Abstract: A printing system having a control arrangement and at least one printer, which are connected to each other via a communications network,

Abstract: A printer implements printing(printer jobs) of the data received from personal computers and printing(copier jobs) of the data scanned through a copier functional device. When a user approaches the printer, a user identifying portion identifies the ID number(user name) of this user. If a printer job of this user name has been registered in the management memory of the printer, it is determined whether the printer job of this user name is ‘allowed’ to make an interrupt and whether the priority of this printer job is higher than that of the copier job. After confirmation of these facts, the printer job of this user name is started by making an interrupt.

Abstract: According to the present printing apparatus, in case that print processing of a preceding job to a particular job has not ended yet when a control section is to start input processing of that particular job, the control section waits until the print processing of the preceding job ends and sets a print-inhibiting time for inhibiting parallel print processing to handle interruption processing in a period between an end of the print processing of the preceding job and a start of the input processing of that particular job. Then, the control section waits until the print-inhibiting time ends and starts the input processing of that particular job, and then starts print processing of that particular job.

Abstract: If bus resetting occurs during transmission of printing data (ST21), a printer device is requested to transmit the information output before the occurrence of bus resetting by a STB (C18). Responsive to a request from the STB, the information input before the occurrence of the bus resetting is output from the printing device to the STB (R18). Based on the information input responsive to the request, printing data is again output from the STB to the printing device (C19). So, the system itself recognizes the information output by the STB before the occurrence of the bus resetting to re-initiate data transmission as from mid data (S14). Thus, data transmission is to be carried out in a shorter time even when the bus resetting occurs to shorten the entire printing time.

Abstract: A printing system including printing equipment in which, even if the equipment are interconnected through an interface pursuant to the IEEE 1394 standard, the printing image may be set to effect printing. There is provided a CPU 23 for generating the printing control information containing the text printing image information indicating the picture processing contents for the text at the time of printing and the picture printing image information indicating the processing contents for a picture at the time of printing. There is also provided a data conversion unit 13 which manages control so that picture data and the printing control information will be contained in a packet consistent with the IEEE 1394 standard and sent as output to a printer device 5, and so that the picture data contained in the packet sent as output to the printer device 5 will be printed in accordance with the printing control information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plurality of destination screens having a plurality of pages, in which a plurality of destination selection keys are displayed. The destination screens are displayed in layers, each screen having a tag to select a desired destination screen. When a specific tag is selected, a page of the corresponding destination screen with a registered destination selection key is displayed. When page scroll key are pressed, the registered destinations can be searched as each page of the destination screens is scrolled in the ascending/descending order. When no more pages can be scrolled in one destination screen, another destination screen is displayed, instead of terminating the operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a separate operation to switch to another screen, when no more pages can be scrolled by pressing a page scroll key. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the operator's burden to find a desired destination, thereby improving the convenience of the operation.

Abstract: A lamination imaging system of the present invention includes a printing system and a lamination module connected to the printing system. The lamination module includes a module logic unit for generating imaging instructions. The lamination module forms an image from a plurality of printed sheets sent from the printing system based on these imaging instructions. In particular, through a lamination finishing sequence, the lamination module laminates the plurality of printed sheets to form the image.

Abstract: A method for printing includes a plurality of process steps. According to an additional step, relevant data are stored in a central relational database. Both a printing press and a data processing unit processing prepress data are interconnected.

Abstract: A method for generating a sample print of a document in a printing system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for a sample print of the document, incrementing a number of job prints of the document, printing the sample print of the document, and routing the sample print of the document to a sample print tray.

Abstract: A method for the transformation of digital print data streams, in which an input print data stream (2) is read in, this is analyzed by means of a parser (4) for graphically representable objects (5, 5a) and is split up into these graphically representable objects (5, 5a), and the graphically representable objects (5, 5a) are stored in a memory (6) in an object-oriented format, and the graphically representable objects (5, 5a) stored in the memory (6) in an object-oriented format are transformed into a format for the control of an output device (9), preferably a printer, and the objects thus transformed are combined into an output print data stream (10) and are output, graphically representable objects (5, 5a) being stored in the memory (6) in an object-oriented format, to which at least one stored script (5a) is assigned, which is executed in the cases defined in the script (5a).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing information, such as postal indicia and other information, on a medium. The system is implemented by detecting a type of medium and entering a printing mode as a function of the type of medium detected. The printing mode is either an envelope printing mode or a tape/label printing mode. When in the envelope printing mode, a print module is positioned at a first position, and prints postal indicia data on a first area of the envelope. The print module is then positioned at a second position. Additional data is obtained and the additional data is printed on a second area of the envelope. The print module is then positioned at a third position and recipient address data is obtained and printed on a third area of the envelope. The print module is positioned at a fourth position, and sender address information is obtained and printed on a fourth area of the envelope.

