Gray scale enhancements for color documents rendered on monochrome devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:
- receiving a print job comprising color print data;
receiving monochrome output instructions having information regarding a plurality of image types;
generating gray scale data from the color print data;
distinguishing one or more image types within the print job;
enhancing the gray scale data for each image type according to the monochrome output instructions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Gray scale data converted from color data is enhanced prior to being rendered on a monochrome device. Different enhancements are applied to different image types based on selected monochrome output options. The enhancements to the gray scale data make close shades of gray more easy to distinguish. Advantages of the disclosed system and methods include improved gray scale documents that better convey visual information present in an original color document.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:
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receiving a print job comprising color print data;
receiving monochrome output instructions having information regarding a plurality of image types;
generating gray scale data from the color print data;
distinguishing one or more image types within the print job;
enhancing the gray scale data for each image type according to the monochrome output instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:
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recognizing within a bitmap image, a first area comprising pixel data of a higher density adjacent to a second area comprising pixel data of a lower density;
determining that a density difference between the higher density and the lower density is at or below a threshold value;
determining from original color data that a color of the first area is different than a color of the second area; and
exaggerating the density difference along adjacent edges of the first area and the second area. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:
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recognizing within a vector graphics image, a first graphic area comprising pixel data of a higher density adjacent to a second graphic area comprising pixel data of a lower density;
determining that a density difference between the higher density and the lower density is at or below a threshold value;
determining from original color data that a color of the first graphic area is different than a color of the second graphic area; and
increasing differentiation between the first gray scale value and the second gray scale value. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:
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in an image type that includes text and a background, recognizing that text pixel data has a higher density than background pixel data, the background pixel data having a lower density;
determining that a density difference between the higher density and the lower density is at or below a threshold value;
determining from original color data that a color of the text is different than a color of the background; and
increasing the density difference between the text and the background. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:
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receiving color print data from an application program, the color print data in an application program format;
converting the color print data from the application program format into printer data in a printer-friendly format, the printer data formatted into one or more image types;
receiving monochrome output instructions regarding a plurality of image types;
sending the printer data and the monochrome output instructions to a printer.
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27. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:
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receiving a print command from within an application program;
receiving color print data from the application program, the color print data in an application program format;
presenting gray scale enhancement options for printing various image types on a monochrome printer;
accepting user selections regarding the gray scale enhancement options;
formatting the color print data into printer-friendly data, the printer-friendly data comprising one or more image types;
sending the user selections and the printer-friendly data to the monochrome printer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:
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receiving a print command from within an application program;
receiving color print data from the application program;
receiving user-input instructions for applying gray scale enhancements to various image types;
formatting the color print data into printer-friendly data, the printer-friendly data comprising gray scale data having one or more image types;
enhancing the gray scale data based on the user-input instructions and the one or more image types;
sending enhanced gray scale data to a monochrome printer.
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31. A method of enhancing gray scale data for color documents being rendered on a monochrome device, the method comprising:
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receiving a print job comprising color print data;
receiving monochrome output instructions having information regarding a plurality of image types;
generating gray scale data from the color print data;
distinguishing one or more image types within the print job;
enhancing the gray scale data for each image type according to the monochrome output instructions.
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32. A method of enhancing gray scale data for color documents being rendered on a monochrome device, the method comprising:
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recognizing within a bitmap image, a first area comprising pixel data of a higher density adjacent to a second area comprising pixel data of a lower density;
determining that a density difference between the higher density and the lower density is at or below a threshold value;
determining from original color data that a color of the first area is different than a color of the second area; and
exaggerating the density difference along adjacent edges of the first area and the second area.
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33. A method of enhancing gray scale data for color documents being rendered on a monochrome device, the method comprising:
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recognizing within a vector graphics image, a first graphic area comprising pixel data of a higher density adjacent to a second graphic area comprising pixel data of a lower density;
determining that a density difference between the higher density and the lower density is at or below a threshold value;
determining from original color data that a color of the first graphic area is different than a color of the second graphic area; and
increasing differentiation between the first gray scale value and the second gray scale value.
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34. A method of enhancing gray scale data for color documents being rendered on a monochrome device, the method comprising:
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in an image type that includes text and a background, recognizing that text pixel data has a higher density than background pixel data, the background pixel data having a lower density;
determining that a density difference between the higher density and the lower density is at or below a threshold value;
determining from original color data that a color of the text is different than a color of the background; and
increasing the density difference between the text and the background.
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35. A method of enhancing gray scale data for color documents being rendered on a monochrome device, the method comprising:
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receiving a print command from within an application program;
receiving color print data from the application program;
receiving user-input instructions for applying gray scale enhancements to various image types;
formatting the color print data into printer-friendly data, the printer-friendly data comprising gray scale data having one or more image types;
enhancing the gray scale data based on the user-input instructions and the one or more image types;
sending enhanced gray scale data to a monochrome printer.
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36. A printer comprising:
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a conversion module configured to convert color data into gray scale data;
monochrome output instructions having information regarding a plurality of image types; and
an enhancement implementation module configured to generate enhanced gray scale data from the gray scale data based on the monochrome output instructions.
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37. A printer comprising:
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color data received from an input device;
gray scale data generated from the color data by a conversion module executing on the printer; and
enhanced gray scale data generated from the gray scale data by an enhancement implementation module executing on the printer. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A computer comprising:
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color print data;
an image-type separation module configured to separate image types within the color print data;
an enhancement selection module configured to provide enhancement options for various image types; and
monochrome output instructions generated by the enhancement selection module according to user-selected enhancement options. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A copier comprising:
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a conversion module configured to convert color data into gray scale data;
monochrome output instructions; and
an enhancement implementation module configured to generate enhanced gray scale data from the gray scale data based on the monochrome output instructions.
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48. A copier comprising:
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a scanner platen;
color data received through the scanner platen;
a conversion module configured to convert the color data into gray scale data;
an enhancement implementation module configured to enhance the gray scale data into enhanced gray scale data; and
a copier engine configured to generate a hard-copy image of the enhanced gray scale data. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification