System for universal data output

• US 20020097417A1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christina Ying Liu, William Ho Chang
• Original Assignee: Christina Ying Liu, William Ho Chang
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Application Number:
  US10/053,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1258 by updating job settings at the printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 : in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 : Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 : Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 : using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/181 : Receiving print data characterized by its formatting, e.g. particular page description languages
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1836 : Rasterization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 : specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 : Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 : with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 : with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 : Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 : the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 : providing an audible output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 : Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 : Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32534 : details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32582 : Output interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 : involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 : using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 : Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• 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 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method of operating an information apparatus that is on a local area includes the step of rasterizing a digital document on the information apparatus to generate image data and creating an intermediate output data from the image data. The intermediate output data is transmitted to an output device that is on the local area network and includes an output engine that outputs images with a device-specific output size and resolution. The image data is recovered from the intermediate output data and is converted to instructions compatible with the output engine, based at least in part on the device-specific output size and resolution of the output engine. The method further includes providing the instructions to the output engine and operating the output engine in response to the instructions and thereby outputting an image of the digital document.

Claims

1. A method of operating an information apparatus that is on a local area network for outputting an image of a digital document that can be accessed by the information apparatus, the digital document including at least part of a text or graphics information, said method comprising:

rasterizing the digital document on the information apparatus to generate image data,

creating an intermediate output data from the image data,

transmitting the intermediate output data to an output device that is on said local area network and includes an output engine that outputs images with a device-specific output size and resolution,

recovering the image data from the intermediate output data,

converting the image data to instructions compatible with the output engine, based at least in part on the device-specific output size and resolution of the output engine,

providing the instructions to the output engine, and

operating the output engine in response to said instructions and thereby outputting an image of the digital document.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the output engine is one of a marking engine, a display engine and a projection engine.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate output data includes a mixed raster content encoding.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the output device is printing device that includes a printer controller and an output controller, the method further comprising,

generating with the output controller a print data that is acceptable to the printer controller and including the recovered image data into the print data, and

passing the print data to the printer controller for converting the image data into instructions compatible with the output engine, based at least in part on the device-specific output size and resolution of the marking engine.

5. A method according to claim 4, in which the print data includes a page description language and the method comprises generating with the output controller a page description language (PDL) representation of the digital document to the printer controller and interpreting with the printer controller the PDL representation and converting the image data based at least in part on said device-specific output size and resolution.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the image included in the intermediate output data is encoded at least with predetermined standard output size and resolution and the rasterizing step includes calculating at least one scale factor relating to the output size and resolution of the digital document to said predetermined standard output size and resolution and employing said scale factor as a rasterization parameter in the rasterizing step.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating the intermediate output data includes at least one of compression, encoding, encryption and color correction.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating the intermediate output data includes creating an intermediate output data that includes at least one of an image, instructions, and a color profile.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of recovering the raster image data from the intermediate output data includes at least one of decoding, decryption, and decompression.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of converting the image data to instructions includes at least one of color space conversion, scaling, interpolation, color matching and halftoning.

12. A method according to claim 1, including obtaining a rasterization vector to the information apparatus and using said rasterization vector in the rasterizing step.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the rasterization vector has at least one component related to the output device and includes one or more of an output size, resolution, color space, and bit depth.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one component of the rasterization vector is based on a predetermined standard value or default.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the rasterization vector is obtained from the output device.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes selecting an output device description from a plurality of output device descriptions presented to a user of the information apparatus.

17. A method according to claim 12, comprising inputting user preferences as components of a rasterization vector and using said rasterization vector in the rasterizing step.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the output device is a printing device and the output engine is a marking engine.

20. A method according to claim 18, comprising selecting said output system from among a plurality of available output systems and uploading at least one value specifying said predetermined rasterization parameters to the information apparatus.

7. A method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined standard output size and resolution is included in the output device and the step of converting the image data to instructions compatible with the output engine further includes converting the image data from at least the standard output size and resolution to the output size and resolution of the output engine.

