Granted Patent B2

US 6,999,199 · App. 09/750,607 · Granted Feb 14, 2006

Abstract

Claims (61)

1. A method for applying individualized calibrated tone-reproduction curves on a single page basis to enable printing of image data associated with a job having a plurality of pages, comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type;

(b) assigning a first media type to a first group of pages in the job;

(c) assigning a second media type to a second group of pages in the job;

(d) receiving a page of image data to be printed;

(e) determining a halftone type to be used in printing the image data;

(f) selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve for the received page of image data based on the assigned media type and determined halftone type; and

(g) applying the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print the page of image data.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

(h) printing of image data on a xerographic printing device using the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

(h) performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

(i) generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination;

(j) storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves; and said (a) providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

(h) performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

(i) generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination calibration;

(j) comparing the plurality of tone-reproduction curves to group tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics;

(k) selecting a single tone-reproduction curve from a group of tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics, each single tone-reproduction curve being the tone-reproduction curve associated with the media type and halftone type combinations that generated the tone-reproduction curve having similar characteristics;

(l) storing selected and non-grouped tone-reproduction curves; and

(m) generating a map to link a stored tone-reproduction curve to a media type and halftone type combination, a stored tone-reproduction curve being capable of being mapped to more than one media type and halftone type combination; and

(n) determining a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said (a) providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination.

5. A system for applying individualized calibrated tone-reproduction curves on a single page basis to enable printing of image data associated with a job having a plurality of pages, comprising:

a storage device to store and provide a plurality of calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type;

an input device to select a halftone type to be used in printing the image data and to assign a first media type to a first group of pages in the job and to assign a second media type to a second group of pages in the job;

and a processor to receive a page of image data to be printed, to select a calibrated tone-reproduction curve for the received page of image data based on the assigned media type and selected halftone type, and to apply the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print the page of image data.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:

a xerographic printing device using the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print images.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type;

said storage device storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves and providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the assigned media type and selected halftone type.

8. The system as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type and halftone type combination; said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination calibration;

said calibration means comparing the plurality of tone-reproduction curves to group tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics;

said calibration means selecting a single tone-reproduction curve from a group of tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics, each single tone-reproduction curve being the tone-reproduction curve associated with the media type and halftone type combinations that generated the tone-reproduction curve having similar characteristics;

said storage device storing both selected and non-grouped tone-reproduction curves; said calibration means generating a map to link a stored tone-reproduction curve to a media type and halftone type combination, a stored tone-reproduction curve being capable of being mapped to more than one media type and halftone type combination; and

said storage device providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the assigned media type and selected halftone type.

9. The system as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:

an auto-segmentation circuit to determine a halftone to be used in printing the image data; said storage device providing a plurality of calibrated tone-reproduction curves,

each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination; said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the assigned media type and determined halftone type.

10. The system as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type; and an auto-segmentation circuit to determine a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said storage device storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves and providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the assigned media type and determined halftone type.

11. A method for applying individualized calibrated tone-reproduction curves on a single page basis to enable printing of image data associated with a job having a plurality of pages, comprising:

(a) performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct halftone type and media type;

(b) generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination;

(c) storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves;

(d) assigning a first media type to a first group of pages in the job;

(e) assigning a second media type to a second group of pages in the job;

(f) receiving a page of image data to be printed;

(g) determining a halftone type to be used in printing the image data;

(h) selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve for the received page of image data based on the assigned media type and selected halftone type; and

(i) applying the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print the page of image data.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:

(j) printing of image data on a xerographic printing device using the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve.

Assignments (6)