# US 9,521,298 B2 · Color management system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,298 B2 - Document ID: US9521298B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/835,634 - Filed: 2010-07-13 - Published: 2012-01-19 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-13 - Assignees: Red Hat, Inc. - Applicants: Richard Hughes - Inventors: Richard Hughes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521298B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/603: {controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Management of color of image files in digital devices is described. A color management system can extract metadata from an image file based on a type of the image file. The color management system then creates a color profile based on the metadata extracted. The color management system further creates a virtual device, and assigns the color profile created to the virtual device. As such, multiple color profiles can be associated with a single physical device using the concept of virtual devices. Furthermore, the extraction of metadata and generation of color profiles can also be centralized in the color management system, which may be integrated into an operating system executable on a computing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: extracting, by a processing device, metadata from a first image file in view of a type of the first image file, wherein the metadata is without an embedded color profile; creating a color profile in view of the extracted metadata comprising one or more settings of an input device that created the first image file; storing the created color profile in a storage device; creating a virtual device; adjusting the color profile in view of a setting associated with the first image file; calibrating the adjusted color profile; and assigning, by the processing device, the calibrated color profile to the virtual device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving the first image file from an application running on the processing device; and determining the type of the first image file. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: calibrating the color profile created in response to user instructions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an input device, which has created the first image file, is not physically connected to the processing device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a maker of the input device that has created the first image file, a model identifier of the input device, or a serial number of the input device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a filename of a second image file from a second application; searching in a database for color profiles usable to display the second image file; and returning color profiles found to the second application, wherein a user of the second application is allowed to select one of the color profiles found. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a filename of a second image file from a second application; retrieving a default color profile usable to display the second image file; and returning the default color profile to the second application. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: creating a second color profile in view of metadata of a second image file; creating a second virtual device; and assigning the second color profile to the second virtual device, wherein the second image file and the first image file have been created by a same physical device. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising: a storage device; and a processing device communicatively coupled to the storage device, to: extract metadata from a first image file in view of a type of the first image file, wherein the metadata is without an embedded color profile, create a color profile in view of the extracted metadata comprising one or more settings of an input device that created the first image file; store the created color profile in the storage device; create a virtual device; assign the color profile to the virtual device; adjust the color profile in view of a setting associated with the first image file; calibrate the adjusted color profile; and assign the calibrated color profile to the virtual device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing device is configured to execute an application, and receive the first image file from the application, and determine the type of the first image file. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, the processing device to calibrate the color profile created in response to user instructions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein an input device, which has created the first image file, is not physically connected to the processing device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a maker of the input device that has created the first image file, a model identifier of the input device, or a serial number of the input device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, the processing device to: receive a filename of a second image file from a second application, search in the storage device for color profiles usable to display the second image file, and return color profiles found to the second application, wherein a user of the second application is allowed to select one of the color profiles found. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, the processing device to receive a filename of a second image file from a second application, to: retrieve a default color profile usable to display the second image file, and return the default color profile to the second application. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, the processing device to: create a second color profile in view of metadata of a second image file and a second virtual device, and assign the second color profile to the second virtual device, wherein the second image file and the first image file have been created by a same physical device. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium embodying instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to: extract metadata from a first image file in view of a type of the first image file, wherein the metadata is without an embedded color profile; create a color profile in view of the extracted metadata comprising settings of an input device that created the first image file; store the created color profile in the storage device; create a virtual device; adjust the color profile in view of a setting associated with the first image file; calibrate the adjusted color profile; and assign, by the processing device, the calibrated color profile to the virtual device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processing device further to: receive the first image file from an application running on the processing device; and determine the type of the first image file. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processing device is further to: calibrate the color profile created in response to user instructions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein an input device, which has created the first image file, is not physically connected to the processing device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a maker of the input device that has created the first image file, or a model identifier of the input device, a serial number of the input device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processing device is further to: receive a filename of a second image file from a second application; search in a database for color profiles usable to display the second image file; and return color profiles found to the second application, wherein a user of the second application is allowed to select one of the color profiles found. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processing device is further to: receive a filename of a second image file from a second application; retrieve a default color profile usable to display the second image file; and return the default color profile to the second application. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processing device is further to: create a second color profile in view of metadata of a second image file; create a second virtual device; and assign the second color profile to the second virtual device, wherein the second image file and the first image file have been created by a same physical device.