Abstract: In a card-making method and system, an authentication card is made from a raw card having a readable and writable information-storing portion formed therein, by forming the image on the front surface and/or back surface of the raw card and writing individual authentication information in the information-storing portion. Processing information of the raw card is written in the information-storing portion. The image is formed based on the processing information read from the information-storing portion. Individual authentication information of the authentication card is written in the information-storing portion after forming the image. In a heat treatment mechanism for cards, heat treatment is applied to a card having an information-storing portion arranged in part of a surface of a card body of a card, by using a light source as a heating source, to thereby fix an image to the card.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Abstract: There is provided an image-forming method which is capable of carrying out edge-to-edge properly on a medium such as a card, and a print medium and a sheet cartridge for use in the image-forming method. An image is printed on an ink image-receiving sheet by using a sublimable dye ink, thereby causing the sublimable dye ink to be held by the ink image-receiving sheet. The image is fixed on the medium body by heating the ink image-receiving sheet and a medium body overlaid to each other and thereby causing diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving sheet on a surface of the medium body for color development. Then, the ink image-receiving sheet is removed from the medium body having the image fixed thereon. In this image-forming method, the ink image-receiving sheet is formed to have a larger size than the medium body.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Abstract: There are provided a printing cost calculation system that is capable of efficiently and rapidly calculating accurate printing cost, by calculating an amount of coloring material consumed by a printing apparatus, based on a digital image, and receiving information of the calculation via a network, and a coloring material supply management system that is capable of efficiently and rapidly supplying coloring material, by receiving the information via the network. An amount of at least one coloring material to be consumed by a printing apparatus is calculated, based on digital image represented by discrete numerical data. Information of the amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed is received via a network. The printing cost is calculated based on the information (printing cost calculation system). The supply of the at least one coloring material to the printing apparatus is instructed based on the information (coloring material supply management system).

Abstract: There are provided an ink consumption amount-calculating method and device which are capable of calculating the amount of ink consumed accurately, an ink jet printer incorporating the device, a printing cost-calculating system capable of calculating a printing cost efficiently and promptly, and a coloring material supply management system capable of supplying at least one coloring material efficiently. On the part of a printing company, the number of times of ink ejection from an ink jet head of the ink jet printer is counted, and an amount of ink consumed is calculated based on the counted number of times of ink ejection. A management company receives information of the calculated amount of ink consumed via a network. The management company calculates a printing cost and issues an instruction for ink supply, based on the received information.

Abstract: There are provided a printing cost-calculating method, a printing cost-calculating apparatus, a printer driver, a printing apparatus, a printing system, a printing cost-calculating system and printed matter-issuing system, which are capable of efficiently and accurately calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical values. The amount of ink to be ejected for preparation of a label is calculated based on a digital image. Then, printing cost is calculated based on the calculated amount of ink to be ejected.

Abstract: In a card-making method and system, an authentication card is made from a raw card having a readable and writable information-storing portion formed therein, by forming the image on the front surface and/or back surface of the raw card and writing individual authentication information in the information-storing portion. Processing information of the raw card is written in the information-storing portion. The image is formed based on the processing information read from the information-storing portion. Individual authentication information of the authentication card is written in the information-storing portion after forming the image. In a heat treatment mechanism for cards, heat treatment is applied to a card having an information-storing portion arranged in part of a surface of a card body of a card, by using a light source as a heating source, to thereby fix an image to the card.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Abstract: There is provided an image-forming method which is capable of carrying out edge-to-edge properly on a medium such as a card, and a print medium and a sheet cartridge for use in the image-forming method. An image is printed on an ink image-receiving sheet by using a sublimable dye ink, thereby causing the sublimable dye ink to be held by the ink image-receiving sheet. The image is fixed on the medium body by heating the ink image-receiving sheet and a medium body overlaid to each other and thereby causing diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving sheet on a surface of the medium body for color development. Then, the ink image-receiving sheet is removed from the medium body having the image fixed thereon. In this image-forming method, the ink image-receiving sheet is formed to have a larger size than the medium body.

Abstract: A mobile terminal receives a paging call signal including call identification information defining identification conditions and when at least one piece of reference identification information thereof fulfills the identification conditions, the mobile terminal identifies that the received paging call signal is a call signal intended for the same. The at least one piece of reference identification information includes variable identification information. The mobile terminal receives GPS signals to determine the position of the same for changing the variable identification information based on a result of the determination of the position thereof. A mobile communications system using the mobile terminal is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece which corrects time automatically in response to external time information signals. The timepiece includes a first timekeeping circuit for keeping a standard time and a receiver for selectively receiving external signals. A checking circuit checks the external signal to determine whether it contains a time information signal and which provides a current time signal in response to receipt of a time information signal. A second timekeeping circuit receives and stores the current time signal and a setting circuit sets the second timekeeping circuit to the current time in accordance with the current time signal. A correction circuit provides a correction signal and corrects the first timekeeping circuit to the current time in accordance with the correction signal and the current time signal. The correction is applied periodically at a rate which is a function of the error and the time between sucessive reciepts of the time information signal.

Abstract: A receiver with timekeeping function for maintaining and displaying at least two different times of day which are each updated based on an external signal. The receiver includes first timekeeping circuitry for generating first time related information and second timekeeping circuitry for generating second time related information. Each time of day is represented by hours, minutes and seconds. The second time of day is further adjusted based on the adjustments made to the first time of day to insure that the second time of day does not gain or lose a minute of time.

Abstract: An analog display electronic stopwatch including at least one first hand driven during elapsed time measurement and a secondary hand driven after completion of elapsed time measurement is provided. The first hand indicates an arbitrary unit of elapsed time which is displayed during time measurement and the secondary hand indicates time in a fraction of the arbitrary time units, the secondary hand driven after elapsed time measurement. The stopwatch includes elapsed time measurement circuitry including a memory counter circuit for counting elapsed time in 1/100ths of a second and for providing a signal for driving a second and minute hand during time measurement, a secondary counter for providing a signal for driving a 1/100th second hand after completion of time measurement. The 1/100th second hand is driven to indicate the elapsed time under one second as determined by a coincidence detector for comparing the output of the secondary counter signal and that of the memory counter.