Abstract: There is provided a message providing apparatus including a receiver configured to receive a service request message for a software robot program that operates on a message service exchanging messages between users and that exchanges messages with the users, a usage right granting unit configured to grant a usage right to a user who has performed a specific operation on the software robot program, a permission information providing unit configured to provide service permission information to the user to whom the usage right is granted, and a controller configured to, when the receiver receives the service request message, control execution and non-execution of a service according to presence or absence of the service permission information associated with the service request message.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus combines a plurality of sub-movies representing operation procedures to be performed to perform maintenance on the image forming apparatus and plays the combined sub-movies sequentially as one movie. In response to stopping the movie being played, the image forming apparatus displays a replay mark for use to issue a command to replay the movie from the beginning of a sub-movie corresponding to a position where the movie is stopped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a storage, and a display, and upon output of an image for printing based on print data, the controller stores the print data in the storage and selectively outputs an image for printing, and if the print data includes identification information for identifying the image for printing, the controller outputs the identification information together with the image for printing. In the image forming apparatus, when an image for printing based on print data selected by a user is displayed on the display, the controller restricts an output process so that the image for printing is displayed only if the identification information is not included in the print data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to execute: either of: encryption determination processing of determining whether a connection request is encrypted, in a case where the connection request has been transmitted via a network driver; and non-network receipt processing of operating a recording driver based on the connection request without determining whether the connection request is encrypted, in a case where the connection request has been transmitted via a non-network driver; and in a case where the encryption determination processing is executed, either of: decryption processing of decrypting the connection request which is encrypted and network receipt processing of operating the recording driver based on the decrypted connection request, in a case where the connection request is encrypted; and rejection processing of not operating the recording driver based on the connection request, in a case where the connection request is not encrypted.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a transporter; a print device; a communication interface performing a wireless communication with a plurality of external devices; a storage; and a controller performing: registering device information of specific external device in the storage; determining whether the device information of one external device newly connected to the printing apparatus is registered in the storage; when it is determined that the device information is not registered, making connection to the one external device a suspension state; prompting the external device registered in the storage to confirm whether to release the suspension state of the one external device; receiving a notification from the external device registered; and in a case the received notification indicates releasing permission of the suspension state, releasing the suspension state in the one external device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a network interface and a processor configured to upon receipt of a print job from an external apparatus via the network interface, determine whether hold printing is instructed for executing the print job, when the hold printing is instructed, determine a state of the image forming apparatus, generate information about execution of the print job according to the determined state, and control the network interface to transmit the generated information to the external apparatus.

Abstract: A printing system includes a terminal device that generates print job data, and a child printer that is configured to communicate with a parent printer that receives the print job data from the terminal device, where the child printer is configured to perform printing based on the print job data. The terminal device stores the generated print job data and transmits, to the parent printer, print job related data including the stored print job data and a plurality of pieces of access information for accessing the terminal device. The child printer requests a transmission of the print job data from the terminal device based on the plurality of pieces of access information included in the print job related data received by the parent printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a CPU. After a print image is printed on a sheet, the CPU determines whether a print result is dissatisfactory. When it is determined that the print result is dissatisfactory, the image forming apparatus provides support to resolve the quality mismatch indicating the difference between the actual print quality and the print quality desired by the user.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a controller that causes a display to display a screen for correcting a setting to troubleshoot according to a right of a user when a predetermined process to be executed fails.

Abstract: Job information being information concerning a processed job is managed together with an attribute that indicates whether the job information is printed or unprinted. Out of the managed pieces of job information of jobs, job information having an attribute indicating unprinted state is printed and the attribute of the printed job information is updated so as to indicate printed state. Out of the managed pieces of job information of jobs, when an instruction to print job information of a job corresponding to a logged-in user is received, the job information corresponding to the user is printed and the attribute of the printed job information is not updated.

