# US 2017/0257524 A1 · Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and non-transitory computer readable medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0257524 A1 - Document ID: US20170257524A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/206,456 - Filed: 2016-07-11 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-02 - Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yuichi NISHIKUNI; Yoshitaka KUWADA; Ryosuke HIGASHIKATA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170257524A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/40093: {Modification of content of picture, e.g. retouching (geometric modifications H04N1/387)} - H04N 1/00095: {Systems or arrangements for the transmission of the picture signal} - H04N 1/00278: {with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer} - H04N 1/00795: {Reading arrangements (details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04)} - H04N 1/0083: {Arrangements for transferring signals between different components of the apparatus, e.g. arrangements of signal lines or cables (for control or supervision between image input and output device H04N1/32)} - H04N 1/04: Scanning arrangements {, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa}(H04N1/387 takes precedence) - H04N 1/2104: {for one or a few pictures} - H04N 1/32128: {attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image (for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144)} - H04N 1/60: Colour correction or control {(H04N1/54 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/62: Retouching, i.e. modification of isolated colours only or in isolated picture areas only - H04N 1/3871: {the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals} - H04N 2201/0081: Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/0087: Image storage device - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - H04N 2201/3226: of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image memory, an image receiving unit, an image determination unit, an image search unit, an image forming unit, and an image converter. The image memory stores replacement image data. The image receiving unit receives image data from the outside. The image determination unit determines whether the received-image data includes to-be-replaced image data. The image search unit searches, in a case where it is determined that the received-image data includes the to-be-replaced image data, the image memory for replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data. The image forming unit forms an image. The image converter converts, in a case where the corresponding replacement image data is detected, the received-image data into to-be-output image data in which the to-be-replaced image data is replaced with the corresponding replacement image data, and causes an image based on the to-be-output image data to be formed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image memory that stores replacement image data representing a replacement image; an image receiving unit that receives image data transmitted from the outside; an image determination unit that determines whether the received-image data received by the image receiving unit includes to-be-replaced image data representing a to-be-replaced image that needs to be replaced; an image search unit that searches, in a case where the image determination unit determines that the received-image data includes the to-be-replaced image data, the replacement image data stored in the image memory for replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data; an image forming unit that forms, on a paper sheet, an image based on image data; and an image converter that converts, in a case where the replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data included in the received-image data is detected by the image search unit, the received-image data into to-be-output image data in which the to-be-replaced image data is replaced with the replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data, and causes the image forming unit to form an image based on the to-be-output image data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image reading unit that reads a replacement image and generates replacement image data representing the replacement image; an image storage unit that stores, in the image memory, the replacement image data generated by the image reading unit; an image generation unit that generates, on the basis of the replacement image data generated by the image reading unit, to-be-replaced image data corresponding to the replacement image data; and an image transmitting unit that transmits the to-be-replaced image data generated by the image generation unit toward the outside. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image receiving unit further receives replacement image data generated in the outside, the image forming apparatus further comprising an image storage unit that stores, in the image memory, the replacement image data received by the image receiving unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image receiving unit further receives replacement image data generated in the outside, the image forming apparatus further comprising an image storage unit that stores, in the image memory, the replacement image data received by the image receiving unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: an image generation unit that generates, on the basis of the replacement image data received by the image receiving unit, to-be-replaced image data corresponding to the replacement image data; and an image transmitting unit that transmits the to-be-replaced image data generated by the image generation unit toward the outside. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an image generation unit that generates, on the basis of the replacement image data received by the image receiving unit, to-be-replaced image data corresponding to the replacement image data; and an image transmitting unit that transmits the to-be-replaced image data generated by the image generation unit toward the outside. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image search unit searches the replacement image data stored in the image memory for replacement image data to which an ID corresponding to an ID assigned to the to-be-replaced image data is assigned. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image search unit searches the replacement image data stored in the image memory for replacement image data to which an ID corresponding to an ID assigned to the to-be-replaced image data is assigned. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image memory stores both the replacement image data and the to-be-replaced image data such that the replacement image data and the to-be-replaced image data are associated with each other, and the image search unit searches for replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data included in the received-image data, by comparing the to-be-replaced image data included in the received-image data with the to-be-replaced image data stored in the image memory, and by searching the to-be-replaced image data stored in the image memory for to-be-replaced image data matching the to-be-replaced image data included in the received-image data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image memory stores both the replacement image data and the to-be-replaced image data such that the replacement image data and the to-be-replaced image data are associated with each other, and the image search unit searches for replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data included in the received-image data, by comparing the to-be-replaced image data included in the received-image data with the to-be-replaced image data stored in the image memory, and by searching the to-be-replaced image data stored in the image memory for to-be-replaced image data matching the to-be-replaced image data included in the received-image data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image search unit compares the to-be-replaced image data with the replacement image data stored in the image memory, and searches the replacement image data stored in the image memory for replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image search unit compares the to-be-replaced image data with the replacement image data stored in the image memory, and searches the replacement image data stored in the image memory for replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replacement image data is image data representing an image having a relatively high resolution, the to-be-replaced image data is image data representing an image having a relatively low resolution, and the image represented by the to-be-replaced image data is the same as the image represented by the replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data except for resolutions of the images. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the replacement image data is image data representing an image having a relatively high resolution, the to-be-replaced image data is image data representing an image having a relatively low resolution, and the image represented by the to-be-replaced image data is the same as the image represented by the replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data except for resolutions of the images. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the to-be-replaced image data is image data that has image data with no color information and has color specification data representing a color of the image data, the image forming apparatus further comprising a correction data memory that stores color correction data, wherein the image converter converts the received-image data into to-be-output image data including color information acquired as a result of correction in which the color specification data is corrected using the color correction data stored in the correction data memory, and causes the image forming unit to form an image based on the to-be-output image data including the color information acquired as a result of the correction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the to-be-replaced image data is image data that has image data with no color information and has color specification data representing a color of the image data, the image forming apparatus further comprising a correction data memory that stores color correction data, wherein the image converter converts the received-image data into to-be-output image data including color information acquired as a result of correction in which the color specification data is corrected using the color correction data stored in the correction data memory, and causes the image forming unit to form an image based on the to-be-output image data including the color information acquired as a result of the correction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received-image data is image data that has image data with no transparency level information and has transparency level specification data representing a transparency level, the image forming apparatus further comprising a correction data memory that stores transparency level correction data, wherein the image converter converts the received-image data into to-be-output image data including transparency level information acquired as a result of correction in which the transparency level specification data is corrected using the transparency level correction data stored in the correction data memory, and causes the image forming unit to form an image based on the to-be-output image data including the transparency level information acquired as a result of the correction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the received-image data is image data that has image data with no transparency level information and has transparency level specification data representing a transparency level, the image forming apparatus further comprising a correction data memory that stores transparency level correction data, wherein the image converter converts the received-image data into to-be-output image data including transparency level information acquired as a result of correction in which the transparency level specification data is corrected using the transparency level correction data stored in the correction data memory, and causes the image forming unit to form an image based on the to-be-output image data including the transparency level information acquired as a result of the correction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An image forming system comprising: the image forming apparatus according to claim 1; and an image editing apparatus that is connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication line, that generates image data including the to-be-replaced image data by performing image editing using the to-be-replaced image data, and that transmits the image data toward the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process, the process comprising: storing replacement image data representing a replacement image; receiving image data transmitted from the outside; determining whether the received-image data includes to-be-replaced image data representing a to-be-replaced image; searching, in a case where it is determined that the received-image data includes the to-be-replaced image data, the stored replacement image data for replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data; forming, on a paper sheet, an image based on image data; converting, in a case where the replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data included in the received-image data is detected, the received-image data into to-be-output image data in which the to-be-replaced image data is replaced with the replacement image data corresponding to the to-be-replaced image data; and forming an image based on the to-be-output image data.