Patent Application
20080266593
In the fields of printing and imaging technology, the protection and print quality of printed materials are often left to the creator or user to implement and/or adjust. With respect to digital rights protection, many created images have no protection whatsoever when they are created because the creator does not know how to implement such protections or these protections are not respected, or removed. In some instances, this allows others to use the content created without compensation to the creator. When widely disseminated, this can result in a loss of uniqueness of the content created and a loss of potential revenue from sales of the content, among other issues.
With respect to print quality, it is often difficult for a non-professional printer to be able to reproduce a print with similar quality from one print to the next or from prints on one device to another. For example, when digital images, such as photos are created, the creators typically print to their local printers in a way where every print action is a different and independent one.
In such instances, each time a printout is made there are a number of decisions to make such as what type of computing device was used to create the image, what type of computing device is going to be used to initiate the print job, the type of printing device that was used to create an initial print (if any), the type of printing device that is to be used to print a current print job, the operating system and/or application that was used to create the image document, and various document settings, among other factors. In many instances, the implementation of these similar setups that are made at different locations will likely produce different results, even if the same original with the same set of print options was used in each different place.
This can be the result of several factors including the natural variability of each context that will most likely result in different printouts. In this way, reproducing an original in two different places becomes such a complex task that businesses for proofing and pre-press work have been created to focus on achieving such print quality with an acceptable level of accuracy. This issue can be further complicated when printing systems are of different kinds.
Embodiments of the present disclosure include documents, devices, and methods for creating image documents.
In the network illustrated in
The computing device 114 is also connected to a network interface 120 through which information can be sent and received between computing device 114 and other devices of the network, such as computing devices 116, 118, and 126. For example, if the user of computing device 114 creates an image document (e.g., containing one or more images including text, photos, illustrations, and/or symbols, etc.) the image document can be sent to other users using computing devices 116, 118, and/or 126. If the image document includes digital rights management provisions, the functionalities of the other user's device may be restricted. In this way, the creator of the image document (i.e., user of computing device 114) can retain control over the use of the image document.
In the network illustrated in
In this way, the user 116 can obtain a print of the image document even though they do not have access to a printing device. Based upon the digital rights associated with the image document, user of computing device 126 may not be allowed to print the image document without, first, obtaining authorization from the creator.
This can be accomplished in any suitable manner (e.g., the requestor of the print job obtaining the authorization and conveying the authorization with the image document and instructions, the service provider receiving the instructions and then requesting authorization, the service provider and creator defining a blanket type authorization for printing any creator originated work, etc. These various implementations can also include one or more royalties to the creator, in some embodiments. For example, as discussed below, the image document can include pricing information and such information can be designed to include royalty amounts and/or printing costs, among other pricing amounts and/or information.
In some embodiments, the image information (e.g., data) can include data regarding one or more environmental conditions that were present at a time of an initial printing of the document onto a print medium.
In such embodiments, the document may then be reproduced in a more accurate manner than, in some instances where no context information from the initial printing were provided. As used herein, an initial printing may not be the first printing, but is to be interpreted as a printing that occurred prior to the printing that is about to take place.
Embodiments can utilize any suitable environmental condition and number thereof. Some examples of environmental conditions include, but are not limited to, a humidity, an ink type, a crop mark, a print layout, a printer type, a temperature, margin information (e.g., a bleeding margin), a print medium type (e.g., #20, glossy photo, matte photo), a color measurement (e.g., via a spectrometer), a print quality setting (e.g., high, low, draft, photo), a print nozzle configuration setting (e.g., nozzles used, nozzles inoperable, number of nozzles), printer status information (e.g., profiles, calibration, etc.), operating system, application, version of operating system and/or application, color engines, Raster Image Processor (RIP) engines, and/or color verification marks, among many others.
The image document can also include a set of pricing data regarding pricing of services to be performed through utilization of the image data. In such embodiments, instructions can also be provided to utilize the pricing data to inform a user via the user device about a price of a service.
For example, the pricing data can be used to inform a user, either before purchase of a service and/or after, the price for a particular service. Services such as low resolution printing, high resolution printing; or the use of the image for an imaging purpose, such as in a presentation, displaying an image as a background, icon, or as a screen saver image, among other uses.
Some services can be restricted by executable instructions as discussed below. For example, low resolution printing may be a service performed by a user on their local printing device, but that functionality may be restricted until authorization is provided to un-restrict that functionality.
Some of the above imaging functions, such as usage as a background on a display of a computing device may also be functions that can be restricted by executable instructions. The restrictions can, for example, be incorporated into the image document (e.g., access information 252) by incorporating the instructions themselves, or through use of restriction indicators, such as flag bits, that can indicate which restrictions are to be enforced and which functions are un-restricted. Accordingly, the executable instructions to enforce the restrictions and to un-restrict when authorization is provided can be resident in memory on a user computing device or another device, for example, accessible through a network.
In some embodiments, the document can also include a set of pointing data for pointing a user to a service provider (e.g., third party link information 254). In such embodiments, instructions can also be provided to utilize the pointing data to direct the user device to a service provider to provide the service.
For example, the pointing data can include an Internet address or other contact information for a service provider that allows a user to contact the service provider with regard to obtaining a desired service. In embodiments where an Internet address is provided, the user may be able to accomplish the order of a service by visiting the provider's website.
In some embodiments, a user interface can be provided that allows the user to select a service and upon selection, the service provider is automatically notified and the service can be commenced for delivery to the user. In such embodiments, the user would likely provide payment or billing information that would be communicated to the provider with the image data and instructions regarding the service to be rendered.