Abstract: In order to provide a print system capable of push printing a print document consisting of a plurality of files formatted differently, an HDD unit 12 of the print system according to the present invention is a print data providing apparatus which provides a printer unit 13, connected to the print data providing apparatus via a transmission line, with a print document consisting of a plurality of print data files described in different formats and includes a storage subunit 12a which archives the plurality of the print data files into a single file and transmits the archived file to the printer unit 13.

Abstract: There is provided a tape printing apparatus and method that enables reliable discharge of a cut-off tape strip from the apparatus. Print data to be printed is input, and a tape length tp (tp>0) is calculated based on the input print data. Then, a tape length t is set based on the calculation tape length tp, and a tape is cut to the set tape length t. In the step of setting the tape length, it is determined whether or not the calculation tape length tp is smaller than a length (a+x) obtained by adding a predetermined length x (x≧0) to a length a (a≧0) between a cutting position at which the tape is cut through and a position of an exit via which a cut-off strip of the tape is discharged out of an apparatus. Then, when it is determined that tp<(a+x) holds, the tape length t is set such that t≧(a+x) holds, whereas when it is determined that tp≧(a+x) holds, the tape length t is set such that t=tp holds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for facilitating the writing of checks. In some arrangements, the system and methods pertain to receiving data to be included in a check to be printed via a network, configuring the received data for printing on a check, and facilitating printing of the check.

Abstract: In the present invention, by embedding job administration information into print job data when a printer driver produces print job data, a printer which receives the print job data extracts the job administration information from the print job data at the stage that the printer spools the print job data to a hard disc or the like and the administration of the print job data is executed based on the job administration information. Accordingly, even before the print job data is interpreted for printing processing, a host apparatus which has obtained the job administration information can individually administrate the print job data supplied to the printer based on the print job data.

Abstract: A method for creating a composite work of fine art that is the combination of two works of fine art. The creation of the first and second works of fine art that together form the composite work of fine art each include a hand-painting step. Preferably, for each of the first and second works of fine art, the hand-painting step follows the outputting of its corresponding image onto a substrate. Painting than occurs on top of the image on the substrate, which will speed the process and enhance its accuracy.

Abstract: Sensitive consumable components of printing devices involved in the process of transferring and fixing an image with toner onto a print medium are protected from harmful exposure to the environment and handling through designating and consistently positioning non-use regions of the components toward exposure gaps in their protective housings upon the completion of every printing process. The need for shutter mechanisms on consumable housings to cover up exposure gaps to protect consumables while in a general handling environment is therefore reduced.

Abstract: There are provided a tape printing apparatus and an image forming method and a label producing method for the tape printing apparatus. A second print image area as an affixing area for having a second print image affixed thereto, is set in an area of the first print image, such that the second print image can be affixed to the affixing area, the second print image being printed on a second tape having a width equal to or smaller than that of the first tape. A first print image having the second print image area provided therein is formed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing information on printer errors, in response to specific printer errors. In one embodiment, a printer contains an error detecting device and a memory. If printer errors are detected, error messages are generated. The user may view the error messages, each error message contains basic information on the type of error that occurred, and a “link” to obtain further information. By activating the link, the user can download information on that error from a remote computer over World Wide Web (Internet) or other network. Information on printer errors is maintained and updated in a memory of the remote computer. The system thus provides the most current information related to each printer error.

Abstract: When printing a print document for which there is a print request from an application program, printing the one or plural print documents printed by page unit where a specific paper size is one page is controlled based on plural combinations of print paper feeding and cutting.

Abstract: In the cases where a host side is powered off or something similar occurs, a print job which may have failed is recovered and managed as a recovered job from an intermediate file held on the host without a termination notice on starting the host next time, and if there is an instruction for reprinting, as for the print job so instructed, regeneration is performed from the intermediate file for the sake of re-creating the print job so as to re-execute a printing process.

Abstract: Each image print apparatus is connected to a nearest base station by radio, and a plurality of base stations are connected to a public communication network. A server apparatus is connected to the public communication network. The server apparatus sends an image of advertisement information to a plurality of image print apparatuses via the public communication network and base stations, and each image print apparatus additionally prints the image of advertisement information received from the server apparatus on a photo image to be printed, which is designated by the customer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a maximum/minimum density detecting unit which detects a center pixel of a matrix of N×N pixels in image data that has a maximum or minimum density. A determination unit determines whether the absolute value of a difference between an average of densities of diagonal pixels of the matrix and a density of the center pixel is larger than a threshold value. A peak pixel detecting unit detects peak pixels of the matrix, each peak pixel being the center pixel having a maximum or minimum density, and the absolute value of the difference with respect to the center pixel being larger than the threshold value. A dot region detecting unit detects one of neighboring pixels of the matrix as being a dot region based on the number of the peak pixels in a target region and the number of the peak pixels in each of neighboring regions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for suggesting upgrades in response to printer errors. In one embodiment, a printer contains an error detecting device and an embedded Web server in communication with a global computer network. If printer errors are detected, error messages are generated. Each error message is conveyed through the embedded Web server to an external computer. The external computer may receive error information conveyed by a large number of printers, which can optionally be monitored and analyzed. Information on a selection of printer upgrades is maintained in a memory of the external computer. The external computer compares each error message received to this selection, if an upgrade corresponding to an error message is available, the system conveys a message detailing the availability of the upgrade.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention checks mechanical misalignment of plural pens and shifts data to allow for at least part of misalignment—and automatically prints images with the shifted data. If pens are aligned within a dot row then preferably the image prints without data shift. In one other preference, the pens print respective ink types; in this regard a particular preference is that the inks include plural colors, or alternatively plural dilutions. The invention is particularly beneficial in printing on a particular printing medium that is insensitive to relative timing of deposition of ink types; in this case an ideal print medium is plain paper. In some such situations the data shift best compensates for only part of misalignment, and pen-nozzle selections for the rest. In other situations the shifting step best compensates for all the misalignment. In another aspect, the invention extends marking element life and thereby printhead life by distributing usage over a maximum number of elements.

Abstract: A cartridge identification system for identifying a characteristic of a cartridge inserted in a printer. The cartridge identification system comprises an identification circuit which is triggered by an electrical connection between a printed circuit board coupled to the cartridge and a plurality of spring contacts in a cartridge receptacle in the printer. An electrical logic signal is read by an internal processing unit, which determines a characteristic of the cartridge based on the logic signal.

Abstract: There are provided a printing apparatus and a printing method which are capable of setting the print line width on a tape such that the widths of the print lines are adapted to the ruled line spacing defined by a predetermined standard, as well as discriminating and printing only designated data on a group-by-group basis. The printing apparatus is capable of printing characters of a desired size on a print medium while feeding the print medium contained therein. A print line width is set such that the print line width is adapted to a ruled line spacing defined by a predetermined standard. The characters are printed in the set print line width.

Abstract: According to the present invention, print usage information, for example user information and/or application information, is stored centrally in a non-volatile memory of the printer.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus and method which is capable of printing based on internal data stored within the apparatus or external data inputted from an external storage device, and at the same time capable of setting the enabling/disabling of an automatic power-off function. A tape printing apparatus has a keyboard for entering data indicative of characters and various commands. A RAM stores the data entered via the keyboard, as the internal data. The external data stored in a personal computer is inputted into the tape printing apparatus via a cable. The printing mode is sets to either an internal printing mode in which printing is performed based on the internal data stored in the RAM or an external printing mode in which printing is performed based on the external data inputted from the personal computer via the cable. A printer block performs printing on a tape in the set printing mode. A CPU determines ON/OFF setting of an automatic power-off function of automatically turning off power.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus mountable a detachable unit mounting a memory in a main body of the apparatus, a memory-access-reservation control unit for accepting a request of an access with respect to a nonvolatile memory provided in a process cartridge in which a photosensitive drum, a toner and the like are integrated is provided in an engine control unit. When there is a request of an access with respect to the nonvolatile memory from a printer controller, the memory-access-reservation control unit accesses the nonvolatile memory in accordance with the request of the access. Upon completion of the access, the fact is notified to the printer controller. In response to the notification, the printer controller requests transmission of read information or confirms that a writing operation has been normally ended, by communicating with the engine control unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printer system that performs a printing operation on recording sheets of various types. In accordance with the present invention, the image of a recording sheet on which recording sheet identification information for identifying the type of the recording sheet and data identification information for identifying the type of print data is printed in advance is picked up by an image pick-up device. From the picked up image, the recording sheet identification information and the data identification information are extracted and then compared so as to detect inconsistency between the type of the recording sheet and the type of the data. By this printing system, a data printing operation can be performed on desired recording sheets.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus connected and capable of transmitting print data to a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feeds. The information processing apparatus includes (i) means for acquiring information from the printing apparatus, (ii) means for determining whether a cover of a booklet can be printed by the printing apparatus, based on the information obtained by the acquiring means, (iii) means for enabling selection of one of a first paper feed containing cover sheets for printing the cover of the booklet, if the determining means determines that the cover of the booklet can be printed by the printing apparatus, and (iv) generating means for generating print data linked to the paper feeds.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of easily setting driving conditions in consideration of conditions on the printing apparatus main body side as well at an arbitrary point of time is disclosed. The printing apparatus including a printhead having a plurality of print elements and a head driver for generating a pulse-like driving signal supplied to the printhead. The apparatus sets driving conditions for a printhead with test patterns obtained by simultaneously driving a predetermined number of print elements of the plurality of print elements are printed on the printing medium while the pulse width of the driving signal is decreased stepwise from a predetermined value. Then, the boundary value of a pulse width with which a print element is not properly driven is obtained from the test patterns, and the pulse width of a driving signal generated by the head driver is controlled on the basis of the boundary value.

