Abstract: An image producing device by which image data that is produced by an image producing unit is written in an external memory medium, or by which image data is read from the external memory medium and written to a device main unit of the image producing device, the device main unit includes: a record unit configured to record first identification information of image data that is written in the external memory medium; a data storage unit configured to store image data that is recorded by the record unit; and a data operation unit configured to move image data from the external memory medium to the data storage unit based on the first identification information in the record unit.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus and system include a searcher and a search responder, wherein the searcher transmits a first search-message notifying first identification-information and first group-confirmation-information to other image forming apparatuses, receives a search-response-message notifying second identification-information, and to store the second identification-information notified by the received second search-response-message in the storage.

Abstract: Image forming apparatuses are connected to a network. Each image forming apparatus communicates with remaining ones of the image forming apparatuses. An image forming section forms an image in accordance with the image information. A memory stores management information, the management information including an item of information about one of remaining ones of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. The one of remaining ones of the plurality of image forming apparatuses holds the image information therein. An information management section performs a synchronization processing in which the management information in the plurality of image forming apparatuses is updated to become identical. An image formation controlling section obtains the image information held in the one of remaining ones of the plurality of image forming apparatuses identified by the item of information, and drive the image forming section to form the image in accordance with the obtained image information.

Abstract: An input device is configured to display a software keyboard drawn by software and receive an input from a user, and includes: a touch panel unit configured to perform as a display to the user and receive an input by contact from the user; a layout information storage unit configured to store, as layout information, information about layout modes of keys included in the software keyboard displayed on the touch panel unit and display modes of the keys; a condition acceptance unit configured to accept a condition for selecting the layout information; and a software keyboard display instruction unit configured to read layout information that maintains the key layout mode while changing the display mode of some of the keys according to the condition, and to instruct the touch panel unit to display a software keyboard based on the read layout information.

Abstract: A display method for drivers is provided that executes according to printing instruction on an application, retrieving data from the application, and converting the retrieved data into printing data readable with an image forming apparatus. The display method includes the steps of executing a first driver according to the application, displaying functional information of the first driver on a display screen for the executing first driver, and displaying information regarding a second driver different from the executing first driver together with the display screen for the executing first driver. The display method allows a user to effectively select whether to acquire the second printer driver, and further allows one of the printer drivers to correspond to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an operation section by which a user selects image information and that is configured to perform an operation for the selected image information; a determination section configured to determine a display item to be displayed by the operation section based on attribute information that corresponds to the selected image information; and an operation control section configured to change the displayed item to be displayed by the operation section based on a determination result by the determination section. A method for performing an operation for image information includes: displaying a plurality of sets of image information so as to allow a user to select predetermined image information; determining a display item to be displayed, based on attribute information that corresponds to the selected image information; and changing the displayed item to be displayed, based on a determination result.

Abstract: A printing system includes an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a printer driver storage device. The information processing includes a first printer driver to operate during preparation of general print data, the image forming apparatus prints based on print data, and the printer driver storage device stores a second printer driver to operate during preparation of specific print data having an instruction specialized for the image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a printer driver acquisition unit acquiring the second printer driver, a printer connection detection unit, and a print data preparation unit preparing the print data using one of the printer drivers. The printer connection detection unit allows a user to select whether to acquire the second printer driver, allows the printer driver acquisition unit to acquire the second printer driver, and allows one of the printer drivers to correspond to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an operation section by which a user selects image information and that is configured to perform an operation for the selected image information; a determination section configured to determine a display item to be displayed by the operation section based on attribute information that corresponds to the selected image information; and an operation control section configured to change the displayed item to be displayed by the operation section based on a determination result by the determination section. A method for performing an operation for image information includes: displaying a plurality of sets of image information so as to allow a user to select predetermined image information; determining a display item to be displayed, based on attribute information that corresponds to the selected image information; and changing the displayed item to be displayed, based on a determination result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an information storage section, an operation section, an image condition information storage section, a comparison section and an operation control section. The information storage section stores image information and attribute information corresponding to the image information. The operation section has an instruction section through which a user inputs instructions for execution of a process on the image information. The image condition information storage section stores image condition information corresponding to the process. The comparison section compares the attribute information with the stored image condition information. The operation control section changes a state of the instruction section based on results of a comparison of the attribute information and the stored image condition information by the comparison section.

Abstract: An image producing device by which image data that is produced by an image producing unit is written in an external memory medium, or by which image data is read from the external memory medium and written to a device main unit of the image producing device, the device main unit includes: a record unit configured to record first identification information of image data that is written in the external memory medium; a data storage unit configured to store image data that is recorded by the record unit; and a data operation unit configured to move image data from the external memory medium to the data storage unit based on the first identification information in the record unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an information storage section, an operation section, an image condition information storage section, a comparison section and an operation control section. The information storage section stores image information and attribute information corresponding to the image information. The operation section has an instruction section through which a user inputs instructions for execution of a process on the image information. The image condition information storage section stores image condition information corresponding to the process. The comparison section compares the attribute information with the stored image condition information. The operation control section changes a state of the instruction section based on results of a comparison of the attribute information and the stored image condition information by the comparison section.

Abstract: A printing system includes an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a printer driver storage device. The information processing includes a first printer driver to operate during preparation of general print data, the image forming apparatus prints based on print data, and the printer driver storage device stores a second printer driver to operate during preparation of specific print data having an instruction specialized for the image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a printer driver acquisition unit acquiring the second printer driver, a printer connection detection unit, and a print data preparation unit preparing the print data using one of the printer drivers. The printer connection detection unit allows a user to select whether to acquire the second printer driver, allows the printer driver acquisition unit to acquire the second printer driver, and allows one of the printer drivers to correspond to the image forming apparatus.