Systems and methods for providing image data encapsulated in a page description language

• US 20050190397A1
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ferlitsch, Andrew R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1811 including high level document description only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40 Picture signal circuits H04N1/387 takes precedence

Abstract

A multi-function peripheral imaging device for providing page description language (“PDL”) encapsulated image data is disclosed. The imaging device includes a processor for control of the imaging device and memory in electronic communication with the processor. The imaging device also includes a scanner in electronic communication with the processor and a printer in electronic communication with the processor. The multi-function peripheral imaging device includes a control panel for operation of the imaging device by a user. The control panel is in electronic communication with the processor for receiving user inputs. Executable instructions are included that are configured to implement a method for providing PDL encapsulated image data. An image is scanned using the scanner to produce image data. Document and page formatting inputs are obtained from the control panel. The image data is encapsulated in a page description language at the imaging device using the document and page formatting inputs for document formatting.

Claims

1. A method for providing page description language (“

PDL”

) encapsulated image data from an imaging device that includes a scanner, the method comprising;

scanning an image using the scanner to produce image data;

obtaining document formatting inputs;

encapsulating the image data in a page description language using the document formatting inputs for document formatting, wherein the encapsulating occurs at the imaging device; and

transmitting the page description language to a computing device from the imaging device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the document formatting inputs are obtained from a control panel on the imaging device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the document formatting inputs are obtained from a local user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the document formatting inputs are obtained from a remote user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image data is encapsulated in the page description language such that the image is framed into a document.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is a multi-function peripheral.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the document formatting inputs comprise a page size input, a scale input, a placement input, a pagination input, a number of images per page input, a page order input, a document style input, a post collation operations input, a page delimitation input, an orientation input and a margins input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a multi-function peripheral, wherein the document formatting inputs are obtained from a control panel on the multi-function peripheral and wherein the control panel is also used for a user input for a copy function of the multi-function peripheral.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the page description language is a language selected from the group consisting of a portable document format (PDF), postscript (PS), printer control language (PCL), HP GL/2, IBM IPDS, IBM SCS, Epson EscP and DDIF.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the page description language comprises document wide properties, page delimitation properties, page properties and one or more drawing elements.

11. An imaging device that comprises a scanner, wherein the imaging device provides page description language (“

PDL”

) encapsulated image data, the imaging device comprising;

a processor for control of the imaging device;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

a scanner in electronic communication with the processor;

a control panel for operation of the imaging device by a user, wherein the control panel is in electronic communication with the processor for receiving user inputs; and

executable instructions executable by the processor, wherein the executable instructions are configured to implement a method comprising;

scanning an image using the scanner to produce image data;

obtaining document formatting inputs from the control panel; and

encapsulating the image data in a page description language using the document formatting inputs for document formatting, wherein the encapsulating occurs at the imaging device.

12. The imaging device of claim 11, wherein the image data is encapsulated in the page description language such that the image is framed into a document.

13. The imaging device of claim 11, wherein the document formatting inputs comprise a page size input, a scale input, a placement input, a pagination input, a number of images per page input, a page order input, a document style input, a post collation operations input, a page delimitation input, an orientation input and a margins input.

14. The imaging device of claim 11, wherein the imaging device is a multi-function peripheral imaging device that further comprises a printer in electronic communication with the processor, and wherein the control panel is also used for a user input for a copy function of the multi-function peripheral imaging device.

15. The imaging device of claim 11, wherein the page description language is a language selected from the group consisting of a portable document format (PDF), postscript (PS), printer control language (PCL), HP GL/2, IBM IPDS, IBM SCS, Epson EscP and DDIF.

16. The imaging device of claim 11, wherein the page description language comprises document wide properties, page delimitation properties, page properties and one or more drawing elements.

17. A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for implementing a method in a computing device for providing page description language (“

PDL”

) encapsulated image data from an imaging device that includes a scanner, the method comprising;

obtaining image data at an imaging device;

obtaining document formatting inputs;

encapsulating the image data in a page description language using the document formatting inputs for document formatting, wherein the encapsulating occurs at the imaging device; and

transmitting the page description language to a computing device from the imaging device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the image data is obtained from a scanner of the imaging device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the document formatting inputs are obtained from a control panel on the imaging device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the document formatting inputs are obtained from a local user interface.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the document formatting inputs are obtained from a remote user interface.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the image data is encapsulated in the page description language such that the image is framed into a document.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the imaging device is a multi-function peripheral.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the document formatting inputs comprise a page size input, a scale input, a placement input, a pagination input, a number of images per page input, a page order input, a document style input, a post collation operations input, a page delimitation input, an orientation input and a margins input.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the imaging device comprises a multi-function peripheral, wherein the document formatting inputs are obtained from a control panel on the multi-function peripheral and wherein the control panel is also used for a user input for a copy function of the multi-function peripheral.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the page description language is a language selected from the group consisting of a portable document format (PDF), postscript (PS), printer control language (PCL), HP GL/2, IBM IPDS, IBM SCS, Epson EscP and DDIF.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the page description language comprises document wide properties, page delimitation properties, page properties and one or more drawing elements.