Color Mode Switching for Multiplexed Print Information Preservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in preventing the loss of multiplexed additional information during print processing, particularly when monochrome printing is set, as the color components on which the multiplexing is performed are often missing due to processing in two monochrome tones.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves an information processing apparatus that acquires input image data, sets a color mode instead of a monochrome mode if additional information is multiplexed, generates color image data representing the monochromated print target image, and performs multiplexing processing on the color image data to ensure the additional information is preserved during printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If monochrome mode is used for printing, then printing cost and processing time are reduced, but multiplexed additional information is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting costVSAvoidmultiplexed additional information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection to identify whether additional information is multiplexed on the image data before printing. Based on this detection result, it proactively switches from monochrome mode to color mode, preventing information loss before it occurs. This advance action resolves the contradiction by ensuring information preservation while maintaining printing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If monochrome mode is used for printing, then processing time is reduced, but multiplexed additional information is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidmultiplexed additional information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If color mode is used instead of monochrome mode, then multiplexed additional information is preserved, but printing cost and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiplexed additional informationVSAvoidprinting cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the printing mode based on the detection results. When additional information is detected, it switches to color mode to preserve information; when no additional information is present, it uses monochrome mode to reduce costs. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing the trade-off between information preservation and printing efficiency for each specific case.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of information

If color mode is used instead of monochrome mode, then multiplexed additional information is preserved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiplexed additional informationVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12223376B2Information processing apparatus that determines whether to set a color mode based on processing corresponding to a monochrome mode, method, storage medium storing program, and system

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus sets a color mode in place of a monochrome mode on condition that the monochrome mode and multiplexing of additional information on a print target image are set as print settings based on an input image data; generates, based on the input image data, color image data corresponding to printing in a color mode which represents a color of the monochromated print target image by a value of a color signal; performs, for the color image data generated by the generation unit, processing for multiplexing the additional information on the print target image; and causes a printing apparatus to print, in the color mode, a multiplexed image on which the additional information is multiplexed.