Information processing apparatus and information processing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9544463-B2
Application number	US-201615067379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2016
Priority date	Mar 18, 2015
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes an image acquisition unit that acquires an initial image to be output by an image output apparatus; an image determining unit that determines, based on an output condition to be implemented by the image output apparatus upon outputting the initial image and image data of the initial image, whether to change the initial image to a substitute image having a higher image quality than the initial image; an image searching unit that searches for the substitute image in a case where a determination is made by the image determining unit to change the initial image to the substitute image; an output data generating unit that generates output data including image data of the substitute image found by the image searching unit; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the output data to the image output apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information processing apparatus that is connectable to an image output apparatus via a network, the information processing apparatus comprising:
a memory storing a program; and
a processor configured to execute the program to implement processes of
acquiring an initial image to be output by the image output apparatus;
determining, based on an output condition to be implemented by the image output apparatus upon outputting the initial image and image data of the initial image, whether to change the initial image to a substitute image having a higher image quality than the initial image;
searching for the substitute image in a case where a determination is made to change the initial image to the substitute image;
generating output data including image data of the substitute image found by the search; and

transmitting the output data to the image output apparatus.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor further implements processes of
acquiring a web page via the network; and acquiring an image included in a selected region of the acquired web page as the initial image to be output by the image output apparatus.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor further implements a process of
determining, based on a resolution of the image output apparatus outputting the initial image, an output image size of an output image of the initial image, a pixel density of the information processing apparatus, and an image size of the initial image, whether to change the initial image to the substitute image having a higher image quality than the initial image.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processor further implements a process of
searching for the substitute image on another web page associated with the acquired web page.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor further implements processes of
performing a super-resolution process with respect to the initial image in a case where the substitute image is not found by the search; and
generating output data including image data of the initial image that has been super-resolution processed.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an information processing program that when executed causes an information processing apparatus, which is connectable to an image output apparatus via a network, to perform the steps of:
acquiring an initial image to be output by the image output apparatus;
determining, based on an output condition to be implemented by the image output apparatus upon outputting the initial image and image data of the initial image, whether to change the initial image to a substitute image having a higher image quality than the initial image;
searching for the substitute image in a case where a determination is made to change the initial image to the substitute image;
generating output data including image data of the substitute image found by the search; and
transmitting the output data to the image output apparatus.

7. An information processing system comprising:
an image output apparatus; and
an information processing apparatus that is connectable to the image output apparatus via a network;
wherein the information processing apparatus includes
a first memory storing a first program; and
a first processor configured to execute the first program to implement processes of
acquiring an initial image to be output by the image output apparatus;
determining, based on an output condition to be implemented by the image output apparatus upon outputting the initial image and image data of the initial image, whether to change the initial image to a substitute image having a higher image quality than the initial image;
searching for the substitute image in a case where a determination is made to change the initial image to the substitute image;
generating output data including image data of the substitute image found by the search; and
transmitting the output data to the image output apparatus; and

wherein the image output apparatus includes
a second memory storing a second program; and
a second processor configured to execute the second program to implement processes of
receiving the output data from the information processing apparatus; and
performing a process of outputting the substitute image based on the output data.

Assignees

• Okamura Tomoaki
• Yanagida Yasushi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Okamura Tomoaki
• Yanagida Yasushi

Classifications

• H04N1/0044

  for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet · CPC title

• H04N1/2323

  according to characteristics of the reproducing medium, e.g. type, size or availability · CPC title

• H04N1/00307

  with a mobile telephone apparatus (constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00) · CPC title

• H04N1/00464

  using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages · CPC title

• H04N1/2307 Primary

  Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity (H04N1/27, H04N1/29 take precedence) · CPC title