User interface for networked printer

• US 20050068568A1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Piersol, Kurt, Hart, Peter E., Hull, Jonathan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00339 with an electronic or magnetic storage medium I/O device RFID or the like H04N1/00342
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address

Abstract

A multifunction printer enables the printing of time-based media and is operated via a user interface. The user interface includes a touch screen for accepting command inputs and providing information to a user. Time-based media data is received by the printer from a media source specified via the user interface. A user specifies one or more multimedia processing functions for the printer to apply to the data. The printer performs the specified functions, and previews the output to the user via a display of the user interface. If the user decides to print the previewed output, the user specifies one or more output devices, such that the printer can print conventional printed output and/or to a specified electronic output.

Claims

1. A system for printing time-based media data, the system comprising:

a printing system for performing a multimedia function on the time-based media data;

a processing device, communicatively coupled to the printer by a network for performing a multimedia function on the time-based media data; and

a user interface for receiving a user selection of an amount of processing to be performed by the printer and an amount of processing to be performed by the processing device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing device includes the user interface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the printer includes the user interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is on a device separate from the processing device and the printer.

5. The system of claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the user interface displays status information about the performance of the multimedia function.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing device is a personal computer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes selecting a range of audio data in response to received input from the user.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying audio event detection to the time-based media data.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the multimedia function further includes determining a confidence level associated with the audio event detection.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speaker segmentation function to the time-based media data.

11. The system of claim 1 or 10 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speaker recognition function to the time-based media data.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a sound source localization function to the time-based media data.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying audio event detection to the time-based media data.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speech recognition function to the time-based media data.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a profile analysis function to the time-based media data.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an audio event detection function to the time-based media data.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a speaker recognition function to the time-based media data.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a speaker segmentation function to the time-based media data.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a sound localization function to the time-based media data.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes selecting a range of video data in response to received input from the user.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a video event detection function to the time-based media data.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a color histogram analysis function to the time-based media data.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a clustering function to the time-based media data to merge multiple instances of a face into a representative face image.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face recognition function to the time-based media data.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an optical character recognition function to the time-based media data.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a clustering function to the time-based media data to merge similar results of the optical character recognition.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a motion analysis function to the time-based media data.

29. The system of claim 1 or claim 28 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a distance estimation function to the time-based media data.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying foreground/background segmentation function to the time-based media data.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a scene segmentation function to the time-based media data.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face recognition recognition function to the time-based media data.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an optical character recognition function to the time-based media data.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face recognition function to the time-based media data.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

37. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an automobile recognition function to the time-based media data.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a motion analysis function to the time-based media data.

39. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a license plate recognition function to the time-based media data.

40. The system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a visual inspection function to the time-based media data.

41. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a compact disc (CD) device.

42. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a digital video disc (DVD) device.

43. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control an audio tape device.

44. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a video tape device.

45. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a multimedia server.

46. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control encryption hardware.

47. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control audio sound localization hardware.

48. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control motion detection hardware.

49. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a MIDI player.

50. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a cellular telephone.

51. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a two-way radio.

52. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a world wide web display.

53. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a climate sensor.

54. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a radio receiver.

55. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to display results of the multimedia function on the display of the user interface.

56. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a DVD drive.

57. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a CD drive.

58. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an audio tape drive.

59. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a video cassette device.

60. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a removable media device.

61. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an embedded audio recorder.

62. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an embedded video recorder.

63. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an non-volatile storage device.

64. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an embedded multimedia server.

65. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is audio encryption hardware.

66. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is video encryption hardware.

67. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is audio sound localization hardware.

68. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a cellular telephone.

69. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a two-way radio.

70. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a world-wide web display.

71. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a radio receiver for receiving AM signals.

72. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a radio receiver for receiving FM signals.

73. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a radio receiver for receiving short wave signals.

74. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a satellite radio receiver.

75. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a weather alert receiver.

76. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is an emergency alert monitor for receiving emergency broadcast system alerts.

77. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is hardware for performing VGA screen captures.

78. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is hardware for performing audio capture.

79. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is hardware for capturing data from an electronic pen.

80. The printer of claim 1 wherein the second output device is a disposable media writer.

81. A method for printing time-based media, the method comprising:

receiving time-based media data from a media source;

receiving user input, the user input specifying a multimedia function to perform on the time-based media, an amount of processing to be performed by a printer, and an amount of processing to be performed by a processing device;

performing, by the printer, the amount of processing specified to be performed by the printer to carry out the specified multimedia function;

performing, by the processing device, the amount of processing specified to be performed by the processing device to carry out the specified multimedia function;

producing output on the printer associated with the processed media data; and

producing an electronic output associated with the processed media data.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein the user input is received at the printer.

83. The method of claim 81 wherein the user input is received at the processing device.

84. The method of claim 81 wherein the processing device is a personal computer.

85. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes selecting a range of audio data in response to received input from the user.

86. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying audio event detection to the time-based media data.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein the multimedia function further includes determining a confidence level associated with the audio event detection.

88. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speaker segmentation function to the time-based media data.

89. The method of claim 81 or 88 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speaker recognition function to the time-based media data.

90. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a sound source localization function to the time-based media data.

91. The method of claim 90 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying audio event detection to the time-based media data.

92. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a speech recognition function to the time-based media data.

93. The method of claim 92 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a profile analysis function to the time-based media data.

94. The method of claim 92 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an audio event detection function to the time-based media data.

95. The method of claim 94 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a speaker recognition function to the time-based media data.

96. The method of claim 94 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a speaker segmentation function to the time-based media data.

97. The method of claim 94 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a sound localization function to the time-based media data.

98. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes selecting a range of video data in response to received input from the user.

99. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a video event detection function to the time-based media data.

100. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a color histogram analysis function to the time-based media data.

101. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

102. The method of claim 101 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a clustering function to the time-based media data to merge multiple instances of a face into a representative face image.

103. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face recognition function to the time-based media data.

104. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an optical character recognition function to the time-based media data.

105. The method of claim 104 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a clustering function to the time-based media data to merge similar results of the optical character recognition.

106. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a motion analysis function to the time-based media data.

107. The method of claim 81 or claim 106 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a distance estimation function to the time-based media data.

108. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying foreground/background segmentation function to the time-based media data.

109. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a scene segmentation function to the time-based media data.

110. The method of claim 109 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face recognition recognition function to the time-based media data.

111. The method of claim 109 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

112. The method of claim 109 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an optical character recognition function to the time-based media data.

113. The method of claim 112 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a face recognition function to the time-based media data.

114. The method of claim 112 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a face detection function to the time-based media data.

115. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying an automobile recognition function to the time-based media data.

116. The method of claim 115 wherein the multimedia function further includes applying a motion analysis function to the time-based media data.

117. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a license plate recognition function to the time-based media data.

118. The method of claim 81 wherein the multimedia function includes applying a visual inspection function to the time-based media data.