Abstract: A system saves browsed data in a database in response to a user request by assigning a predetermined index to the data, wherein the user is not requested for any index. The system sorts indices of the data in the database and displays the sorted indices, then the system retrieves, in response to a selection of an index from the displayed indices by a user, the data corresponding to the selected index from the database. Accordingly if a user wants to save a data currently browsed, he can make store the data in the database easily only by issuing an instruction to save without specifying any index.

Abstract: A job, or the copy, is transmitted to a designated destination. A transmission job or a printing job is stored in conjunction with a corresponding execution time in the job storage unit, so that a job can be selected from the job list and the execution time for the selected job can be changed. Further, the jobs stored in the print queue are displayed as a list, and a selected job is moved from the print queue to the job storage unit. In addition, the histories of jobs that were executed are displayed as a list, so that a specific job can be selected and re-executed. When logout is instructed, management data are examined in order to determine whether there is an unprocessed job that was previously instructed by the user. If an unprocessed job is found, the user is notified. If the operator is a manager, a menu is displayed so that all the jobs in the print queue can be deleted. When jobs are deleted, the owners of the individual jobs are notified.

Abstract: In response to an instruction by a user, or by performing reception, detection and assumption processing, the presence state of the user is determined, and corresponding presence mode conversion data are acquired and are set as user presence data. When the presence mode conversion data are referred to, and processing that corresponds to the user's presence state is performed: when the user is present, urgent mail is transmitted, and when the user is absent, a message for the user is accepted.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has: an input unit capable of inputting a plurality type of information such as hand-written information, key information and speech information; and a knowledge database storing input information and information necessary for generating a concept instance in one-to-one correspondence. A combination of at least two types of input information is analyzed by referring to the knowledge database to generate a concept instance from each piece of the input information. A plurality type of input information can therefore be understood collectively by correlating the input information each other and considering the input order of the input is information.

Abstract: A control box is provided for a printer to enable additional information processing, such as transmission of a job and transmission of notifications. The control box is fixed to a plate member that is sandwiched between the printer and a pedestal, so that it can be secured to the printer without drastically altering the printer itself. As another method, wheels are provided for the plate member on which is mounted the control box. The control box is normally placed beside the main body of the printer, and when it can be moved as needed, a door or a tray provided on the side of the main body can be used. An operating panel that is used to enter an instruction for the control box is fixed to one end of a flexible strut that is secured at the other end. With this arrangement, pressure applied by a user can be dispersed.

Abstract: An original is read and the information stored as information targeted for processing, with either printing, transmission or holding being the processing for which the stored information is targeted, and the destination of the processing and either the timing or the time duration of the processing being specified, and the specified processing is carried out on the information targeted for processing. Furthermore, a multiple-page original which has been read is stored as multiple-page documents, with either one page being stored as one document, or specified numbers of pages starting from a specified starting page each being stored as one document.

Abstract: A job is selected from a job list, and is either copied or is extracted from a job storage unit. The job, or the copy, is transmitted to a designated destination. A transmission job or a printing job is stored in conjunction with a corresponding execution time in the job storage unit, so that a job can be selected from the job list and the execution time for the selected job can be changed. Further, the jobs stored in the print queue are displayed as a list, and a selected job is moved from the print queue to the job storage unit, so that the printing of the job in the print queue can be performed. In addition, the histories of jobs that were executed are displayed as a list, so that a specific job can be selected and re-executed. Furthermore, a process that is performed is managed for the user who instructed the process. When logout is instructed, management data are examined in order to determine whether there is an unprocessed job that was previously instructed by the user.

Abstract: When a schedule is updated, a check is performed to determine whether matters concerning the updated schedule are included in a To Do List, in which all processes to be performed are registered, and a schedule list. When there is an associated undertaking, added to a task table is a notification task for notifying a user and reminding him of the existence of that undertaking. Then, a notification process for reminding the user of the schedule for the pending undertaking is performed under appropriate conditions.

Abstract: An attribute of object information to be processed and a corresponding process are designated, and a command to be executed is set. When the process designated for the object information having the designated attribute is performed, the command that is set is executed. Further, a status that is employed as a process execution condition is designated, and a corresponding process that is to be performed while the status corresponds to that of the designated status is stored with that status. Then, when it is determined that the current status is the designated status, the corresponding process is performed, and thus, each time a specific event occurs, a corresponding process can be performed without an instruction having to be issued. Specifically, a trigger for the issuance of a notification is set, and a time period extending from the time the trigger is tripped until the notification is issued is designated.

Abstract: In an information processing apparatus, information is obtained from an internet and a template is selected from a plurality of templates in each of which at least one item is set to be extracted. Data corresponding to the item set in the selected template is extracted from the obtained information and is saved.

