Abstract: A binary image of an input image is generated, and a character region within the binary image and a region surrounding each character are acquired as character segmentation rectangle information. A thinning process is executed on a region within the binary image which is identified based on the character segmentation rectangle information to acquire a thinned image. An edge detected image of the region identified based on the character segmentation rectangle information is acquired. Whether each character identified based on the character segmentation rectangle information is a character to be separated from a background by the binarization process or not is determined based on a result of a logical AND of the thinned image and the edge detected image.

Abstract: The amount of time for scanning a document that includes plural pages is shortened and information leakage is prevented. A file-storage apparatus (12) stores image data of a document that is scanned before as an image file for which access authority is set. A document-feeding unit (3) feeds a document one page at a time from the starting page. A document-reading unit (2) reads that document that is fed by the document-feeding unit (3), and converts the document to image data. A file-search unit (111) that, when a specified number of pages from the start of a document is read by the document-reading unit (2) according to an instruction from a user, searches, based on respective image data of the specified number of pages at the start that are read and access authority, for an image file from the file-storage apparatus (12) that is accessible by the user and that corresponds to the document as a corresponding image file.

Abstract: A method includes: detecting a request to create a variable print product that will be physically printed using user-provided values for a plurality of predefined elements. In response to detecting the request, the method includes: displaying a user interface with: (i) a preview region that includes a preview of the variable print product and (ii) an editing region that includes a subset of the plurality of predefined elements, the subset including a first element. While displaying the user interface, detecting, at the electronic device, user input that provides a value for the first element. If the first element is associated with an input-acceptance rule, the method includes: determining whether the user input satisfies the input-acceptance rule. If the user input satisfies the input-acceptance rule, the method includes: accepting the value and updating the preview of the variable print product based to include the user-defined value for the first element.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for printing jobs received from enterprise customers through a global printing network. One aspect relates to an architecture that interfaces customers, communication service firms (CSFs), and downstream digital print service providers (PSPs) in a global communications network. Such an architecture permits last-mile production functions that allow the distribution of print jobs to be optimized, containing costs, maintaining quality, and performing billing functions that improve the quality of such networks and make a global print network feasible. As a result, Enterprise customers benefit from lower costs and global sourcing while print service providers and graphics service firms benefit from increased revenue due to increased utilization of the overall global network.

Abstract: A sheet tray includes: a tray body; first and second guides slidable on the tray body and contactable with a sheet; an interlocking mechanism; and a plate including first and second plate engaging portions. The first guide includes a first guide engagement portion and a first operation portion. The second guide includes a second guide engagement portion and a second operation portion. When the first operation portion and the second operation portion are located at non-operated positions, the plate is located at a first position where the first and second plate engaging portions are respectively engaged with the first and second guide engagement portions. When the first operation portion and/or the second operation portion is located at an operated position, the plate is located at a second position where the first and second plate engaging portions are respectively spaced apart from the first and second guide engagement portions.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an operation unit or a terminal device for inputting address information of the terminal device of a user who instructed execution of a job, and notification target information indicating whether the terminal device is a notification target to which an interruption of the job is to be notified, a network interface unit that performs data communication with a plurality of the terminal devices, and a controller that decides, when an interruption of the job is detected, whether the terminal device is the notification target, according to the notification target information, and causes the network interface unit to transmit interruption data indicating that the job has been interrupted to the terminal device, using the address information of the terminal device, when the terminal device is the notification target.