Method and apparatus for managing copy quality in the hardcopy or softcopy reproduction of either original pages or extrinsically received electronic page images

• US 6,466,329 B1
• Filed: 03/25/1998
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mukai, Shunichi
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/047,904
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.18, 382/183, 382/264, 382/265, 382/306, 382/317
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00355 Mark-sheet input sensing record carriers G06K7/00; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00363 Bar codes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2175 with local image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32138 in an electronic device attached to the sheet, e.g. in an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3254 Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

A digital MFP, upon capturing one page of an image, determines whether a graphic code indicating a page ID exists in the image. If a graphic code is found, the corresponding page ID is searched for in a database. If the page ID is found in the database, the scanned image just captured is discarded and, in place thereof, printing data associated with the page ID are retrieved in order to generate an image for printing it on paper. On the other hand, if a graphic code indicating a page ID is found in the scanned image but the corresponding page ID is not registered in the database, or if a graphic. code indicating the page ID is absent from the scanned image, the scanned image is printed on paper as in an ordinary copying operation.

Claims

1. A multifunction processor for managing a page-responsive hardcopy and softcopy reproduction and retransmission facility, comprising:

(a) a page-oriented storage arrangement, said pages stored therein being addressable by identification indicia (ID);

(b) an input mechanism including an optical scanner for electronically imaging a hardcopy original page or receiving an electronic page image from an extrinsic source;

(c) a first logic arrangement coupling the input mechanism for ascertaining from the electronic page image the presence of any page ID and providing signal indication of either the absence of an ID on the page or a digital representation thereof;

(d) a second logic arrangement for comparison matching the ascertained ID with the ID of any of the page images recorded in the storage arrangement;

(e) a page replication arrangement coupling the storage arrangement, the input mechanism, and the first and second logic arrangements; and

(1) responsive to the absence of any ascertained ID on the page or in the presence of a comparison indicia mismatch, for reproducing in hardcopy or for transmitting the electronic page image in softcopy; and

(2) responsive to the presence of a comparison indicia match, for accessing the previously recorded electronic image with the same page ID from the storage arrangement, and for either reproducing said accessed image in hardcopy or for transmitting the accessed image in softcopy; and

(f) a fourth logic arrangement responsive to a signal indication from the first logic arrangement of the absence of an ID on the current page image for selectively embedding a predetermined ID within the page image, and for causing the second logic arrangement to comparison match as if the ID had originally been ascertained from the current page image.

2. A method for managing data in a data reproduction facility, comprising:

receiving a request to output a digital representation of a print image;

reading a unique identifier from the received digital representation, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with the print image when the print image is rendered on a print media;

determining whether the read unique identifier matches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file in storage including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media; and

if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier, then retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output to render on print media.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a comparison mismatch results either from a noncorrespondence between the read unique identifier and one registered unique identifier or when the received digital representation does not include one unique identifier.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein reading the unique identifier further comprises processing a back of a page of a rendering of the received digital representation for the unique identifier.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein the print file is in a PDL format.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital representation comprises a scanned image of the print media including the print image and the unique identifier.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

if the received digital representation does not include the unique identifier, then outputting the received digital representation for rendering on the print media.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, then outputting the received digital representation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the unique identifier is embedded in the print image in the received digital representation and wherein the registered unique identifier is embedded in the print image in the associated print file.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the unique identifier and registered unique identifiers are embedded at a predetermined location within the print images.

11. A method for managing data in a data reproduction facility, comprising:

receiving a request to output digital representations of print images for pages of a document, wherein at least one of the digital representations includes one unique identifier that matches one registered unique identifier and wherein at least one of the digital representations does not include one unique identifier;

reading a unique identifier from the received digital representations that include a unique identifier, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with the print image when the print image is rendered on a print media;

determining whether the read unique identifier marches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file in storage including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media;

if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier, then retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output to render on print media; and

if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, then outputting the received digital presentation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a sequence in which the digital representations of the pages are outputted is independent of a sequence in which the print files having the print image for the pages are stored.

13. A method for managing data in a data reproduction facility, comprising:

receiving a request to output a digital representation of a print image;

reading a unique identifier from the received digital representation, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with the print image when the print image is rendered on a print media;

determining whether the read unique identifier matches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file in storage including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media;

if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier, then retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output to render on print media;

if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, then outputting the received digital representation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media; and

before outputting the received digital representation, removing the unique identifier from the received digital representation to produce a modified digital representation if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, wherein rendering the e modified digital representation would display the print image without the unique identifier.

