Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for outputting a locked print job by a printing device connected to a client terminal over a network. The method includes receiving a request to distribute the locked print job to one or more users. The locked print job is generated in response to the request, and the locked print job and information identifying the one or more users is transmitted to the printing device over the network. The printing device receives the locked print job and the information identifying the one or more users transmitted by the client terminal, and stores the locked print job, the information identifying the one or more users, and authentication information. The authentication information is transmitted to the one or more users. The printing device outputs the locked print job, when the authentication information is entered into the printing device.

Abstract: In a case where a first identifier that is communicated between the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus in order to specify a type of a printing medium that is used in the printing apparatus, and a second identifier unique to each of a plurality of types of printing media are set in both the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus, the second identifier set in each of the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus is obtained. Based on the second identifier set in each of the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus, the first identifier set in each of the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus is determined, such that the types of printing medium corresponding to the first identifier set in the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus match, and a different first identifier is set regarding a printing medium of a different type.

Abstract: A technique for providing a first information processing apparatus configured to acquire first identification information as information for identifying the information processing apparatus, searching for a second information processing apparatus capable of wireless communication, acquiring a second identification information as information for identifying the second information processing apparatus that was found, comparing the first identification information and the second identification information, changing the first identification information when the first identification information and the second identification information are identical, and notifying when the first identification information is changed.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for printer discovery with a webpage such that a client device may print the webpage via a remote printing service. The client device retrieves a webpage with an internet browser. The webpage includes a printer detection module that detects printing devices of one data network and transfers their printing characteristics to a print server in another data network. The printer detection module is accessible through the webpage. The printer detection module allows for the selection of one or more of the printing devices. The client device transfers the webpage (or the URL of the webpage) to the print server to render the webpage for printing on the selected printing device. The print server renders the webpage according to the printing characteristics of the selected printing device and then transfers the rendered webpage to the selected printing device via the client device for printing.

Abstract: A system and method by which to implement revenue sharing between printer vendors and network service providers or operators. In one example, a method for providing printing access to a mobile device may include acts of requesting information from a printer, receiving the information at a mobile device, providing the information to a communications subsystem of a mobile network operator, based on the information, acquiring a printing capability of the printer, sending the printing capability from the communications subsystem to the mobile device, and upon receipt of the printing capability, if the printing capability is enabled, sending a print request from the mobile device to the printer. A corresponding apparatus may be used to implement the method, which may be provided as instructions encoded on a computer readable medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated determination of expiration of an image production device that is currently in use by a customer is disclosed. The method may include retrieving values related to a currently used image production device, determining an existing life value based on the retrieved values, retrieving values related to a replacement image production device, determining a replacement value based on the retrieved values comparing the determined existing life value to the determined replacement value, determining whether the currently used image production device should be replaced based on the comparison, and sending a notification that the currently used image production device should be replaced if it is determined that the currently used image production device should be replaced.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which is capable of improving security of a printout by preventing a user from forgetting to take out the printout, and improving the efficiency of the whole system and user operability. A network section receives a job and a user ID for identifying a user from an external apparatus, and receives a user ID for identifying a user who is to exit from a specific area. It is confirmed whether or not the received user IDs match each other, and if it is confirmed that the received user IDs match each other, it is further checked whether or not the job of the user has been executed. If it is checked that the job of the user has not been executed, an attribute of the job is changed.

Abstract: An object is to reduce a document generating time period of a form or the like, and to generate an appropriate document having correct calculation results even if it is necessary to calculate the aggregate of calculation target data extending over a plurality of pages. To achieve the object, the information processing apparatus is a system for generating a form by filling a plurality of insertion data into a template, which has a requesting unit configured to request one or more other apparatuses to execute processing of filling part of the plurality of insertion data into the template, wherein the requesting unit decides, according to the difference between two consecutive insertion data in the plurality of insertion data, the part of the insertion data the one or more other apparatuses are requested to fill into the template.

Abstract: In the image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, an operation time measuring section that measures elapsed time that elapses from the point of time when the image forming apparatus arrives at its operable state and a controller that stops operations of the image forming apparatus when the elapsed time measured by the operation time measuring section arrives at a prescribed time are provided, whereby, a life span of the image forming apparatus influenced by temporal changes can be judged precisely, independently of the hours of operation of the image forming apparatus, and operations can be stopped.

Abstract: A method and a diagnostic device for a printing press are described, wherein data is automatically transmitted by a central data processor of the printing press to a locally distanced central data processor when a threshold value is upwardly transgressed, downwardly transgressed or reached. The data is preferably assessed prior to the evaluation and/or the transmission to the remote central data processor. In this way, a simple telediagnostic service of the printing press is possible.

Abstract: A management system includes an image forming apparatus and a monitoring apparatus. The monitoring apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether the image forming apparatus has a transmission control function for performing change of a transmission destination of collected operational information, a transmission unit configured to transmit to the image forming apparatus having the transmission control function, a command for setting the monitoring apparatus as a transmission destination of the operational information, and transmission setting in which a scheme for acquiring counter information related to charging is set, and a scheme for acquiring failure information is set, and a verification unit configured to verify matching in the counter information. The image forming apparatus is configured to perform transmission of the operational information to the monitoring apparatus in accordance with the command and the transmission setting.

