Printer with hardware and software interfaces for media devices

• US 20050068572A1
• 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 7,573,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00339 with an electronic or magnetic storage medium I/O device RFID or the like H04N1/00342
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A printing system enables the printing of multimedia received from a media source that is communicatively coupled to the printer. Based on the received multimedia data, the printing system produces a paper or other printed output as well as a related electronic output. Together, the printed and electronic outputs provide a representation of the multimedia. The printer is also capable of communicating and controlling the functionality of the media source. Depending on the desired application for the printer, the printer may include any combination of mechanisms for receiving media data, printing the printed output, and producing the electronic output.

Claims

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

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

a multimedia processing system coupled to the interface to receive the time-based media, the multimedia processing system determining an electronic representation of the time-based media; and

a first output device in communication with the multimedia processing system to receive the electronic representation, the first output device producing a corresponding electronic output from the electronic representation of the time-based media.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia processing system further determines a printed representation of the time-based media.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a second output device in communication with the multimedia processing system to receive the printed representation, the second output device producing a corresponding printed output from the printed representation of the time-based media.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the printed output is generated on a video paper.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic output is stored on a media recorder.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the electronic output is stored on a removable storage device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the removable storage device is selected from a group consisting of a DVD, a CD-ROM, an audio cassette tape, a video tape, a flash card, a memory stick, and a computer disk.

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

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a parallel port.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a wireless communication interface.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a serial interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the serial interface is an USB interface.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a docking station.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the docking station is built into the system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an optical port.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a video port.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a port for connecting the peripheral device, the port selected from a group consisting of SCSI, IDE, RJ11, composite video, component video and S-video.

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

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the removable storage reader comprises media reader selected from a group consisting of a DVD reader, a flash card reader, a memory stick reader, a CD reader, a computer disk reader, and an SD reader.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the media source comprises a cellular telephone.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the media source comprises a video camcorder.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the media source comprises a digital audio recorder.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the media 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, a flash card reader, digital video recorder, a video capture device, and a meeting recorder.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the multimedia processing system comprises a video stream processor.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the multimedia processing system comprises a video key frames extractor.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the multimedia processing system generates a bar code, the bar code corresponding to a video segment in the video stream.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the multimedia processing system is configured to generate a web page representation of the multimedia.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the multimedia processing system is configured to communicate with the media source.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the multimedia processing system is configured to control functionality in the media source.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the multimedia processing system resides at least in part on the media source.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to automatically detect a communicative coupling of the media source.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to automatically download multimedia data from the media source.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a database server.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the database server comprises a music catalog.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the database server comprises a video database.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the database server comprises a web search engine.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiprocessing system comprises a text-to-speech system.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiprocessing system comprises an image detection system.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiprocessing system comprises a face recognition system.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiprocessing system comprises a speech recognition system.

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

receiving the time-based media data from a media source;

determining an electronic representation of the time-based media; and

generating a corresponding electronic output from the electronic representation of the time-based media.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising:

determining a printed representation of the time-based media; and

generating a corresponding printed output from the printed representation of the time-based media.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the electronic output is stored on a media recorder.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the electronic output is stored on a removable storage device.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the removable storage device is selected from a group consisting of a DVD, a CD-ROM, an audio cassette tape, a video tape, a flash card, a memory stick, and a computer disk.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the media source comprises a cellular telephone.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the media source comprises a video camcorder.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein the media source comprises a digital audio recorder.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein the media 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, a flash card reader, digital video recorder, a video capture device, and a meeting recorder.