Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of changing the execution order of jobs to thereby suppress occurrence of downtime caused when an operator cannot replenish or replace a consumable. A print queue manages the execution order of jobs. A paper-out prediction section predicts a time at which replenishment or replacement of a consumable to be consumed by the execution of the jobs becomes necessary. An operator absence schedule input section receives an input of a time period during which an operator who is to replenish or replace the consumable cannot replenish or replace the consumable. A job order automatic changing section changes the execution order of the jobs such that the predicted time will not come during the time period, when possible.

Abstract: When print data transmitted by a PC is accumulated in a printing server, the printing server creates display data for displaying on the PC an image based on the print data and an image corresponding to an advertisement image to be added to the image, and transmits the display data to the PC. When print data is created so that an image is printed on only the front side of a recording paper, image data is created so that an advertisement image is printed on the reverse side of the recording paper. The PC previews an image on the surface and an image on the reverse side based on the received display data on an LCD of a display section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a client apparatus connected to a printing server and configured to instruct the printing server to execute printing. The client apparatus includes a converting unit configured to convert a format of data to be printed into a printable format, an image generator configured to generate a preview image of the data to be printed adapted to a printing condition based on the data of the converted format, and a display unit configured to display the preview image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a conveyance path through which a recording material is conveyed to form an image on the recording material; a reading unit that reads a document conveyed to the conveyance path; and a control unit that controls an image forming unit to overwrite a document image with an image according to a result of the reading in which the document image on the document, which is conveyed to the conveyance path, is read by reading unit.

Abstract: During an information-extraction technique, a user of an electronic device may be instructed by an application executed by the electronic device (such as a software application) to acquire images, with different orientations (which are known to the user), of a target location on a document using an imaging sensor, which is integrated into the electronic device. After the user has taken a first image and before the user takes a second image in a different orientation of the electronic device (and, thus, the imaging sensor), the electronic device captures multiple images of the document. Then, the electronic device stores the images with associated timestamps. Moreover, after the user has taken the second image, the electronic device analyzes one or more of the first image, the second image and at least a subset of the images to extract information proximate to the target location on the document.

Abstract: Image processing systems include image processing apparatuses and information processing apparatuses. Image processing apparatuses include first and second communication devices, which communicate using first and second communication protocols, respectively. Information processing apparatuses include third and fourth communication devices, which communicate using the first and second communication protocols, respectively. First and third communication devices communicate therebetween using the first communication protocol to transmit connection information therebetween. The connection information includes information for establishing communication using the second communication protocol. Second and fourth communication devices use the connection information to establish communication therebetween using the second communication protocol to transmit image data therebetween.

Abstract: In a printing system, the information processing apparatus includes: a first obtaining unit which obtains hardware information of a printing apparatus at the time of installation of a printer driver associated with the printing apparatus; a unit which decides on a printer driver to be installed from among a plurality of printer drivers that are associated with the printing apparatus and differ from one another in specifications based on the hardware information; a second obtaining unit which transmits to the printing apparatus attribute information of the printer driver that has been decided on, and obtains as a response thereto a configuration file for expanding functions of the printer driver that has been decided on; and a unit which installs the printer driver that has been decided on, and performs functional expansion for the printer driver using the obtained configuration file.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first processing unit configured to execute a first type function, a second processing unit configured to execute a second type function different from the first type function, and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the first processing unit and the second processing unit, wherein a storage unit stores a first guaranteed time during which a power supply to the first processing unit is maintained and a second guaranteed time during which a power supply to the second processing unit is maintained, and a control unit configured to stop the power supply to the first processing unit when the stored first guaranteed time elapses and to stop the power supply to the second processing unit when the stored second guaranteed time elapses.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a contact glass setting a manuscript thereon; an image sensor extending in a first direction and having a reading surface which faces the contact glass for reading an image from the manuscript on the contact glass; a rail member extending inside the apparatus main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a carriage having a sensor container to contain the image sensor, a taper end portion formed in an end portion in the first direction to become smaller in height toward the end side, and an opening formed in the bottom of the sensor container on the taper end portion side; a biased portion adjacent to the reading surface of the image sensor in the second direction; and a biasing member biasing the image sensor toward the contact glass via the biased portion.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input/output unit which performs an input operation and/or an output operation, a supply unit which supplies power from a primary power source to the input/output unit, a storage unit which stores therein a state of power supply to the input/output unit before the power supply from the primary power source is interrupted, and a controller which, when the power supply is started from a state where the power supply from the primary power source is interrupted, determines whether to supply power to the input/output unit based on the state of power supply stored in the storage unit, and when determined to supply power to the input/output unit, controls the supply unit to supply or not to supply power to the input/output unit based on the determination.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with an image output portion, paper supply portions, a display image generating portion, a display panel, and an operation unit including an operation unit side control portion having a preview display function, a specified display image generating function and a paper display image generating function are included as the display image generating portion and a specified paper supply portion displaying function and an output state displaying function are included as the operation unit side control portion, for displaying a preview of a situation of a paper supply portion and sheets of paper on the display panel.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for routing print requests and managing internal printer resource data on an internal network with global printer resource data stored on an external network. Print requests are received for printer resources and it is determined whether the request may be served with printer resource data stored on the internal network. If the printer resource data is invalid or stale, then printer resource data is requested from the global server and the internal printer resource data is updated. The print request is then routed to the appropriate printer resource based on location information in the printer resource data associated with the requested printer resource. Network client devices may also be configured to connect to a print traffic server when connected to an internal network, and to the global server otherwise.

Abstract: A printer that receives requests to print on plural different media enables efficient system maintenance and system changes. A printer connected in a daisy chain to a host device or a first printer on one side and to a second printer on the other side has a communication unit that receives print request data from the host device or the first printer, and sends the print request data to the second printer; a print unit that interprets the received print request data and executes a printing control process based on the result of data interpretation; and a response unit that generates individual response data for the printer based on the result of the printing control process, generates unified response data from response data received from the second printer and the individual response data, and sends the unified response data to the host device or the first printer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for adjusting for differences between a proof substrate and the ultimate substrate on which an illustration or other image is to be printed. Embodiments are particularly useful for any print process on an opaque substrate where a proof representing the expected result is provided that has a different substrate color or value from that being used in the print process.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to implement dynamic user intent-based imaging operations in image forming and document handling systems. A common framework is provided to implement the user-intent based imaging operations by which all of the individual component devices are able to be mapped to a particular user's desires such that an output from any particular image forming device in the complex image forming system meets the user's requirements/intent. Operations of component devices of a particular complex image forming system are defined logically. Mappings to the individual devices according to a common reference framework are then overlaid and manipulated according to the common framework. In this manner, a user directs imaging operations, including image shifts, for individual pages, subsets of pages or an entire document in the manner the user intends rather than according to a default understanding of the device.

Abstract: An image reading device has an optical unit and a rail portion formed of sheet metal. The optical unit is scanned in the sub scanning direction to read an image on a document on a contact glass. The rail portion slidably supports the optical unit. The optical unit has a sliding portion which slides on the rail portion while making contact therewith, and at least one pair of gripping portions which grip the rail portion. The surface of the sliding portion has a substantially arc-shaped cross section. The rail portion has two inclined surfaces that make contact with the substantially arc-shaped surface at two points.

Abstract: If a specified firmware subject to update is firmware of a sub control unit, an image processing apparatus updates the firmware of the sub control unit when a shifting condition for shifting from a first power mode to a second power mode has been satisfied. And the image processing apparatus shifts from the first power mode to the second power mode when the update of the firmware of the sub control unit has been completed.

Abstract: An electronic device and control method can detect tapping operations on the device housing to control executing processes, and whether tapping operations are accepted can differ by individual print job. The receipt printer has an impact sensor. The control unit of the receipt printer detects tapping while processing print data and while printing when print data containing a wait-for-tapping-operation and cancel printing command is received, and cancels printing when a predetermined tapping operation is detected. When print data containing a wait-for-tapping-operation and start printing command or wait-for-tapping-operation and cut paper command is received, starting printing or the cutting operation of the automatic paper cutter is suspended and tapping is detected. When the predetermined tapping operation is detected, the suspending printing operation or cutting operation starts.

Abstract: A system includes an image processing apparatus, a server apparatus, and an information processing apparatus. The system receives document data from the image processing apparatus. The document data includes identification information to be referred to in identifying a processing flow including sequentially continuing tasks to be executed on the document data. The system extracts the identification information from the received document data and transmits a processing flow execution request that includes the document data to the server apparatus, based on the extracted identification information.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit transfers a signal between an externally connected device and an internal circuit. The signal processing circuit includes a clock selector that selects and outputs any one of clocks received from plural systems; data latch units that respectively latch, according to the respective clocks received from the systems, data pieces being input; a data selector that selects and outputs, among the data pieces latched, a data piece latched according to the selected clock; and a data retaining unit that temporarily retains the data between the data latch units and the internal circuit. When the data is processed between the data retaining unit and the internal circuit, the data retaining unit operates according to an operating clock of the internal circuit, but when the data is processed between the data retaining unit and the data latch units, the data retaining unit operates according to the selected clock.