Abstract: A delivery system including an information processing apparatus operated by a user, a printing apparatus and a server that instructs delivery of a consumable of the printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus requests screen information for making a contract related to the delivery of the consumable to the server, displays a screen based on the screen information received from the server, and transmit registration information input on the screen to the server. The server creates the screen information and transmits the screen information to the information processing apparatus, makes a contract of the delivery of the consumable to be used in the printing apparatus with the user, based on the registration information, and delivers the consumable to the user when a remaining amount of the consumable is less than a predetermined amount in the printing apparatus.

Abstract: An image communication apparatus has, as operation states, a first power state and a second power state with lower power consumption than the first power state. The apparatus comprises a ringing unit that rings according to an predetermined incoming signal from an external; a setting unit that sets whether the ringing unit rings according to the predetermined incoming signal or not; and a control unit that shifts the operation state from the first power state to the second power state based on at least the setting set by the setting unit.

Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent degradation of printing performance and also respond to a connection request. To do so, there is provided a controlling method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: determining whether or not a connection destination is a connection destination periodically transmitting a situation inquiry after transmitting data; and controlling to continue connection to the connection destination in a case where it is determined that the connection destination is the connection destination periodically transmitting the situation inquiry, and controlling to disconnect the connection to the connection destination in a case where it is determined that the connection destination is not the connection destination periodically transmitting the situation inquiry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus including a standby state and a power saving state in which power consumption is lower than in the standby state, the printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that integrally controls the apparatus; a plurality of engines for providing functions of the apparatus; and a power source control unit that controls power supply to the control unit and the plurality of engines in accordance with the standby state and the power saving state, wherein, when the apparatus is caused to transition to the standby state from the power saving state, the power source control unit controls power in the standby state after it is confirmed that the plurality of engines can return to the standby state.

Abstract: A delivery system including an information processing apparatus operated by a user, a printing apparatus and a server that instructs delivery of a consumable of the printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus requests screen information for making a contract related to the delivery of the consumable to the server, displays a screen based on the screen information received from the server, and transmit registration information input on the screen to the server. The server creates the screen information and transmits the screen information to the information processing apparatus, makes a contract of the delivery of the consumable to be used in the printing apparatus with the user, based on the registration information, and delivers the consumable to the user when a remaining amount of the consumable is less than a predetermined amount in the printing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus including a standby state and a power saving state in which power consumption is lower than in the standby state, the printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that integrally controls the apparatus; a plurality of engines for providing functions of the apparatus; and a power source control unit that controls power supply to the control unit and the plurality of engines in accordance with the standby state and the power saving state, wherein, when the apparatus is caused to transition to the standby state from the power saving state, the power source control unit controls power in the standby state after it is confirmed that the plurality of engines can return to the standby state.

Abstract: A printer for use in an image forming system including a local area network (LAN) interface for communicating with a server, a printer engine, and an operation unit includes a control unit including a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory such as a random access memory (RAM), and the control unit is capable of performing processing to store a server printing setting flag and notification processing to perform notification to prompt a user to give a setting instruction if an internal time is detected to be initialized and the server printing setting flag is stored.

Abstract: An image communication apparatus has, as operation states, a first power state and a second power state with lower power consumption than the first power state. The apparatus comprises a ringing unit that rings according to an predetermined incoming signal from an external; a setting unit that sets whether the ringing unit rings according to the predetermined incoming signal or not; and a control unit that shifts the operation state from the first power state to the second power state based on at least the setting set by the setting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing unnecessary replacement of a toner cartridge when a drum part is replaced. The toner cartridge supplies toner. The drum part uses the toner supplied from the toner cartridge as lubricant when the drum part performs a first time operation after it has been mounted. The toner cartridge and the drum part are removably mounted. The image forming apparatus detects a value indicative of the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge and a value indicative of the remaining lifetime of the drum part. When the value indicative of the remaining lifetime is not larger than a predetermined threshold value, replacement of the drum part is notified. Contents of the notification are changed according to the value indicative of the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent degradation of printing performance and also respond to a connection request. To do so, there is provided a controlling method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: determining whether or not a connection destination is a connection destination periodically transmitting a situation inquiry after transmitting data; and controlling to continue connection to the connection destination in a case where it is determined that the connection destination is the connection destination periodically transmitting the situation inquiry, and controlling to disconnect the connection to the connection destination in a case where it is determined that the connection destination is not the connection destination periodically transmitting the situation inquiry.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing unnecessary replacement of a toner cartridge when a drum part is replaced. The toner cartridge supplies toner. The drum part uses the toner supplied from the toner cartridge as lubricant when the drum part performs a first time operation after it has been mounted. The toner cartridge and the drum part are removably mounted. The image forming apparatus detects a value indicative of the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge and a value indicative of the remaining lifetime of the drum part. When the value indicative of the remaining lifetime is not larger than a predetermined threshold value, replacement of the drum part is notified. Contents of the notification are changed according to the value indicative of the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge.

