US5920685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing machine with merging/annotating/signaturizing capability
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1997-01-15
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Granted: 1999-07-06
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Expires: 2017-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A printing system, for merging a scanned image with a merge image to produce a composite image, is provided. The printing system includes a memory for storing the merge image, in the form of a first set of image data, and a decompression device for decompressing the first set of image data. The printing system further includes a scanner, for reading a hard-copy page to generate a second set of image data, and a annotate/merge device, the annotate/merge device electronically merging the decompressed first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth D. Romano
- 👤 Robert M. Chapin
- 👤 Anthony M. Frumusa
- 👤 Khalid M. Rabb
- 👤 James G. Nargi
- 👤 David L. Salgado
- 👤 Daniel A. Mohabir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/387; H04N1/3871; G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
379 words
A printing system for merging a first image with a second image to produce a composite image, a copy of the composite image being reproducible on a print media sheet with a print engine, comprising a memory for storing the first image, the first image being represented by a first set of image data; a first input source, communicating with said memory, for providing the first set of image data; a second input source for providing a second image represented by a second set of image data; a plural mode image manipulation subsystem communicating with both said first input source and said second input source, for receiving both the first set of image data and the second set of image data, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem electronically merging the first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image; user programmable system for designating a positional relationship between the first image and the second image in the composite image, prior to introducing the first and second sets of image data to said plural mode image manipulation subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem, in response to user input to said user programmable system, being disposed in a selected one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in said first mode, the first image is superposed with respect to the second image and, in said second mode, the first image and the second image are arranged in a multiple-up format such that the first image and the second image are separated from one another by a gutter region; and said user programmable system including a positional value adjustment subsystem for controlling both the manner in which the first and second images are positioned in the composite image and the mode in which said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed, wherein when a first set of positional values are provided to said user programmable system by way of said positional value adjustment subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disgosed in the first mode, and when a second set of positional values are provided to said user programmable system by way of said positional value adjustment subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the second mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
379 words
A printing system for merging a first image with a second image to produce a composite image, a copy of the composite image being reproducible on a print media sheet with a print engine, comprising a memory for storing the first image, the first image being represented by a first set of image data; a first input source, communicating with said memory, for providing the first set of image data; a second input source for providing a second image represented by a second set of image data; a plural mode image manipulation subsystem communicating with both said first input source and said second input source, for receiving both the first set of image data and the second set of image data, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem electronically merging the first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image; user programmable system for designating a positional relationship between the first image and the second image in the composite image, prior to introducing the first and second sets of image data to said plural mode image manipulation subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem, in response to user input to said user programmable system, being disposed in a selected one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in said first mode, the first image is superposed with respect to the second image and, in said second mode, the first image and the second image are arranged in a multiple-up format such that the first image and the second image are separated from one another by a gutter region; and said user programmable system including a positional value adjustment subsystem for controlling both the manner in which the first and second images are positioned in the composite image and the mode in which said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed, wherein when a first set of positional values are provided to said user programmable system by way of said positional value adjustment subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disgosed in the first mode, and when a second set of positional values are provided to said user programmable system by way of said positional value adjustment subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the second mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The printing system of claim 1, in which said memory communicates with a network, wherein the first image is transmitted across the network to said memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The printing system of claim 1, further comprising a logical device for designating whether said plural mode image manipulation device is disposed In the first mode or the second mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The printing system of claim 1, in which the plural mode image manipulation subsystem is operated in the second mode, wherein a third image is disposed adjacent the second image to form a line of images in which the first, second and third images are disposed along a common axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The printing system of claim 1, wherein said second input source includes a scanner for reading a hard-copy page to provide at least a part of the second set of image data.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
339 words
A method of merging a first image with a second image to produce a composite image, a copy of the composite image being reproducible on a print media sheet with a print engine, comprising storing the first image in a memory with the first image being in compressed form and represented by a first set of image data; decompressing the first set of image data; providing a second image represented by a second set of image data; receiving both the decompressed first set of image data and the second set of image data at a plural mode image manipulation subsystem; electronically merging the decompressed first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image; employing a user programmable system for designating a positional relationship between the first image and the second image in the composite image, prior to introducing the first and second sets of image data to the plural mode image manipulation subsystem; in response to user input to the user programmable system, disposing the plural mode image manipulation subsystem in a selected one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in said first mode, the first image is superposed with respect to the second image and, in said second mode, the first image and the second image are arranged in a multiple-up format such that the first image and the second image are separated from one another by a gutter region; and controlling both the manner in which the first and second images are positioned in the composite image and the mode in which the plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed by adjusting at least one positional value in a set of positional values so that the plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the first mode when the at least one positional value is set to a first magnitude and the plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the second mode when the at least one positional value is set to a second magnitude.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
