Granted Patent B2

US 6,862,110 · App. 09/739,140 · Granted Mar 1, 2005

Abstract

Claims (39)

1. A method for controlling cost in an image rendering device wherein images rendered are represented in the device by color elements having color element specifications, the color elements each have associated therewith cost factors for printing dependent on particular associated colorants and amounts thereof and a threshold printing cost is set, the method comprising steps of:

providing a color image having color element specifications;

determining a colorant amounts of the color image;

calculating an actual printing cost for the image based on the colorant amounts and the colorant dependant cost factors;

determining whether the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;

reducing colorant amounts to be used in printing if the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost; and,

printing one of a modified color image based on the reducing and the color image.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the color element specifications are pixel colors.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the providing comprises scanning the color image.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the calculating comprises multiplying the colorant amounts by the colorant-dependent cost factors and totaling over all of the color element specifications.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reducing of the colorant amounts comprises selecting an alternative color table.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reducing of the colorant amounts comprises applying coverage reduction techniques.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reducing of the colorant amounts comprises redefining color operators.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the method is implemented in a xerographic printing environment.

9. An image rendering device wherein images rendered are represented in the device by color element specifications, the color element specifications each have associated therewith colorant-dependent cost factors for printing and a threshold printing cost is set, the system comprising:

an input operative to receive a color image having color element specifications;

a counting module operative to determine colorant amounts of the color image;

a cost determination module operative to calculate an actual printing cost for the image based on the colorant amounts and the colorant-dependent cost factors;

a threshold switch operative to determine whether and to what extent the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;

an ideal color table containing ideal color information accessed through the threshold switch when the actual printing cost does not exceed the threshold;

an at least one alternative color table containing modified color information accessed through the threshold switch when the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost; and,

a print engine operative to print one of a modified color image based on the modified color information of the alternative color table and the color image based on the ideal color information of the ideal color table.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a scanner.

11. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the threshold switch, ideal color table and the at least one alternative color table are included in an image processing unit.

12. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the modified color information of the alternative color table includes ideal colors having hue's shifted from secondary to primary colors.

13. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the modified color information of the alternative color table includes ideal colors having reduced saturation levels.

14. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the print engine comprises a xerographic print engine.

15. An image rendering device wherein images rendered are represented in the device by pixels, the pixels each have associated therewith a pixel cost for printing and a threshold printing cost is set, the system comprising steps of:

means for providing a color image having color pixels;

means for determining a number of the color pixels of the color image;

means for calculating an actual printing cost for the image based on the number of color pixels and the pixel cost;

means for determining whether the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost;

means for reducing colorant amounts to be used in printing if the actual printing cost exceeds the threshold printing cost; and,

means for printing one of a modified color image based on the reducing and the color image.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the providing means comprises a scanner.

17. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the calculating means comprises a means for multiplying the number of color pixels by the pixel cost.

18. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the means for reducing the colorant amounts comprises an alternative color table.

19. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the means for reducing the colorant amounts comprises means for applying coverage reduction techniques.

20. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the means for reducing the colorant amounts comprises means for redefining color operators.

Assignments (8)