210 results about "Hard copy" patented technology

A system and method of providing an electronic transaction receipt from a cash dispensing ATM. A bank host computer is operable to submit the receipt to a system address of record with the bank. The address of record corresponds to an e-mail address, phone number or other address associated with an account involved in the transaction. The receipt may include an image or images associated with the transaction. Thus, a user of an ATM is able to receive an electronic receipt corresponding to the ATM transaction. The system may also operate to image deposited checks deposited at an ATM. Copies of the imaged checks and other information can be electronically sent to a maker, payee, a clearinghouse or banks involved with the transaction. The system may also operate to provide the user with blank checks in hard copy or virtual checks for transactions.

A method and system for automated production of stereoscopic and animated images and hardcopies can utilize a light-sensitive lenticular material employing a conventional or non-conventional photographic emulsion or an instant-developing material. An automated printer can produce autostereoscopic and animated hardcopies in multiple formats from digital and non-digital sources, including single images, stereopairs, and multiple-image sets of negatives, transparencies, or prints. The printer, which includes a projection device and a material plate that can rotate around two perpendicular axes, can utilize software to automate viewing angle calculation, printer control, multiple-image alignment, distortion correction, and image processing and conversion. A digital camera can capture stereoscopic and animated images and record them digitally or on photographic film. A non-digital camera can record stereoscopic and animated images directly onto light-sensitive lenticular material employing a conventional or non-conventional photographic emulsion or an instant-developing material. The printer and cameras can utilize autostereoscopic monitors to preview parallax.

Methods and systems are provided for promoting and managing communications among a social support network. According to one embodiment, a communication system includes a closed communication service platform and a hardcopy-based communication appliance. The communication service platform provides a caregroup virtual private network (VPN) through which only registered members of the caregroup, authorized personnel of the communication service platform, processes associated with the communication service platform, and a target of the caregroup are permitted to exchange communications. The hardcopy-based communication appliance is associated with the caregroup VPN and used by the target and is operable to be communicatively coupled to the communication service platform to print inbound communications received from registered members of the caregroup, and to upload to the communication service platform outbound digital representations of annotated pages defining communications to be delivered to one or more members of the caregroup.

A software engine runs in a compatible mode with off-the-shelf word processors, e-mail programs and presentation development software and other document development software. The software engine is used for the security classification of sensitive or national security classified information in electronic and resultant hard copy document formats. The software engine ensures that the individual considers all informational portions of a document, that appropriate document marks are employed, that document marks in their electronic format are persistent and that all necessary information, such as classification guides, standards and security regulations, provided by the organization to classify information is at hand and immediately available. In addition to the document sensitivity or classification determination and marking support, the software engine tracks and controls documents and the electronic media storing documents. It also provides warnings and alarms, ad hoc document security analysis and reporting capability to system security administrators with respect to document or network events or captured information that may be indicative of risk to the information requiring protection. The software also provides the ability for an organization to centrally establish and control a security classification or sensitivity marking hierarchy for automated security classification support.

Within a digital rendering device, such as printers, hard copy and soft copy display, and copiers, rendering parameters of a digital image are perfected as part of an image rendering process using face detection within said rendered image to achieve one or more desired image rendering parameters. Default values are determined of one or more image attributes of at least some portion of the digital image. Values of one or more digital-rendering-device rendering parameters are determined. Groups of pixels are identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digitally-rendered image. Corresponding image attributes to the groups of pixels are determined. One or more default image attribute values are compared with one or more rendered image attribute values based upon analysis of the image of the face. One or more digital-rendering-device rendering parameters are then adjusted corresponding to adjusting the image attribute values.

A device for automatically scanning multiple images. The device includes a template for forming a sheet for affixing one or more images to be scanned. The device further includes a scanner for sensing data on the sheet and converting the data into scanned image data, and a processor coupled to the scanner for identifying the one or more images from the scanned image data and creating an individual image file for each of the one or more identified images.

The remote printing system allows one user to ultimately send a hard copy to another via a portable digital device such as a cellular phone. Upon receiving an e-mail print notice, the portable digital device wirelessly searches an appropriate print station in the vicinity by broadcasting a signal. In response to the broadcasted search signal, the print stations each send information on their printer characteristics such as availability status and print resolution to the portable digital device, a print server or a client that originated the print request. The recipient of the printer characteristic information selects an appropriate print station based upon a predetermined selection rule.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for watermarking text or vector graphics documents. It is based on character-wise or vector graphics element-wise grayscale or color modulation. At high resolution, halftone or dither modulation can also be used in addition or in place of grayscale / color modulation, for printed representation of electronic document. For the detection, the document is acquired through an acquisition device, document segmentation is performed, characters / elements are segmented, the watermark signal is estimated and the information is decoded. Although the proposed scheme mostly addresses the watermarking of hard-copy documents, it can easily be integrated into electronic document editing and acquisition tools, and the watermark is attached to the document electronic version. The invention is applicable either using expensive high- resolution printing and acquisition devices, either using common cheap low-resolution devices, depending on the application needs. The proposed scheme is suitable for example to the protection of security documents, contracts, technical and commercial documentation; it can use any physical support like paper, cellulose, or plastic; it can be used for copy protection, authentication, or tamper proofing; finally it can also be applied to other non security-related applications, such as document tracking, as well as document embedded annotation and watermarked-assisted automatic processing.

