Abstract: A system includes an external apparatus, a server having an authentication function, and an image processing apparatus that communicate with each other via a network. The system performs user authentication in the server, for a user using the system, acquires apparatus information of the external apparatus from a printing request received from the external apparatus, verifies the apparatus information in the server, and executes printing in the image processing apparatus, based on the printing request from an external apparatus corresponding to the successfully verified apparatus information, in a case where the user authentication and the verification for the external apparatus are successful.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of achieving both convenience of a user and defense against external threats is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of achieving both convenience of a user and defense against external threats is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of notifying a user that an error is caused due to a ZT mode. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of network ports that are capable of receiving job data. When the image forming apparatus receives a request for shifting the image forming apparatus to the ZT mode for limiting a communicable network port to a predetermined network port of the plurality of network ports, out of the plurality of network ports, the network ports other than the predetermined network port are blocked. The other network ports having been blocked are opened, and when any of the opened other network port receives the job data, a code indicating that a job is terminated in an error due to the ZT mode is output and notified to a user.

Abstract: A system includes an external apparatus, a server having an authentication function, and an image processing apparatus that communicate with each other via a network. The system performs user authentication in the server, for a user using the system, acquires apparatus information of the external apparatus from a printing request received from the external apparatus, verifies the apparatus information in the server, and executes printing in the image processing apparatus, based on the printing request from an external apparatus corresponding to the successfully verified apparatus information, in a case where the user authentication and the verification for the external apparatus are successful.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting replacement of a consumable to be used for image formation is provided. The replacement detection mechanism, in response to detecting replacement of the consumable is needed, counter data including a number of printed sheets using the consumable is initialized, without initialization of learning data for determining a remaining use period from a use amount in a predetermined period of the consumable.

Abstract: A method for generating bitmap image data of a page includes acquiring print data of a page including compressed images, and performing rendering of bands included in the page based on the print data to generate the bitmap image data. The performing of the rendering performs rendering at least two of the bands concurrently. The performing of the rendering includes decompressing the compressed images, and using the decompressed images for corresponding bands of the bands to generate the bitmap image data. The decompressing decompresses, into a same memory area in a decompression buffer, at least two compressed images used for different bands, so that one of the two compressed images is decompressed into the same memory area and another of the two compressed images is decompressed, after rendering of a last band for which the one of the two compressed images is lastly used is finished, into the same memory area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting replacement of a consumable to be used for image formation is provided. The replacement detection mechanism, in response to detecting replacement of the consumable is needed, counter data including a number of printed sheets using the consumable is initialized, without initialization of learning data for determining a remaining use period from a use amount in a predetermined period of the consumable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of adjusting thickness of a graphic character. An image forming apparatus including at least one controller, having one or more processors that execute instructions stored in at least one memory and/or one or more circuitries, being configured to generate an graphic object from a drawing command set for printing the graphic object included in a print job, generate a first mask image by rendering the graphic object, generate a second mask image by shifting the first mask image in a thickening direction by the number of pixels of a thickening width, generate a third mask image by logically composing the first mask image and the second mask image, convert the third mask image into intermediate data, and generate raster image by rendering of the intermediate data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of adjusting thickness of a graphic character. An image forming apparatus including at least one controller, having one or more processors that execute instructions stored in at least one memory and/or one or more circuitries, being configured to generate an graphic object from a drawing command set for printing the graphic object included in a print job, generate a first mask image by rendering the graphic object, generate a second mask image by shifting the first mask image in a thickening direction by the number of pixels of a thickening width, generate a third mask image by logically composing the first mask image and the second mask image, convert the third mask image into intermediate data, and generate raster image by rendering of the intermediate data.

Abstract: The printing apparatus of the present invention includes: a memory storing a program; at least one processor configured to execute the program and function as: an interpretation unit configured to interpret print data of the page to obtain objects contained in the page; an optimization prediction unit configured to check each of the obtained objects to identify the at least one object to be subject to the predetermined conversion process, and to predict, in accordance with the identified object, characteristics of the new objects which are to be obtained by the predetermined conversion process without performing the predetermined conversion process; and an estimation unit configured to estimate a time required for the rendering process of the page, based on at least parameter values corresponding to the predicted characteristics.

Abstract: When time required for print processing is estimated, estimation in consideration of overlap between objects is performed in such a manner that the objects are regarded as objects with a predetermined simple shape.

Abstract: When time required for print processing is estimated, estimation in consideration of overlap between objects is performed in such a manner that the objects are regarded as objects with a predetermined simple shape.

Abstract: A method for generating bitmap image data of a page includes acquiring print data of a page including compressed images, and performing rendering of bands included in the page based on the print data to generate the bitmap image data. The performing of the rendering performs rendering at least two of the bands concurrently. The performing of the rendering includes decompressing the compressed images, and using the decompressed images for corresponding bands of the bands to generate the bitmap image data. The decompressing decompresses, into a same memory area in a decompression buffer, at least two compressed images used for different bands, so that one of the two compressed images is decompressed into the same memory area and another of the two compressed images is decompressed, after rendering of a last band for which the one of the two compressed images is lastly used is finished, into the same memory area.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performing a rasterization process with a scanline method interprets a received printing job and generates objects. In an objecting combining process, the reception objects are spooled, the generated objects are interpreted, and it is subsequently determined whether or not the objects are vertically long objects to be combined into a single object. If the objects are determined to be the vertically long objects, an object combining process is performed to render the vertically long objects respectively in a longitudinal direction to form the single object.

Abstract: The printing apparatus of the present invention includes: a memory storing a program; at least one processor configured to execute the program and function as: an interpretation unit configured to interpret print data of the page to obtain objects contained in the page; an optimization prediction unit configured to check each of the obtained objects to identify the at least one object to be subject to the predetermined conversion process, and to predict, in accordance with the identified object, characteristics of the new objects which are to be obtained by the predetermined conversion process without performing the predetermined conversion process; and an estimation unit configured to estimate a time required for the rendering process of the page, based on at least parameter values corresponding to the predicted characteristics.

Abstract: A biasing force adjustment device includes: a cylindrical component having a first thread part; a reciprocate component accommodated in the cylindrical component; a biasing portion that biases the reciprocate component in a first direction; and a biasing force adjustment component that adjusts a biasing force of the biasing portion. The biasing force adjustment component has a second thread part engaged with the first thread part so as to control the position of the biasing force adjustment component relative to the cylindrical component, and a regulation part that regulates movement of the biasing force adjustment component relative to the cylindrical component by being deformed in a radial direction by external force applied in the first direction.

Abstract: One or more image processing apparatuses, one or more image processing methods and one or more storage mediums are provided herein. In at least one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire one or more objects, a check unit configured to perform check processing for checking whether to combine an object with another object, for each of a plurality of objects acquired by the acquisition unit, and a determining unit configured to determine, based on a result of the check processing for each of the plurality of objects, whether to perform the check processing for checking whether to combine an object with another object, for an object acquired subsequently to the plurality of objects by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: When time required for print processing is estimated, estimation in consideration of overlap between objects is performed in such a manner that the objects are regarded as objects with a predetermined simple shape.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performing a rasterization process with a scanline method interprets a received printing job and generates objects. In an objecting combining process, the reception objects are spooled, the generated objects are interpreted, and it is subsequently determined whether or not the objects are vertically long objects to be combined into a single object. If the objects are determined to be the vertically long objects, an object combining process is performed to render the vertically long objects respectively in a longitudinal direction to form the single object.