Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a license management system installed in a multi-function peripheral is provided with an application or function for which confirmation of validity of a license by an external license management server which is the external device is required. The license management server sets a usage period if it is determined that a usage amount of the multi-function peripheral satisfies a permission condition. Within the usage period, the license of the desired application or function is set to be valid, and the desired application or function is set to be usable.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a control section configured to acquire job information including a type, quality, and a quantity of a job executed by the image forming apparatus, user information for specifying a user, and location information, which is address information of a server that executes a counter service for the user, calculate, from the acquired job information, a count value to be used in the image forming apparatus, display an input screen which presents the calculated count value to the user to urge the user to input executability of the job, execute the job when an input for instructing execution of the job is acquired, and transmit the calculated count value to the server.

Abstract: In a data processing system in which data to be processed is managed as processing-object data, and the processing-object data is processed in response to a designation, there are provided: data management means for managing the processing-object data together with processing-object attribute information indicative of an attribute thereof; processing designation means for designating a processing with respect to the processing-object data through a dialog performed with the user; processing execution means for executing a processing of the processing-object data in response to a designation performed by the processing designation means; and first processing result forecasting means for executing, when the dialog is performed, a forecast on a result of the processing by comparing processing-subject attribute information, which indicates an attribute of a processing to be executed by the processing execution means, with the processing-object attribute information, and for outputting to the user forecast notific

Abstract: The hierarchy of an operation screen of a digital PPC (scanner device) used as an image fetching device is set to correspond to the hierarchy of a directory in a file server for recording a scanned image file. That is, the hierarchy of the operation screen and the hierarchy of the directory are set to have a correspondence relation with respect to each other and changing points of the respective hierarchies reflect on the opposite hierarchies.

Abstract: A system and method for testing scan and fax jobs includes receiving a job request from a user to scan or fax an image, the job request including one or more parameters, providing a test image based on the one or more parameters for the job request, generating a test job based on the identified test image and the one or more parameters for the job request, and processing the test job. Information regarding the result of the execution of the test job is stored. It is then determined if the job request can be executed correctly based on the stored information.

Abstract: In a data processing system in which data to be processed is managed as processing-object data, and the processing-object data is processed in response to a designation, there are provided: data management means for managing the processing-object data together with processing-object attribute information indicative of an attribute thereof; processing designation means for designating a processing with respect to the processing-object data through a dialog performed with the user; processing execution means for executing a processing of the processing-object data in response to a designation performed by the processing designation means; and first processing result forecasting means for executing, when the dialog is performed, a forecast on a result of the processing by comparing processing-subject attribute information, which indicates an attribute of a processing to be executed by the processing execution means, with the processing-object attribute information, and for outputting to the user forecast notific

Abstract: In a data processing system in which data to be processed is managed as processing-object data, and the processing-object data is processed in response to a designation, there are provided: data management means for managing the processing-object data together with processing-object attribute information indicative of an attribute thereof; processing designation means for designating a processing with respect to the processing-object data through a dialog performed with the user; processing execution means for executing a processing of the processing-object data in response to a designation performed by the processing designation means; and first processing result forecasting means for executing, when the dialog is performed, a forecast on a result of the processing by comparing processing-subject attribute information, which indicates an attribute of a processing to be executed by the processing execution means, with the processing-object attribute information, and for outputting to the user forecast notific

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique that can retrieve the locality of documents based on a retrieval key even though electronic data of the documents to be managed do not exist, or some items of information (tag, bar-code, etc.) are not appended to the documents themselves. The present invention provides a document management system that manages information concerning the locality of documents such that the information can be retrieved based on related information which is related to the documents to be managed, the system including a related information take-in unit that takes in the related information, a locality information take-in unit that takes in locality information concerning the locality of a document whose information is taken in by the related information take-in unit, and a correspondence making unit that makes related information taken in by the related information take-in unit and locality information taken in by the locality information take-in unit correspond to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selecting a hardcopy device from a plurality of hardcopy devices to print a document includes receiving a request to print a document, and determining printer selection criteria based on attribute information associated with the document. A hardcopy device capable of performing the print request based on the printer selection criteria is automatically identified from the plurality of hardcopy devices, and the document is sent to the identified hardcopy device to be printed.

