Abstract: An image reading apparatus scans an original and generates image data of the original, sequentially transmits the image data while scanning the original, detects a predetermined particular image from the image data, and transmits a detection result of detecting the particular image. An image processing apparatus receives the image data and the detection result from the image reading apparatus, stores the image data in a storage unit, determines whether the detection result is received, and when it is determined that the detection result is received, restricts usage of the image data stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus transmits photographic data of a job operator and identification information of the job operator to a server apparatus. The server apparatus calculates a matching rate for each piece of identification information based on a comparison between photographic data registered beforehand in a storage device and the received photographic data. Then, the server apparatus transfers the calculated matching rate to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus performs processing based on the matching rate to reduce the data amount of the photographic data of the job operator.

Abstract: A confidential document is generated by encoding distribution destination information specifying a destination to which the confidential document will be distributed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is installed with service software for controlling settings of a plurality of devices that performs functions related to image processing. The image processing apparatus is also installed with an application that issues instruction information indicating an instruction related to at least one of the functions. The image processing apparatus includes a specifying unit that specifies service software corresponding to the instruction based on the instruction information and specifies setting information to be set for the service software, and a sending unit that sends the setting information to the service software specified by the specifying unit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for outputting a locked print job by a printing device connected to a first terminal and a second terminal over a network. The method includes receiving a request including information identifying a second user delegated to the locked print job, to perform the locked print job from a first user, and generating the locked print job in response to the request. The locked print job and the information identifying the second user is transmitted to the printing device over the network. The printing device stores the locked print job, the information identifying the second user, and authentication information that unlocks the locked print job when entered into the printing device and is transmitted to the second terminal associated with the second user. Further, the locked print job is output by the printing device, when the authentication information is entered into the printing device.

Abstract: A terminal-server-printer driver generates job-ticket data including function-restriction information set by a manager. Upon receiving a print instruction, the job-ticket data is added to print-job data and the print-job data is transmitted to a print-control module. The print-control module selects a first printer driver and/or a second printer driver for processing based on details on the print-job data, and outputs the print-job data and the job-ticket data in accordance with the first printer driver and/or the second printer driver. The first printer driver and/or the second printer driver rewrites the print-attribute settings thereon without fail on the basis of the job-ticket data, and transmits drawing data generated on the basis of the rewritten print-attribute settings to a printer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image receiving unit, an extraction unit, a determination unit, an area conversion unit and an image concealing unit. The image receiving unit receives an image. The extraction unit extracts a portion having been additionally written in the image received by the image receiving unit. The determination unit determines an area to be concealed in the received image based on the additionally written portion extracted by the extraction unit. The area conversion unit converts the area determined by the determination unit. The image concealing unit conceals the area determined by the determination unit in the received image using an area obtained by the conversion of by the area conversion unit.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic document printing system comprising an electronic document generator and a print controller, the electronic document generator comprising a superimposed-image information incorporating unit that incorporates, into the electronic document data, a superimposed image and mark information for invalidating the superimposed image, and the print controller comprising: a condition storage unit that stores a condition of electronic document data in which a superimposed image is to be invalidated when the electronic document data is printed, as a condition to be satisfied by mark information included in the electronic document data; a determination unit that determines whether or not mark information included in electronic document data satisfies the condition; and a controlling unit that instructs the printing device to invalidate the superimposed image in the electronic document data and print the document image when the determination unit determines that the condition is satisfied.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an information processing apparatus which can provide a plurality of services via a network, can easily manage objects to be processed which are permitted to be processed by the service, and enhances security for respective objects to be processed. To this end, an MFP according to this embodiment is an MFP (100) which can provide a plurality of services (306 to 308), and has a read unit for accessing a script (305) that describes information associated with a document file and reading the information, a unit (302) for, when a request is received, instructing to execute authentication processing of a user who issued the request, and a unit (301) for, when the user authentication has succeeded, checking based on the information whether or not a file included in the request is a file which is not permitted to be processed by the service. If it is determined that the file is permitted to be processed by the service, the service processes the file.

Abstract: A method for forming an image on recording media includes providing a support adapted to receive the recording apparatus; providing a controller programmed for controlling a print head to form the image on the recording media in accordance with image data corresponding to the image; determining a minimum feature size; and operating the print head to form the image on the recording media, wherein the image comprises a feature having a size that is restricted to be at least equal to the minimum feature size.