A document verification system and method verifies that a content of two documents match based on comparison of an authentication signature generated from each of the documents. The documents may be electronic text documents and may be transformed representations of each other through imaging, printing or image processing. Authentication signatures can be encrypted to enhance security and identify document sources. An authentication signature can be generated for an entirety or portions of the document. Multiple authentication signatures may be generated for each document for selected document regions. The authentication signature can be stored electronically or in hard copy and can be machine-readable to be automatically interpreted by a machine.

A method and system for providing information for correct placement of one or more brackets on one or more corresponding teeth according to a predetermined treatment scheme. A virtual representation of a three-dimensional teeth arrangement of one or both jaws of the individual with brackets placed on said teeth is obtained, wherein the position and orientation of the brackets on said teeth being designed so as to achieve a desired treatment outcome. The virtual representation is processed to generate an output data, the output data driving a display, such as a computer monitor or a printed "hard-copy", to display an image of at least one tooth with a bracket thereon, the displayed image having three-dimensional qualities indicative of said at least one tooth as viewed from a defined viewpoint. The invention can be applied to the placement of brackets onto the buccal side of the teeth as well as onto the lingual side of the teeth.

In an environment in which some forms are received in paper form and some in electronic form or an environment in which in which workers prefer using paper forms, the invention provides a method of producing a template for the purpose of producing paper forms from electronic forms, the paper forms produced from the electronic forms being similar in appearance to forms that were completed in hard copy. Variable information is extracted from one or more electronic forms that are to be mapped to the paper form. A template is created by placing the variables from the electronic form onto an image of the paper form. The template may include position coordinate information, variable name information, text, and logic. After the template is completed, the system uses the template to print paper forms from instances of electronic forms. In some cases, multiple electronic forms can be mapped to a single paper form, and a preferred system can create a template, even if questions presented in electronic forms vary, depending on answers of previous questions.

The watermark system and method. The watermark system includes a watermarking module for generating a half-tone image with a watermark (a watermarked halftone image) and a watermark recovery module for receiving a scanned image of a hard copy of the watermarked halftone image and recovering a watermark that is embedded in or specified by the scanned image. A print engine can be provided to receive the watermarked halftone image and generate a hard copy of the watermarked half-tone image. A scanner can be provided to scan a hard copy of a watermarked half-tone image and to generate a scanned image that can be provided to the watermark recovery module.

The present invention is directed to a unique method of retailing electronic multimedia in a controlled environment, and to a system which enables such a retailing method. Such an environment is generated by requiring the creation of portable and / or hard copies of such multimedia files to be generated only in specific retail locations. Such retail locations would physically contain no pre-recorded media files. Rather, they would comprise one or more local servers located in the retail locations and connected via a network to one or more remote sources. Such remote sources may comprise servers, libraries, databases, and the like. While no pre-recorded electronic media is stored on the local server, it can be downloaded and held in a cache on the local server. From the local server, the media can be saved onto a portable storage medium. Eliminating local storage of the electronic media files increases control over their distribution and maximizes distribution efficiency.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed which are useful in rapidly verifying a person's identity at a distance, and / or identifying a person with a high degree of certitude, from a pool of other persons, using an innovative technique to compare facial images. Such a person (Candidate) may voluntarily consent or cooperate to have his facial image recorded, or the Candidate's facial image may have been recorded involuntarily. Typically, an image recorded for identification purposes will be a facial image of a Candidate present before a camera or other image procuring device, to be compared with a previously stored Reference facial image, as in a building lobby, for identification purposes. The Candidate's facial image is recorded voluntarily but the Reference image is not in the Candidate's possession. Reference images may be stored as Reference templates in an image storage database (such as developed by a governmental agency), or in an entrance lobby to the Candidate's apartment, or in a camera memory installed in a cockpit door of a transit vehicle to prevent access by hijackers. For verification purposes, the Reference facial image may be a hard copy, for example, a driver license, membership card, or passport in the Candidate's possession. A specially modified digital camera significantly reduces the requirement for a large memory to store templates, and makes it feasible to search for and identify rapidly (at distances up to 500 feet) suspects among a group of persons passing into or through such facilities as terminals, vehicles, customs stations, malls, ramps, etc. It is feasible to combine face recognition technology with other biometrics that express the degree of sameness as a numerical match score.