Abstract: A division/coupling process section refers to item “DOCUMENT PROCESS” in a division/coupling set information DB. If a document division/coupling process needs to be executed, division/coupling set information from the division/coupling set information DB is referred to. If scan parameters need to be referred to, the division/coupling process section refers to scan parameters from a scan parameter DB. If an inquire process needs to be executed by referring to item “EXCESS DOCUMENT PROCESS” in the division/coupling set information DB, necessary information is acquired from an input/output section through a division/coupling inquire process section. Thus, the document division/coupling is determined and executed. Information on the divided/coupled document is temporarily stored in a division/coupling buffer and also information on document registration is stored in the division/coupling buffer. The divided/coupled document is then registered into document management systems through a register process section.

Abstract: An appropriate keyword to characterize a collection of pieces of access history information is extracted without depending on the contents of documents related to the collection. In a keyword extraction apparatus for performing processing of extracting a keyword that characterizes a collection of pieces of access history information with respect to documents, the apparatus includes a keyword acquisition part that acquires a plurality of keywords from among the pieces of access history information constituting the collection, a weighting part that weights the plurality of keywords acquired based on prescribed rule information, and a specific keyword extraction part that extracts a specific keyword from among the plurality of keywords acquired based on the weights assigned to the plurality of keywords, respectively, in the weighting part.

Abstract: A system and method for determining status of one or more devices in a network includes accessing access log information for one or more devices on the network, the access log information including information about one or more events occurring at a device. A set of rules including one or more rules is applied to the access log information. The status of the one or more devices is determined based on the application of the set of rules to the access log information.

Abstract: A digital copying machine provided with both a scanner function and a printer function is used. The use of this type of machine enables a scanner apparatus to have a printout function as well. An input image can be transmitted to a final registration destination or a transfer destination and printed by operating only the scanner apparatus. Owing to this feature, the user need not check the image output to the final registration destination, the user is only required to confirm the printed image. Hence, the burden imposed on the user by the confirmation of captured images is significantly reduced.

Abstract: The hierarchy of an operation screen of a digital PPC (scanner device) used as an image fetching device is set to correspond to the hierarchy of a directory in a file server for recording a scanned image file. That is, the hierarchy of the operation screen and the hierarchy of the directory are set to have a correspondence relation with respect to each other and changing points of the respective hierarchies reflect on the opposite hierarchies.

Abstract: The hierarchy of an operation screen of a digital PPC (scanner device) used as an image fetching device is set to correspond to the hierarchy of a directory in a file server for recording a scanned image file. That is, the hierarchy of the operation screen and the hierarchy of the directory are set to have a correspondence relation with respect to each other and changing points of the respective hierarchies reflect on the opposite hierarchies.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling transmission of an e-mail message includes determining whether an e-mail message being transmitted to one or more addresses includes a link to a document, detecting each of the one or more addresses to which the e-mail message is being transmitted, and creating a common user account for the detected one or more addresses. An access right to the linked document is for each of the one or more addresses in the common user account, and the e-mail message is transmitted with the document link to each of the one or more addresses.

Abstract: A user prepares a registration destination database, a title and field map information with respect to a transfer profile. The right of access to the database by the user is confirmed. A transfer profile is registered in a transfer profile setting section. Subsequently, an operation button function setting section of a digital scanner is activated, and a transfer profile name applied to an operation button is selected. A user name as a registrant, a format of attachment of a document image, an image format at a time of document registration are set. A display icon of the operation button and a button name are input, and the operation button is registered in an operation button management database.

Abstract: In this invention, a function is added to a digital copying machine or a function of the digital copying machine is changed from a remote terminal by using a window image displayed on an operation unit of the digital copying machine. This allows an operator of the remote terminal to check the arrangement and shapes of actual operation buttons by which functions are displayed on the operation unit. It is possible to avoid choosing a wrong icon for assigning or changing a function and present changes of functions readily understandable by an operator.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which can simplify operations for input and output of document data to and from a document management system provided with a checkin and checkout function. The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus A connected to a document repository 16 provided with a checkin and checkout function for documents so as to be able to communicate with each other and inputs and outputs document data to and from the document management system, the image processing apparatus including a DMS connection processing section 12 for, in outputting the document data from the document repository 16, checking out the document data to be outputted and, in inputting a document to overwrite document data on the document repository 16, checking in the document to be inputted to overwrite the document data.

Abstract: In this invention, a function is added to a digital copying machine or a function of the digital copying machine is changed from a remote terminal by using a window image displayed on an operation unit of the digital copying machine. This allows an operator of the remote terminal to check the arrangement and shapes of actual operation buttons by which functions are displayed on the operation unit. It is possible to avoid choosing a wrong icon for assigning or changing a function and present changes of functions readily understandable by an operator.