Image transfer apparatus

• US 7,111,250 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wolf, Thomas L., Laird, James S., Hayward, Ken, Krolczyk, Marc J., Marchionda, Dawn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax, Steven P.
• Application Number:
  US09/364,630
• Time in Patent Office: 2,608 Days
• Field of Search: 399/81, 345/811, 345/813, 345/817, 345/821, 345/824, 345/767, 345/768, 345825-826, 345744-747, 345/802, 345/841, 345/861, 703/1, 703/2, 703/16, 716/1, 716/2, 716/20, 715/826, 715/824, 715/825, 715/708, 715/811, 715/747, 715/745, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 715/826
• 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 2201/0072 Detecting the status of a connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

An image transfer system for transferring an image from a first medium, comprising an image transfer apparatus and a computer. The image transfer apparatus has a scanner for scanning the image on the first medium, and a display. The computer is removably connected to the image transfer apparatus. The computer has a computer display. When the computer is connected to the image transfer apparatus, the computer has selectable features of an operating menu of the image transfer apparatus available for display on the computer display. At least one of the features is unavailable for selection in an image transfer apparatus menu available for display on the computer display when the computer is not connected to the transfer apparatus.

Claims

1. An image transfer system for transferring an image from a first medium, the image transfer system comprising:

an image transfer apparatus having a scanner for scanning the image on the first medium, and a display; and

a computer removably connected to the image transfer apparatus, the computer having a computer display, and an image transfer apparatus operating menu available for display on the computer display when the computer is not connected to the transfer apparatus;

wherein, when the computer is connected to the image transfer apparatus, the computer has selectable features of an operating menu of the image transfer apparatus available for display on the computer display, and wherein at least one of the features is unavailable for selection in the image transfer apparatus operating menu available for display on the computer display when the computer is not connected to the transfer apparatus,

wherein the operating menu of the image transfer apparatus is an enhanced operating menu of the apparatus, the enhanced operating menu being enabled for operating the apparatus when the computer is connected to the apparatus,

wherein the selectable features are extended features of the enhanced operating menu of the image transfer apparatus, and wherein the extended features are not included in a default operating menu of the image transfer apparatus, the default operating menu of the apparatus being enabled for operating the apparatus when the computer is not connected to the apparatus,

wherein the extended features are related to image transfer operations of the image transfer device in which computer resources are used to allow the image transfer device to effect the image transfer operations.

2. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of the operating menu of the image transfer apparatus is stored in the computer and uploaded to the apparatus when the computer is connected to the apparatus, the portion of the operating menu of the apparatus stored in the computer comprising the selectable features of the operating menu available for display on the computer display.

3. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating menu of the image transfer apparatus is stored in a memory of the image transfer apparatus, and wherein the computer has software for displaying the selectable features of the operating menu of the apparatus on the computer display.

4. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the computer is adapted for sending a polling signal to determine if the computer is connected to the image transfer apparatus, and wherein the computer is programmed for enabling the selectable features to be available for display on the computer display when the computer receives an indication from the polling signal that the computer is connected to the apparatus.

5. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the computer has a user interface adapted for allowing a user to select selectable features displayed on the computer display.

6. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selectable features comprise at least one of a feature for collating copies, a feature for adding a logo, a feature for adding a message, a feature for adding page numbering, or a feature for adding a watermark.

7. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selectable features comprise at least one of a feature for effecting an image shift, or a feature for deleting a border.

8. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image transfer apparatus is at least one of a copier, a fax machine, or a printer.

9. In an image transfer system comprising an image transfer device and a computer removably connected to the image transfer device, the image transfer device having a reader for reading an image on a medium, and the computer having a user interface and a computer display, wherein the improvement comprises:

when the computer is connected to the image transfer device the computer has a first image transfer device operating menu with selectable features for operating the image transfer device available for display on the computer display, the user interface of the computer being adapted to allow a user to select the selectable features displayed on the computer display, and wherein when the computer is not connected to the image transfer apparatus the computer has a second image transfer device operating;

menu available for display on the computer display with at least one of the selectable features of the first menu being unselectable in the second menu

wherein the selectable features on the computer display are extended features of an enhanced operating menu of the image transfer device, and wherein the image transfer device has the enhanced operating menu enabled for operating the image transfer apparatus when the computer is connected to the mage transfer device,

wherein the enhanced operating menu of the image transfer device has extended functions in comparison to a basic operating default menu of the image transfer device, and wherein the basic operating default menu of the device is enabled for operating the device with the extended features unavailable when the computer is not connected to the device,

wherein the extended features are related to image transfer operations of the image transfer device in which computer resources are used to allow the image transfer device to effect the image transfer operations.

10. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 9, wherein image transfer device has a memory for storing software embodying the extended features of the enhanced operating menu, and wherein the computer has software for displaying the extended features on the computer display.

11. An image transfer system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the selected features available for display on the computer display include at least one of a feature for collating copies, a feature for adding a logo, a feature for adding a message, a feature for adding page numbering, a feature for adding a watermark, a feature for effecting an image shift, or a feature for deleting a border.

12. An image transfer device for transferring an image from a medium, the device comprising:

a controller;

a reader operably connected to the controller for reading the image on the medium; and

a connector connected to the controller for connecting a computer to the image transfer device;

wherein, extended features of an enhanced operating menu of the image transfer device are available to be displayed on a computer display, the extended features being in addition to default menu features, both being accessible for selection by a user from the computer display when the computer is connected to the connector, and a default operating menu of the image transfer device being available for display on the computer, with the extended features being displayed but inaccessible for selection by the user from the computer display when the computer is not connected to the connector, and wherein the extended features are related to image transfer operations of the image transfer device in which computer resources are used to allow the image transfer device to effect the image transfer operations.

13. An image transfer device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the device further comprises a memory for storing the enhanced operating menu of the device, and wherein the computer has software enabling the extended features of the enhanced operating menu to be displayed on the computer display.

14. An image transfer device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the extended features include at least one of a feature for collating copies, a feature for adding a logo, a feature for adding a message, a feature for adding page numbering, a feature for adding a watermark, a feature for effecting an image shift, or a feature for deleting a border.

15. A method for enhancing operating features of an image transfer device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the image transfer device with a connector for connecting a computer to the image transfer device;

connecting the computer to the image transfer device, the computer having a computer display, and a user interface; and

with the computer, displaying extended features of an enhanced operating menu for operating the image transfer device on the computer display;

wherein and replace with “

a default operating menu is displayed in which the default menu features are displayed and selectable, and the extended features are displayed but”

of the enhanced operating menu of the image transfer device are selectable by a user using the user interface of the computer when the computer is connected to the image transfer device, and wherein, the extended features are unselectable by the user using the user interface when the computer is not connected to the image transfer device, the extended features being related to image transfer operations of the image transfer device in which computer resources are used to allow the image transfer device to effect the image transfer operations.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the extended features include at least one of feature for collating copies, a feature for adding a logo, a feature for adding a message, a feature for adding page numbering, a feature for adding a watermark, a feature for effecting an image shift, or a feature for deleting a border.