A document management method and apparatus implemented in a network environment containing a document management system (DMS), at least one multi-function device (MFD) and a network connecting the document management system to the MFDs. The MFD activities of scan, fax, copy and print are integrated with a DMS using signatures obtained from an intrinsic natural characteristic of hard copies of documents, such as optical speckle from paper, as the hard copies are processed by the MFD. In this way the lifecycle of hard copies within an office can be automatically logged on the DMS, and optionally also the processes can be controlled according to rights over the documents held by different users.

The remote printing system allows one user to ultimately send a hard copy to another via a portable digital device such as a cellular phone. Upon receiving an e-mail print notice, the portable digital device wirelessly searches an appropriate print station in the vicinity by broadcasting a signal. In response to the broadcasted search signal, the print stations each send information on their printer characteristics such as availability status and print resolution to the portable digital device, a print server or a client that originated the print request. The recipient of the printer characteristic information selects an appropriate print station based upon a predetermined selection rule.

A mobile telecommunication unit (20) provides two-way remote viewing of images and real time audio. The self-contained, portable unit (20) communicates directly with a similar unit at a remote location across POTS lines, cellular, ISDN, T-1, and satellite communication links. The unit (20) includes mass storage for archiving images. Input devices (25) for each unit include a digital camera (36) through a PCMCIA card, electronic stethoscope, telephone handset, speakerphone, external microphone, and serial and parallel ports. The output devices include a full color screen (22) for viewing local and received images and a speaker for audio output. A hard copy of images can be made by a video printer or desktop printer (42). Images can be uploaded to a PC.

The introduction of an integrated data glyph, watermark, and thumb print system enables copy protection via a multi-functional device. The device, working with a secure remote server, produces a unique data glyph for each document that the user wishes to protect. Different copy protection strengths are possible and the reproduction of the document is fully controllable.

The present disclosure relates to providing a user interface for the effective generation of differential gloss images. The user is instructed to indicate the base primary image data, and the desired gloss image data. This data may be displayed for verification and position adjustment by superimposition of the gloss image data upon the base image data. In an alternative, the placement information may be inferred from the position of originals upon the scanner or copier platen and the result may or may not be displayed. By selectively applying halftones with different anisotropic structure orientation characteristics to the base primary image data as directed by the desired gloss image data, a differential gloss image file or hardcopy may be provided.

Methods and apparatus for enabling output from a mobile device are described herein. A mobile device having an image capture device can selectively generate a hard copy output of a captured image by interfacing with an output device. The mobile device can selectively interface with the output device directly or indirectly via one or more intermediate devices and / or systems. The mobile device can interface directly with an output device using a wired or wireless connection, and can selectively operate as a host or client. The mobile device can selectively couple the stored image to a remote output device via a wireless connection. The mobile device can select the remote output device from a predetermined list of devices, or can be supplied a dynamic list of remote output devices. The dynamic list of output devices can be updated, for example, based on a location of the mobile device.

A computer software product and a method of organizing and searching images. The digital images may be obtained from a plurality of hard copy prints that are digitally scanned. The digital image are analyzed in accordance with a predetermined criteria based on the information obtained by scanning of the images and categorizing in accordance with the predetermined criteria. At least one goods and / or services may be provided in accordance with the predetermined criteria.

An information management and distribution method and system for updating contact information over a network. A plug-in associated with a cloud-based back-end unit interacts with a Web application. A virtual card comprising a set of pluggable user interface components associated with the plug-in can be displayed in a user interface associated with the Web application. The contact information with respect to a user can be updated and automatically distributed to other users associated with the Web application that is configured with the virtual card plug-in module. The back-end unit can be employed to keep track of the contact information in a database and provide management functions associated with the data via a Web services application programming interface. A hard copy version of the virtual card can also be rendered utilizing a variable data composition engine and a rendering technology.

A watermark embedding method for embedding a secret message sequence in a document. The techniques include obtaining layout information of the document, extracting a digest of the document by using a Hash function, calculating embedded positions where the secret message sequence is embedded in the document, and dispersedly hiding the secret message sequence in each of the calculated embedded positions by altering the layout of the document. Also provided is a watermark embedding apparatus, a corresponding watermark detecting method and apparatus, and a method and system for detecting document integrity. The integrity of documents in various forms can be detected, and secret information to be hidden can be embedded therein and extracted therefrom. The techniques described are not limited to the document either in soft copy or in hard copy and have good robustness.

