Abstract: Client systems use a scanner to convert a paper form of a document to a digital representation and then send the digital representation over a network to a host system for storage. The host system archives the digital representation and determines the appropriate processing stream for a transaction related to the paper document, via a decisioning engine, based on a set of predefined stream selection rules. The host system then communicates the transaction to a back end transaction destination, according to the selected processing stream, using a hierarchy for coordinating the configuration of the host and client systems as well as coordinating the settlement process for the digital representations.

Abstract: Image formation free from quality degradation is achieved by selecting whether to perform correction of color shift before or after a halftone process. When the amount of color shift is determined as larger than a predetermined threshold value, the halftone process is executed before a color shift correction process. On the other hand, when the amount of color shift is determined as equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the halftone process is executed after the color shift correction process. That is, with the large amount of color shift, the image degradation as a result of not being able to keep the number of screen lines when the correction of color shift is performed before the halftone process looks more conspicuous than the case with the correction of color shift after the halftone process.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus executes controls relating to image formation in a dispersed manner without centralization. A printer part of the image forming apparatus includes a laser module, an image process module, a paper-feed cassette module, a conveyance module, a both-side module, a fixing module, a paper discharge module and a shared data module. Each module stores operation condition information, indicating its operation condition in the shared data module, and executes autonomously a specific operation by referring to operation parameters and the operation condition information indicating the operation conditions of the modules, stored in the shared data module.

Abstract: A clustered-dot screen design method, a device to perform the clustered-dot screen design method based on human vision characteristics and printer model characteristics, and an image-forming apparatus to output binary images using designed screens. The clustered-dot screen design method based on the human vision characteristics and the printer model characteristics includes determining positions of a plurality of clustered-dot centers using a predetermined method, and designing a screen by growing specific sub-dots about the cluster centers using a predetermined algorithm according to position information of the cluster centers, the human vision characteristics, and the printer model characteristics.

Abstract: A disclosed image processing device includes: a media connecting portion including a first surface and a second surface forming a space for housing a protrusion type storage medium whose body protrudes from the media connecting portion and an insertion type storage medium whose body is inserted into the media connecting portion; a protrusion type slot portion for protrusion type storage media formed on the first surface; and an insertion type slot portion for insertion type storage media formed on the second surface. An insertion direction in the protrusion type slot portion is substantially orthogonal to an insertion direction in the insertion type slot portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of increasing printing efficiency by simplifying the calibration operation in time zones during which the frequency of use of the apparatus is high. An image forming apparatus has a plurality of calibration modes set in advance on a time zone-by-time zone basis for operating days. A printer controller determines a day of week and time of day, and selects one of the calibration modes associated with the day of week and time of day. The controller performs cumulative counting of sheets color-printed after a preceding calibration, and determines whether or not calibration in the selected calibration mode should be executed, from a cumulative count value of color-printed sheets and the selected calibration mode. The calibration in the selected calibration mode is executed in response to the determination that the calibration should be executed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which performs image processing includes: a computing unit equipped with a plurality of arithmetic units each of which performs calculations based on a supplied microprogram; a storage unit adapted to store correspondence information between image processing and allocation of the plurality of arithmetic units to modules involved in the image processing; an acquisition unit adapted to acquire allocation information about allocations to the modules involved in image processing to be performed, from the storage unit; and a supply unit adapted to supply microprograms corresponding to processes of the modules involved in the image processing to be performed to the arithmetic units based on the acquired allocation information, wherein the storage unit stores the correspondence information according to device configuration of the image processing apparatus, and the acquisition unit acquires the allocation information according to the device configuration of the image processing apparatu

Abstract: A method is provided for improving printing performance of a print job from a Graphics Device Interface (GDI) based Windows® application submitted to an XPSDrv printer driver which is utilized by a filter pipeline service, wherein a required conversion from an existing GDI/device driver interface (DDI) to an XML Paper Specification (XPS) performed by a GDI-to-XPS conversion unit is eliminated to reduce latency. The method includes replacing the GDI-to-XPS conversion unit with a printer graphics driver which converts DDI calls into raw spool data; and adding a dual head filter as a first filter to the filter pipeline service to handle the raw spool data generated from the printer graphics driver.

Abstract: When a replaceable unit is mounted, a CPU of an image forming apparatus recognizes whether or not a corresponding machine type code and a corresponding country code are stored in a main body NVM. When the corresponding machine type code and the corresponding country code are not stored in the main body NVM, the CPU reads a machine type code and a country code stored in the unit NVM of the mounted replaceable unit from the unit NVM. The CPU stores the machine type code and the country code read from the unit NVM in the corresponding machine type code and the corresponding country code of the main body NVM.

