Stand alone multimedia printer with user interface for allocating processing

• US 20050068571A1
• 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: Piersol, Kurt W., Graham, Jamey, Hart, Peter E., Hull, Jonathan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus

Abstract

A printing system for time-based data enables the printing of time-based media by sharing processing resources on a printer and on an external media processing system such as an external service, for example, a web service. The media processing may similarly be shared, as determined by a resource allocation module, or as indicated by a user via a user interface, between the printer and an external media processing system coupled via a communication interface to the printer or via a network. An example of such an external media processing system is an external device such as a personal computer or an external service such as a web service. A stand-alone version of the printer with embedded time based data in multiple media is described with a display and user interface so that a user can walk up to the printer and perform multimedia processing at the printer. The stand alone version has a network connection or other communication interface so that an external service or device can interface directly with the printer in performing media processing or a user can interface with the external service or device directly through the printer.

Claims

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

a media processing system for determining an electronic representation of the time-based media wherein the media processing system resides at least in part on a multimedia printer and at least in part on an external media processing system;

the multimedia printer including a housing for supporting an interface for transferring time-based media between the external media processing system and the printer, and for supporting an electronic output system in communication with the media processing system to receive the electronic representation, the electronic output system producing a corresponding electronic output from the electronic representation of the time-based media;

a resource allocation module for determining processing allocation for at least one task among the printer and the external media processing system; and

a user interface for receiving user input indicating selection of one or more media processing resources from among resources of the printer and an external system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource allocation module determines whether the printer resource interacts as a master or as a slave with an external system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the external media processing system is another multimedia printer coupled via a network to the interface for transferring time-based media.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the external media processing system is a remote external service system coupled via a network to the interface for transferring time-based media, the external service system in communication with the media processing system for performing at least some processing steps for the time-based media.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a part of the printer.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the user interface displays a request for user input from the external system.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the user interface displays processing status of task being processed by the external system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a part of the external system.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the user interface displays a request for user input from the printer.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the user interface displays processing status of task being processed by the printer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a communication interface allowing the system to be communicatively coupled to an electronic device, the electronic device providing the time-based media to the system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a removable media storage reader.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a media input device selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD reader, a video cassette tape reader, a CD reader, an audio cassette tape reader, and a flash card reader.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the external source is a media broadcaster, and wherein the interface comprises a media broadcast receiver that can be tuned to a media broadcast.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an embedded receiver selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded TV receiver, an embedded radio receiver, an embedded short-wave radio receiver, an embedded satellite radio receiver, an embedded two-way radio, and an embedded cellular phone.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an embedded device selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded heat sensor, an embedded humidity sensor, an embedded National Weather Service radio alert receiver, and an embedded TV Emergency Alert System (EAS) alert monitor.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises embedded screen capture hardware.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an ultrasonic pen capture device.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an embedded video recorder, wherein the external source of media is a series of images captured by embedded the video recorder, converted into an electrical format, and then provided to the media processing system.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an embedded audio recorder, wherein the external source of media is a series of sounds that are converted into an electrical format by the embedded audio recorder and then provided to the media processing system.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system is configured to write the electronic representation to a removable media storage device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the removable storage device is selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD, a video cassette tape, a CD, an audio cassette tape, a flash card, a computer disk, an SD disk, and a computer-readable medium.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system comprises a handling mechanism to accommodate a plurality of removable storage devices.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the handling mechanism is selected from a group consisting of:

a feeder, a bandolier, and a tray.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system comprises a media writer selected from a group consisting of:

a disposable media writer and a self-destructing media writer.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system is coupled to a speaker system and sends an audio signal to the speaker system.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the electronic output system comprises an embedded sound player for generating the audio signal.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system comprises an embedded web page display.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded multimedia server.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded audio encryption module.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded video encryption module.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded audio sound localization module.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded video motion detection module.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the media processing system determines a printed representation of the time-based media;

and the system further comprises a printed output system in communication with the media processing system to receive the printed representation, the printed output system producing a corresponding printed output from the printed representation of the time-based media.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the printed output system is one of the group of a laser printer, an inkjet printer, a thermal wax transfer printer, a dye sublimation printer, a dot matrix printer, or a plotter.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the user interface provides information to a user about at least one of the printed representation and the electronic representation of the time-based media, the user interface further accepting input from a user to cause the media processing system to modify at least one of the printed representation and the electronic representation of the time-based media.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the media processing system determines at least one of the printed representation and the electronic representation with assistance from an external media processing system that is an external computing device.

38. The system of claim 34 wherein the printer further comprises the following supported by its housing:

an input source for receiving time-based media,

a first output source coupled to the input source, the first output source producing a printed representation of the time-based media, and

a second output source coupled to the input source, the second output source producing an electronic representation of the time-based media, the electronic representation of the time-based media corresponding to the printed representation of the time-based media; and

a display.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises a communication interface allowing the printer to be communicatively coupled to an electronic device, the electronic device providing the media to the printer.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises a removable media storage reader.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises a media input device selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD reader, a video cassette tape reader, a CD reader, an audio cassette tape reader, and a flash card reader.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises a media broadcast receiver that can be tuned to a media broadcast.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises an embedded receiver selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded TV receiver, an embedded radio receiver, an embedded short-wave radio receiver, an embedded satellite radio receiver, an embedded two-way radio, and an embedded cellular phone.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises an embedded device selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded heat sensor, an embedded humidity sensor, an embedded National Weather Service radio alert receiver, and an embedded TV Emergency Alert System (EAS) alert monitor.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises embedded screen capture hardware.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises an ultrasonic pen capture device.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises an embedded video recorder, wherein the external source of media is a series of images captured by embedded the video recorder, converted into an electrical format, and then provided to the media processing system.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the input source comprises an embedded audio recorder, wherein the external source of media is a series of sounds that are converted into an electrical format by the embedded audio recorder and then provided to the media processing system.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein the second output source is configured to write the electronic representation to a removable media storage device.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the removable storage device is selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD, a video cassette tape, a CD, an audio cassette tape, a flash card, a computer disk, an SD disk, and a computer-readable medium.

51. The system of claim 38, wherein the second output source comprises a handling mechanism to accommodate a plurality of removable storage devices.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the handling mechanism is selected from a group consisting of:

a feeder, a bandolier, and a tray.

53. The system of claim 38, wherein the second output source comprises a media writer selected from a group consisting of:

a disposable media writer and a self-destructing media writer.

54. The system of claim 38, wherein the second output source is coupled to a speaker system and sends an audio signal to the speaker system.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the second output source comprises an embedded sound player for generating the audio signal.

56. The system of claim 38, wherein the second output source comprises an embedded web page display.

57. A method for printing time-based media in a system for printing time-based media comprising a media processing system for determining an electronic representation of the time-based media wherein the media processing system resides at least in part on a multimedia printer and at least in part on an external media processing system, the method comprising:

receiving user input indicating selection of one or more media processing resources from among resources of the printer and an external system;

determining processing allocation for at least one task among the printer and the external media processing system; and

determining the electronic representation of the time-based media using the determined allocation of resources.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein determining processing allocation for at least one task among the printer and the external media processing system further comprises determining whether the printer resource interacts as a master or as a slave with the external system.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein a user interface embedded on the multimedia printer displays a request for user input from the external system.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the user interface displays processing status of task being processed by the external system.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein a user interface that is a part of the external system displays a request for user input from the printer.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein the user interface displays processing status of task being processed by the printer.