A method and system for automated title searching and reporting, having one or more generally geographically located computers each having software and one or more databases; an interface for receiving instructions from one or more clients setting forth desired title information for one or more pieces of property such that the interface determines which of said computers to which to send the received instructions and communicates those instructions; searching and gathering data concerning the desired title information from a multiplicity of locations including regional records (from county clerk(s)), an intranet or the Internet; each of the computers via its software, presenting one or more screens for interpolation of data concerning said desired title information; interpolating the data into one or more screens; storing the interpolated data on one of the database(s); and transmitting the interpolated data to the proper client. Additionally, the method and system provides for logging each of its uses, archiving the data, providing access to the archived data by the proper client, reporting the recordation of documents relating to title information, management of all the data and billing the proper client and / or examiner (or user) for the use of the method and system in the manner proscribed, and facsimile transmission either by way of fax software or by hard copy.

Systems and methods for facilitating user interaction with physical documents. A system may include a physical document interface configured to receive a physical document having a surface including document data items, such that at least a portion of the surface of the physical document is visible to a user. The system further includes a device including a computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by the device to implement an application, which may be executable to display a user interface including application data items, each of which may be selectable via the user interface. In response to the selection of a given application data item via the user interface, the device is configured to cause the physical document interface to visibly indicate a location on the surface of the physical document, where the location includes a document data item corresponding to the application data item selected via the user interface.

An automated hybrid mail system / method (10) which sends a graphic image file (525) from a sender's terminal (14) to a recipient (12). The system / method includes receiving, at server (21), an electronic document (47) transmitted from terminal (14), the electronic document (47) includes a graphic image file (525) with a document ID (530), the graphic image file (525) obtained from an application document (13). Printed hardcopy document (540) is scanned by scanner (545) which reads pre-printed medium identifier (520) and document ID (530) to determine if there is a match between medium identifier (520) and document ID (530). The determination of a match indicates the correct physical medium (510) (e.g. letterhead stock) was used.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for watermarking text or vector graphics documents. It is based on character-wise or vector graphics element-wise grayscale or color modulation. At high resolution, halftone or dither modulation can also be used in addition or in place of grayscale / color modulation, for printed representation of electronic document. For the detection, the document is acquired through an acquisition device, document segmentation is performed, characters / elements are segmented, the watermark signal is estimated and the information is decoded. Although the proposed scheme mostly addresses the watermarking of hard-copy documents, it can easily be integrated into electronic document editing and acquisition tools, and the watermark is attached to the document electronic version.The invention is applicable either using expensive high-resolution printing and acquisition devices, either using common cheap low-resolution devices, depending on the application needs. The proposed scheme is suitable for example to the protection of security documents, contracts, technical and commercial documentation; it can use any physical support like paper, cellulose, or plastic; it can be used for copy protection, authentication, or tamper proofing; finally it can also be applied to other non security-related applications, such as document tracking, as well as document embedded annotation and watermarked-assisted automatic processing.

An apparatus and method for electronically creating combined digital images of a person and incorporating them into a series of site-specific background images or film clips making it appear as if the user were actually a part of the original imaging sequence. As to housing, camera, processor, output devices, control boards, cables, currency machine; see Pat. No. 6,507,361. In one embodiment the camera can move to take the images from different angles and in an alternative embodiment there are multiple cameras situated such that they sequentially capture and store a series of images to be incorporated into the product. An alternative housing apparatus is in a booth for automatically producing an imaging sequence of a self-portrait of the user integrated into a stored background or film clip, including a cash or credit card receiving device, a computer triggered by cash or credit received in the device, a movable digital camera or video camera to view the user, a video monitor for self viewing, and the possibility of one located outside the booth for advertising or amusement purposes. A series of stored digital imaging movie clips for selective withdrawal by the user where the captured sequence of the user is automatically integrated into stock stored movie clips and can be either output in an e-mail message posted to a board with a link to user's choice of e-mail friends' addresses for retrieval or a direct link to friend's and family's e-mail addresses or an output device with hard copy of personalized sequence to CD ROM or Video or hard copy print of a still image.

The present invention generally relates to interactive hypermedia systems and more particularly to a method and system for locating on a physical document items referenced in another physical document. The present invention discloses a method and system for creating hyperlinks from items (e.g. words, pictures, foot notes, symbols, icons) on a first physical document to particular points on a second physical document (manuscript or printed document), for activating these hyperlinks simply by touching the first document, and for highlighting by means of a light emitting source, the position of the items on the second document. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses a method and system for highlighting on a hard-copy map the geographic positions of places referenced in a hard-copy document.