Abstract: System and method for creating and processing documents with variable data is disclosed. The system provides a base set of document image data residing at a first location. The base set of document image data, such as rasterized image data or image data organized in a mixed raster content (“MRC”) layer format, represents a first portion of information for a document that may not change. Further, the system obtains another set of document image data residing at a second location. The other set of document image data, which may again be rasterized image data or image data organized in an MRC layer format, represents a second portion of information for the document that may change. The system combines the base set of document image data with the other set of document image data to form a combined set of document image data for the document.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, computer program and product, each capable of controlling display based on user instruction.

Abstract: There is provided a communication device comprising: a conversion unit configured to convert first data to second data having a predetermined format; a communication interface configured to interface the communication device with a network; a transmission unit configured to transmit the second data to an external device through the communication interface; a judgment unit configured to judge whether trouble would arise with respect to transmission of the second data to be executed by the transmission unit; and a storage control unit configured to store the second data while associating identification information of the external device with the second data in response to a fact that the judgment unit judges that the trouble would arise with respect to the transmission of the second data.

Abstract: The present invention includes an image forming apparatus having an image forming portion that forms an image on a based on supplied image data, that can selectively execute a plurality of functions, and further comprises a storage device having a shared area for commonly storing information when executing any function among the plurality of functions, wherein when information that is due to be written in a shared area of the storage device based on an execution command of one function is already written in an area that is reserved for another function, the apparatus outputs a selection request relating to execution of the one function, and restricts utilization of the storage device with respect to a shared area for executing the one function in accordance with the selection result.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of this invention receives, from an image supply device, a first script “DDISCVRY.DPS” that describes the print function of the image supply device. If the first script describes support for printing by XHTML, the printing apparatus determines whether printing corresponding to the description is possible. The printing apparatus transmits a second script “HDISCVRY.DPS” that describes a print function executable by the printer to the image supply device in accordance with the determination result.

Abstract: A printer and method of managing print jobs in the printer. Print job locations are identified in the printer. Each print job being printed is always in at least one of the print job locations and the locations are monitored for entering and exiting jobs. The printer includes a job location mask for each print job. Each bit location in the job location mask corresponds to one of the print job locations and a set bit indicates the presence of a print job in a corresponding print job location. As a print job enters a location, the location issues a call and the job location mask is updated to reflect the presence of the print job in that location.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: a reading device; a display device; an operable portion; an outputting portion which outputs the image data; an image-data storing portion which successively stores a prescribed amount of the image data; a reference-range-information storing portion which stores reference-range information that is required to determine a reference range of the image data; a reference-range managing portion which determines the reference range and which successively updates the information such that the reference range is successively updated at a prescribed timing by a prescribed size; a display controlling portion which controls the display device to display the display image; a timing controlling portion which controls updating intervals at which the reference range is updated; a command detecting portion which detects a specific command; and an output-range determining portion which determines an output range of the image data.

Abstract: According to the present invention an information processing apparatus comprises: a loading unit which loads function information representing a function of the post-printing processing device; an identification unit which identifies a printing function processible by the printing device and a post-processing function processible after printing by the post-printing processing device; a display control unit which displays a setting window for setting the printing function and post-processing function; a data generation unit which generates printing data to be printed by the printing device; a setting information generation unit which generates post-processing setting information subjected to post-printing processing by the post-printing processing device; and wherein the printing data is transmitted to the printing device, and the post-processing setting information is transmitted to the post-printing processing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a mechanism to print documents having artwork with overlapping inks. One aspect of the systems and methods includes sending the document to a printer having a printer control system. The printer control system detects overlapping areas, and flattens the artwork into separate atomic regions. The system determines whether the colors in the atomic regions are available on the printer as process colors or spot colors. Unavailable spot colors are converted to process colors, and blended into a single process color. Available spot colors are retained.

Abstract: A print job often includes secret information, and information may suffer sniffing from devices that execute distributed processing of jobs, or on the network. Therefore, executing the distributed processing of a print job including secret information reduces the robustness in terms of security protection. Hence, upon reception of a job, a task manager (TM) issues, to a dynamic job scheduler (DJS), a request of target devices of distributed processing according to a security level indicating the importance level of data included in that job. The DJS notifies the TM of the target devices, and the TM transmits divided jobs to the target devices.

Abstract: Layout candidates to lay out and print a plurality of input jobs on one print sheet are created. Cutting lines on the print sheet and the number of times of rotation of the print sheet necessary in the cutting process are decided for a layout defined by each created layout candidate. Cutting difficulty corresponding to each layout candidate is calculated for each created layout candidate on the basis of the decided number of cutting lines and the decided number of times of rotation. A layout candidate having the lowest cutting difficulty among calculated cutting difficulties is selected as a layout for the jobs. Print data to print the jobs is generated on the basis of the selected layout.