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`ROKU EXH. 1006
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`

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`System, Method, Apparatus And Raster Imaging Process For Universal Output
`Inventor: William Ho Chang and Ying Liu
`
`EK692265665U-S
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`Field of invention
`Present invention relates to pervasive output. More particularly, it relates to system, apparatus,
`process, and method where an information apparatus can pervasively output digital document to
`different output devices without the need for installing multiple dedicated device dependent
`printer drivers.
`
`Moreover, present invention provides universal output capability and process as well as provides
`a new raster image process and method of output or printing so that an information apparatus
`can pervasively output digital document to an output devices even if the Information apparatus
`may have relatively smaller processing power, display screen size and memory space.
`
`Background
`An Information apparatus refers to both stationary computers and mobile computing devices
`(pervasive devices). Examples of information apparatus include, without limitation, desktops,
`laptops, networked computers, palmtops (hand-held computer}, personal digital assistants
`(PDAs), Internet enabled cellular phones, smart phones, pagers, digital capturing devices (e.g.
`digital cameras and video cameras), Internet or information appliances, e-books and digital or
`web pads among others. An output device may include fax machines, printers, copiers, image
`and/or video display devices (e.g. TV, monitors and projectors), and audio output devices. For
`simplicity and convenience, hereafter, we may refer to an output device as a printer and output
`process as printing. However, it should be understood that the term printer and printing used in
`the discussion of present invention may refer to a specific example intended to simplify the
`description or may be one preferred embodiment among others. The definition of printer used
`here should be easily applied and or extended to the larger scope and definition of output
`devices. In no way this should be construed as restricting the scope and practice of present
`invention.
`
`In conventional output process, an output device (e.g. printer) is connected to information
`apparatus via wired connection such as through a cable line. A wireless connection may also be
`possible by using, for example, radio communication or infrared communication. Regardless of
`
`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
`
`1
`
`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
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`

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`wired or wireless connection, a user must first install in his/her information apparatus a device
`driver corresponding to a particular printer model and make. Using a dedicated or specific
`device-dependent driver, the user's information apparatus may process output content or digital
`document into a printer's input space. Printer's input space corresponds to the type of input that
`a printer understands (herein and after referred to as print data). For example, printer's input
`space or print data may include printer specific input format (e.g. image, graphics, file, data
`format), encoding, page description language (POL), markup language, instructions, protocols or
`data that can be understood or used by a particular printer make and model. The print data
`format, protocol or language may be proprietary to a particular printer maker or published or
`combination. Printer's input space or print data is, in general, device dependent. Different printer
`model may specify its own input, designed or adopted for optimal operation by the printer
`manufacturer according to a specification. Consequently, different printers usually require their
`own specific printer drivers producing specific print data for accurate printing. A device driver
`(printer driver in this example) may process, control, manage, communicate, and output print
`data to a printer among other functions. A printer or device driver may be invoked or used by
`different application software. Sometimes, instead of using a printer or device driver, the device(cid:173)
`driving feature may be included in an application software or as part of an application software.
`
`Installation of a printer driver or application may be accomplished by, for example, installing
`manually using CD or floppy disk supplied by the printer manufacturer. Or alternatively, a user
`may be able to download that particular driver or application from a network. For a home or
`office user, this installation process may take anywhere from several minutes to several hours
`depending on the type of driver and user's sophistication level with computing devices and
`networks. Even with plug and play driver installation, it still requires the user to execute multiple-
`step process for each printer. Nevertheless, this installation and configuration process is adding
`undoubtedly a degree of complexity and work to end-users who may otherwise spend their time
`doing other productive or enjoyable work. Moreover, many unsophisticated users may be
`discouraged from adding new peripherals (e.g. printers, scanners) to their home computer or
`network only to avoid the hassle of installation and configuration. Therefore, there is a need to
`provide a method where a user can more conveniently or easily output digital content to an
`output device without the inconvenience of finding and installing multiple printer drivers in order
`to support multiple output devices.