Abstract: When a communications terminal has stopped operating because it is off-line, data received from a host is efficiently stored to a receive buffer so that receive buffer full states cannot easily occur. A data interpreter interprets the receive buffer content in the input order. An action buffer stores interpreted commands. A command execution controller executes commands in the action buffer in first-in first-out order. The data interpreter continues interpreting the received data even when operation of the command execution controller is stopped, and kills without storing to the action buffer any real-time commands detected by the data interpreter.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for saving power in a printing system, by prioritizing printer jobs. Using a graphical user interface an end-user assigns a print time to a first job. The print time designation is attached to the first job and the first job is transmitted from the end-user station to a printer. Based on whether the printer is in ready state or in power save mode the first job is printed immediately or stored in memory. When the first job is stored in memory, computations are made to determine a printing time to initiate printing of the first job. The first job is then printed at the printing time or at an earlier printing time if a second job with an earlier printing time is stored in the memory.

Abstract: Printing a print job on an image producing device by storing print data from the print job to an external storage device, retrieving the print data from the external storage device to the image producing device, and generating an image for the print job using the image producing device.

Abstract: At the time of placing an order for printing image data via a network, the order can be efficiently rerouted in the case where a printing service provider designated according to an agency specified by a user cannot process the order. A database in a service center stores a laboratory information table. The printing service provider registers with the laboratory information table in advance the printing services available thereat and rerouting information to automatically send order information representing processing that cannot be processed by the printing service provider, such as large-size printing and postcard printing, to another printing service provider. An order reception server judges the content of order information sent from the user and sends the order information to the printing service provider designated by the rerouting information in the laboratory information table if necessary.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plurality of destination screens having a plurality of pages, in which a plurality of destination selection keys are displayed. The destination screens are displayed in layers, each screen having a tag to select a desired destination screen. When a specific tag is selected, a page of the corresponding destination screen with a registered destination selection key is displayed. When page scroll key are pressed, the registered destinations can be searched as each page of the destination screens is scrolled in the ascending/descending order. When no more pages can be scrolled in one destination screen, another destination screen is displayed, instead of terminating the operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a separate operation to switch to another screen, when no more pages can be scrolled by pressing a page scroll key. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the operator's burden to find a desired destination, thereby improving the convenience of the operation.

Abstract: A spooler stores intermediate data and an output job setup file in a spool file, and when a stored job is selected, a previewer displays a list of jobs and previews of print images upon which a job including the selected page or a page included in the selected job is identifiably displayed in correspondence with the page or job.

Abstract: A printer for reporting a printer error state to a user using sound, a control method for the printer, and a data storage medium storing the control method as a computer-readable program use a printing unit (print head 208) that prints text or graphics, a detector (cover open sensor 251, no-paper sensor 252, temperature sensor 253) that detects specific printer error states, and settings memory (RAM 204) that stores a setting determining whether errors are reported using sound. A sound generator (buzzer 231) emits sound when a particular error state is detected by the detector and a setting instructing acoustic error state reports is stored in the settings memory (RAM 204).

Abstract: To reduce the period of time required after a remote printer is instructed to start a print job and before it starts printing and hence reduce the period of time for which the remote printer is occupied, thereby enhancing working efficiency, it is determined whether originals are located on an original table or on a sheet feeder, and if the originals are located on the original table, it is determined whether the job is in an original table accumulation mode in which a local apparatus completes reading images from a plurality of originals before transmitting the images. If the job is not in the original table accumulation mode, the remote apparatus is instructed to start the job before images are read from the originals. On the other hand, if the job is in the original table accumulation mode, the remote apparatus is instructed to start the job after the images have been read from all the originals.

