Printer having embedded functionality for printing time-based media

• US 7,511,846 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; James A
• Application Number:
  US10/814,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20050069362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.6, 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/401, 358/403, 709/201, 709/217, 710/8, 710/150, 713/150, 707/104.1, 719/322, 379/88.13, 715/500, 725/153
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/50 Mechanisms producing characters by printing and also producing a record by other means , e.g. printer combined with RFID writer

Abstract

A multifunction printer enables the printing of time-based media. Based on received time-based media data, the printer produces a paper or other printed output as well as a related electronic output. Together, the printed and electronic outputs provide a representation of the time-based media. Depending on the desired application for the printer, the printer may include any combination of mechanisms for receiving media data, printing the printed output, and producing the electronic output.

Claims

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

an interface for receiving time-based media from an external source;

a media processing system coupled to the interface to receive the time-based media, the media processing system creating a printed representation of the time-based media and determining an electronic representation of the time-based media, wherein the printed representation includes a representation of the time-based media at a plurality of times thereof and a plurality of bar codes that associate time locations within the electronic representation with the plurality of times represented in the printed representation;

a printed output system in communication with the media processing system to receive the printed representation, the printed output system producing a corresponding printed output from the printed representation of the time-based media; and

a electronic output system in communication with the media processing system to receive the electronic representation, the electronic output system producing a corresponding electronic output from the electronic representation of the time-based media.

2. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a single communication interface allowing the printer to be communicatively coupled to an electronic device, the electronic device providing the time-based media to the printer.

3. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a removable media storage reader.

4. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a video input device selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD reader, a video cassette tape reader, and a flash card reader.

5. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an audio input device selected from a group consisting of:

a CD reader, an audio cassette tape reader, and a flash card reader.

6. The printer of claim 1, wherein the external source is a media broadcaster, and wherein the interface comprises a media broadcast receiver that can be tuned to a media broadcast.

7. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an embedded receiver selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded TV receiver, an embedded radio receiver, an embedded short-wave radio receiver, an embedded satellite radio receiver, an embedded two-way radio, and an embedded cellular phone.

8. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an embedded device selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded heat sensor, an embedded humidity sensor, an embedded National Weather Service radio alert receiver, and an embedded TV Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) alert monitor.

9. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises embedded screen capture hardware.

10. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an ultrasonic pen capture device.

11. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an embedded video recorder, wherein the external source of media is a series of images captured by embedded the video recorder, converted into an electrical format, and then provided to the media processing system.

12. The printer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an embedded audio recorder, wherein the external source of media is a series of sounds that are converted into an electrical format by the embedded audio recorder and then provided to the media processing system.

13. The printer of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system is configured to write the electronic representation to a removable media storage device.

14. The printer of claim 13, wherein the removable storage device is selected from a group consisting of:

a DYD, a video cassette tape, a CD, an audio cassette tape, a flash card, a computer disk, an SD disk, and a computer-readable medium.

15. The printer of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system comprises a handling mechanism to accommodate a plurality of removable storage devices.

16. The printer of claim 15, wherein the handling mechanism is selected from a group consisting of:

a feeder, a bandolier, and a tray.

17. The printer of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system comprises a disposable media writer.

18. The printer of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system comprises a self-destructing media writer.

19. The printer of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system is coupled to a speaker system and sends an audio signal to the speaker system.

20. The printer of claim 19, wherein the electronic output system comprises an embedded sound player for generating the audio signal.

21. The printer of claim 1, wherein the electronic output system comprises an embedded web page display.

22. The printer of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded multimedia server.

23. The printer of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded audio encryption module.

24. The printer of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded video encryption module.

25. The printer of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded audio sound localization module.

26. The printer of claim 1, wherein the media processing system comprises an embedded video motion detection module.

27. The printer of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface coupled to the media processing system, the user interface providing information to a user about at least one of the printed representation and the electronic representation of the time-based media, the user interface further accepting input from a user to cause the media processing system to modify at least one of the printed representation and the electronic representation of the time-based media.

28. The printer of claim 27, wherein the user interface communicates with a user through a computer system coupled to the printer.

29. The printer of claim 1, wherein the media processing system determines at least one of the printed representation and the electronic representation with assistance from an external computing device.

30. A multifunction printer comprising:

an input source for receiving time-based media;

a first output source coupled to the input source, the first output source producing a printed representation of the time-based media;

a second output source coupled to the input source, the second output source producing an electronic representation of the time-based media, the electronic representation of the time-based media corresponding to the printed representation of the time-based media,

wherein the printed representation includes a representation of the time-based media at a plurality of times thereof and a plurality of bar codes that associate time locations within the electronic representation with the plurality of times represented in the printed representation.

31. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises a single communication interface allowing the printer to be communicatively coupled to an electronic device, the electronic device providing the media to the printer.

32. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises a removable media storage reader.

33. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises a video input device selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD reader, a video cassette tape reader, and a flash card reader.

34. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises an audio input device selected from a group consisting of:

a CD reader, an audio cassette tape reader, and a flash card reader.

35. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises a media broadcast receiver that can be tuned to a media broadcast.

36. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises an embedded receiver selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded TV receiver, an embedded radio receiver, an embedded short-wave radio receiver, an embedded satellite radio receiver, an embedded two-way radio, and an embedded cellular phone.

37. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises an embedded device selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded heat sensor, an embedded humidity sensor, an embedded National Weather Service radio alert receiver, and an embedded TV Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) alert monitor.

38. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises embedded screen capture hardware.

39. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises an ultrasonic pen capture device.

40. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises an embedded video recorder, wherein the external source of media is a series of images captured by embedded the video recorder, converted into an electrical format, and then provided to the media processing system.

41. The printer of claim 30, wherein the input source comprises an embedded audio recorder, wherein the external source of media is a series of sounds that are converted into an electrical format by the embedded audio recorder and then provided to the media processing system.

42. The printer of claim 30, wherein the second output source is configured to write the electronic representation to a removable media storage device.

43. The printer of claim 42, wherein the removable storage device is selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD, a video cassette tape, a CD, an audio cassette tape, a flash card, a computer disk, an SD disk, and a computer-readable medium.

44. The printer of claim 30, wherein the second output source comprises a handling mechanism to accommodate a plurality of removable storage devices.

45. The printer of claim 44, wherein the handling mechanism is selected from a group consisting of:

a feeder, a bandolier, and a tray.

46. The printer of claim 30, wherein the second output source comprises a disposable media writer.

47. The printer of claim 30, wherein the second output source comprises a self-destructing media writer.

48. The printer of claim 30, wherein the second output source is coupled to a speaker system and sends an audio signal to the speaker system.

49. The printer of claim 48, wherein the second output source comprises an embedded sound player for generating the audio signal.

50. The printer of claim 30, wherein the second output source comprises an embedded web page display.

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

receiving time-based media from an external source;

processing the time-based media at least in part within a printing system to create a printed representation of the time-based media and determine an electronic representation of the time-based media, wherein the printed representation includes a representation of the time-based media at a plurality of times thereof and a plurality of bar codes that associate time locations within the electronic representation with the plurality of times represented in the printed representation;

producing a printed output that corresponds to the printed representation of the time-based media; and

producing an electronic output that corresponds to the electronic representation of the time-based media.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received via a single communication interface.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from a removable media storage reader of the printing system.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from a video input device of the printing system selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD reader, a video cassette tape reader, and a flash card reader.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from an audio input device of the printing system selected from a group consisting of:

a CD reader, an audio cassette tape reader, and a flash card reader.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from a media broadcast receiver of the printing system, the media broadcast receiver tunable to a media broadcast.

57. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from an embedded receiver selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded TV receiver, an embedded radio receiver, an embedded short-wave radio receiver, an embedded satellite radio receiver, an embedded two-way radio, and an embedded cellular phone.

58. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from an embedded device selected from a group consisting of:

an embedded heat sensor, an embedded humidity sensor, an embedded National Weather Service radio alert receiver, and an embedded TV Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) alert monitor.

59. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from embedded screen capture hardware.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from an ultrasonic pen capture device.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from an embedded video recorder, wherein the external source is a series of images captured by embedded the video recorder, converted into an electrical format, and then provided to the media processing system.

62. The method of claim 51, wherein the time-based media are received from an embedded audio recorder, wherein the external source is a series of sounds that are converted into an electrical format by the embedded audio recorder and then provided to the media processing system.

63. The method of claim 51, wherein producing the electronic output comprises writing the electronic representation to a removable media storage device.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the removable storage device is selected from a group consisting of:

a DVD, a video cassette tape, a CD, an audio cassette tape, a flash card, a computer disk, an SD disk, and a computer-readable medium.

65. The method of claim 51, wherein a disposable media writer produces the electronic output.

66. The method of claim 51, wherein a self-destructing media writer produces the electronic output.

67. The method of claim 51, wherein producing the electronic output comprises generating an audio signal for playback by a speaker system.

68. The method of claim 51, wherein producing the electronic output comprises generating a video signal for playback by a display system.