# US 10,122,894 B2 · Non-transitory computer readable recording medium stored with color verification optimization program, color verification optimization apparatus, and color verification optimization method

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- Number: US 10,122,894 B2
- Document ID: US10122894B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/499,319
- Filed: 2017-04-27
- Published: 2017-11-02
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-28
- Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Inventors: Toshiki Tsukano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122894B2

## CPC

- H04N 1/6008: {with primary colour signals, e.g. RGB or CMY(K)}
- H04N 1/00005: {relating to image data}
- H04N 1/00023: {Colour systems}
- H04N 1/00037: {Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state (H04N1/00031 takes precedence)}
- H04N 1/00074: {Indicating or reporting (details of user-machine interface H04N1/0035)}
- H04N 1/603: {controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer}
- H04N 1/6097: {depending on the characteristics of the output medium, e.g. glossy paper, matt paper, transparency or fabrics}
- H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A color verification optimization program causes a computer to execute a process including steps of, when a plurality of color conversion patterns are extracted, determining whether one color conversion profile and another color conversion profile coincide with or approximate to each other by comparing color saturation values which are estimated with respect to color conversion profiles, determining whether one color correction table and another color correction table coincide with or approximate to each other by comparing color saturation values which are estimated with respect to color correction tables, and performing control to perform verification on one color conversion pattern in two or more color conversion patterns of which the color conversion profiles and the color correction tables both coincide with or approximate to each other and omit the verification with respect to a remaining color conversion pattern.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a color verification optimization program executed by a controller of a color verification optimization apparatus to optimize verification of color conversion processing using a color conversion pattern which is a combination of a color conversion profile for converting a color value of print data into a color value specific to a printing apparatus and a color correction table for correcting a color value converted by applying the color conversion profile, the program causing the controller to execute:
(a) analyzing a setting of a print job and extracting a plurality of color conversion patterns used in the print job;
(b) determining whether a color conversion profile of one of the extracted color conversion patterns coincides with or approximates another color conversion profile of each of the remainder of the extracted color conversion patterns by comparing color saturation values after printing which are estimated with respect to the color conversion profiles;
(c) determining whether a color correction table of one of the extracted color conversion patterns coincides with or approximates another color correction table of each of the remainder of the extracted color conversion patterns by comparing color saturation values after printing which are estimated with respect to the color correction tables;
(d) obtaining the color conversion patterns in which the color conversion profiles and the color correction tables both coincide with or approximate each other based on determination results in the step (b) and the step (c); and
(e) executing the verification by one or more of the obtained color conversion patterns and omitting the verification with respect to the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the controller further executes, between the step (d) and the step (e):
(f) displaying the one obtained color conversion pattern and the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns in a distinguishable manner.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the controller further executes:
(g) when determining in the step (b) that the color conversion profile does not coincide with or approximate the another color conversion profile, recognizing a color value of which the color saturation values after printing are different between the color conversion profile and the another color conversion profile;
(h) specifying color values used in the print job;
(i) determining whether the color value recognized in the step (g) and a color value around the relevant color value are included in the color values specified in the step (h), and
when determining in the step (i) that the color value recognized in the step (g) and the color value around the relevant color value are not included in the color values specified in the step (h), determining that the color conversion profile coincides with or approximates the another color conversion profile.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the controller further executes:
(j) when determining in the step (c) that the color correction table does not coincide with or approximate the another color correction table, recognizing a color value of which the color saturation values after printing are different between the color correction table and the another color correction table;
(k) specifying color values used in the print job;
(l) determining whether the color value recognized in the step (j) and a color value around the relevant color value are included in the color values specified in the step (k), and
when determining in the step (l) that the color value recognized in the step (j) and the color value around the relevant color value are not included in the color values specified in the step (k), determining that the color correction table coincides with or approximates the another color correction table.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the color conversion profiles and the color correction tables are associated with settings regarding color conversion parameters, and
the controller determines, in the step (b) and the step (c), whether the settings regarding the color conversion parameters coincide with each other, in addition to comparison of the color saturation values.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the controller further executes:
(m) in a case where a verification result of the one obtained color conversion pattern is defective in the step (e), adjusting the color correction table of the one obtained color conversion pattern based on the verification result; and
(n) reflecting a difference between the color correction table before adjustment of the one obtained color conversion pattern and the color correction table of the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns in the color correction table adjusted in the step (m) and generating a new color correction table of the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the controller determines a threshold value for determining whether the color conversion profile coincides with or approximates the another color conversion profile in the step (b) or determining whether the color correction table coincides with or approximates the another color correction table in the step (c), according to an allowable level set to the verification.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the controller further executes:
(o) storing the color conversion patterns obtained in the step (d) to omit the step (b) and the step (c) in a case where a new print job is executed.