Abstract: A printer for use in an image forming system including a local area network (LAN) interface for communicating with a server, a printer engine, and an operation unit includes a control unit including a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory such as a random access memory (RAM), and the control unit is capable of performing processing to store a server printing setting flag and notification processing to perform notification to prompt a user to give a setting instruction if an internal time is detected to be initialized and the server printing setting flag is stored.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus dynamically determines the next communication timing with a server to thereby increase a power saving effect by preventing unnecessary release of the power saving state. The image forming apparatus having a first power state and a second power state in which power is saved more than in the first power state, and having a plurality of functions of periodically communicating with an external apparatus. A remaining time before the image forming apparatus next communicates with the external apparatus is calculated for each of the plurality of functions of periodically communicating with the external apparatus. There is set, in a timer, the shortest one from among the calculated plurality of remaining times. A power state of the image forming apparatus transits from the second power state to the first power state according to the remaining time set in the timer.

Abstract: When calculating a toner consumption amount that is based on a dot count value of raster data, the toner consumption amount can be estimated more accurately by taking into consideration density control as well as pulse width control, which are used as part of image formation processing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus dynamically determines the next communication timing with a server to thereby increase a power saving effect by preventing unnecessary release of the power saving state. The image forming apparatus having a first power state and a second power state in which power is saved more than in the first power state, and having a plurality of functions of periodically communicating with an external apparatus. A remaining time before the image forming apparatus next communicates with the external apparatus is calculated for each of the plurality of functions of periodically communicating with the external apparatus. There is set, in a timer, the shortest one from among the calculated plurality of remaining times. A power state of the image forming apparatus transits from the second power state to the first power state according to the remaining time set in the timer.

Abstract: An image forming system includes receiving units that receive sheet settings and a setting of a mode for reducing toner scattering, a first setting unit setting, according to received sheet settings, a conveyance speed of a sheet when performing an image forming process, a second setting unit setting, according to a received setting of a mode for reducing toner scattering, a transfer voltage of a recording material when performing an image forming process, and an image forming unit that performs an image forming process according to the received sheet setting, a set conveyance speed, and a set transfer voltage, wherein the second setting unit sets, when a mode for reducing toner scattering is received, a first transfer voltage when a first conveyance speed is set and a second transfer voltage, lower than the first transfer voltage, when a second conveyance speed is lower than the first conveyance speed.

Abstract: When calculating a toner consumption amount that is based on a dot count value of raster data, the toner consumption amount can be estimated more accurately by taking into consideration density control as well as pulse width control, which are used as part of image formation processing.

Abstract: An image forming system includes receiving units that receive sheet settings and a setting of a mode for reducing toner scattering, a first setting unit setting, according to received sheet settings, a conveyance speed of a sheet when performing an image forming process, a second setting unit setting, according to a received setting of a mode for reducing toner scattering, a transfer voltage of a recording material when performing an image forming process, and an image forming unit that performs an image forming process according to the received sheet setting, a set conveyance speed, and a set transfer voltage, wherein the second setting unit sets, when a mode for reducing toner scattering is received, a first transfer voltage when a first conveyance speed is set and a second transfer voltage, lower than the first transfer voltage, when a second conveyance speed is lower than the first conveyance speed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus provided with a mechanism capable of selecting an appropriate one of a plurality of applicable cleaning methods so as to clean a pressure roller of a fixing device. The printing apparatus conveys a sheet from a sheet feeder and performs cleaning of the fixing device using the conveyed sheet, by a first cleaning method or a second cleaning method more effective than the first cleaning method. When the number of printed sheets is smaller than a first threshold value, a first cleaning process is performed on the fixing device by the first cleaning method, whereas when the number of sheets printed is not smaller than the first threshold value, a second cleaning process is performed on the fixing device by the second cleaning method.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus rotationally moves a plurality of recording material storage units that store a recording material and includes a moving unit configured to move the recording material storage unit to a replacement position, and a detection unit configured to detect an in-motion status in which the recording material storage unit is moving to the replacement position. In addition, a determination unit determines either a first state or a second state of the image forming apparatus as the state of the image forming apparatus that is to replace the in-motion status and should be reported to a user when the detection unit detects the in-motion status should not be reported to a user.