Abstract: The method includes determining, by using a first information processing device, whether a cartridge mounted in the specified image forming apparatus needs replacing. The method further includes attaching a label to the newly shipped cartridge capable of using in each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses or to a packing box packing the newly shipped cartridge. The label indicates specific information associated with identification information of the specified image forming apparatus in which the determining determines that the cartridge needs replacing. The specific information is retrieved from a database in which the identification information is associated with the specific information. The identification information identifies the each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. The specific information specifies the each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

Abstract: A print data editing device performs editing print data such that when dots constituting an input image represented by the print data are compared by units of columns before and after performing the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing and an editing condition is met. The editing condition includes that an absolute value of at least one shift amount is one dot or greater, an absolute difference value for any two neighboring columns is one dot or less, and at least one absolute difference value for all possible combinations of two columns is less than one dot.

Abstract: Ink saturation for a print job varies according to prioritized elements identified within a given document or print job. Elements are prioritized according to pre-defined values according to document type and identified elements within the document type. High priority elements of a document are assigned greater ink saturation than lower priority elements of the same document. Automated prioritization is made possible by a crowd-sourced knowledge corpus including pre-defined document types and corresponding elements of the documents. Historic configurations accepted by a user drive a learning process using a feedback loop for refined decision-making as print jobs are submitted for printing.

Abstract: An apparatus that executes a job, broadcasts a wireless signal prior to establishing a connection by wireless communication with an external apparatus. The wireless signal includes information relating to the apparatus, by which it can be identified whether execution of a job by the apparatus is possible, in a predetermined packet.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an image forming control method, a consumable chip, an image forming apparatus, and a consumable. For the image forming control method, based on the environmental data, the encryption and decryption processing and transmission are performed on the preset compensation value of the image forming control parameter using the environmental data respectively detected by the consumable chip and the image forming apparatus. The preset compensation value is prevented from being intercepted and tampered during transmission, which makes data transmission more secure, thereby ensuring the printing and image forming quality.

Abstract: A printing system is provided with a dummy data insertion unit configured to insert dummy data into print data based on waiting time occurring when post-processing is performed by a post-processing device (for example, a collating machine). In a printing unit, a dummy page is printed on the basis of the dummy data. A dummy page removing unit configured to remove a dummy page from printed printing paper so that the dummy page is not supplied to the post-processing device is provided between the printing device and the post-processing device.

Abstract: A consumable can be used to securely send data to devices. A security platform can produce a consumable, for example an ink cartridge, with data to be uploaded onto a device, such as a printer. If the consumable and device can perform a successful authentication, broadcast data can be delivered to the device via the consumable. Such techniques can help ensure that authentic consumables are being used in authentic devise. Further, such techniques can enable a licensing model where different consumables can be configured with different data to enable or disable different features of the device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory and circuitry. The memory is configured to store a result of inspection. The inspection includes: comparison of a sample image data and a first read image data that is data of an image formed on a recording medium and read; and determination whether the image indicated by the first read image data is abnormal. The memory is configured to store the result of inspection in association with the image determined as an abnormal image. The circuitry is configured to receive second read image data from a discarding apparatus. The circuitry is configured to specify image data according to which an image is formed, based on the abnormal image stored in the memory and the second read image data received. The circuitry is configured to instruct formation of the image according to the image data specified.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ink estimation. One embodiment is a system for dynamically revising ink estimation models. The system includes a memory storing a virtual machine for instantiating virtual printers that estimate amounts of ink used by a printer for print jobs, and a controller able, for each print job, to: identify estimated amounts of ink determined by the virtual printers according to each of multiple configurations for the printer, and identify a chosen configuration and a corresponding actual amount of ink used by the printer. The controller selects a configuration, determines that estimated amounts of ink for the selected configuration have less than a threshold difference from actual amounts of ink for each of multiple print jobs, and updates an ink estimation model at the virtual machine based on the estimated amounts of ink and corresponding print job data for the selected configuration.

Abstract: There is provided a control method executed by a first information processing apparatus to establish a connection between a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus, the method comprising: acquiring information for establishing a connection to a first communication apparatus; and displaying on a display unit a screen including a code image generated based on the acquired information and a message prompting a user to capture the code image by a second information processing apparatus that is more portable than the first information processing apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a control method for an information processing apparatus that stores an editing application with which editing of intermediate data including drawing data generated by a drawing application can be performed, the control method including: obtaining information associated with a print setting; deciding an interface used for obtaining the intermediate data from among a plurality of interfaces on a basis of the obtained information associated with the print setting; and obtaining the intermediate data by using the decided interface, in which the intermediate data output from the editing application is obtained by a printer driver and converted into a print command.

