Abstract: A network system according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of multifunction peripherals as a plurality of electronic devices having agent functions and a management server as a management apparatus. Only the agent function of one of the multifunction peripherals is enabled, and the agent function of each of the other multifunction peripherals is disabled. The multifunction peripheral having the agent function enabled acquires the status information on each of the multifunction peripherals including itself and collectively sends the status information to the management server. This prevents an increase in the network traffic. Also, as the agent function of the multifunction peripheral having the agent function with the highest capability is enabled, smooth management is achieved.

Abstract: A printing system and a printing method are provided that automatically determine a preferentially executed print job to perform printing when a requested number of prints exceeds an upper limit value of permitted number of prints. The printing system and method include a user terminal, a print apparatus, a manager terminal, and a management server connected to a network, and an upper limit value of permitted number of prints is set thereon for each user. The printing management server includes a print number calculating portion that calculates the printable number of sheets from the remainder of the permitted number of prints of a user and the number of prints necessary for a plurality of print job requests from the user, and a print job determining portion that automatically determines a prioritized print job if the printable number of sheets is insufficient.

Abstract: An apparatus to output a large variety of input data in a desired form is provided. A file of data to be output is specified from among data accumulated in a hard disk device in a data processing apparatus and an output condition is specified. It is determined whether the data can be output under the specified output condition. If the data can be output, it is output under the output condition. For example, the data is printed as an image. The data is sent to a foreign apparatus directly or sent by attaching it to an e-mail. The data is sent to a foreign storage device. If the data cannot be output, link information to access the data is sent by an e-mail.

Abstract: A printing system and a printing method are provided that automatically determine a preferentially executed print job to perform printing when a requested number of prints exceeds an upper limit value of permitted number of prints. The printing system and method include a user terminal, a print apparatus, a manager terminal, and a management server connected to a network, and an upper limit value of permitted number of prints is set thereon for each user. The printing management server includes a print number calculating portion that calculates the printable number of sheets from the remainder of the permitted number of prints of a user and the number of prints necessary for a plurality of print job requests from the user, and a print job determining portion that automatically determines a prioritized print job if the printable number of sheets is insufficient.

Abstract: An apparatus to output a large variety of input data in a desired form is provided. A file of data to be output is specified from among data accumulated in a hard disk device in a data processing apparatus and an output condition is specified. It is determined whether the data can be output under the specified output condition. If the data can be output, it is output under the output condition. For example, the data is printed as an image. The data is sent to a foreign apparatus directly or sent by attaching it to an e-mail. The data is sent to a foreign storage device. If the data cannot be output, link information to access the data is sent by an e-mail.

Abstract: A data output system is composed of i) a portable telephone provided with memory for storing data received via a communication line, and ii) an MFP provided with an interface to be connected to the portable phone, for outputting the data stored in the memory of the portable phone, wherein the portable phone includes a display section for displaying received data, and an instructing section for selecting at least one of received data displayed in the display section and instructing the MFP to output the selected data; and the MFP includes a data communication section which starts communication of data according to an output instruction given from the portable phone.

Abstract: An image processing system and method where a printer receives a print request from a printer driver which is not exclusively used for the printer. Before the printer starts printing in accordance with the print request, print mode items such as the size of a print sheet, the number of pages and a paper tray to be used, set by the printer driver, can be changed. Additional print mode setting characteristics of the printer such as execution/non-execution of sorting, execution/non-execution of stapling and execution/non-execution of punching, which cannot be made by the printer driver, can be made, from an operation panel of the printer or a printer server, without changing the position of the print job in the printing order. In a network, a digital copying machine (printer) receives a print job from on of multiple client computers connected to the network via a printer server.

Abstract: A data output system is composed of i) a portable telephone provided with memory for storing data received via a communication line, and ii) an MFP provided with an interface to be connected to the portable phone, for outputting the data stored in the memory of the portable phone, wherein the portable phone includes a display section for displaying received data, and an instructing section for selecting at least one of received data displayed in the display section and instructing the MFP to output the selected data; and the MFP includes a data communication section which starts communication of data according to an output instruction given from the portable phone.

Abstract: An external computer is connected to a main control unit of a copying machine via a control unit. The external computer starts a mode setting application and transmits various commands to the control unit. A ROM of the control unit stores a translation program and programs for data processing which cannot be performed by the copying machine. A CPU of the control unit reads necessary programs from the ROM, translates commands sent from the external computer, and transmits the translated commands to the main control unit to perform a designated copy mode. The control unit itself performs data processing which cannot be performed by the main control unit so that various copy modes are available.

Abstract: An image processing unit comprises a memory for storing original image data and a print start time therefor, and a reserve print function of reading the original image data from the memory and printing the same at the print start time. The image processing unit further has a monitor for monitoring consumed times for an interruption copy, paper supply and the like, an operator for inputting print data and a desired print end time, a computing element for operating a required time for a print operation on the basis of the print data, and a setter for setting a print start time for each original on the basis of the operating situation of the image processing unit and the required and desired end times for each original for avoiding overlapping of print operations for respective originals.

Abstract: A communication apparatus which has a function of transmitting a document and a function of receiving a document includes a first sending device for transmitting image data of the document, a password, and the communication apparatus fax number to a plurality of destinations; a sending memory for storing data relating to the plurality of destinations; a receiving memory for storing received image data and a password and a sending apparatus fax number received with the received image data; a device for indicating image data has been received with a password; a printer for printing the received image data stored in the receiving memory when an input password is identical to the password stored in the receiving memory; a reply device for retrieving the sending apparatus fax number from the receiving memory, dialing the sending communication apparatus fax number, and transmitting a reply report indicating the received image data has been printed; a receiver for receiving reply reports; a comparer for comparing th

Abstract: An operator carrying out a copy request through facsimile communication sets originals with a mark sheet at the beginning in a facsimile apparatus. Items of functions included in the facsimile apparatus of a destination side (number of copies, sheet size and the like) are entered in advance in the mark sheet. The operator of the copy request can specify the number of copies, sheet size and the like to be reproduced at the facsimile apparatus of the reception side by marking appropriate items in the mark sheet.

Abstract: An image processing unit comprises a memory for storing original image data and a print start time therefor, and a reserve print function of reading the original image data from the memory and printing the same at the print start time. The image processing unit further has a monitor for monitoring consumed times for an interruption copy, paper supply and the like, an operator for inputting print data and a desired print end time, a computing element for operating a required time for a print operation on the basis of the print data, and a setter for setting a print start time for each original on the basis of the operating situation of the image processing unit and the required and desired end times for each original for avoiding overlapping of print operations for respective originals.

Abstract: In a digital copying machine having facsimile functions, in which image data can be stored for polling transmission, use of a confirmation print mode for normal copying is inhibited by modifying the appearance of copies that are produced in the confirmation print mode. This modification can be made by altering the size of the printed image, or combining additional image data with the stored image data to produce an altered version of the document.