Abstract: A server machine receives a printing job, including information to be printed, and a first print parameter, and based on that information, sets a second print parameter that is suitable for the information and also alters the first print parameter. A printer prints the received information based on the printing parameters that are set or changed. Further, users who submit information that is received are identified and the printed results are stored at storage locations that differ for each user. In addition, information may be requested from an external device, and the requested information printed when it is received. Furthermore, information that is input may be transmitted to external devices to request that those devices process that information. Moreover, when an output device that is designated by a received output instruction is a locally owned apparatus, the apparatus performs the processing as instructed.

Abstract: An error status of a printer is acquired, and based on the acquired status, transmission of a response, a content of a response, a response medium, a response addressee and a response timing are determined. When electronic mail is used as a response medium, text representing the response content that is suitable for electronic mail is prepared, and an opening sentence and a closing sentence are added before and after the text, thereby providing response information. A mail header and footer are added to the prepared response information, and the resultant information is transmitted to a host computer using electronic mail. Whether a problem has been resolved as the result of a response, or whether a response is confirmed by an addressee is determined. When a problem has not yet been resolved, or when a response has not been confirmed, a response is retransmitted using another method.

Abstract: A remote controller for exchanging information using infrared rays requests the direct transmission of a user interface (UI) to a device to be controlled, such as a printer or a facsimile machine, or the indirect transmission through another device that is connected to the device that is to be controlled. When the UI is returned upon receipt of the request, the menu of functions that the device that is to be controlled can execute using the UI is displayed on the screen of the remote controller, and a command to select function that is selected from the menu is transmitted to the device that is to be controlled.

Abstract: When an information processing apparatus performs the process, it stores hysteresis data itemizing the process type, the apparatus in charge of processing, the person for instructing the process, the process object information and execution time. Then, necessary hysteresis data are searched for by designating the conditions in the items, desired hysteresis data is selected from the hysteresis data that are found, and the same process (re-printing of the same document) or a new process (saving a printed document with a new file name) is performed for the object in the selected hysteresis data. The hysteresis number is provided for the hysteresis data, and a correlation is provided for the process that caused the process represented by the hysteresis data, and the hysteresis number of the process that is caused by the process represented by the hysteresis data.

Abstract: When a suspension instruction from a user is detected during the performance of a process, such as examining mail, a task for resuming a process that is currently being performed is added to a To Do List in which processes to be performed are registered, so that the process that is currently being performed and that is suspended can be performed later.

Abstract: A control box is provided for a printer to enable additional information processing, such as transmission of a job and transmission of notifications. The control box is fixed to a plate member that is sandwiched between the printer and a pedestal, so that it can be secured to the printer without drastically altering the printer itself. As another method, wheels are provided for the plate member on which is mounted the control box. The control box is normally placed beside the main body of the printer, and when it can be moved as needed, a door or a tray provided on the side of the main body can be used. An operating panel that is used to enter an instruction for the control box is fixed to one end of a flexible strut that is secured at the other end. With this arrangement, pressure applied by a user can be dispersed.

Abstract: In response to an instruction by a user, or by performing reception, detection and assumption processing, the presence state of the user is determined, and corresponding presence mode conversion data are acquired and are set as user presence data. When the presence mode conversion data are referred to, and processing that corresponds to the user's presence state is performed: when the user is present, urgent mail is transmitted, and when the user is absent, a message for the user is accepted.

Abstract: An information processing system which understands the input information as a situation, infers the requirements that situation merits and the preferred responses to those requirements using a knowledge base which has knowledge about the situations, requirements and their responses and the relations among them, and by generating these inferences further understands the input and the situation, which enables it to perform efficiently and effectively, given small amount of input information. If input information is in natural language, the linguistic knowledge base is used to analyze the input natural language information. Further, a knowledge of the user, the operations performed by the user and knowledge of the relationship between the operations of the user and the attribute of the user may also be used by the system to appropriately operate for each user.

Abstract: In response to an instruction by a user, or by performing reception, detection and assumption processing, the presence state of the user is determined, and corresponding presence mode conversion data are acquired and are set as user presence data. When the presence mode conversion data are referred to, and processing that corresponds to the user's presence state is performed: when the user is present, urgent mail is transmitted, and when the user is absent, a message for the user is accepted.

Abstract: A document is read by a scanner, the document type is detected, and a specific block in the document, for which character recognition is to be performed, is determined. The character recognition is performed for the specific block, the obtained character strings are analyzed, and in accordance with the analysis results, document objectives, such as the extraction of data, filing, transmission to a printer or notification of transmission, are attained. A process corresponding to the attained objectives is performed for the document that has been read.