339 words
A method of merging a first image with a second image to produce a composite image, a copy of the composite image being reproducible on a print media sheet with a print engine, comprising storing the first image in a memory with the first image being in compressed form and represented by a first set of image data; decompressing the first set of image data; providing a second image represented by a second set of image data; receiving both the decompressed first set of image data and the second set of image data at a plural mode image manipulation subsystem; electronically merging the decompressed first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image; employing a user programmable system for designating a positional relationship between the first image and the second image in the composite image, prior to introducing the first and second sets of image data to the plural mode image manipulation subsystem; in response to user input to the user programmable system, disposing the plural mode image manipulation subsystem in a selected one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in said first mode, the first image is superposed with respect to the second image and, in said second mode, the first image and the second image are arranged in a multiple-up format such that the first image and the second image are separated from one another by a gutter region; and controlling both the manner in which the first and second images are positioned in the composite image and the mode in which the plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed by adjusting at least one positional value in a set of positional values so that the plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the first mode when the at least one positional value is set to a first magnitude and the plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the second mode when the at least one positional value is set to a second magnitude.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, in which the memory communicates with a network, further comprising transmitting the first image across the network to the memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 6, in which the plural mode image manipulation subsystem is operated in the second mode, further comprising disposing a third image adjacent the second image to form a line of images in which the first, second and third images are positioned along a common axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
369 words
An plural mode image manipulation system for use with a printing system including a memory for storing a first image represented by a first set of image data, the memory communicating with a first input source, the first input source providing the first set of image data, the printing system further including a second input source for providing a second image represented by a second set of image data, the plural mode image manipulation system comprising: a plural mode image manipulation subsystem communicating with both the first input source and the second input source, for receiving both the first set of image data and the second set of image data, the plural mode image manipulation subsystem electronically merging the first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image; a user programmable system for designating a positional relationship between the first image and the second image in the composite image, prior to introducing the first and second sets of image data to said plural mode image manipulation subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem, in response to user input to said user programmable system, being disposed in a selected one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in said first mode, the first image is superposed with respect to the second image and, in said second mode, the first image and the second image are arranged in a multiple-up format such that the first image and the second image are separated from one another by a gutter region; and said user programmable system including a positional value adjustment subsystem for controlling both the manner in which the first and second images are positioned in the composite image and the mode in which said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed, wherein when a first set of positional values are provided to said user programmable system by way of said positional value adjustment subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the first mode, and when a second set of positional values are provided to said user programmable system by way of said positional value adjustment subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the second mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
369 words
An plural mode image manipulation system for use with a printing system including a memory for storing a first image represented by a first set of image data, the memory communicating with a first input source, the first input source providing the first set of image data, the printing system further including a second input source for providing a second image represented by a second set of image data, the plural mode image manipulation system comprising: a plural mode image manipulation subsystem communicating with both the first input source and the second input source, for receiving both the first set of image data and the second set of image data, the plural mode image manipulation subsystem electronically merging the first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image; a user programmable system for designating a positional relationship between the first image and the second image in the composite image, prior to introducing the first and second sets of image data to said plural mode image manipulation subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem, in response to user input to said user programmable system, being disposed in a selected one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in said first mode, the first image is superposed with respect to the second image and, in said second mode, the first image and the second image are arranged in a multiple-up format such that the first image and the second image are separated from one another by a gutter region; and said user programmable system including a positional value adjustment subsystem for controlling both the manner in which the first and second images are positioned in the composite image and the mode in which said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed, wherein when a first set of positional values are provided to said user programmable system by way of said positional value adjustment subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the first mode, and when a second set of positional values are provided to said user programmable system by way of said positional value adjustment subsystem, said plural mode image manipulation subsystem is disposed in the second mode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-05 | 2003-01-04 | 2003-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-05 | 2007-01-04 | 2007-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-05 | 2011-01-04 | 2011-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |