Abstract: A printing system includes an image forming apparatus, a server, and a mobile device. The image forming apparatus includes an identification information sending section that sends identification information via radio waves. The server includes a print data managing section that manages print data in association with user information. The mobile device includes an identification information receiving section that receives the identification information. The mobile device transmits to the server the user information and the identification information associated with the user information. The server performs a specific operation for causing the image forming apparatus corresponding to the identification information associated with the user information to execute a print job based on print data managed in association with the user information transmitted.

Abstract: A printing system includes an image forming apparatus, a server, and a mobile device. The image forming apparatus includes an identification information sending section that sends identification information via radio waves. The server includes a print data managing section that manages print data in association with user information. The mobile device includes an identification information receiving section that receives the identification information. The mobile device transmits to the server the user information and the identification information associated with the user information. The server performs a specific operation for causing the image forming apparatus corresponding to the identification information associated with the user information to execute a print job based on print data managed in association with the user information transmitted.

Abstract: A device management terminal includes: an imaging section that images an electronic device placed at an installation location; a specific information acquisition section that acquires, from a server, specific information for specifying the electronic device that is being imaged; a status information acquisition section that acquires status information from the electronic device that is being imaged based on the specific information; and a display section that displays, on a screen, the acquired status information together with the electronic device that is being imaged.

Abstract: A device management terminal includes: an imaging section that images an electronic device placed at an installation location; a specific information acquisition section that acquires, from a server, specific information for specifying the electronic device that is being imaged; a status information acquisition section that acquires status information from the electronic device that is being imaged based on the specific information; and a display section that displays, on a screen, the acquired status information together with the electronic device that is being imaged.

Abstract: In an image forming system, a server includes (a) a transmitting/receiving unit that receives consumable-goods shortage information and consumable-goods stock information via a network and transmits the consumable-goods stock information and stock retrieval information for retrieving the consumable goods via a network, the consumable-goods shortage information indicating a shortage of consumable goods in an image forming apparatus, the consumable-goods stock information indicating an available stock in an image forming apparatus, and (b) a management control unit that causes the transmitting/receiving unit to transmit the stock retrieval information to the other image forming apparatuses than one of the image forming apparatuses that transmits the consumable-goods shortage information to the server, and causes the transmitting/receiving unit to transmit the consumable-goods stock information obtained from the other image forming apparatuses as a result of retrieving the consumable goods via the network.

Abstract: A Multi-Function peripheral (MFP), a server apparatus, and a client apparatus for generating image output data from document data and transmitting the image output data to the server apparatus are each connected to a network. In the server apparatus, an output data management unit stores the received image output data in an output data storage unit. Upon receiving user authentication information that is input with a user operation on the MFP, the server apparatus determines whether the user authentication information is valid. When the user authentication information is determined to be valid, the server apparatus transmits to the MFP one or more among the stored image output data associated with the user authentication information.

Abstract: A print management apparatus includes: a communication section connected to image forming apparatuses via a network for transmitting a print job to one of the apparatuses, and receiving management information from each apparatus including information about a print function of the apparatus and alternate printing instructions to allow another image forming apparatus perform an alternate printing. A management section creates and stores management data indicating respective states of the apparatuses based on management information received by the communication section.

Abstract: Following the insertion of a trial key or a license key into a port, authentication thereof is executed (S4, S22); if the trial key authentication is successful, a trial time limit is obtained by adding a trial permission period to a current time and is stored into a nonvolatile memory (S25); if the current time exceeds the trial time limit (S12, S13), or the license key authentication is successful, the trial state information is changed to indicate “trailed” (S4); if the license key authentication is successful (S14), or the trial key authentication is successful (S15) and the trial state information does not indicate “trialed” (S16), an optional routine is executed following an instruction from a control panel. In that routine, if the trial state information does not indicate “trialed”, the trial time limit is displayed on a control panel.

Abstract: A Multi-Function peripheral (MFP), a server apparatus, and a client apparatus for generating image output data from document data and transmitting the image output data to the server apparatus are each connected to a network. In the server apparatus, an output data management unit stores the received image output data in an output data storage unit. Upon receiving user authentication information that is input with a user operation on the MFP, the server apparatus determines whether the user authentication information is valid. When the user authentication information is determined to be valid, the server apparatus transmits to the MFP one or more among the stored image output data associated with the user authentication information.

Abstract: In an image forming system, a server includes (a) a transmitting/receiving unit that receives consumable-goods shortage information and consumable-goods stock information via a network and transmits the consumable-goods stock information and stock retrieval information for retrieving the consumable goods via a network, the consumable-goods shortage information indicating a shortage of consumable goods in an image forming apparatus, the consumable-goods stock information indicating an available stock in an image forming apparatus, and (b) a management control unit that causes the transmitting/receiving unit to transmit the stock retrieval information to the other image forming apparatuses than one of the image forming apparatuses that transmits the consumable-goods shortage information to the server, and causes the transmitting/receiving unit to transmit the consumable-goods stock information obtained from the other image forming apparatuses as a result of retrieving the consumable goods via the network.

Abstract: A print management apparatus includes: a communication section connected to image forming apparatuses via a network for transmitting a print job to one of the apparatuses, and receiving management information from each apparatus including information about a print function of the apparatus and alternate printing instructions to allow another image forming apparatus perform an alternate printing. A management section creates and stores management data indicating respective states of the apparatuses based on management information received by the communication section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a display section for displaying an image associated with an operation of the apparatus. An operating section receives operating instructions and a user ID from a user. A panel display log storage section stores a panel display log which has been inputted from the operating section and associated with the user ID. A communication section transmits the panel display log to a server through a network together with the panel display log associated with the user ID and receives from the server customized display information formed in the server based on the transmitted panel display log. A customized display image forming section takes in the received customized display information and forms a customized display image to be displayed on the display section. The image display controller controls the display section to display the customized display image on the display section.

Abstract: Following the insertion of a trial key or a license key into a port, authentication thereof is executed (S4, S22); if the trial key authentication is successful, a trial time limit is obtained by adding a trial permission period to a current time and is stored into a nonvolatile memory (S25); if the current time exceeds the trial time limit (S12, S13), or the license key authentication is successful, the trial state information is changed to indicate “trailed” (S4); if the license key authentication is successful (S14), or the trial key authentication is successful (S15) and the trial state information does not indicate “trialed” (S16), an optional routine is executed following an instruction from a control panel. In that routine, if the trial state information does not indicate “trialed”, the trial time limit is displayed on a control panel.