Abstract: A printing device includes a control device configured to receive a cancellation request instruction, receive a confirmation instruction for confirming each printing job to be cancelled or not, set the printing job in the queue to be in a stop condition if receiving the cancellation request instruction, and delete from the queue the printing job if receiving the confirmation instruction for the printing job. The control device further determines whether the job receiving device receives another new printing job during an instruction waiting period from a time when receiving confirmation instruction, and controls the printing device to print the other new printing job prior to printing of the printing job registered in the queue, if the job receiving device receives the other new printing job.

Abstract: There is provided a print job control apparatus including an acquiring unit configured to acquire post-processing function information of a digital printing apparatus, a determination unit configured to reference the post-processing function information and the print job, and determine to use either a post-processing function of the digital printing apparatus or a post-processing apparatus for post-processing, a first generating unit configured to generate a print job to be executed using the post-processing function of the digital printing apparatus, a second generating unit configured to generate a print job to be executed using a post-processing apparatus, and a sending unit configured to send the print jobs generated by the first or second generating units to the digital printing apparatus and the post-processing apparatus.

Abstract: The printing system comprises: a print data generating unit for generating print data; an image data generating unit for generating image data for each page having a data size of an integral multiple of a specified block size based on the print data; a delivering unit for delivering the image data; an imposing unit for imposing the image data in such a way that images for a plurality of pages will be printed on a sheet of paper; and a printing unit for printing images for a plurality of pages on a sheet of paper, wherein a process for preventing a blank space being formed in a boundary area between the images to be printed on a sheet of paper due to padding data added to the image data in order to make data size of the image data to be an integral multiple of the block size, is executed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image reading apparatus and to a method of controlling this apparatus. The image reading apparatus acquires a profile capable of being set as processing applied to image data in an information processing device, re-classifies, for the purpose of display on the image reading apparatus, the name of the acquired profile and the settings of the profile, converts this profile name and the settings to items displayed on a display unit of the image reading apparatus, and displays the items on the display unit. The information of a profile selected based upon an item displayed on the display unit is transmitted to the information processing device, and the image data generated by the image reading apparatus is transmitted to the information processing device in response to a request from the information processing device.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a storing unit for storing a dither matrix. The dither matrix has a plurality of dot regions divided into a plurality of sub-matrices. A creating unit is configured to create binary image data by comparing an input value to threshold values of each sub-matrix. The plurality of sub-matrices includes a first sub-matrix having a first threshold value smallest among threshold values in the first sub-matrix; a second sub-matrix having a plurality of threshold values that are smaller than the first threshold value and are arranged adjacent to each other; a third sub-matrix; having a second threshold value largest among threshold values in the third sub-matrix; and a fourth sub-matrix having a plurality of threshold values that are larger than the second threshold value and are arranged adjacent to each other.

Abstract: An image forming system for communicably connecting a data processor and an image forming apparatus can include a registration unit for registering a print job based on a print request, a printing unit for conducting print processing based on a print job registered in the registration unit, an authentication unit for, when the print job is a locked job with an unlocking condition, prohibiting print processing of the locked job until the unlocking condition is fulfilled, and a prohibition unit for prohibiting print processing of a normal job, which is registered in the registration unit after registration of the locked job, without the unlocking condition.

Abstract: The subject application is directed to coordinating document processing operations among devices having differing functionality. A document is received into a first document processing device that has a first set of processing functions. A display is generated on the first device that includes indicia of an available document processing operation having a function of a first set and a secondary function of a second device, with any secondary function outside the first set. Selection data is received of an operation having functions from the first set and one or more secondary functions. Operation of the first device is controlled by a controller operable to control the functions of the first set by the first device on the document. The document is communicated to the second device following completion of any first set functions. The document processing operation is completed by the second device via completion of any secondary functions.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of causing a user to get used to an operation of an apparatus while preventing from executing an unnecessary output by a preview display before outputting, and eliminating trouble of a preview display for a user skilled in the operation of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus (illustrated as a digital multi-functional peripheral) is provided with a setting storage portion (illustrated as a control memory) that stores, for each user, setting information related to a preview display (illustrated as a table) by a display controls portion (illustrated as a panel control portion). The setting information includes forcible execution information showing whether or not the preview image is forcibly displayed by the display control portion. The display control portion performs display control based on the stored setting information.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a printing apparatus capable of reliably performing a driving switching operation using movement of a carriage. In the printing apparatus, it sometimes cannot be determined to which of a clutch lever or the cap of a printhead the carriage abuts against. In this case, even if the carriage abuts against the cap, a position where the abutment was detected is regarded as the temporary home position of the carriage. When a conveyance motor is driven to transfer its driving force to a desired engaging destination, the cap is retracted from the moving path of the carriage. The driving force of the conveyance motor can thereby be transferred to the desired engaging destination.