18. A method of outputting an image of a digital document that can be accessed by an information apparatus to an output system, the output system including information related to predetermined standard rasterization parameter values that include one or more of bit depth, color space, output size, and resolution, said method comprising:

generating image data by rasterizing the digital document on the information apparatus in accordance at least in part with at least one predetermined standard rasterization parameter value,

creating on the information apparatus an intermediate output data that includes the image data,

transmitting the intermediate output data from the information apparatus to an output system that includes an output engine that outputs an image with at least one device specific value that includes bit depth, color space, output size, or resolution,

recovering the image data from the intermediate output data,

converting the image data with the at least one predetermined standard rasterization parameter value to instructions compatible with the output engine that include the at least one device specific value,

providing the instructions to the output engine, and

operating the output engine in response to said instructions and thereby outputting an image of the digital document.

21. A method of outputting an image of a digital document that can be accessed by an information apparatus, the digital document including at least part of a text or graphics information, said method comprising:

selecting an output device model from a menu of models presented by the information apparatus, each model of output device including an output engine, and each output engine being characterized by a value of a rasterization vector,

accessing a value of the rasterization vector related to the output engine of the selected model,

rasterizing the digital document on the information apparatus in accordance with said rasterization vector to generate image data,

creating an intermediate output data on the information apparatus that includes the image data,

transmitting the intermediate output data from the information apparatus to an output device of said selected model,

recovering the image data from the intermediate output data,

converting the image data to instructions compatible with the output engine of the output device,

providing the instructions to the output engine of the output device, and

operating the operating engine in response to said instructions and thereby outputting an image of the digital document.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the rasterization vector is obtained form the output device.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the output device is a printing device and the output engine is a marking engine.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the image data comprises a background layer and at least one pair of layers composed of a foreground layer and a mask layer.

27. An imaging system according to claim 26, wherein the information apparatus includes a means for storing values for the predetermined standard size and resolution and the first means is adapted to rasterize the digital document to said predetermined standard output size and resolution.

28. An imaging system according to claim 26, wherein the output device includes a means for uploading to the information apparatus an output device profile that specifies device specific rasterization parameter values that include one or more of bit depth, output size and resolution to the information apparatus.

30. A method according to claim 29, comprising, prior to step (b), transmitting from the information apparatus a message that calls for a receiving output device to transmit a message that specifies a feature of the respective output device.

31. A method according to claim 29 in which the feature includes one or more of a quality of service, a price indicator, a status indicator, an availability indicator, and an output data format indicator.

24. A method of outputting an image of a digital document that can be accessed by an information apparatus, said method comprising:

rasterizing the digital document on the information apparatus to generate image data,

creating an intermediate output data on the information apparatus, the intermediate output data including the image data, the image data being composed of a background layer and at least one foreground layer,

transmitting the intermediate output data to an output device that includes an output engine,

recovering the image data from the intermediate output data,

converting the image data into instructions compatible with the output engine,

providing the instructions to the output engine, and

operating the output engine in response to said instructions and thereby outputting an image of the digital document.

26. An imaging system comprising:

a local area network having a propagation medium and at least first and second nodes, said first node including an information apparatus and said second node including an output device, said output device including an output engine for outputting images,

a first means on the information apparatus for rasterizing a digital document to generate image data,

a second means on the information apparatus for creating an intermediate output data that includes the image data,

a third means on the information apparatus for impressing the intermediate output data on the propagation medium, and

an output controller at the second node for retrieving the image data from the intermediate output data and converting the image data into instructions compatible with the output engine.

29. A method of outputting an image of a digital document that can be accessed by an information apparatus, said method including:

(a) establishing bidirectional communication between the information apparatus and at least two output devices,

(b) receiving a message from a first available output device specifying a feature of the first available output device,

(c) determining from the message from the available output device whether the feature of the available output device matches a requirement for outputting the digital document,

(d) if so, selecting said available output device and transmitting image data to the selected output device, and otherwise receiving a message from another available output device specifying a feature of the other available output device, and

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d).