Abstract: A communication system in which a terminal device and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network, and an image forming apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus. The terminal device transmits a VNC connection request to the image forming apparatus via the network, as a VNC client. The information processing apparatus relays communication between the terminal device and the image forming apparatus, and transmits an operation screen for the information processing apparatus to the VNC client. Upon receiving the VNC connection request via the information processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus transfers the VNC connection request to the information processing apparatus. Also, the image forming apparatus executes VNC communication with the terminal device via the information processing apparatus, and performs control to transfer the VNC communication to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a determining unit configured to determine, based on use amounts, for predetermined respective periods, of a device, whether a period during which a use amount of the device increases is present; a deciding unit configured to determine whether maintenance work is to be performed on the device in a case where the determining unit determines that the period during which the use amount of the device increases is present and to decide details of the maintenance work; and an outputting unit configured to output the details of the maintenance work. The deciding unit decides the details of the maintenance work including at least one of a check item name that is in accordance with the device and a replacement component name that is in accordance with a predicted use amount of the device in the period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an installer portion, the installer portion being capable of installing a translation data application and an add-on application on the image forming apparatus, the add-on application for customizing functions of the image forming apparatus. The translation data application has a data structure including: a translation data file containing multiple terms in one or more languages; and a definition file specifying an access method for the add-on application to access the translation data application and a function for the add-on application to extract a target term in a target language from the translation data file. Upon activation of the add-on application, the add-on application performs the following operations: accessing the translation data application by the access method; extracting a target term in a target language from the translation data file by the function; and generating a display screen using the extracted term.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a power-saving mode in which the image forming apparatus is switched from a normal power consumption state to a low power consumption state where less energy is supplied than in the normal power consumption state. This image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect an operating state of the image forming apparatus, and a memory unit configured to store a detection result by the detection unit. In the power-saving mode, the detection unit detects an operating state of the image forming apparatus, and the memory unit stores a detection result by the detection unit. When the image forming apparatus returns from the low power consumption state in the power-saving mode to the normal power consumption state, control of a return operation for the image forming apparatus from the power-saving mode is executed, based on the detection result by the detection unit stored in the memory unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image reading portion, and an operation unit having at least a touch panel display is provided in a front side of the image reading portion. A housing of the image reading portion has a housing projection portion that is projected frontward as compared with a front surface of a document pressing cover, and a power key that is a hardware key is provided on an upper surface of the housing projection portion in a back side as compared with the touch panel display and within a range of a breadth of the operation unit. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the power key from being operated carelessly, and it becomes easy to recognize a position of the power key.

Abstract: A system according to the present invention includes a first communication unit, a second communication unit, and an executing unit. The first communication unit is connected to a first network segment. The second communication unit is connected to a second network segment different from the first network segment, and receives a processing request, which requests to execute predetermined processing, from an apparatus via the second network segment and transmits the received processing request to the first communication unit. The executing unit executes the predetermined processing in response to the processing request received by the first communication unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided though which a transaction, e.g., in a multi-tier, distributed application may be initiated from a portable or hand-held device, such as a smartphone. A computer system or systems, possibly remote from the device, may approve the transaction, complete it, or both, and the remote computer system or systems may cause a document to be printed, e.g., by a printer physically proximate to the device. Aspects of the invention are illustrated by embodiments in which a drug prescription may be created electronically using a hand-held device. In such an embodiment, the prescription may be transmitted to one or more remote computer systems, such as an application server, for processing. If specified, the remote computer systems may cause a prescription to be printed, e.g., at a printer near the prescriber's location. The prescriber may sign the printed prescription and give it to a patient or pharmacy.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of images including a first image, a detection unit configured to detect a quadrilateral region from the first image included in the plurality of images acquired by the acquisition unit, a determination unit configured to determine a position of each edge that constitutes the quadrilateral region detected by the detection unit, and a reflection unit configured to reflect, to the plurality of images other than the first image, information about the position of each edge which has been determined by the determination unit to the first image, in a case where the detection unit detects a quadrilateral region included in each of the plurality of images other than the first image acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: A control unit in an MFP determines whether a connection request from a communication device carried by a user has been received. If the control unit determines that the connection request has been received, then the control unit issues network identification information and transmits it to the communication device. When a connection is established, the control unit automatically alters the operation screen to an operation screen related to image processing based on the information transmitted/received to/from the communication device, and accepts an operation to execute image processing.