Abstract: In an image network system used for network print service which receives an order for printing or the like by using a communication network such as the Internet, there are provided a center server capable of providing service which is different depending upon points given to a customer according to an order track record, at a time of using the system, capable of suitably setting a storage capacity and a storage period of an image for a user without placing a burden on the user while importance is placed on an operational efficiency of the system, capable of allowing a user to upload images as many as possible in an album, and useful for prompting an order, and an image network system including the center server.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus records an image on a transported recording medium. The apparatus includes a transportation unit that transports the recording medium and a recording unit that records the image on the recording medium. An encoder outputs an encoder signal including pulses according to a position of the transportation unit. A measurement unit measures a pulse period of the encoder signal, and the measured pulse period is stored by a storage unit. A detection unit detects pulse omission of the encoder signal on the basis of the value measured by the measurement unit. A pulse generation unit generates a recording timing pulse on the basis of the pulse period when the pulse omission is not detected and generates the recording timing pulse on the basis of the pulse period stored in the storage unit and measured before the pulse omission when the pulse omission is detected.

Abstract: According to the claimed invention, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image represented by data of a specific format; a reception unit which receives print data of each page containing object data representing each of a plurality of types of objects; a data rasterization unit which has object conversion units which convert the object data into data of the specific format; a composition unit which composites data of the specific format corresponding to the object data converted to page data of the specific format containing the object data; and a control unit which inputs the page data to a subsequent processing unit for each page to use the page data for image formation by the image forming unit, wherein the data rasterization unit converts object data into data of the specific format regardless of a break of each page containing the object data.

Abstract: Provided is a device that prevents unauthorized copying of a document to which copy inhibition information is added.

Abstract: A printing system, provided with a first administrating section for administrating the number of sheets remaining until the number of printed sheets reaches to a predetermined upper limit of the number of sheets, a second administrating subsection for administrating the number of reserved sheets being under a waiting condition for being printed and outputted in the printing section, and a judging section for comparing the total number of sheets of the number of reserved sheets and the number of scheduled sheets indicated in a printing permission request with the number of remaining sheets when receiving the printing permission request. The judging section judges from the comparison whether or not the printing requested by the printing permission request is to be permitted, and transmits the judgment result as the response to the printing permission request.

Abstract: A printer monitoring apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a display mode of a warning or an error related to a peripheral device, a determination unit configured to determine whether the warning or the error has previously occurred, a display unit configured to display the warning or the error in a case where the warning or the error has previously occurred, and a processing unit configured to continue a process or cancel a process according to the warning or the error based on whether the warning or the error has previously occurred.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data processing apparatus that sets identification information for identifying each of a plurality of contents based on metadata added to each of the contents. The apparatus includes: title information acquisition means for acquiring title information of each of the contents, the title information concerning a title of the content and being included in the metadata; information extraction means for comparing the title information of each of the contents to extract a part of the title information that is common to all of the contents; and identification information setting means for setting the identification information of each of the contents based on the other part of the title information than the part of the title information that is common to all of the contents.

Abstract: An error diffusion process section performs an error diffusion process on a pixel value of each of processing object pixels and outputs the processed pixel value to an output selection section. A blue noise mask process performs a blue noise mask process on a pixel value of each of processing object pixels and outputs the processed pixel value to the output selection section. The output selection section selects and outputs the pixel value outputted from the error diffusion process section when a segmentation class signal indicates a character (text) area or a halftone dot area, namely an edge area, and selects and outputs the pixel value outputted from the blue noise mask process section when a segmentation class signal indicates an area other than the character area or the halftone dot area, namely non-edge area.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to this invention acquires function restriction information used to restrict the use of functions of an image processing apparatus. The apparatus acquires job log data of a job which is processed using the functions of the image processing apparatus. The apparatus changes the acquired function restriction information. The apparatus calculates a cost incurred upon using the functions of the image processing apparatus within a designated period, based on unit price information indicating the unit prices of the resources consumed upon using the functions of the image processing apparatus, the job log data, and the changed function restriction information. The apparatus outputs the calculation result.

Abstract: In a client PC, after receiving drawing data, the log information generation unit (400) of a printer driver (203) refers to the current time, and collects a keyword, print job attribute item, and the like which satisfy an extraction condition corresponding to a time period including the current time. The log information generation unit groups the collected pieces of information into a log information file (320), and saves it in a log information storage server (1000). A search unit can read saved log information from the log information file in accordance with a desired search condition. The system administrator or the like inspects the read log information, and if information may leak, investigates it.