Abstract: An estimation system provides consumable use estimations, such as for ink or toner, in printing operations. The estimation system uses a classification-based consumable use process to estimate the consumable use. A print job is assigned a classification category according to an arbitrary job category selected for the print job and a job property defined for the print job using job settings. An estimate is provided using the classification category and the distribution of the consumable use for print jobs in the category. The estimate is adjusted by a consumable use adjustment factor that reflects the amount of ink or toner disposed of during container replacement or wasted during printing operations. Estimation system also uses a size-agnostic consumable use estimation process based on the average consumable use for a specified imageable unit area.

Abstract: A printing device comprises a housing, a communication interface configured to communicate with a server, and a controller. The printing device is configured to operate either in a contract mode or in a normal mode. The housing is configured such that one or more consumables including a first type consumable and a second type consumable are attachable. The first type consumable is dedicated for the contract printing, and the second type consumable is usable for printing in both the contract mode and the normal mode. The controller is configured to activate the contract mode in response to an activation instruction from the server. In a case where the second type consumable is attached to the housing when the contract mode is activated, the controller changes a state of the printing device to a contract printing state in which the contract printing is activated after activating the contract mode.

Abstract: A consumables management system includes a plurality of printers in each of which a consumables container is installed and each of which is configured to consume consumables contained in the consumables container, and a management unit connected via a network to the plurality of printers. The management unit manages container identification information assigned to the consumables container, device identification information assigned to each of the plurality of printers, and user identification information assigned to the user of each of the plurality of printers in association with one another.

Abstract: An image forming system executes determination processing with an intensity of an image editing process being a first intensity and a determination threshold being a first value and does not execute the determination processing with the intensity of the image editing process being the first intensity and the determination threshold being a second value. The system executes the determination processing with the intensity of the image editing process being a second intensity greater than the first intensity and the determination threshold being the first value and does not execute the determination processing with the intensity of the image editing process being the second intensity and the determination threshold being the second value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of transmitting paper attribute information set during job interruption. The image forming apparatus, which has an image forming device and a paper feeding part storing paper and is communicable with a management server, holds paper attribute information in association with the paper feeding part, executes an image forming job that causes the image forming device to perform a series of image forming using the paper stored in the paper feeding part, generates an execution log of the image forming job based on the attribute information, and when the attribute information corresponding to the paper feeding part is changed during the execution of the image forming job, generates an execution log including the attribute information before/after the change and transmits the generated execution log to the management server.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for the sending, delivery and receiving of faxes are disclosed herein. In particular, certain embodiments include a fax connector that may be deployed at a user's site, and a faxing system that may be deployed remotely from the user's site. The fax connector can be accessed at the user's site over a computer based network in order to perform functions associated with faxing, including sending, receiving and obtaining status on faxes. The fax connector deployed at the user's site communicates with the remotely deployed faxing system to send, receive, obtain status on, or perform other functions associated with, faxing.

Abstract: A method for processing a print job by a printing system and a finishing system resulting in an end product is disclosed. The printing system includes a print controller. The finishing system is an in-line or near-line finishing system and includes a finishing controller for controlling the finishing process by means of a collection of finishing templates stored in memory of the finishing controller. The printing system and the finishing system are connected via a digital connection.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a frame, a conveying roller, a reading section, a first guide member, a second guide member, a supporting section, and a locking section. The conveying roller conveys a sheet along a conveying path. The reading section is supported rotatably around a first turning axis. The reading section reads an image on the sheet in a reading position in the conveying path. The first guide member is provided in the reading section. The second guide member is provided in a position opposed to the first guide member across the conveying path. A first end portion of the supporting section is supported to be rotatable around a second turning axis. The locking section is locked to a portion between the first end portion and a second end portion in the supporting section. The locking section rotates in a first direction around the first turning axis.

Abstract: A multi-function device (MFD) is disclosed. For example, the MFD includes a communication interface to establish a communication path with a network, a user interface to display a plurality of fields associated with different settings of a configuration file of the MFD, a processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions. The instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to detect selection of a field associated with a setting of the configuration file, establish a connection with at least one networked MFD on the network, query the at least one networked MFD for a value used in the field associated with the setting of the configuration file that is selected, receive the value from the at least one networked MFD, and populate the field with the value.