14. A system for managing data in a data reproduction facility, comprising:

a storage system;

means for receiving a request to output a digital representation of a print image;

means for reading a unique identifier from the received digital representation, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with the print image when the print image is rendered on print media;

means for determining whether the read unique identifier matches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file stored in the storage system including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media; and

means for retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output for rendering on the print media if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the digital representation comprises a scanned image of the print media including the print image and the unique identifier.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for outputting the received digital representation for rendering on the print media if the received digital representation does not include the unique identifier.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for outputting the received digital representation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the unique identifier is embedded in the print image in the received digital representation and wherein the registered unique identifier is embedded in the print image in the associated print file.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the unique identifier and registered unique identifiers are embedded at a predetermined location within the print images.

20. A system for managing data in a data reproduction facility, comprising:

a storage system;

means for receiving a request to output digital representations of print images for pages of a document, wherein at least one of the digital representations includes one unique identifier that matches one registered unique identifier and wherein at least one of the digital representations does not include one unique identifier that matches on registered unique identifier;

means for reading a unique identifier from the received digital representation that include one unique identifier, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with the print image when the print image is rendered on print media;

means for determining whether the read unique identifier matches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file stored in the storage system including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media;

means for retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output for rendering on the print media if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier; and

means for outputting the received digital representation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein a sequence in which the digital representations of the pages are outputted is independent of a sequence in which the print files having the print image for the pages are stored.

22. A system for managing data in a data reproduction facility, comprising:

a storage system;

means for receiving a request to output a digital representation of a print image;

means for reading a unique identifier from the received digital representation, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with the print image when the print image is rendered on print media;

means for determining whether the read unique identifier matches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file stored in the storage system including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media;

means for retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output for rendering on the print media if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier;

means for outputting the received digital representation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier; and

means for removing the unique identifier from the received digital representation, before outputting the received digital representation, to produce a modified digital representation if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, wherein rendering the modified digital representation would display the print image without the unique identifier.

23. An article of manufacture including code for managing data in a data reproduction facility, wherein the code causes operations to be performed comprising:

receiving a request to output a digital representation of a print image;

reading a unique identifier from the received digital representation, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with the print image when the print image is rendered on a print media;

determining whether the read unique identifier matches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file in storage including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media; and

if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier, then retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output to render on print media.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the digital representation comprises a scanned image of the print media including the print image and the unique identifier.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 23, further comprising:

if the received digital representation does not include the unique identifier, then outputting the received digital representation for rendering on the print media.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 23, further comprising:

if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, then outputting the received digital representation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the unique identifier is embedded in the print image in the received digital representation and wherein the registered unique identifier is embedded in the print image in the associated print file.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the unique identifier and registered unique identifiers are embedded at a predetermined location within the print images.

29. An article of manufacture including code for managing data in a data reproduction facility, wherein the code causes operations to be performed comprising:

receiving a request to output digital representations of print images for pages of a document, wherein at least one of the digital representations includes one unique identifier that matches one registered unique identifier and wherein at least one of the digital representations does not include one unique identifier;

reading a unique identifier from the received digital representation that include one unique identifier, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with the print image when the print image is rendered on a print media;

determining whether the read unique identifier matches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file in storage including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media;

if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier, then retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output to render on print media; and

if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, then outputting the received digital representation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein a sequence in which the digital representations of the pages are outputted is independent of a sequence in which the print files having the print image for the pages are stored.

31. An article of manufacture including code for managing data in a data reproduction facility, wherein the code causes operations to be performed comprising:

receiving a request to output a digital representation of a print image;

reading a unique identifier from the received digital representation, wherein the read unique identifier is displayed with tile print image when the print image is rendered on a print media;

determining whether the read unique identifier matches one of a plurality of registered unique identifiers, wherein each registered unique identifier is associated with one print file in storage including a print image, and wherein the registered unique identifier associated with the print file is displayed with the print image in the print file when the print file is rendered on print media;

if the read unique identifier matches one registered unique identifier, then retrieving the print file associated with the unique identifier to output to render on print media;

if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, then outputting the received digital representation of the print image and the unique identifier for rendering on the print media; and

before outputting the received digital representation, removing the unique identifier from the received digital representation to produce a modified digital representation if the read unique identifier does not match one registered unique identifier, wherein rendering the modified digital representation would display the print image without the unique identifier.