Abstract: A method for printing a document from a computer including transmitting instructions for printing the document from the computer to a printer, printing the document on the printer in accordance with the instructions received from the computer, and also printing on the document coded data indicative of an identity of the document and a plurality of reference points on the document, wherein the coded data is printed on the document in a form which can be read by an optical sensing device to identify a location of the sensing device relative to the document thereby to invoke a function in relation to the document.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises CPUs provided for corresponding one of a plurality of colors, each of which generates image data of a specified color; memories, each of which stores the image data of the specified color; system ASICs, each of which manages the memories; video output controllers, each outputting the image data supplied from the corresponding system ASICs as a video signal; and image generating sections, each generating an image based on the video signal outputted from the video output controllers.

Abstract: An independent hardware pixel counter counts bits of print data in regions of interest. The independent pixel counter can be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and is separate from a control processor. The independent hardware pixel counter selectively monitors a data bus carrying image data to or from a memory. Once the pixels of the image data have been counted, the count data can be sent to the control processor in order to implement a print strategy. The pixel counter counts the print data at a point when image data is being sent to the memory, since at that point the image data is both uncompressed and in a raster format, and thus can be easily analyzed. Additionally, because the image data is stored in the memory until enough print data has accumulated for printing, the processor is provided with sufficient time to gather and use print information before the counted image data is printed.

Abstract: There are defined a reference size and at least one predetermined enlarged size each corresponding to an integral multiple of the reference size, as alternatives to be selectively set to a print size of a printing area of a printing object on which is to be printed part or all of character groups including at least one character. One of the reference size and the at least one predetermined enlarged size is set to the print size. At least one predetermined portion different from one another of the character groups respectively is allocated to at least one divisional printing area formed by dividing the printing area by the reference size. There is formed data of at least one print image corresponding to the at least one predetermined portion of the character groups allocated respectively to the at least one divisional printing area. The at least one print image is printed respectively on the at least one divisional printing area of the printing object.

Abstract: An image-reading apparatus is provided with a plurality of buffer units between an image-reading unit 6c for reading an image on paper P fed one after another consecutively and an interface 8 for outputting an image data to a host computer 9. The image-reading apparatus suspends feeding of the paper P and reading of the image, and stops operation of its own after all of the image data is output from the buffer unit wherein the image data is written, when operation of a scanner is stopped or temporarily suspended. The invention can thus provide the highly reliable image-reading apparatus that is capable of outputting the entire image data it reads from the original paper without losing it, even if the operation is terminated in the midst of a continuous reading.

Abstract: An image-reading apparatus expands a scanning area along a side at each of both ends in a width direction and a longitudinal direction of a paper P, when reading an image on the paper P fed into it by an image-reading unit comprising scanner heads 7a and 7b, in order to embrace the paper P entirely within the scanning area even when the paper P passes the image-reading unit while in a skew orientation, thereby enabling the apparatus to read the image without any defect, including the image in a marginal portion of the paper P.

Abstract: An unprintable area on a label sheet is at first obtained so that a print is not overlapped with the unprintable area on the sheet when laying out print items in cells of a tack sheet etc. It is judged whether or not address data is printed in the unprintable area, and, if a print position of the address data is overlapped with the unprintable area, a print of a fragment of data extending to within the unprintable area is so controlled as to be reduced and moved. Only the fragment of data is set as an object for the control of the reduction, and movement, and hence a well-laid-out print can be attained while making attributes (a size of a character font etc) of the original data reflected therein. In the print control, data that should not be reduced (the size should ne be changed) as in the case of a bar code may be excluded from the object for control.

Abstract: An improved color correction system, and more specifically, a color profiling system for a printer and scanner. Highly accurate device independent printer profiles are generated using a scanner and processing means. The process utilizes the simultaneous scanning of a reference target and a print target to produce a scanner profile. Uncompensated printer profile is developed using the scanner profile, and compensation transforms convert the uncompensated printer profile into the printer profile.

Abstract: A printing configuration utility provides a single test sheet. The single test sheet is printed twice. The first printing has a first location mark capable of indicating orientation of the first project. The second printing has a second location mark capable of indicating orientation of the second project. After performing the first printing on the test sheet, the printing utility provides the user with instructions for reinserting the test sheet for the second printing. The printing utility asks questions to the user about the first and second printings including the relation between the first and second location marks. Based on the answers given by the user, the printing utility determines the orientation of pages when they are reinserted for the printing the second sides of the pages, and the order of processing of the second side printing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus which has a positioning means for manual sheet feeding for aligning a sheet feeding position, and a positioning means for auto sheet feeding provided on an auto sheet feeder for aligning the sheet feeding position, and a sheet fed from the auto sheet feeder does not abut against the positioning means for manual sheet feeding, when the auto sheet feeder is attached to the recording apparatus main body.