`
`Fueled by the ever-increasing bandwidth, processing power, wireless Internet, and availability of
`
`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
`
`2
`
`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
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`mobile software applications for pervasive devices, millions (if not soon billions) of users will be
`creating, downloading, and transmitting content and information using their pervasive computing
`devices or a mobile information apparatus. With computing paradigm shifting from static to
`mobile, users need a method to output mobile content anywhere with their information
`apparatus.
`
`To illustrate, a mobile worker at an airport, receiving Email in his hand-held computer (information
`apparatus) may want to walk up to a nearby printer or fax machine to have his e-mail printed. In
`addition, the mobile worker may also want to print a copy of his to do list, appointment book,
`business card, and his flight schedule from his mobile devices. As another example, a user
`reading a news article using his/her Internet-enabled pager or mobile phone may want to print out
`the complete article instead of reading it from the limited small screen on his pager or mobile
`device. Yet in another example, a user with a digital camera, after taking a picture, may want to
`easily print the picture out to a nearby printer. Still another example, a user may want to simply
`walk up to a printer with a mobile device and conveniently prints his/her PowerPoint, Word
`document, PDF, HTML, JPEG etc. stored in his/her mobile device or downloaded from a network
`(e.g. Internet, corporate network). It is further desirable if a user can output directly and
`conveniently content and information from their pervasive information apparatus, without
`depending for example on synchronizing with a static PC for output. Nor should output process
`and application be limited to only more powerful computing devices such as desktops and
`laptops.
`
`Conventional printing method may pose significantly higher challenge and difficulty for mobile
`device users than for home and office users. The requirement for pre-installation of device-
`dependent driver is in conflict with the concept of pervasive computing and output. As
`mentioned in the above examples, a mobile user may want to print his e-mail, PowerPoint, web
`page, or other document at airport, in airplane, gas station, convenient store, kiosk, hotel,
`conference room, office, and at home. It is highly unlikely that the user finds at each of these
`locations printer of the same make and model. It is usually not a viable option to pre-install
`multiple (hundreds if not thousands) printer drivers in the user's information apparatus with
`limited memory space and processing power. Alternatively, a user may have to install and
`configure a printer driver each time at each of these locations before printing to every new
`printer encountered. The user may not want to be bothered with looking for a driver or
`downloading and installing it just to print out one page of email at the airport. This is certainly an
`
`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
`
`3
`
`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
`
`

`

`undesirable and discouraging process to promote pervasive or mobile computing. Therefore, it is
`desirable if there is a single device driver or application with a process or method that can act as
`a "universal driver" or "universal application" that can output to a plurality of output devices even
`if the output devices are of different make and model and may require different input print data.
`
`Another challenge for mobile users is that many mobile information apparatus may have limited
`memory space, processing capacity, display screen and power supply. These limitations are
`more apparent for small and low-cost mobile devices including, for example, PDAs, mobile
`phones, screen phones, pagers, e-books, Internet Pads, Internet appliances etc. Limited memory
`space poses difficulties in installing and running large or complete printer drivers, not to mention
`multiple drivers. Furthermore, mobile computing devices with low processing power and memory
`space may have difficulty running output application software or dedicated printer driver's
`originally designed for more powerful static PCs. Running these applications or drivers may
`become too slow for practical use. It is therefore desirable if a single small-sized driver (universal
`driver or client application of present invention) can drive and output to multiple output devices. It
`is also desirable to have an output application (or driver) that allows any computing device
`(information apparatus), including those mobile devices having limited memory, processing
`capability, and power, to conveniently output to an output device. There is a need for a new
`output application, method and or process with less processing and computational requirements.
`
`Even with more powerful computers such as laptop and desktop, an application or driver that can
`output or support plurality of different output devices is of benefit. A user sometimes may not
`have a particular dedicated printer driver installed for a variety of reasons. In this case, it is still
`desirable for these more powerful computing devices to have a backup driver or application
`(universal driver or universal application of present invention) that a user can use to drive or
`output to an output device.
`
`As known in prior art, there are two typical output processes and methods. The first output
`method relates to a printer containing printer controller such as a Postscript controller. Raster
`image process in this first case typically runs in the printer controller. The second output method
`relates to lower-cost printer such as inkjet printer. This type of printer may not have a printer
`controller, and therefore, the raster image process typically runs in an application software or
`printer driver within an information apparatus.
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`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
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`4
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`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
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`For The first type of printer - a printer containing a printer controller, output process starts with a
`printer driver generating a print data such as a page description language -PDL (e.g. Postscript,
`PCL etc.). Other types of languages or formats are also possible. To illustrate as an example of
`the output process, the page description language (e.g. Postscript) file is sent to a printer (e.g.
`Postscript printer) equipped with printer controller (Postscript controller in this example) for
`output. The printer controller can be externally connected or internally installed within a printer.
`The printer controller interprets input page description language, and may rasterize or renders the
`input print data (a POL) into an output image suitable as an input to the printer engine. One
`drawback to this approach is that page description languages such as Postscript and PCL were
`not originally designed for small mobile computing devices in a pervasive paradigm to output to a
`variety of output device. Known PDL's such as Postscript, PCL among others may be too
`complex and may contain much redundant information that are not practical for optimal
`performance for mobile computing devices having limited processing power and memory. The
`many drawbacks for this type of output device and process may include one or combination of the
`following:
`
`First, a printer driver or application in information apparatus generating complex page description
`languages may be too big to fit and run in a variety of mobile computing devices having limited
`processing power and memory.
`
`Second, page description language file size generated (e.g. Postscript and PCL) can itself be
`quite large for mobile devices. Page description language such as Postscript and others are
`conventionally designed to be device independent. To achieve device independence, the page
`description language may contain and preserve much information and descriptions relating to the
`original digital document, as a result the output POL may have a larger file and/or data size. This
`relatively large amount of information is transmitted from information apparatus to printer. Large
`file size may require more bandwidth in the communication link between output device and
`printer. It may also require large memory space in the printer or printer controller for buffering of
`print data. This higher requirement may increase the cost of output device and/or controller as
`well as slowing down the output speed.
`
`Third, interpretation of page description language and raster image processing (RIP) can be
`complex and may require more powerful processing capability and larger memory in a printer or
`printer controller for optimal printing speed. The increased computing requirement may increase
`
`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
`
`5
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`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
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`the cost of printer or printer controller (e.g. Postscript, PCL controller) as processor power,
`memory and components requirements are increased.
`
`Fourth, the page description languages, as known in the prior art, may not solve completely the
`problem of pervasive universal printing. Developing a driver for a particular page description
`language such as a Postscript driver, PCL driver among others may still require customization for
`different printers such as configuring device dependent parameters. Therefore, in many
`instances, a Postscript driver developed for a specific printer may still not become completely
`compatible to drive different Postscript printers of different make, brand or model.
`
`Finally, printer controller, which processes device independent page description languages, may
`require installation of multiple fonts. If certain font such as international characters is not
`supported in the printer controller the output result generated by the output device may become
`inaccurate. Installing multiple fonts may increase the cost of the controller.
`
`The second type of known output process and method relates to lower-cost printer such as inkjet
`printer. This type of lower-cost printer may not have a printer controller. Prior art method and
`process of output for this type of lower-cost printers is to have a printer driver or application
`software performing entire raster image processing operations in the information apparatus for
`output. The raster image processing operation converts a digital document into a final rasterized
`print data. This final rasterized print data may often be a halftoned image, which can usually be
`used as a direct input to the printer engine with little or no further processing required. One
`drawback of this approach is that it may require the information apparatus have high processing
`power for performing the entire raster image processing operations. For many mobile pervasive
`devices, however, there may be limitations in memory or processing capability. These mobile
`devices may not be able to generate the final print data in a desired or suitable output speed.
