Image transfer apparatus, image transmitter, profile information transmitter, image receiver/reproducer, storage medium, image receiver, program transmitter, and image color correction apparatus

• US 6,091,518 A
• Filed: 06/25/1997
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Anabuki, Tetsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Application Number:
  US08/882,098
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 358/500, 358/518, 358/527, 358/529, 358/442, 358/468, 358/1.1, 358/1.6, 358/1.15, 358/1.13
• US Class Current: 358/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6072 adapting to different types of images, e.g. characters, graphs, black and white image portions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

An image transfer apparatus cooperates with an image reception and reproduction means to reduce network burden while transferring profile information. Specifically, a profile storage device is connected to a network. The profile storage device stores profile information for a color correction made to color image information on color image information prepared from object information. An image transmission device transmits profile specification information specifying the profile information corresponding to the color image information or the object information together with the color image information or the object information. A receiving device receives the color image information or the object information and the profile specification information transmitted by the image transmission means. A call device requests profile information specified by the profile specification information received by the reception device from the profile storage device. A color correction device then uses the profile information to make a color correction in the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information. A reproducing device then reproduces the color corrected color image information.

Claims

1. An image transfer apparatus comprising:

profile storage means being connected to a network, for storing profile information for a color correction made to color image information or color image information prepared from object information;

image transmission means for transmitting profile specification information specifying the profile information corresponding to the color image information or the object information together with the color image information or the object information; and

image reception and reproduction means comprising;

means for receiving the color image information or the object information and the profile specification information transmitted by said image transmission means,

means for calling profile information specified by the profile specification information received by said reception means from said profile storage means,

color correction means using the profile information for making a color correction to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information, and

means for reproducing the color image information to which a color correction has been made by said color correction means.

2. The image transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the profile information is information defining a color space used to describe the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information.

3. The image transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the profile specification information is location information specifying a location of storage means on the network where the profile information exists, and a storage location of the profile information in said storage means.

4. An image transmitter comprising:

means for transmitting through a network, color image information or object information for preparing color image information, and profile specification information specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information.

5. A profile information transmitter comprising:

profile storage means for storing profile information for a color correction made to color image information or color image information prepared from object information; and

communication control means for transmitting the profile information to a calling party when the profile information is called through a network.

6. An image receiver/reproducer comprising:

means for receiving color image information or object information for preparing color image information, and profile specification information specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information, sent through a network;

means for calling through the network, profile information corresponding to the profile specification information received by said reception means;

color correction means using the profile information for making a color correction to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information; and

means for reproducing the color image information to which a color correction has been made by said color correction means.

7. An image receiver/reproducer comprising:

means for receiving color image information or object information for preparing color image information and profile specification information specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information, sent through a network;

means for registering profile information received through the network together with the profile specification information for specifying the profile information;

means for determining whether or not the same information as the profile specification information received by said reception means is registered in said registration means;

means for getting profile information corresponding to the profile specification information from said registration means if a determination that the same information as the profile specification information received by said reception means is registered in said registration means is obtained from said determination means;

means for calling profile information through the network if a determination that the same information as the profile specification information received by said reception means is not registered in said registration means is obtained from said determination means;

color correction means using the profile information obtained by said getting means or said call means for making a color correction to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information; and

means for reproducing the color image information to which a color correction has been made by said color correction means.

8. A storage medium for storing data accessed by a program executed by a computer, and having a predetermined data structure in a format that can be input thereto,

wherein said storage medium stores

color image information or object information for preparing color image information, and

profile specification information for specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information in relation to each other.

9. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein

the profile information is information defining a color space used to describe the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information.

10. An image receiver comprising:

means for receiving image relevant information consisting of color image information or object information for preparing color image information, and profile specification information for specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information; and

means for storing the image relevant information received by said reception means.

11. A program transmitter comprising:

means for storing a program for causing a computer to perform; and

transmission means for reading the program stored in said storage means and transmitting the program,

wherein the steps of;

receiving color image information or object information for preparing color image information, and profile specification information specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information, sent through a network;

calling profile information corresponding to the profile specification information received in said reception step;

correcting color with using the profile information called in said calling step for making a color correction to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information; and

reproducing the color image information to which a color correction has been made in said color correction step, are performed.

12. A storage medium for storing a program for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

receiving color image information or object information for preparing color image information and profile specification information specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information, sent through a network;

calling profile information corresponding to the profile specification information received in said reception step;

correction color with using the profile information called in said calling step for making a color correction to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information; and

reproducing the color image information to which a color correction has been made in said color correction step,

in a format that can be input to said computer.

13. An image color correction apparatus comprising:

means for storing object specification information specifying color image information or object information for preparing color image information, and profile specification information for specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information specified by the object specification information in relation to each other;

first call means for calling the color image information or object information corresponding to the object specification information stored in said storage means;

second call means for calling the profile information corresponding to the profile specification information stored in said storage means in relation to the color image information or object information called by said first call means; and

color correction means using the profile information called by said second call means for making a color correction to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information called by said first call means.

14. A storage medium for storing a program for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

storing object specification information specifying color image information or object information for preparing color image information, and profile specification information for specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information specified by the object specification information in relation to each other;

a first call the color image information or object information corresponding to the object specification information stored in said storage step;

a second call the profile information corresponding to the profile specification information stored in said storage step in relation to the color image information or object information called in said first call step; and

correcting color with using the profile information called in said second call step for making a color correction to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information called in said first call step,

in a format that can be input to said computer.

15. A program transmitter comprising:

means for storing a program for causing a computer to perform the steps of;

storing object specification information specifying color image information or object information for preparing color image information, and profile specification information for specifying profile information for a color correction made to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information specified by the object specification information in relation to each other;

a first call the color image information or object information corresponding to the object specification information stored in said storage step;

a second call the profile information corresponding to the profile specification information stored in said storage step in relation to the color image information or object information called in said first call step; and

correction color with using the profile information called in said second call step for making a color correction to the color image information or color image information prepared from the object information called in said first call step,

in a format that can be input to said computer; and

transmission means for reading the program stored in said storage means and transmitting the read program.