Abstract: In an image forming system, a server includes (a) a transmitting/receiving unit that receives consumable-goods shortage information and consumable-goods stock information via a network and transmits the consumable-goods stock information and stock retrieval information for retrieving the consumable goods via a network, the consumable-goods shortage information indicating a shortage of consumable goods in an image forming apparatus, the consumable-goods stock information indicating an available stock in an image forming apparatus, and (b) a management control unit that causes the transmitting/receiving unit to transmit the stock retrieval information to the other image forming apparatuses than one of the image forming apparatuses that transmits the consumable-goods shortage information to the server, and causes the transmitting/receiving unit to transmit the consumable-goods stock information obtained from the other image forming apparatuses as a result of retrieving the consumable goods via the network.

Abstract: Even if a network setting changes due to power interruption or the like, communication for controlling the operating status of load devices of an uninterruptible power supply is enabled to continue. A network communication system (1) for the uninterruptible power supply comprises UPS member controllers (12 and 13) and a UPS group controller (11) which are connected in a network (2) to control the operating status of the load devices (3) of the uninterruptible power supply (1). The UPS group controller (11) and the UPS member controllers (12 and 13) execute data communication according to a predetermined communication protocol (Internet Protocol or the like) through the network (2), and these controllers transmit/receive data in which specific identification information issued for each of the UPS member controllers (12 and 13) is added to control data as communication data in the data communication according to the predetermined communication protocol.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus contains an alpha-blend execution unit and a storage device management unit. The alpha-blend execution unit allocates a memory area in a main memory for an alpha-blend execution to compose transparency properties and carries out the alpha-blend execution in a process to convert a page description language data to an image. The page description language data contains a drawing object having a transparency property and a canvas having a transparency property. The drawing object is drawn on the canvas. The storage device management unit evacuates a memory-image of the canvas in the memory area from the main memory to an auxiliary memory, and reads back the memory-image of the canvas from the auxiliary memory to the main memory when the memory-image of the canvas is required for the alpha-blend execution.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a relay signal system or a device which enables the use of signal related services such as IP phone services even if a supply of power from a commercial AC power source is stopped, for instance, due to a power outage. The signal relay device comprises: a power reception terminal that is coupled to an AC power source, a plurality of connectors containing a plurality of terminal pins for receiving and transmitting signals such as packet signals in which the terminal pins are coupled to each other by wire, and a power charging unit, which is coupled to the power reception terminal by wire and stores a backup power charged by an AC power provided from the power reception terminal by wire and supplies the backup power to wires coupled to a part or all of the plurality of connectors.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an electronic component where positional accuracy for arranging members constituting a circuit element such as a resistor element and the like is mitigated and corrosion of a terminal electrode caused by sulfur in the atmosphere is reduced.

Abstract: A unit: (a) sets event largest possible values used for limitation of the number of tasks and/or the size of areas in a buffer; (b) generates a task without reaching the event largest possible values when receiving an event, and reserves an area in the buffer for the task; (c) determines whether another event has been received before process of the task is completed; (d) deletes the task and releases the area if another new event has not been received; (e1) if it has been received and both the number of tasks and the size of the areas do not reach the event largest possible values, generates a new task and reserves another area in the buffer; and (e2) if it has been received and any of them reaches any of the event largest possible values, reuses the task and the area for the new event.

Abstract: An extended user interface compatibility confirming method has the steps of: (a) connecting an image forming apparatus and an extended user interface device to a network, the extended user interface device having an extended operation panel and sending a web service request from the extended operation panel to the image forming apparatus to perform an image forming function corresponding to the web service request; (b) requesting manufacturer information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus with SNMP protocol by the extended user interface device, and receiving the manufacturer information from the image forming apparatus by the extended user interface device; and (c) sending a web service request compatible with the manufacturer information to the image forming apparatus by the extended user interface device to inquire whether or not the image forming apparatus is capable of using the extended user interface device.

Abstract: A cold-cathode tube drive device includes an inverter circuit (1) for generating a high-frequency voltage, a booster transformer (2) for boosting the high-frequency voltage generated by the inverter circuit (1), a cold-cathode tube (3) which is turned on by the high-frequency voltage after boosted by the booster transformer (2), a series circuit (6) having a reactance element (4) connected in parallel to the cold-cathode tube (3), a synthesis circuit (8) for combining the connected current value i2 of the series circuit (6) with the secondary side current value i1 of the booster transformer (2) so as to indirectly detect the lamp current value iL of the cold-cathode tube (3), and a control circuit (9) for controlling the inverter circuit (1) according to the lamp current value iL indirectly detected by the synthesis circuit (8) and controlling the lamp current of the cold-cathode tube (3).