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

• US 7,345,788 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• 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:
  US11/372,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 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: 358/2.1
• 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 comprising

a client system and a center server being connected by a network, wherein said center server previously stores a color conversion information set so that a color, when each output unit installed in said client systems produces an output based on an original data, becomes a target color in a one-to-one correspondence with output units, and receives the original data and an instruction information specifying the output unit from said client system, and transfers the original data and the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information in accordance with the instruction information;

said client system performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information transferred from said center server; and

said center server stores a plurality of color conversion information in a one-to-one correspondence with the output units and a plurality of target colors, and receives an information specifying the target color as well as information specifying the output unit as the instruction information, and uses the color conversion information corresponding to the information specifying the output unit and the information specifying the target color.

2. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein said center server receives an information indicating a destination to which the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing is transferred as the instruction information, and uses the color conversion information corresponding to the output unit specified as the transfer destination.

3. The color image processing system according to claim 1 wherein said center server charges for the color conversion processing.

4. A color image processing system comprising

a client system and a center server being connected by a network, wherein said center server previously stores a color conversion information set so that a color, when each output unit installed in said client system produces an output based on an original data, becomes a target color in a one-to-one correspondence with output units, and receives the original data and an instruction information specifying the output unit, and performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information, and transfers the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing in accordance with the instruction information,

wherein said center server stores the color conversion information at a plurality of ranks corresponding to the color conversion accuracy in a one-to-one correspondence with the output units, and receives a rank information as well as an information specifying the output unit as the instruction information, and uses the color conversion information corresponding to the information specifying the output unit and the rank information.

5. A color image processing system comprising

a client system and a center server being connected by a network, wherein said center server previously stores a color conversion information set so that a color, when each output unit installed in said client system produces an output based on an original data, becomes a target color in a one-to-one correspondence with output units, and receives the original data and an instruction information specifying the output unit, and performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information, and transfers the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing in accordance with the instruction information,

wherein said center server stores a plurality of color conversion information in a one-to-one correspondence with the output units and a plurality of target colors, and receives an information specifying the target color as well as information specifying the output unit as the instruction information, and uses the color conversion information corresponding to the information specifying the output unit and the information specifying the target color.

6. The color image processing system according to claim 5 wherein said center server receives an information indicating a destination to which the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing is transferred as the instruction information, and uses the color conversion information corresponding to the output unit specified as the transfer destination.

7. The color image processing system according to claim 5 wherein said client system downloads the color conversion information from said center server in advance, and sends the color conversion information corresponding to the output unit in the instruction information to said center server;

and

said center server uses the color conversion information in the instruction information to perform color conversion processing for the original data.

8. The color image processing system according to claim 5 wherein said center server charges for the color conversion processing.

9. A color image processing system comprising

a client system and a center server being connected by a network, wherein said center server previously stores a color conversion information set so that a color, when each output unit installed in said client systems produces an output based on an original data, becomes a target color in a one-to-one correspondence with output units, and receives the original data and an instruction information specifying the output unit from said client system, and transfers the original data and the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information in accordance with the instruction information;

and

said client system performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information transferred from said center server; and

wherein said center server stores the color conversion information at a plurality of ranks corresponding to the color conversion accuracy in a one-to-one correspondence with the output units, and receives a rank information as well as an information specifying the output unit as the instruction information, and uses the color conversion information corresponding to the information specifying the output unit and the rank information.

10. A color image processing system comprising

a client system and a center server being connected by a network, wherein said center server previously stores a color conversion information set so that a color, when each output unit installed in said client system produces an output based on an original data, becomes a target color in a one-to-one correspondence with output units, and receives the original data and an instruction information specifying the output unit, and performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information, and transfers the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing in accordance with the instruction information,

wherein said center server further expands the received original data or the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing into a raster data, and transfers the raster data as the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing.

11. A color image processing system comprising

a client system and a center server being connected by a network, wherein said center server previously stores a color conversion information set so that a color, when each output unit installed in said client systems produces an output based on an original data, becomes a target color in a one-to-one correspondence with output units, and receives the original data and an instruction information specifying the output unit from said client system, and transfers the original data and the color conversion information corresponding to the instruction information in accordance with the instruction information;

and

said client system performs color conversion processing for the original data using the color conversion information transferred from said center server; and

said center server further expands the received original data or the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing into a raster data, and transfers the raster data as the original data after undergoing the color conversion processing.

12. A color image processing system comprising a client system and a center server being connected by a network, wherein at least one of said client system comprises an output unit and has a calibration function for adjusting color reproducibility of the output unit;

and

said center server performs color conversion processing for an original data sent from any of said client system based on a color conversion information preset for each output unit, and receives an information at calibration time from said client system comprising the output unit, and manages the color reproducibility of the output unit based on the information.

13. The color image processing system according to claim 12 wherein said center server corrects the color conversion information as required based on the information at the calibration time received from said client system.

14. The color image processing system according to claim 12 wherein said center server warns said client system comprising the output unit when calibration is not conducted during a predetermined time period in the output unit.

15. The color image processing system according to claim 12 wherein said center server analyzes the information at the calibration time received from said client system, and warns said client system comprising the output unit if the color reproducibility of the output unit is out of a predetermined criterion.

16. The color image processing system according to claim 12 wherein said center server charges for managing the color reproducibility.

17. A color image processing system comprising a client system and a center server being connected by a network, wherein at least one of said client system comprises an output unit and has a calibration function for adjusting color reproducibility of the output unit;

and

said center server performs color conversion processing for an original data sent from any of said client system based on a color conversion information preset for each output unit, and corrects the color conversion information set for the output unit based on a color measurement sample output from the output unit.

18. The color image processing system according to claim 17 wherein said center server warns said client system comprising 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.

19. The color image processing system according to claim 17 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 center server warns said client system comprising the output unit.

20. The color image processing system according to claim 17 wherein said center server returns a color management status of the output unit to said client system in response to inquiry sent from said client system.

21. The color image processing system according to claim 17 wherein said center server charges for correcting the color conversion information.