Color image processing apparatus and color image processing system using the apparatus

• US 7,079,270 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Satoshi, Ishizuka, Ryuichi, Nishide, Yasushi, Kodama, Mari, Kuramoto, Hirofumi, Kawahara, Kouichi, Kiyosu, Tetusya, Katoh, Nobuhisa, Kawasaki, Eisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US09/880,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 358/500, 358/501, 358/504, 358/516, 358/518, 358/520, 358/527, 358/530
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0094 Colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40006 Compensating for the effects of ageing, i.e. changes over time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6011 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer H04N1/622 takes precedence; matching two or more picture reproducers H04N1/6052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6055 using test pattern analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

When an output unit to produce output is specified through an instruction terminal 11 and original data is input to a color proof generation section 12, a color conversion section 13 acquires a color conversion parameter corresponding to the specified output unit from a color conversion information storage section 14 and performs color conversion processing for the original data so as to accomplish precise color reproduction in the specified output unit. A rasterizing section 15 expands the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing into raster data while using an enormous number of fonts in a font storage section 16. The raster data provided by the rasterizing section 15 is transmitted from a communication section 17 through a network 4 to the specified output unit. If a remote system 2 or 3, which receives the raster data, prints out on output unit 21 or 31, a color proof whose color is reproduced precisely can be provided.

Claims

1. A color image processing system for outputting a color image from an output unit connected via a network, said color image processing system comprising:

a color proof generation section for performing color conversion processing for an original data so that a color, when the output unit specified by an instruction information specifying the output unit produces an output based on the original data, becomes a target color; and

a communication section for transferring the original data undergoing the color conversion processing to the output unit specified by the instruction information via the network.

2. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein said color proof generation section expands the original data undergoing the color conversion processing into a raster data;

and

said communication section transfers the raster data provided by said color proof generation section to the output unit specified by the instruction information.

3. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein the network is the Internet.

4. The color image processing system according to claim 1 further comprising an instruction section for inputting the instruction information.

5. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein the output unit has a function of transmitting a calibration information indicating color reproduction change with time;

and

said color proof generation section acquires the calibration information from the output unit via the network through said communication section and executes calibration at color conversion time based on the acquired calibration information.

6. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein said communication section receives the original data and the instruction information from an external system and transfers the original data undergoing the color conversion processing in accordance with the instruction information;

and

said color proof generation section performs color conversion processing for the original data received at said communication section so as to conduct precise color reproduction on the corresponding output unit in accordance with the instruction information received at said communication section.

7. The color image processing system according to claim 6 wherein said color proof generation section expands the original data undergoing the color conversion processing into raster data;

and

said communication section transfers the raster data provided by said color proof generation section in accordance with the instruction information.

8. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein said color proof generation section stores a color conversion information set so that the color, when each output unit produces the output based on the original data, becomes the target color in a one-to-one correspondence with the output units, and performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information.

9. The color image processing system according to claim 8 wherein the instruction information including information specifying the output unit and information specifying the target color;

and

said color proof generation section stores the plurality of color conversion information in a one-to-one correspondence with the output units and the plurality of target colors, and performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information corresponding to the information specifying the output unit and the information specifying the target color.

10. The color image processing system according to claim 8 wherein the instruction information including the information specifying the output unit and an information indicating a color conversion accuracy rank;

and

said color proof generation section stores the color conversion information at the plurality of ranks corresponding to the color conversion accuracy in a one-to-one correspondence with the output units and performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information corresponding to the information specifying the output unit and the information indicating the color conversion accuracy rank.

11. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein said color proof generation section executes calibration at color conversion time based on a color sample output on the output unit.

12. The color image processing system according to claim 11 wherein a fee is charged for the calibration at the color conversion time.

13. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein the output unit has a function of transmitting a color conversion information set so that the color, when the output unit produces an output based on the original data, becomes the target color;

and

said color proof generation section receives the color conversion information transmitted from the output unit via the network through said communication section after the original data undergoing the color conversion processing is sent and determines whether or not the color conversion information for the sent original data undergoing the color conversion processing is adequate, and outputs the determination result.

14. The color image processing system according to claim 13 wherein a fee is charged for determining whether or not the color conversion information is adequate.

15. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein said color proof generation section receives a calibration information indicating color reproduction change with time from the output unit and manages color reproducibility of the output unit based on the calibration information.

16. The color image processing system according to claim 15 wherein said color proof generation section stores a color conversion information set so that the color, when each output unit produces the output based on the original data, becomes the target color in a one-to-one correspondence with output units, and performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information, and if necessary, corrects the color the conversion information based on the calibration information received from the output unit.

17. The color image processing system according to claim 15 wherein said color proof generation section warns the output unit when the calibration is not conducted during a predetermined time period in the output unit.

18. The color image processing system according to claim 15 wherein said color proof generation section analyzes the calibration information received from the output unit and warns the output unit if the color reproducibility of the output unit is out of a predetermined criterion.

19. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein said color proof generation section stores a color conversion information set so that the color, when each output unit produces the output based on the original data, becomes the target color in a one-to-one correspondence with output units, and performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information, and corrects the color conversion information corresponding to the output unit based on a color measurement sample output from the output unit.

20. The color image processing system according to claim 19 wherein said color proof generation section warns the output unit when the color conversion information correction processing using the color measurement sample for the output unit is not executed during a predetermined time period.

21. The color image processing system according to claim 19 wherein if it is determined from the color measurement sample that the color reproducibility of the output unit outputting the color measurement sample is out of a predetermined criterion, said color proof generation section warns the output unit.

22. The color image processing system according to claim 19 wherein the color measurement sample includes a plurality of ranks.

23. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein a fee is charged to a user for use of said color image processing system.

24. A color image processing system for outputting a color image from an output unit connected via a network, said color image processing system comprising:

a color proof generation section for expanding an original data into a raster data; and

a communication section for transferring the original data expanded into the raster data to the output unit specified by an instruction information specifying the output unit via the network.

25. The color image processing system according to claim 24 wherein a fee is charged to a user for use of said color image processing system.