Abstract: A method includes: interacting, by a first device, with a user through an application in a data collection range; after determining that the user is not located in the data collection range, determining, by the first device, that the user is located in a data collection range of a second device in a network; and sending, by the first device, to-be-migrated data to the second device, so that the second device continues to interact with the user based on the to-be-migrated data. The second device supports the application, the to-be-migrated data includes information about the application and progress information, and the progress information indicates progress of interaction between the first device and the user.

Abstract: A system and method for persistent presentation of cloud print user account information across multiple multifunction peripheral applications includes a user allowance appliance within a print management system that presents the user's status, considering all print management functionality of the multifunction peripheral regardless of which application is issuing a status, to maintain a persistent presentation of the user's status globally that includes functional permissions, allowance, job cost, and funds remaining. This status region is independent of any one application and is updated in real time to keep the user informed of the current state of their account information. The presentation is context sensitive such that status relevant to an active application is also shown.

Abstract: A plurality of registration data includes control parameter data related to control of an image forming apparatus capable of executing a printing process. A processor, according to input designation information, selects target registration data from the plurality of registration data. Moreover, the processor derives estimated performance according to derivation rules. Furthermore, the processor outputs information about the estimated performance. The estimated performance is performance related to the printing process in a case where it is presumed that the printing process is executed according target parameters. The target parameters are the control parameters of the target registration data.

Abstract: A method for controlling image-forming devices includes acquiring currently-available wireless networks, including detecting the currently-available wireless networks and acquiring broadcast information transmitted by each wireless access point by a wireless communication module in an electronic terminal; searching image-forming devices through the currently-available wireless networks and establishing a list of the image-forming devices; according to the list of the image-forming devices, selecting a target image-forming device; and connecting to a wireless network corresponding to the target image-forming device and establishing a communication with the target image-forming device, thereby controlling the target image-forming device to execute an image-forming task.

Abstract: A printing system includes an offline estimation device that provides estimates for ink or toner use for a print job at a target printing device. The offline estimation device retrieves digital front end (DFE) version information, configuration setting information, and color printing resources from the target printing device. Using the DFE version information, the offline estimation device selects a raster image processor (RIP) from a plurality of RIPs of software versions available within the printing system. The offline estimation device configures the RIP with configuration settings of the configuration setting information. The color printing resources also are pushed to the RIP. The offline estimation device provides the ink or toner use estimate using the configured RIP.

Abstract: A method for configuring, via a website, a computing device to communicate with a printer is described. The method includes creating, via the website, a printer definition for the printer. The printer definition includes a network address, a reference to a printer driver, and a reference to a printer profile. The method also includes sending an install uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the printer definition. The method further includes receiving an indication that the install URI has been activated by the computing device. The method additionally includes sending an installer to the computing device. The installer installs the printer driver and configures the computing device to communicate with the printer using the network address, the printer driver and the printer profile.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a display; and a controller that: causes the display to display a plurality of operation items that can be instructed by a user, receives an instruction by a voice operation with respect to at least one of the operation items, and receives an instruction by a manual operation with respect to at least one of the operation items. The display displays a first operation item identifiable from the remaining operation items, and the first operation item can be instructed by a user voice.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to provide a mobile terminal with download information, the download information being necessary information for causing the mobile terminal to download a first application into the mobile terminal and start up the first application in the mobile terminal, the first application being executed by the mobile terminal to send an instruction to the image forming apparatus, the first application being a part of a second application, the second application being operable as an independent application in the mobile terminal by being installed into the mobile terminal, and the first application being operable in the mobile terminal without being installed in the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A storage medium storing an application program executable by a computer of an information processing device, an operating system of the information processing device having an automatic function by which, when procedure data indicating: (i) a series of procedures of a plurality of functions and operations; and (ii) an activation condition, is registered therein, the operating system automatically executes the series of procedures in response to the activation condition being satisfied, wherein, when the application program is activated based on the automatic function, the application program causes the computer to: acquire input information which includes activation information for identifying the activation condition; decide print target data based on the acquired activation information acquired; and automatically output a print job based on the decided print target data, the operating system being configured to transmit the input information to the application program at the time of activating the applicat