# US 6,048,117 A · Network-based system for color calibration of printers

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- Number: US 6,048,117 A
- Document ID: US6048117A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 09/074,834
- Filed: 1998-05-08
- Granted: 2000-04-11
- Earliest claimed: 1998-05-08
- Assignees: Xerox Corporation
- Inventors: Martin E. Banton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6048117A

## CPC

- H04N 1/00015: {Reproducing apparatus}
- H04N 1/00002: {Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for (error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00)}
- H04N 1/00023: {Colour systems}
- H04N 1/00031: {Testing, i.e. determining the result of a trial (H04N1/00029 takes precedence; using test signals for transmission mode changing H04N2201/33371)}
- H04N 1/00045: {using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart}
- H04N 1/00053: {out of service, i.e. outside of normal operation}
- H04N 1/00058: {using a separate apparatus}
- H04N 1/00063: {using at least a part of the apparatus itself, e.g. self-testing}
- H04N 1/00079: {remotely}
- H04N 1/00082: {Adjusting or controlling (interrupting an operation H04N1/00915; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925)}
- H04N 1/00973: {from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal}
- H04N 1/6033: {using test pattern analysis (H04N1/6055 takes precedence)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A printing device is requested to generate a calibration test print. The printer generates a plurality of color patches and identification data which are put in hard copy form by a marker. The identification data includes data such as device identifiers, calibration print identifiers, and calibration statistics for the printing device. The hard copy calibration print is scanned and is transmitted to a calibration server. The calibration server interprets the coded data and determines the originating device, the calibration pattern printed, and an optimal color pattern based on the identification data. The color pattern printed is then compared to the optimal color pattern and their differences are determined. A color correction table is generated based on the differences and transmitted to the network address of the originating printer based on the identification data. The identification data provides for automatic recalibration of printing devices on a network.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of recalibrating a color printer in data communication with a network of devices, the method comprising the steps of:
printing an output color pattern with a color printer based on a predetermined input color pattern;
printing identification data in association with the output color pattern for encoding the output color pattern with the identification data;
detecting the output color pattern and the identification data with a scanner;
selecting a calibration pattern based on the identification data and determining differences between the calibration pattern and the measured output color pattern;
generating a color correction table based on the differences determined; and
recalibrating the color printer with the color correction table by identifying the color printer and transferring the color correction table to the identified color printer based on the identification data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the encoding includes encoding a source identifier and a location identifier including a network address of the color printer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the transferring transfers the color correction table to the network address.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the encoding includes encoding properties of the predetermined input color pattern including pattern identification and pattern orientation such that the calibration pattern selected is a desired output pattern which is generated in response to the predetermined input color pattern.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification data is encoded in a binary format.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification data includes alphanumeric characters.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of calibrating as set forth in claim 1 further including generating a performance history for the color printer based on the identification data and the differences determined.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of calibrating as set forth in claim 1 wherein the steps of printing and encoding are performed concurrently.

### Claim 9

A method of calibrating a color printing device comprising the steps of:
generating, with a color printing device, a color calibration print and coded data, the coded data representing properties of an optimal output for the color calibration print;
analyzing the color calibration print, coded data, and the optimal output;
generating a color correction table for adjusting the color printing device based on the analyzing; and
calibrating the color printing device by transmitting the color correction table to the color printing device in accordance with the coded data.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of calibrating as set forth in claim 9 wherein the analyzing includes:
scanning the color calibration print and coded data;
interpreting the coded data; and
comparing the color calibration print to the optimal output print and determining adjustment values for the color correction table, the optimal output print being selected based on the coded data.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of calibrating as set forth in claim 9 wherein the coded data includes a network address and data identifying the color printing device which generates the color calibration print.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of calibrating as set forth in claim 11 further including identifying the color printing device from the coded data.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of calibrating as set forth in claim 11 further including verifying a destination of the color correction table prior to the transmitting.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of calibrating as set forth in claim 9 wherein the coded data is generated in a binary format.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of calibrating as set forth in claim 9 further including generating a performance history for the color printing device based on the coded data and the adjustment values determined.

### Claim 16

In a method of generating a calibration print for calibrating a printing device where the printing device generates the calibration print including a color patch pattern based on an input test pattern, the improvement comprising:
encoding the calibration print with coded data representative of the color patch pattern such that the calibration print is identifiable.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the coded data includes data identifying the printing device and the color patch pattern.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method as set forth in claim 17 further including recalibrating the printing device based on the color patch pattern and coded data.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method as set forth in claim 18 further including generating calibration statistics for the printing device based on the coded data.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the recalibrating includes:
generating a correction table; and
transmitting the correction table to the printing device in accordance with the coded data.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the generating includes:
selecting an optimal color pattern based on the coded data which identifies the optimal color pattern in accordance with the input test pattern; and
determining a drift between the optimal color pattern and the color patch pattern of the calibration print.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The method as set forth in claim 16 further including generating a calibration performance history for the printing device based on the coded data.

### Claim 23

A color printing apparatus comprising:
a color printing device for generating a color calibration print and coded data, the coded data representing properties of an optimal output for the color calibration print,
a calibration server for analyzing the color calibration print, coded data, and the optimal output and for generating a color correction table for adjusting the color printing device based on the analyzing; and
means for transmitting the color correction table to the color printing device in accordance with the coded data.