`Therefore, there is a need for a new application or device driver and a new output process, which
`place less processing, or computation requirement on the information apparatus when compared
`to current prior art application, driver, process, and or method.
`
`In present invention, the printer driver or client applications may perform a partial raster image
`processing operation. Time-consuming digital halftoning as well as color matching and
`correction among others may be partially or completely skipped to generate the print data of
`present invention. The output image print data is sent to the output controller of present
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`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
`
`6
`
`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
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`invention for further processing, which may include halftoning and Color correction among
`others.
`
`Objects and advantages of the invention
`It is therefore an object of present invention to provide a method of raster image process for
`pervasive output where processing load can be more balanced between Information apparatus
`and output device. Present RIP (raster image process) provide less processing requirement for
`information apparatus than prior art techniques.
`
`It is also an object of present invention to provide mobile user with universal output capability. A
`user equipped with a driver or client application of present invention can output to different
`output devices of different brand, make, model and having different input print data
`requirements. Unlike prior art, there is no need to preinstall multiple dedicated printer drivers or
`applications for each different device in users' information apparatus. Mobile device users may
`benefit with the new output capability. While static desktop users may benefit from the universal
`drive capability of present invention as a backup device driver.
`
`It is another object of present invention to provide output capability to small and lower-cost
`mobile devices with limited memory space, power supply and processing capability. Present
`invention provides a smaller-sized driver or client application and a less computation-intensive
`raster imaging process when compared to prior art drivers or application for output to a plurality
`of output devices.
`
`Another benefit and object of present invention is that the new output process and raster image
`process of present invention provides a lower-cost implementation for output controller and or
`printer controller than prior art; and as a result, the output device may also be of lower-cost than
`prior art. Prior art implementation of printer controller such as Postscript controller, PCL
`controller among others may have higher computation requirements than present invention and
`therefore, may require higher component cost such as, memory and processor.
`
`It is still another object of present invention to provide an output method that transmits smaller
`sized print data from information apparatus to output device when compared to existing page
`description languages such as Postscript and PCL among others. Small-sized print data may
`speedup transmission, lower bandwidth requirement and memory requirement.
`
`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
`
`7
`
`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
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`Still, it is another object of present invention to send partially or totally rasterized print data to
`output device or output controller. The partially or totally rasterized print data of present
`invention reduces the workload of output device (or printer controller or output controller) and
`therefore lowers its cost. Furthermore, doing rasterization in user's information apparatus
`eliminates the need to install various founts in output device or output controller.
`
`It is another object of present invention to provide a convenient method allowing users to output
`to an output device with or without connection to a static network. Through local communication
`and synchronization between information apparatus and output device, hardware and software
`installation for static network connectivity may not be necessary for the output device.
`
`It is finally another object of present invention to provide output capability for mobile devices with
`smaller processing capability and memory to output to low-cast printers such as the inkjet
`printer. Present invention provides a less computation intensive raster imaging process in the
`client application or printer driver when compared ta the original dedicated printer driver or
`application. Original dedicated printer driver or application may require time-consuming digital
`halftoning among others in its raster image processing steps.
`
`Detailed description
`Before describing in detail the components and method of the output process of present
`invention, it is useful to explain some definitions of the terms that are used in the following
`discussion. These definitions are to facilitate discussion, understanding, and illustration of
`present invention disclosure. In no way, this should be construed as limiting the scope to a
`particular example, class, or category.
`
`1.Printer profile
`Printer profile may refer to a software and or data entity, which may encapsulate within itself both
`data and attributes describing an output device and the instructions for operating that data. A
`printer profile may reside in different hardware environments or platforms or applications. Printer
`profile may be transported in the form of a file, a message, a software object or component
`among other forms and techniques.
