the image processing engine comprises;

an image processing unit configured to modify the document data, if necessary, such that a comparison between the document data and the reference document data can be made; and

a byte comparator configured to perform the comparison between the document data and the reference document data, and

wherein the cloud service interface is further configured to communicate a result of the comparison to the cloud server as a quality assurance report.

16. The cloud service of claim 15, wherein the cloud service interface comprises a cloud web service user interface accessible by a user of the terminal device to provide quality assurance settings for use during a quality assurance process.

17. The cloud service of claim 15, wherein the comparison between the document data and the reference document data from the quality assurance database comprises an aggregate comparison of metadata relating to the document data.

18. The cloud service of claim 15, wherein the requested stage is an interpretation stage, a graphic execution stage, a rasterization stage, a halftone stage, or a printed stage.

19. The cloud service of claim 15, wherein the document data is a portion of a document, and wherein the document data is received by the cloud server as a binary large object.

20. A system for evaluating document quality, comprising:

an image forming device configured to process document data;

a cloud server configured to receive document data associated with the image forming device,

wherein the document data associated with the image forming device corresponds to a requested stage in a printing pipeline of the image forming device, and

wherein the document data associated with the image forming device corresponds to a document that was printed and scanned by the image forming device; and

a cloud service, accessible by the cloud server, configured to;

perform a comparison between the document data and reference document data from a quality assurance database,

wherein the reference document data comprises document data sent to the image forming device by a terminal device for printing, and

wherein the reference document data was received and stored by the cloud server; and

generate a quality assurance report based on the comparison between the document data and the reference document data.