Printer user interface

• US 20050068570A1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Piersol, Kurt, Hart, Peter E., Hull, Jonathan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,570,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00175 from a still image storage medium H04N1/00172, H04N1/0018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00297 with a television signal recorder, e.g. for recording facsimile images on a VCR motion video recording combined with still video recording in a still video camera H04N1/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00331 with an apparatus performing optical character recognition character recognition G06V30/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00336 with an apparatus performing pattern recognition, e.g. of a face or a geographic feature image or video recognition or understanding of scenes G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00435 arranged in a predetermined sequence, e.g. using next and previous buttons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0045 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2338 according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reproduction mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2346 according to a detected condition or state of the reproducing device, e.g. temperature or ink quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2369 Selecting a particular reproducing mode from amongst a plurality of modes, e.g. paper saving or normal, or simplex or duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A multifunction printer enables the printing of time-based media and is operated via a user interface. The user interface includes a touch screen for accepting command inputs and providing information to a user. Time-based media data is received by the printer from a media source specified via the user interface. A user specifies one or more multimedia processing functions for the printer to apply to the data. The printer performs the specified functions, and previews the output to the user via a display of the user interface. If the user decides to print the previewed output, the user specifies one or more output devices, such that the printer can print conventional printed output and/or to a specified electronic output.

Claims

1. A printer for printing time-based media, the printer comprising:

a communication interface for receiving time-based media data from a media source;

a processor for performing a multimedia function on the time-based media data to obtain an electronic image and associated print data;

a user interface, communicatively coupled to the processor, including;

a display, for providing data to a user;

an input device, for receiving data from the user;

a first output device for receiving the associated print data from the processor and producing output on a printer; and

a second output device coupled to the processor for receiving the electronic image and producing an electronic output from the image.

2. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes selecting a range of audio data in response to received input from the user.

3. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying audio event detection to the time-based media data.

4. The printer of claim 3 wherein the multimedia function further includes determining a confidence level associated with the audio event detection.

5. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speaker segmentation function to the time-based media data.

6. The printer of claim 1 or 5 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speaker recognition function to the time-based media data.

7. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a sound source localization function to the time-based media data.

8. The printer of claim 7 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying audio event detection to the time-based media data.

9. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speech recognition function to the time-based media data.

10. The printer of claim 9 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a profile analysis function to the time-based media data.

11. The printer of claim 9 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an audio event detection function to the time-based media data.

12. The printer of claim 11 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a speaker recognition function to the time-based media data.

13. The printer of claim 11 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a speaker segmentation function to the time-based media data.

14. The printer of claim 11 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a sound localization function to the time-based media data.

15. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes selecting a range of video data in response to received input from the user.

16. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a video event detection function to the time-based media data.

17. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a color histogram analysis function to the time-based media data.

18. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

19. The printer of claim 18 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a clustering function to the time-based media data to merge multiple instances of a face into a representative face image.

20. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face recognition function to the time-based media data.

21. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an optical character recognition function to the time-based media data.

22. The printer of claim 21 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a clustering function to the time-based media data to merge similar results of the optical character recognition.

23. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a motion analysis function to the time-based media data.

24. The printer of claim 1 or claim 23 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a distance estimation function to the time-based media data.

25. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying foreground/background segmentation function to the time-based media data.

26. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a scene segmentation function to the time-based media data.

27. The printer of claim 26 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face recognition recognition function to the time-based media data.

28. The printer of claim 26 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

29. The printer of claim 26 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an optical character recognition function to the time-based media data.

30. The printer of claim 29 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face recognition function to the time-based media data.

31. The printer of claim 29 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

32. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an automobile recognition function to the time-based media data.

33. The printer of claim 32 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a motion analysis function to the time-based media data.

34. The printer of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a license plate recognition function to the time-based media data.

35. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a visual inspection function to the time-based media data.

36. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a compact disc (CD) device.

37. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a digital video disc (DVD) device.

38. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control an audio tape device.

39. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a video tape device.

40. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a multimedia server.

41. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control encryption hardware.

42. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control audio sound localization hardware.

43. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control motion detection hardware.

44. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a MIDI player.

45. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a cellular telephone.

46. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a two-way radio.

47. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a world wide web display.

48. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a climate sensor.

49. The printer of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a radio receiver.

50. The printer of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to display results of the multimedia function on the display of the user interface.

51. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a DVD drive.

52. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a CD drive.

53. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an audio tape drive.

54. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a video cassette device.

55. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a removable media device.

56. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an embedded audio recorder.

57. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an embedded video recorder.

58. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a non-volatile storage device.

59. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an embedded multimedia server.

60. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is audio encryption hardware.

61. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is video encryption hardware.

62. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is audio sound localization hardware.

63. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a cellular telephone.

64. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a two-way radio.

65. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a world-wide web display.

66. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a radio receiver for receiving AM signals.

67. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a radio receiver for receiving FM signals.

68. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a radio receiver for receiving short wave signals.

69. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a satellite radio receiver.

70. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a weather alert receiver.

71. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an emergency alert monitor for receiving emergency broadcast system alerts.

72. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is hardware for performing VGA screen captures.

73. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is hardware for performing audio capture.

74. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is hardware for capturing data from an electronic pen.

75. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a disposable media writer.

76. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a flash memory device.

77. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a wireless device.

80. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying audio event detection to the time-based media data.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein the multimedia function further includes determining a confidence level associated with the audio event detection.

78. A method for printing time-based media, the method comprising:

receiving time-based media data from a media source;

receiving user input, the user input specifying a multimedia function to perform on the time-based media;

performing the specified multimedia function on the time-based media data to obtain an electronic image and associated print data;

producing output on a printer from the associated print data from the processor and; and

producing an electronic output from the electronic image.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes selecting a range of audio data in response to received input from the user.

82. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speaker segmentation function to the time-based media data.

83. The method of claim 78 or 82 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speaker recognition function to the time-based media data.

84. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a sound source localization function to the time-based media data.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying audio event detection to the time-based media data.

86. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speech recognition function to the time-based media data.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a profile analysis function to the time-based media data.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an audio event detection function to the time-based media data.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a speaker recognition function to the time-based media data.

90. The method of claim 88 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a speaker segmentation function to the time-based media data.

91. The method of claim 88 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a sound localization function to the time-based media data.

92. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes selecting a range of video data in response to received input from the user.

93. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a video event detection function to the time-based media data.

94. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a color histogram analysis function to the time-based media data.

95. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

96. The method of claim 95 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a clustering function to the time-based media data to merge multiple instances of a face into a representative face image.

97. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes

applying a face recognition function to the time-based media data.

98. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an optical character recognition function to the time-based media data.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a clustering function to the time-based media data to merge similar results of the optical character recognition.

100. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a motion analysis function to the time-based media data.

101. The method of claim 78 or claim 100 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a distance estimation function to the time-based media data.

102. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying foreground/background segmentation function to the time-based media data.

103. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a scene segmentation function to the time-based media data.

104. The method of claim 103 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face recognition recognition function to the time-based media data.

105. The method of claim 103 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

106. The method of claim 103 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an optical character recognition function to the time-based media data.

107. The method of claim 106 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face recognition function to the time-based media data.

108. The method of claim 106 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

109. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an automobile recognition function to the time-based media data.

110. The method of claim 109 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a motion analysis function to the time-based media data.

111. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a license plate recognition function to the time-based media data.

112. The method of claim 78 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a visual inspection function to the time-based media data.