The document can also include a number of sets of executable instructions stored in memory of a computing device. The sets of executable instructions can, for example, be utilized to restrict a functionality of a user device, such as printing or displaying an image as a background, icon, or screen saver image, based on a set of digital rights assigned to the document.
The present disclosure also includes a number of computing device embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the computing device can include a processor and memory having an imaging document stored therein where the print document includes instructions executable by the processor.
The executable instructions can provide a number of functions. For example, executable instructions can be used to restrict a functionality of a user device based on a set of digital rights assigned to the document. The user device can be of various types, depending upon the intended usage of the image document. For example, the user device can be a printing device, a computing device, or an imaging device.
In some embodiments, with respect to digital rights manage management when print job, for example, is generated, a unique identifier (ID) representing the creator can be embedded into the image document (e.g., PDF) in a way where the identity cannot be decoupled from the content. This ID can, for example, come from a personal certificate owned by the creator that authenticates the signature of the creator.
That same certificate can be used to hold proofs and cryptographic tokens that allow generation, modification, and/or management of the image document, related documents, and/or associated information. Use of such security mechanisms can, in many instances, be done transparently to the user, while the strength of various cryptographic methodologies can be used to preserve the security of the system. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limit to the above restriction scheme, and accordingly, various suitable digital rights schemes may be utilized in the various embodiments of the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, executable instructions can be provided to utilize the pricing data to inform a user via the user device about a price of a service. Executable instructions can also be provided to utilize the pointing data to direct the user device to a service provider to provide the service, in some embodiments.
In various embodiments, the imaging document can be in a portable format to allow users to send and receive the document with one or more of the above described features provided therein. This allows the document to be disseminated and utilized within the defined digital rights parameters (e.g., established by the creator), and/or to be forwarded to a service provider with information that can allow for accurate printing. Such documents can be provided in a standardized format such as the Portable Document Format (PDF).
In some embodiments, PDF document is a PDF/X format document, such as PDF/X3. PDF/X3 can, for example, be used to provide a prepress standard format in combination with a spectrophotometer information. Accordingly, verification methods using the spectrophotometer in combination with algorithms that adapt the content will aid in calibrating the printing device. Such implementations can also allow color gamuts to be successfully mapped and image layouts to be preserved, among other benefits. This can be helpful for content preservation on page size independent documents.
Generally, PDF/X formats (e.g., PDF/X1, PDF/X 1-a, PDF/X2, and PDF/X3) are designed to provide the robust and flexible delivery options for PDF content data. These standards typically include that the color of all objects be expressed in CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) or spot colors (or in PDF/X3, for example, additionally in RGB (Red, Green, and Blue), Lab color spaces, and/or tagged with International Color Consortium (ICC) profiles), and are prepared for the intended printing conditions.
All fonts to be used in the job are also to be embedded in the supplied PDF file, in many instances. PDF/X3 is standard also can include embedding of fonts, definition of overfilling, definition of page geometry, production ready image resolution, and handling of ICC profiles, among other features. The advantages of such formats include a reduction of errors in teamwork between creative and producing entities.
In some embodiments, a central storage device can be utilized for the storing of various information that may be used in the printing process. For example, initial printing device information can be retrieved either from the printing device itself, from the document, or from a central storage device (e.g., via a web-server) for use in the printing process.
In some embodiments, in order to ensure that the data is preserved correctly a set of executable instructions (e.g., a software application) can be used to bind a set of files or information (e.g., instructions and/or data) together, thereby preserving the integrity of the set together. Such binding can include contextual information about the user, the application, the project, working directories, profiles, etc.
In some embodiments, users can compose lists of print jobs and add comments and/or finishing settings to this list. Such lists can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, the list can allow the user to see the usage of their image.
In the illustration of
In the embodiment of
For example, the user layer can allow the user to indicate that they desire to see printing and/or imaging service options (e.g., “click” on the low resolution image to open a display window that provides the printing and/or imaging information). This information can include various suitable the types of printing options available (e.g., low resolution, hi resolution, sizes of prints, finish types, etc.).
If a high quality print is desired, in the embodiment illustrated in
In some embodiments, the high resolution image document may be sent or retrieved from the creator directly, as indicated in the embodiment of
Such image data can be obtained from any suitable source in various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, defining a set of image data to be utilized to form a digital image can include capturing at least some of the set of image data through use of a scanning device. Defining a set of image data to be utilized to form a digital image can, in some embodiments, include capturing at least some of the set of image data through use of a camera device.
In various embodiments, defining a set of image data to be utilized to form a digital image can include capturing at least some of the set of image data by accessing an image data file stored in memory. In some embodiments, those mentioned above and/or other locations can be utilized to provide image data.
Embodiments can include assigning a set of references to online accessible data for pointing a user to a service provider, as illustrated in block 470 of
In some embodiments such as
A user device can be directed to a service provider to obtain the service by utilizing the online pointed data, in some embodiments, as discussed above and as illustrated in
This information can be provided as instructions and/or in the form of service indicators, such as flag bits, which when provided to appropriate executable instructions, can be interpreted to indicate one or more desired services. Services can include the un-restricting of a functionality of a user device, as discussed above.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that an arrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the present disclosure.
It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
The scope of the various embodiments of the present disclosure includes other applications in which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure have to use more features than are expressly recited in each claim.
Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