Abstract: Job information being information concerning a processed job is managed together with an attribute that indicates whether the job information is printed or unprinted. Out of the managed pieces of job information of jobs, job information having an attribute indicating unprinted state is printed and the attribute of the printed job information is updated so as to indicate printed state. Out of the managed pieces of job information of jobs, when an instruction to print job information of a job corresponding to a logged-in user is received, the job information corresponding to the user is printed and the attribute of the printed job information is not updated.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a controller that determines that the button is operated according to the second operation in which the operation tool leaves the button following the first operation in which the operation tool moves to the button being operated, and determines that the button is not operated according to the third operation in which the operation tool leaves the button following the first operation being operated. The controller makes a determination of the second operation and the third operation according to the operation description before the first operation.

Abstract: A portable terminal has a memory having a program stored thereon and readably by a computer. The program causes the portable terminal to perform acquiring group ID and setting information, storing the group ID and the setting information in association with each other, receiving first instruction information for instructing execution of association processing for the stored group ID, acquiring device ID to identify the device, to which the portable terminal is brought close, from the device through the data acquisition interface, executing the association processing of associating the stored group ID and the device ID acquired through the data acquisition interface after receiving the first instruction information and acquiring the device ID through the data acquisition interface, and storing the association, and after executing the association processing, transmitting the setting information associated with the group ID to the device associated with the group ID, through the network interface.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a designation unit that allows a user of a transmission source of a document to designate a transmission destination user and a transmission destination terminal; and a transmission unit that transmits the document and transmission destination information indicative of the transmission destination user and the transmission destination terminal designated with the designation unit to an apparatus that transmits the document to the transmission destination terminal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the image processing apparatus are provided. The image processing apparatus sets whether or not a function provided in the image processing apparatus requires user authentication, and upon issuance of an instruction to activate an application, determines whether or not a function used by the application is set to require the user authentication. If it is determined that the function used by the application is set to require the user authentication, the image processing apparatus permits the application to use the function in a case that the user authentication has succeeded.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus provides a user with a menu screen having a button arrangement that is easy for the user to find a desired button. Accordingly, a rank of a button for executing processing related to a state of the image processing apparatus is changed to be high in an arrangement order of buttons.

Abstract: A communication apparatus automatically establishes a wireless communication connection with an image processing apparatus. The communication apparatus captures one of more images of the image processing apparatus and determines, via image recognition process the identification information associated with the image processing apparatus. The communication apparatus automatically searches configuration information matching the identification information of the image processing apparatus and initiates the communication connection request. Communication apparatus provides the status information on a display screen of the communication apparatus and establishes a connection between the image processing apparatus and the communication apparatus.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for data communication with a plurality of external devices includes a communication interface and processing circuitry. The communication interface is configured to perform wired communication and wireless communication with the plurality of external devices. The processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the plurality of external devices is connected via the wired communication or the wireless communication, and switch a connection destination from one external device to another external device of the plurality of external devices when the one external device is connected via one of the wired communication and the wireless communication and the processing circuitry receives a connection request from said another external device via the other of the wired communication and the wireless communication.

Abstract: A system and method for identification and location of user identified, feature specific printers works in conjunction with a user's smartphone or tablet computer. A user inputs their desired printer features into their device, and a listing of candidate printers within a search perimeter is rendered. A distance between the user device and each candidate printer is calculated from a determined location user device relative to locations of each of the candidate printers. The user selects their desired printer from the candidates, and directions for the user to walk to the selected printer are generated and displayed.

Abstract: A policy-based printing system is implemented to allow access to a private domain to print using a public domain. The private domain includes private servers that store documents. The public domain includes servers and a printing device. A public policy server uses a domain list and a protocol connection with a private authentication server to validate a user and identify which private domain to access. The public policy server receives requests from the printing device to process a print job of a document in the private domain. The public server may associate a public personal identification number (PIN) with a corporate PIN for the printing operations and a graphical code, such as a QR code, at a printing device. In the event of split printing, the public server generates another public PIN for use with another printing device having another graphical code.