Abstract: An allocation apparatus configured to allocate a plurality of information processing devices to two or more management apparatuses that perform distributed management of the plurality of information processing devices, the allocation apparatus includes: an allocation unit configured to allocate an address range on a network, allocatable to a plurality of information processing devices, to the two or more management apparatuses; and an acquisition unit configured to obtain, from each of the two or more management apparatuses, management information indicating a state of the information processing device whose address belongs to a range allocated to the management apparatus, wherein the allocation unit dynamically performs allocation of the address range on the network based on the management information that has been obtained by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of a post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on a product printed by a printing apparatus, and transmits a completion notification, indicating that the post-processing apparatus has completed the post-processing, to the printing apparatus based on whether there is a subsequent post-processing apparatus to the post-processing apparatus. At least one embodiment of an image forming apparatus holds job data, performs print processing of the job data, and deletes the held job data in a case where the completion notification is received.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a scanner structured to reads an image formed on a medium which is conveyed; a calibration member located opposite to the scanner and structured to reflect irradiation light to be radiated to the medium when reading an image; a first roller arranged in a fixed position and structured to guide a conveying direction of the medium passing between the scanner and the calibration member; and a second roller arranged in a variable position in accordance with the stiffness of the medium and structured to guide the conveying direction of the medium passing between the scanner and the calibration member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a communication portion arranged inside a cover covering an image forming portion in the main body of the apparatus and including an antenna surface for use in establishing near field communication. The cover includes a stacking portion in its upper section. The stacking portion is configured to receive a recording medium with an image thereon, the recording medium being discharged outside the main body of the apparatus. The antenna surface faces a region of the upper section of the cover downstream in a direction of discharging the recording medium. The antenna surface at least partially faces a region of the upper section of the cover outside the stacking portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of discharging the recording medium. The communication portion is capable of communicating with another communication portion using near field communication.

Abstract: A USB tunnel apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the USB tunnel apparatus may include a USB printer class interface operatively received by an application specific USB peripheral. The USB printer class interface is configured to identify the application specific USB peripheral as a printer class device to the host during Plug and Play enumeration, and the USB printer class interface is configured to generate a response during Plug and Play enumeration that alters the process of PnP enumeration to create a partially instantiated printer driver stack on the host when the application specific USB peripheral is in USB communication with the host, in various aspects. Related methods and compositions of matter are also disclosed. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus, methods, and compositions of matter disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connectable to a server via a network, and includes an acquisition unit, a first display control unit, a storage unit, and a permission control unit. The acquisition unit acquires a first screen including an execution procedure of a first command from the server. The first display control unit performs control to display the first screen acquired by the acquisition unit. The storage unit stores therein one or more pieces of command information indicating information on a command permitted to be executed. The permission control unit does not permit execution of the first command when the one or more pieces of command information stored in the storage unit include no command information corresponding to the execution procedure of the first command selected from the first screen.

Abstract: A communication apparatus determines whether to stop data reception during interpretation of the data according to a situation.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a generation unit and a reconstruction unit. The generation unit generates a data source including data to be referred to at a time of printing for a variable portion in which data to be referred to is variable for each record. The reconstruction unit acquires the data source and reconstructs print data that is variable for each record. The generation unit executes processing of determining a largest size based on a size of data to be referred to for the variable portion to generate stub data of the determined size, of generating the print data by using the stub data, and of generating the data source for each record. The reconstruction unit executes processing of reconstructing the print data by overwriting the stub data in the print data with the data in the acquired data source.

Abstract: A method of performing user authentication in an image forming apparatus, the method including detecting whether an interruption or a failure has occurred during authentication using an external authentication server; providing a user interface (UI) screen image for selecting to retry the authentication using the external authentication server or to enter a temporary authentication mode that does not use the external authentication server; when it is selected to enter the temporary authentication mode, entering an administrator authentication mode or an internal authentication mode based on pre-set temporary authentication options; and receiving information necessary for authentication and performing authentication based on a current authentication mode.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a display unit, an input unit, and an image processing unit. The communication unit receives information related to at least one processing condition for image processing stored in and specified with a terminal device. The display unit displays a screen in which the at least one processing condition received by the communication unit is displayed. The input unit, when a user wishes to change the at least one processing condition displayed in the display unit, allows the user to input a different processing condition to which the user wishes to change the displayed processing condition. The image processing unit performs the image processing.

Abstract: A computerized method for authenticating documents having VIZ sections, the method comprising capturing an image of a document to be authenticated from a scanner and enhancing the captured image, and using a processor for identifying and cropping a VIZ section in the image.