Abstract: A printing device is disclosed. For example, the printing device includes a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive selections for settings of a print job, save the selections as a print queue, and generate a machine readable code that contains the selections for the print queue.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a nonvolatile semiconductor storage configured to store image data and a processor configured to generate a command to be executed by the semiconductor storage. The information processing apparatus further includes a volatile memory configured to store the command generated by the processor in one queue of a plurality of queues that includes at least a first queue and a second queue. The semiconductor storage confirms the presence of a command stored in the first queue before confirming the presence of a command stored in the second queue. A command to be stored in the first queue is a first type of command related to image data.

Abstract: Provided are an information processing program that can efficiently search for an information processing device having a camera function and an information processing device. According to one embodiment, an information processing program causes a computer of an information communication device that communicates with one or more information processing devices to execute information processes, and the information processes include: acquiring device information output from the information processing device; generating a first device list based on first information on the information processing device and second information on an imaging device corresponding to the information processing device, included in the device information; and outputting the first device list to a display unit of the information communication device.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a digital printer that includes a media transport and an electronic imager disposed in a path of the media transport are presented. The techniques include: receiving an electronic image of a media sheet obtained by the electronic imager; identifying, from the electronic image of the media sheet, a print-prohibited region of the media sheet; generating a mask representing the print-prohibited region of the media sheet; and electronically storing in electronic persistent memory, in association with an identification of a type of the media sheet, a template comprising information regarding the media sheet type, where the template includes an identification of the print-prohibited region represented by the mask.

Abstract: The present image forming apparatus selects an appropriate connection method in accordance with circumstances from a plurality of connection methods when communication with an information processing apparatus is established by short-range wireless communication, and notifies information necessary for performing communication by the selected connection method to the information processing apparatus via short-range wireless communication.

Abstract: A storage medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute: a display step of displaying a first image and a second image on a page on a screen provided by a first application program in response to a predetermined user operation being performed on a screen provided by a second application program that is different from the first application program; and an instruction step of selecting a print apparatus that prints the page in response to a specific user operation being performed on the screen and instructing the print apparatus to print, in which setting sizes of the first image and second image displayed on the page on the screen provided by the first application program in the display step are respectively controlled to be a first size and a second size that are set in the second application program.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image forming section configured to form an image on a sheet and is capable of communicating with a server. The image forming section executes a series of an image formation job including a first step for forming an image on a sheet having a first attribute and a second step for forming an image on a sheet having a second attribute different from the first attribute after the first step. History information of the image formation job, which enables identification of switching timing between the first step and the second step, is acquired and notified to the server.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus that can appropriately adjust the printing order even if there are unpresented jobs by filtering. An instruction acquiring unit filters the plurality of jobs according to a specific condition, presents a job list in which only filtered job is arranged in printing order, and acquires an instruction to change the printing order for selected job. A list expanding unit expands and presents at least part of unpresented job that is not presented by the filtering by the instruction acquiring unit in the job list when a specific time has elapsed while the selected job exists. A list adjusting unit adjusts the printing order in the job list according to the instruction having the unpresented job expanded by the list expanding unit. An image forming unit respectively outputs the plurality of jobs in the printing order.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately setting and adjusting the order of printing jobs by considering of filtering. An instruction acquiring unit that performs filtering the plurality of jobs under a specific condition, presents a job list in which presented jobs are selected and arranged in printing order, and it acquires an instruction to change the printing order. An internal priority setting unit sets an internal priority different from the set priority specified for each of the plurality of jobs based on the change instruction. The internal priority setting unit, in a case of moving the job instructed by the change instruction in the job list, when there is an unpresented job by the filtering, presents the existence of the unpresented job, and sets the internal priority according to a move instruction to whether or not to skip and move the unpresented job.

Abstract: A first controller of an image forming apparatus executes a remote display control. The remote display control is control of, in response to receiving a start request from one of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, controlling a requesting information processing apparatus to display a remote screen. A second controller of the requesting information processing apparatus displays the remote screen in accordance with the remote display control by the first controller. A determination controller determines whether the remote display control is currently executed by a previous request.

Abstract: A system for accurately managing the consumables of a network of printers. The system monitors the printers in the network, collects data relating to operation of the printers, determines the current state of the printers regarding at least one consumable, and uses the data and the current state of the printers to predict when at least one consumable of at least one printer of the network will need to be replaced.