Abstract: A print system is provided which is capable of selecting a client to which detailed print information is transmitted from among a plurality of clients when a user performs manual-feed printing in a network environment. In a network print system, for example, when a manual-feed-specified print is specified, a command for a manual-feed-specified print is added to the header part of print data of a print job. Then, when a server obtains an offline state of a printer, the server notifies the client of the offline status. The client receiving the notification displays a dialogue which notifies the user of the timing at which manual feeding is performed. It is also possible to provide an event request of a manual-feed timing to an application.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing system in which unauthorized copying and reproduction are prevented by making it easy to identify the source which created or manipulated image data to be reproduced and outputted. In accordance with this printing system, image data is entered from a personal computer that generates the image data, attribute information concerning the personal computer and a printer for forming an image is acquired, identification information which specifies the personal computer and the printer is generated based upon the attribute information, this identification information is added to the image data, and an image is printed using the image data to which the identification information has been added.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus which is easy for a user to operate. In the information processing apparatus, it is judged based on a function obtained from a peripheral whether or not a job script can be issued to the peripheral, and a job issuance processing is controlled in accordance with a judgment result.

Abstract: A fax machine includes a print controller, a fax controller and random access memory. Generic control code is stored in ROM of the print controller, and paper path code is stored in ROM of the fax controller. Upon startup of the fax machine, the fax controller passes copies of paper path code functions and variable values to the print controller. The print controller, in turn, writes the variable values to a jump table in the random access memory, writes the functions to designated portions of the random access memory, and writes starting addresses of the functions to the jump table. During operation of the fax machine, the print controller executes the generic control code and uses the jump table to access the variable values and to execute the functions. Thus, the jump table allows the print controller to interface the generic control code with the device-specific variable values and the functions.

Abstract: In a tandem-type full color printer, to print monochromatic image data the resolution of which is high and the processing load of which is high at high speed and at a low cost, the operation of each component is required as follows. If a monochromatic image is printed, MB images acquired by dividing the monochromatic image by an image processor are sequentially sent to the respective image compressors for YMCK. Four image compressors are operated in parallel and the compressed data of MB images is stored in an image storage. After the data of all MB images required for an output image is stored, an MB image controller operates the respective image decompressors for YMCK in parallel and sends the stored data to the image decompressors. The decompressed MB images are coupled to one image data in an image coupler and are sent to a print unit.

Abstract: A color printer control system comprising a user interface for shifting color hue. A control panel display includes an illustrative representation such as a color spectrum bar for suggesting a color range for both the input document and the output document. The user interface has a selective control such as a slide bar including an indicator of a user preference relative to the color reference bar. The position of the slide bar represents the hue shift input by the user. A dynamic image representation, such as a photograph, concurrently adjusts its hue in accordance with adjustment of the color slide bar and the user command. The dynamic image shifts color hue to provide a more accurate indication of the effects of hue shift to the user.

Abstract: In a network system in which a request of executing a process is sent from the higher level system to the lower level system, a time period of not executing a requested job is assured in the lower level system while assuring an asynchronism between the both systems and a certainty of the requested job. The higher level system transmits a pair of signals (a preparatory signal and an execution signal) to the lower level system in a predetermined interval after it holds a processing request to be sent to the lower system. The higher level system then resumes transmission of the processing request a predetermined time after transmitting the pair of signals.

Abstract: One or more printers on a network are grouped together to form a printer group. A printer group server contains a database of the printer groups on the network. The printer group database includes a list of printers assigned to each printer group in the database. The printer group server communicates with a printer group client and a print server. The printer group client subscribes to one or more of the printer groups. The printer group client resides on a print client device and manages a set of print queues on the print client device. Each printer queue represents one of the printers in the printer groups to which the printer group client subscribes. A printer group is updated by making changes to the printers in the printer group and updating the printer group database to reflect the changes. A change in the printer group database initiates a change in the print queues managed by the printer group client for printer group clients that subscribe to the updated printer group.

Abstract: In reading an original by mounting reading means (scanner unit) on a recording apparatus, the advancing width of the original is so reduced that the reading bands k, k+l, . . . , are partially overlapped. For example in the color image reading, in generating the data of the (k+1)-th band, the data of a range overlapped with the k-th band are corrected by the data of the k-th band (for example by simple averaging), thereby achieving image reading without bandwise density fluctuation regardless of the reading mode and the original size.

Abstract: A tape printer is presented to improve the print quality of a border portion between print areas. Dots, which are smaller in area than dots printed in a previous print area, are printed after being shifted by &agr; (1.0 dot) in the X direction from dots printed in an overlap area. Accordingly, even if the dots are printed slightly out of position, high-density overlap portions, where dots overlap with each other, and/or paper surface-exposed portions, where dots are away from each other, are not produced greatly or distributed unevenly.