`
`A printer profile may contain a number of attributes, which may identify and describe, for
`
`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
`
`8
`
`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
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`example, the identity, capabilities, functionalities and or input requirements of a particular output
`device such as a printer. By way of example, an information apparatus requesting output service
`may communicate (described later) with an output device to obtain at least a partial printer profile
`from the output device. By obtaining printer profile, the information apparatus may learn about
`device dependent parameters, such as capability, compatibility, input requirement, identification,
`and service provided by that output device.
`
`2.
`
`As an example, a printer profile may contain one or more of the following fields and or attribute
`descriptions. Each of following field may be optional, and furthermore, each of the following field
`or attribute may or may not exist in a particular implementation (e.g. empty or NULL).
`1. The types of input language, format, and or print data supported (e.g. Postscript, PCL, XML,
`RTL, etc.) by an output device.
`Identification of an output device (e.g. brand, model, identification number, registration, IP
`address etc.)
`3. Services and feature sets provided by an output device (e.g. color or grayscale output, laser
`or inkjet, duplex, output quality, price per page, quality of service etc.)
`4. Device specific parameters including, for example, information such as color tables,
`resolution, halftoning methods, dpi, bit depth, page size, printing speed, number of
`independent colors or ink etc.
`5. Data and tables needed for image processing such as color table, halftone table, scale factor,
`encoding/decoding parameters and methods, compression and decompression parameters
`and method etc.
`6. Payment information on a plurality of services provided by the output device.
`Information or security requirements and type of authentication an output device supports.
`7.
`8. Date and version of the printer profile, history of its modification and updates.
`9. Software components. Software components may contain algorithm or instructions, which
`may be uploaded to run in an information apparatus (described later in FIG 1). For example,
`a graphical user interface (GUI) software component may be uploaded to an information
`apparatus. The software component may be incorporated into or launched by a client
`application residing in an information apparatus to capture user's preferences (e.g. print
`quality, page layout, number of copies, number of card per page, etc.). In another example,
`software components may include methods, instructions or executables for
`compression/decompression, encoding/decoding, color matching or correction,
`segmentation, scaling, halftoning, encryption/decryption among others.
`
`William H. Chang
`16900 SE 26th Driver, #94
`Vancouver, WA 98683
`
`9
`
`Docket No.: FLX00P0006
`Express Mail No.: EK692265665US
`Deposited January 19, 2001
`
`ROKU EXH. 1006
`
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`1 0. A pointer or reference where one or combination of the items listed above may be found. For
`example, sometime a more up-to-date or original version of printer profile may be stored in a
`network node ( a network node may be any device, server, or storage location that is
`connected to the network) or within the information apparatus where the client application can
`obtain. A printer profile may include both information described in the above items 1-9) or
`pointer or pointers to such information, or combination.
`
`2. The metafile or output file of present invention
`It is important to note that the metafile used and described in present disclosure, although may
`include, is not restricted to the metafile term commonly known or defined such as WMF (Windows
`Metafile), EMF (Enhanced Metafile), and CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile) etc. For simplicity
`of describing present invention, we use the term metafile as defined below.
`
`The term metafile used in present invention refers to the broader definition of an output file or
`intermediate print data generated by the client application or printer driver of present invention.
`We may also sometime refer to metafile as output file or print data in the following discussion.
`The intermediate print data or metafile may be sent from information apparatus to an output
`device through wired or wireless transmission. A metafile can be in the form of a page description
`language, markup language, graphics format, imaging format, or conventional metafile or
`combination among others. The metafile may contain textual, graphical, and or pictorial content or
`combination. Content of metafile may be described in vector, images and special coding such as
`those for text and symbol information. A metafile may also contain instructions (e.g. output
`preferences) and descriptions (e.g. data layout) among others. Content information describing
`the output image in an output file or metafile may be compressed, encrypted or encoded.
`
`An output file (metafile) of present invention preferably contain rasterized image. Although it may
`also contain text and vector graphics information, for best mode of present invention, it is
`preferred that vector graphics and text information be rasterized into image data. The rasterized
`output image may become device dependent if the rasterization parameter