Image output apparatus using radio contact element

• US 20090051942A1
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hisao Shirasawa, Kazunari Tonami, Naoki Miyatake, Naoto Shiraishi, Sadayuki Iwai, Yoshinori Hayashi, Yuichiro Kanoshima
• Original Assignee: Hisao Shirasawa, Kazunari Tonami, Naoki Miyatake, Naoto Shiraishi, Sadayuki Iwai, Yoshinori Hayashi, Yuichiro Kanoshima
• Inventors: Miyatake, Naoki, Shiraishi, Naoto, Hayashi, Yoshinori, Shirasawa, Hisao, Kanoshima, Yuichiro, Iwai, Sadayuki, Tonami, Kazunari
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.600
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0084 Determining the necessity for prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00864 Modifying the reproduction, e.g. outputting a modified copy of a scanned original details of composing or otherwise geometrically modifying originals H04N1/387
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32138 in an electronic device attached to the sheet, e.g. in an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

An image output apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives first information from a first radio contact element that performs a close-range radio contact; an image processing unit that forms image data of an image to be output from the first information; and an image output unit that outputs the image to an output medium from the image data.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An image output apparatus that receives information from a radio contact element that performs a close-range radio contact, and outputs an image using the information, the image output apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit that receives the information from the radio contact element;

an image processing unit that forms image data of an image to be output based on the information;

an image output unit that outputs the image to an output medium based on the image data; and

a limiting unit that limits transmission of the information from the radio contact element.

27. The image output apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the limiting unit limits the transmission of the information from the radio contact element by controlling communication time between the radio contact element and the receiving unit.

28. The image output apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising an image reading unit that reads image information from a document on which the image is recorded, wherein

the limiting unit determines communication time between the radio contact element and the receiving unit based on the image information.

29. The image output apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the limiting unit limits transmission of the information from the radio contact element to outside of the image output apparatus by shielding a radio wave transmitted from the radio contact element.

30. The image output apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the limiting unit prevents occurrence of a crosstalk inside the image output apparatus by shielding a radio wave transmitted from the radio contact element.

31-33. -33. (canceled)

34. An image output apparatus comprising:

an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; and

a radio-contact-element adding unit that adds a radio contact element, which performs a close-range radio contact, on the recording medium immediately after the image forming unit forms the image on the recording medium.

35. The image output apparatus according to claim 34, wherein

an adhesive substance is applied on a surface of the radio contact element in advance, the surface being attached on the recording medium, and

the radio-contact-element adding unit presses and pastes the radio contact element on a predetermined position of the recording medium.

36. The image output apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the radio-contact-element adding unit sandwiches and fixes, when pasting a sheet member having an adhesive surface to cover at least a part of the recording medium to the recoding medium, the radio contact element between the sheet member and the recording medium.

37. The image output apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the radio-contact-element adding unit sandwiches and fixes, when pasting a sheet member having an adhesive surface to cover at least a part of the recording medium to the recording medium, the radio contact element between the sheet member and the recording medium, the adhesive surface exercising adhesiveness at a specific condition.

38. The image output apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the specific condition is a condition concerning a thermal fixing process of fixing the image on the recording medium by applying heat and pressure to the image.

39. The image output apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the sheet member is transparent or translucent such that the image formed on the recording medium can be seen even after the sheet member is pasted to the recording medium.

40. The image output apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the sheet member is transparent or translucent such that the image formed on the recording medium can be seen even after the sheet member is pasted to the recording medium.

41. The image output apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the sheet member includes a mark for identifying a position where the radio contact element is attached.

42. The image output apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the sheet member includes a mark for identifying a position where the radio contact element is attached.

43. The image output apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the sheet member includes an antenna member for the radio contact element.

44-53. -53. (canceled)

54. An image input apparatus comprising:

an image reading unit that reads an image from a document, and converts the image into electronic information;

an information reading unit that reads information from a radio contact element that is attached on the document and performs a close-range radio contact;

an information selecting unit that selects specific information from among a plurality of pieces of information concerning the document read by the information reading unit; and

an image processing unit that performs a conversion process for image information read by the image reading unit based on the specific information.

55. The image input apparatus according to claim 54, further comprising:

an input unit that inputs first authentication information from outside; and

an authentication-information identifying unit that compares second authentication information read by the information reading unit with the authentication information input by the input unit, and determines whether the first authentication information coincides with the second authentication information, wherein

only when the authentication-information identifying unit determines that the first authentication information read from the radio contact element coincides with the second authentication information, the information reading unit is allowed to read at least a part of information from the radio contact element.

56. The image input apparatus according to claim 54, further comprising an information writing unit that at least writes information to the radio contact element or rewrites information of the radio contact element.

57. The image input apparatus according to claim 56, wherein only when the authentication-information identifying unit determines that the first authentication information coincides with the second authentication information, the information writing unit at least writes information to the radio contact element or rewrites information of the radio contact element.

58. The image input apparatus according to claim 54, further comprising a communication control unit that enables to obtain information via a network, wherein only location information of information concerning the document is stored in the radio contact element.

59-61. -61. (canceled)