Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which is connected to an image forming apparatus controller via a network and is capable of performing image forming in response to an image forming request received from the image forming apparatus controller. The image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores limitation information, which defines an image forming limitation, in association with the image forming apparatus controller, a determination unit that, when inquiry information concerning limitation is received from the image forming apparatus controller, employs the limitation information to determine whether the image forming limitation for the image forming apparatus controller has been applied, and a limitation information output unit that, when the determination unit determines that the limitation for the image forming apparatus controller has been applied, outputs to the image forming apparatus controller usage limitation information in order to limit usage of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: If a job executed on the data to be processed is stopped due to interruption of a wireless communication with an image processing apparatus and a portable terminal, which happens to occur while the image processing apparatus is receiving the data to be processed, which is transmitted by the portable terminal, the image processing apparatus examines if the portable terminals connected before and after stop of the job execution are one and the same, and requests the portable terminal to retransmit the data to be processed. And then the image processing apparatus resumes executing the job on the data to be processed, which is retransmitted in response to the request.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an image processing unit, a memory, a setting information writing unit, a printing information writing unit, an image information reading unit, and an instruction unit. The image processing unit dynamically changes a configuration thereof, and performs image processing in accordance with the changed configuration. The memory stores setting information for setting a change of the configuration of the image processing unit, printing information used for image processing to be performed by the image processing unit, and image information generated through image processing performed by the image processing unit. The setting information writing unit writes the setting information to the memory. The printing information writing unit writes the printing information to the memory. The image information reading unit reads the image information from the memory. The instruction unit instructs the image processing unit to start execution of image processing.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus that requests an external apparatus to execute apart of sequential processing, receives a control request from the external apparatus, and executes the sequential processing in response to the control request that reflects an execution result of the part of the sequential processing performed by the external apparatus, includes a generation unit configured to generate identification information that can be used to determine whether a processing execution request sent to the external apparatus is output via an operation unit of the data processing apparatus, a storage unit configured to store the identification information generated by the generation unit in a storage medium, a transmission unit configured to transmit the identification information generated by the generation unit to the external apparatus, a reception unit configured to receive the control request from the external apparatus.

Abstract: In an image information processing device, in order to execute printing with a printing apparatus that applies as a basic form any printing form of plural differing printing forms to print an image, a receiving unit receives image information and instruction information including printing form information and scale information for printing based on the image information. An extracting unit extracts an object whose printing form is to be changed in code image units on the basis of scale designation information. A comparing unit compares a dot pattern that is expanded on the basis of printing form designation information and a dot pattern that is expanded on the basis of the basic form. A determining unit determines, on the basis of the comparison result, whether or not to maintain a designated printing form based on the printing form designation information with respect to the extracted object.

Abstract: A printer may be provided with a receiving device, a housing portion, a print device, a detecting device, a determination device, and a controller. The receiving device receives a print job including print data and type information specifying the type of print medium. The housing portion houses a print medium that has not been printed. The print device executes a print process that prints an image corresponding to the print data included in the print job on the type of print medium specified by the type information. The detecting device detects whether the housing portion is housing the type of print medium specified by the type information included in the print job. The determination device determines whether the print process based on the print job has been started. The controller controls the print device based on information detected by the detecting device and information determined by the determination device.

Abstract: A multifunction image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including at least an image transmission function includes a job execution unit executing a job for any of the functions; an output unit outputting result information after execution of a job for the image transmission function, the result information containing information indicating a result of the execution; a macro execution unit causing the job execution unit to execute a job on the basis of macro data indicating the at least one of the plurality of functions and order of executing the at least one of the plurality of functions; and a control unit causing the output unit not to output the result information after the job is executed if the job is for executing the image transmission function and the macro data indicates that there is a function to be executed after the execution of the image transmission function.

Abstract: A printing system capable of processing a plurality of job streams and sub-jobs within a job stream. The system including one or more marking engines, a hopper, and one or more print media destinations. The system further provides a jobs scheduler for determining a schedule for processing queued print sub-jobs of a job stream using a utility function based on dwell time and a system model indicative of the plurality of interconnected processing units. The plurality of sub-jobs employing one or more of the plurality of sheet processing paths including at least one pre-print batch and at least one direct print batch. A sheet itineraries processor is provided for causing the plurality of interconnected processing units to concurrently move sheets of the concurrent sub-jobs along selected sheet processing paths to process the sheets and to deliver the at least one pre-print batch to the hopper and to deliver the at least one direct print batch to the destination.

Abstract: This invention determines a compression method of printing data in consideration of a printing operation halt time when a low-speed interface is used. An image processing apparatus of this invention, which is connected to a printing apparatus, compresses printing data, and outputs the compressed printing data, determines the interface type, acquires a print waiting time, and determines the compression method of printing data based on the determined interface type and the acquired print waiting time. The image processing apparatus compresses printing data using the determined compression method, and outputs the compressed printing data to the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A data structure comprising a user-maintained list of colors is scanned to determine if a particular color within the user-maintained list of colors has been re-defined. If the particular has been redefined within the user-maintained list of colors, the particular color is searched for and identified in an alternative data structure comprising a user-specified extensible set of alternative colors. The particular color identified in the alternative data structure can then be automatically parsed in order to extract color space and value information associated with the particular color and define image-processing operations involving the particular color. The color space associated with the particular color in the alternative data structure can then be translated to a known color space in order to provide the correct color in the printed output.