Abstract: Choices relating to printing conditions which can be designated at a printing device are displayed on a display section of a host device. The choices are displayed as folders. Folder groups, in which printing conditions relating to sheet size, number of sets, double-sided/single-sided printing, N-UP printing, and absence/presence of sorting are set as names of folders, are displayed successively and hierarchically. Here, by selecting designations until a folder of a lowest hierarchy and by manipulating a file of print data into the folder, printing conditions at a time of printing the print data are designated and are transmitted to the printing device.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a printer driver converting input image data into a printing data, and a printer apparatus performing data output using the converted image data. The printer driver or the printer apparatus includes at least an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a data buffer storing an input printing data, a judgment portion for making judgment whether a define statement of a predetermined character is included in data stored in the data buffer; and a line screen value converting portion for converting a line screen definition for performing halftone printing of the predetermined character when a define statement of the predetermined character is contained in data stored in the data buffer.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus which is capable of increasing the printing speed by employing a multi-head structure while maintaining or enhancing print quality. The printing apparatus prints on a print medium by using N print heads, where N is an integer equal to or larger than 2, assuming that two axes orthogonal to each other on a two-dimensional rectangular coordinate system are set to an X axis and a Y axis, each of the print heads being capable of printing M dots in a direction along the Y axis simultaneously, where M is an integer equal to or larger than 3, and at the same capable of printing M dot lines each extending in a direction along the X axis, by relative scan on the print medium in the direction along the X axis, the M dot lines being arranged side by side in the direction along the Y axis.

Abstract: A method of creating an authenticatable sheet of material, includes measuring at least one physical property of the sheet of material; marking an edge of the sheet of material with indicia arranged to form a unique code identifying the sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material includes a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material; and recording the measured physical property in a measure database indexed by the edge code. To verify the validity of a sheet of material, the edge code is read, the same physical property is measured and the measured value is compared with the previously stored value extracted from the measure database. If the two are substantially equal, the sheet of material is authentic.

Abstract: A method for creating a composite work of fine art, that is the combination of two works of fine art. Generally, the first work of fine art will provide the setting and will include a figure (e.g., a person,, an animal, or an inanimate object) to correspond to all or a portion of a figure in the second work. After the first and second works are created as works of fine art, typically hand-created paintings, they are digitized and imported into image editing software. There, the works are conformed and the second image is pasted into the first. The final product is then printed as a work of fine art; as a lithograph, print, or as having the appearance of a hand-created painting.

Abstract: Image data is converted into dot density data representing dot creation densities of variable size dots. The procedure converts the image data into data representing the sum of dot creation densities of a small size dot and a large size dot as the dot density data of the small size dot. The procedure also converts the image data into data representing the sum of dot creation densities of a medium size dot and the large size dot as the dot density data of the medium size dot. The procedure respectively specifies the on-off state of the small size dot and the on-off state of the medium size dot, based on the dot density data of the small size dot and the dot density data of the medium size dot. In the case where both the small size dot and the medium size dot are in the on state in an identical pixel, the procedure specifies creation of the large size dot, in place of the medium size dot and the small size dot.

Abstract: A print controller which produces a device specific raster for its printer and also produces a rasterized output in portable and more editable form for export and re-use as an input by other printers which may have different parameters. If the input is in a device independent color space, the rasterized export also will be in a version in a device independent color space, typically CIELAB. If the input is in a printable device dependent color space such as CYMK, the output will be an more editable rasterized version in the same color space, with any printing hints that were in the original will be included in the output. In any case, an override can be provided to change the default selection to any other user-identified version. An example of a device independent color space is CIELAB, of a device dependent version applicable for a number of printers with similar parameters is SWOP CMYK, and of a device dependent version is a printer specific CMYK.

Abstract: There are provided a printing method and apparatus as well as provide a label-producing method and apparatus that are capable of adding an amusing effect and topicality resulting therefrom to printing personally performed by a user. A predetermined print instruction is issued to print a desired image entered intentionally, on a printing medium. When the predetermined print instruction is issued, the desired image is printed, and if a predetermined condition which cannot be intentionally set by an instruction of a user is satisfied at the same time, an unintended image which cannot be generated intentionally is also printed together with the desired image.

Abstract: A print signal generation system for generating print bit map data corresponding to a desired image where the print bit map data is utilized by a digital printing device to print the desired image. The system includes region parameter data, a first data generation system and a second data generation system in operative communication with the first data generation system. The region parameter data includes region data defining a partitioning of the desired image into a plurality of regions and expansion data. The first data generation system generates transaction data associated with the desired image and using the transaction data in combination with the region parameter data to generate print instruction data. The second data generation system receives the print instruction data from the first data generation system and expands the print instruction data based upon the region parameter data to generate the print bit map data.