System for distributing and controlling color reproduction at multiple sites

• US 20100245874A1
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAH Color Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: RAH Color Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Holub, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,416,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.900
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/465 taking into account the colour perception of the eye; using tristimulus detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/524 Calibration of colorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1267 Job repository, e.g. non-scheduled jobs, delay printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32545 Distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/46 Colour picture communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6052 Matching two or more picture signal generators or two or more picture reproducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6058 Reduction of colour to a range of reproducible colours, e.g. to ink- reproducible colour gamut
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6066 dependent on the gamut of the image to be reproduced
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/02 for colour television signals

Abstract

The system provides for controlling color reproduction of input color image data representing one or more pages or page constituents in a network having nodes (or sites). Each one of the nodes comprises at least one rendering device. The system distributes the input color image data from one of the nodes to other nodes, and provides a data structure (virtual proof) in the network. This data structure has components shared by the nodes and other components present only at each node. Next, the system has means for providing color calibration data at each node characterizing output colors (colorants) of the rendering device of the node, and means for producing at each node, responsive to the color calibration data of the rendering device of the node, information for transforming the input color image data into output color image data at the rendering device of the node. The information is then stored in the data structure in different ones of the shared and other components. Means are provided in the system for transforming at each node the input color image data into output color image data for the rendering device of the node responsive to the information in the data structure. The rendering device of each node renders a color reproduction of the page constituents responsive to the output color image data, wherein colors displayed in the reproduction at the rendering device of each node appear substantially the same within the output colors attainable by the rendering devices. The system further has means for verifying at each node that the information for the rendering device of the node properly transformed the input color image data into the output color image data, and means for revising the information stored in the data structure at the node responsive to results of the verifying means. Shared components of the data structure may also store color preferences selected by a user. The information producing means of the system may further operate responsive to both the color calibration data and the color preferences. The rendering devices in the system can provide color reproductions having three or four colorants, and may provide more than four output colors (color inks).

Claims

1-54. -54. (canceled)

55. An interfacing architecture for providing capabilities to a computer system comprising:

a computer system linked to one or more devices for communication, wherein at least one of said one or more devices provides a plurality of said capabilities; and

memory storing a data structure comprising a least a classification according to said capabilities, wherein said device is multiply represented in said data structure and wherein said memory stores procedures executable by said computer system to realize said capabilities by data transformation.

56. The architecture according to claim 55 wherein said data structure provides access to procedures employable in the operation of said devices, and said classification comprises a hierarchy of classes, and said objects inherit said procedures according to class membership.

57. The architecture according to claim 55 wherein said one of said devices that provides a plurality of functions represents an imaging device capable of executing input or output functions.

58. The architecture according to claim 57 wherein said functions comprise transformation of color image data.

59. The architecture according to claim 58 wherein said transformation comprises one or more color profiles.

60. The architecture according to claim 59 wherein said transformation further comprises a chromatic adaptation transform.

61. The architecture according to claim 55 further comprising information in said memory expressing one or more relationships between at least two devices.

62. The architecture according to claim 61 wherein said at least two devices are directly linked to said computer system.

63. The architecture according to claim 61 wherein said at least two devices are remote from one another and at least one of said at least two devices is linked to said computer system through a network interface.

64. The architecture according to claim 61 wherein said one or more relationships include a relationship between the color gamuts of said at least two devices.

65. The architecture according to claim 55 wherein said data structure comprises one or more data structures corresponding to said at least one of said devices.

66. The architecture according to claim 55 wherein said data structure comprises a linked list of said objects corresponding to different functions.

67. The architecture according to claim 55 further comprising a network interface, wherein at least one of said one or more devices is linked to said computer system through said network interface.

68. A color measurement system for printed output comprising:

at least one camera for capturing an image of printed output; and

at least one color measurement device capable of measuring color of one or more pixels, said color measurement device and said camera being operated simultaneously along a region of the printed output having said one or more pixels.

69. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for providing control to a user for processing color images comprising:

a screen through which the user is able to select one or more color output devices having one or more transfer functions for one or more channels; and

one or more screens enabling the user to control conversion of color image data for rendering upon one or more of said color output devices, enabling the user to define one or more aspects of the utilization of colorants in excess of three, and enabling user modification of one or more of said transfer functions, wherein said computer program provides a warning to a user when said user modification of a transfer function is capable of voiding calibration of at least one of said color output devices.

70. The computer-readable medium according to claim 69 wherein said conversion of color image data is capable of providing chromatic adaptation to compensate for change in viewing conditions.

71. The computer-readable medium according to claim 69 wherein at least one of said one or more color output devices is capable of rendering a color using more than four colorants.

72. A system for controlling color reproduction at multiple sites comprising:

a computer;

memory storing information for use in control of color reproduction; and

a network interface enabling communication of said information by said computer with a plurality of other computers to enable use of said information by at least one color input or output device, in which said information is communicated through said network interface using internet protocol.

73. The system according to claim 72 further comprising a rendering device, in which said rendering device represents the at least one color input or output device.

74. The system according to claim 72 further comprising one of a spectral sensor, a 3 or 4 filter colorimeter, a single-channel sensor, or an imaging colorimeter, representing the least one color input or output device.