### Claim 9

A color verification optimization apparatus optimizing verification of color conversion processing using a color conversion pattern which is a combination of a color conversion profile for converting a color value of print data into a color value specific to a printing apparatus and a color correction table for correcting a color value converted by applying the color conversion profile, the apparatus comprising:
a controller that:
analyzes a setting of a print job and extracts a plurality of the color conversion patterns used in the print job;
determines whether a color conversion profile of one of the extracted color conversion patterns coincides with or approximates another color conversion profile of each of the remainder of the extracted color conversion patterns by comparing color saturation values after printing which are estimated with respect to the color conversion profiles;
determines whether a color correction table of one of the extracted color conversion patterns coincides with or approximates another color correction table of each of the remainder of the extracted color conversion patterns by comparing color saturation values after printing which are estimated with respect to the color correction tables;
obtains the color conversion patterns in which the color conversion profiles and the color correction tables both coincide with or approximate each other based on determination results by the controller; and
executes the verification by one or more of the obtained color conversion patterns and omits the verification with respect to the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The color verification optimization apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising:
a display that displays the one obtained color conversion pattern and the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns in a distinguishable manner.

### Claim 11

The color verification optimization apparatus as claimed in claim wherein the controller:
recognizes, when determining that the color conversion profile does not coincide with or approximate the another color conversion profile, a color value of which the color saturation values after printing are different between the color conversion profile and the another color conversion profile;
specifies color values used in the print job;
determines whether the recognized color value and a color value around the relevant color value are included in the specified color values, and
when determining that the recognized color value and the color value around the relevant color value are not included in the specified color values, determines that the color conversion profile coincides with or approximates the another color conversion profile.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The color verification optimization apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller:
recognizes, when determining that the color correction table does not coincide with or approximate the another color correction table, a color value of which the color saturation values after printing are different between the color correction tables;
specifies color values used in the print job;
determines whether the recognized color value and a color value around the relevant color value are included in the specified color values, and
when determining that the recognized color value and the color value around the relevant color value are not included in the specified color values, determines that the color correction table coincides with or approximates the another color correction table.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The color verification optimization apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the color conversion profiles and the color correction tables are associated with settings regarding color conversion parameters, and
the controller determines whether the settings regarding the color conversion parameters coincide with each other, in addition to comparison of the color saturation values.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The color verification optimization apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller:
adjusts, in a case where a verification result of the one obtained color conversion pattern is defective, the color correction table of the one obtained color conversion pattern based on the verification result; and
reflects a difference between the color correction table before adjustment of the one obtained color conversion pattern and the color correction table of the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns in the adjusted color correction table and generates a new color correction table of the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The color verification optimization apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the controller determines a threshold value for determining whether the color conversion profile coincides with or approximates the another color conversion profile or determining whether the color correction table coincides with or approximates the another color correction table, according to an allowable level set to the verification.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The color verification optimization apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising:
a storage that stores the obtained color conversion patterns to omit processes by the controller in a case where a new print job is executed.

### Claim 17

A color verification optimization method for optimizing verification of color conversion processing by a controller of a color verification optimization apparatus, the color conversion processing using a color conversion pattern which is a combination of a color conversion profile for converting a color value of print data into a color value specific to a printing apparatus and a color correction table for correcting a color value converted by applying the color conversion profile, the method comprising:
(a) analyzing, by the controller, a setting of a print job and extracting a plurality of the color conversion patterns used in the print job;
(b) determining, by the controller, whether a color conversion profile of one of the extracted color conversion patterns coincides with or approximates another color conversion profile of each of the remainder of the extracted color conversion patterns by comparing color saturation values after printing which are estimated with respect to the color conversion profiles;
(c) determining, by the controller, whether a color correction table of one of the extracted color conversion patterns coincides with or approximates another color correction table of each of the remainder of the extracted color conversion patterns by comparing color saturation values after printing which are estimated with respect to the color correction tables;
(d) obtaining, by the controller, the color conversion patterns in which the color conversion profiles and the color correction tables both coincide with or approximate each other based on determination results in the step (b) and the step (c); and
(e) executing, by the controller, the verification by one or more of the obtained color conversion patterns and omitting the verification with respect to the remainder of the obtained color conversion patterns.