Abstract: The generation of dot data of planes depending on a plurality of scannings and ink colors in an ink jet printing apparatus is performed based on the error diffusion processing for each plane without causing a problem of grain. Specifically, in a binarization processing, C divided data D8c/2 is subjected to an error diffusion processing to calculate binary (dot) data D2c1 for the first pass of C. Next, M divided data D8m/2 is compensated by being added with a term of Kc1m1(D8c/2-D2c1). Then, this compensated data [D8m/2+Kc1m1(D8c/2-D2c1)] is subjected to an error diffusion processing to calculate dot data D2m1 for the first pass of M. In this manner, the generation of the respective planes performs correction to reflect the results of the binarization processing of the respective previously processed planes to subject the compensated data to an error diffusion processing.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a data receiving device, an output processing device, a print processing device, a specifying device, and a process controller. The information processing device is to be connected with a portable device. The data receiving device receives data. The output processing device is capable of executing an output process of outputting the received data to the portable device. The print processing device is capable of executing a print process of printing the received data. The specifying device specifies the type of received data. The process controller controls the output processing device and the print processing device. Either the output process or the print process is executed in accordance with the type of received data specified by the specifying device.

Abstract: An image processor includes an automatic color determining unit that determines whether an input image signal including a plurality of color signals indicates a color image or a monochrome image, an operation panel for accepting selection of a color processing mode for applying color image processing and a monochrome processing mode for applying monochrome image processing, a filtering processor that applies image processing of at least one of the color processing and the monochrome processing, and an output controller. Even when the monochrome processing mode is accepted, the image processor applies monochrome image processing based on a determination result of the automatic color determining unit.

Abstract: A method for seam for a layout of a packaging printing job (908). The method is adapted to create minimal plate waste (1312) and includes the following steps; providing a wrapped layout (120) comprised of plurality of step and repeat element elements, and analyzing the wrapped layout to produce seam cut line design (1204) for the packaging printing job. The cut line is produced by searching for an non imaged areas inside the images and the borders of the step and repeat elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a chart data generating unit that generates density adjustment chart data; a printing unit that prints a density adjustment chart where the reference patterns and the adjustment patterns of each pattern are juxtaposed, based on the density adjustment chart data; a receiving unit that receives the input of a density adjustment value of an arbitrary pattern; a gradation correcting unit that corrects gradation of the arbitrary pattern based on the density adjustment value of the arbitrary pattern that is received by the receiving unit; and a reconstructing unit that reconstructs density adjustment chart data used to juxtapose and print the reference patterns and density-corrected adjustment patterns for only pattern data of the patterns where the receiving unit receives the density adjustment value.

Abstract: In a workflow execution system, work control information for executing a work assigned to one of a plurality of image processing apparatuses connected to a network; workflow execution information indicating which works of a workflow have been executed; and information indicating an image processing apparatus on the next tier, are stored in a portable recording medium. When the work is executed by a proxy image processing apparatus, it is judged from the information stored in the portable recording medium whether or not the work can be executed by the proxy image processing apparatus, and if it can be executed, the work is executed based on the information stored in the portable recording medium. When proxy execution of the work is completed, workflow execution information including the execution result and image information are stored in the portable recording medium and transmitted to the image processing apparatus on the next tier.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that comprises an obtaining section that obtains data of numerical values or numerical expressions used to describe a drawing process, and a generating section that generates, based on data obtained by the obtaining section, image information including color information on a color of each of a plurality of pixels, the image information having a first set of color information that describes using a color space different from a color space defined by colors of colorants used by an image forming section, and a second set of color information that specifies an amount of black colorant used by the image forming section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permitting a user to simulate a fleet of highlight color rendering devices utilizing a single full-color rendering device. A list of available colors can be established, defined and edited by a user in association with at least one rendering device among a plurality of rendering devices of a rendering system that renders documents in response to processing of an imaging data stream. One or more rendering queues among a plurality of rendering queues can then be modified to include default color that can be queried and obtained as needed by the rendering system. A particular command can then be added to the imaging data stream, which when identified in a particular rendering job processed by the rendering system, automatically produces rendered output with the default color of the rendering queue to which the job is transmitted.

Abstract: An efficient and effective method for managing a plurality of print jobs is implemented on a print job management apparatus (e.g. a server) which is connected to a plurality of printing devices. The print job management apparatus groups the received print jobs into a number of groups based on various criteria, such as customer information, print priority, color settings, the number of copies, paper size, paper type, finishing options, etc., and submits each group of print jobs to one printing device for printing. Different groups of print jobs can be submitted to different printing devices, and each printing device prints the print jobs submitted to it. The print job management apparatus can also display the grouping result to an operator. The method allows the print job management apparatus and the operator to more efficiently manage the print jobs.

Abstract: A communication system includes a printing apparatus and a data transmitting apparatus configured to transmit image data to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit, a recording medium information obtaining unit that obtains information identifying the recording medium on which an image has not be printed normally, and a retransmission requesting unit that requests the data transmitting apparatus to retransmit image data corresponding to the recording medium on which an image has not been printed normally in accordance with the recording medium information. The data transmitting apparatus includes an image data storage unit that stores the image data transmitted to the printing apparatus, and an image data retransmitting unit configured such that, when retransmission of the image data is requested by the printing apparatus, the image data retransmitting unit retrieves the image data from the image data storing unit and transmits te same to the printing apparatus.