Abstract: A user name entered on a user authentication screen is searched and if it found to be an unregistered user name a different, registered image formation apparatus is asked to act as a proxy to perform user authentication. If the apparatus returns “OK” a decision is made that the authentication of interest is “OK” and the authentication process ends. If all of the image formation apparatuses registered in a proxy authentication apparatus registration table are requested to perform user authentication do not provide an authentication “OK” a decision is made that the authentication of interest is “NG” and the authentication process ends. Thus in networked environment an image formation apparatus can be provided that can eliminate the necessity of registering information for user authentication with all image formation apparatuses and also prevent improper use by a user registered with an unintended image formation apparatus.

Abstract: The verification system of this invention comprises an image forming apparatus 1 having verification function and a card reader 2 for reading a user ID from a card. The image forming apparatus 1 is capable of performing short-range radio communication with a portable instrument 3. The portable instrument 3 receives a polling command transmitted by the image forming apparatus 1 and sends back its own identification code if it is located near the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 permits usage of all the functions thereof if it verifies that user is an officially permitted person according to user ID read by the card reader 2 and the identification code sent back from the portable instrument 3. Consequently, there is provided a verification system having a high security level and convenient for use or a verification system which permits usage of its apparatus and other related devices within an appropriate range depending on the security level of a verified method.

Abstract: An information processor capable of arbitrarily and easily setting the print order of plural files, and creating print data from the files as one print job is provided. In the processor comprising the function of creating print data on a user interface screen based upon a prescribed file following a drag-and-drop operation of a file icon corresponding to the file or a folder icon corresponding to a folder that stores the file onto a printer icon corresponding to the image formation apparatus, plural files are managed, while being ordered, based upon a prescribed order of the file icons in a window of the folder storing the files, and print data of the plural files is created as one print job in the print order corresponding to the order in which the files are managed following the drag-and-drop operation of the folder icon onto the printer icon.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory storing firmware, a reception unit for receiving an image processing job, an image processing job execution controller for executing the image processing job using the firmware, a firmware reception unit for receiving firmware for rewrite purpose distributed from an external device, a firmware rewrite controller for executing a firmware rewrite job of rewriting the firmware stored in the memory to the received firmware, a judgment unit for judging a type of the received firmware, and a job management controller for adjusting an execution order of the image processing job and the firmware rewrite job according to the type of the received firmware, and instructing to execute the image processing job and the firmware rewrite job in the adjusted execution order when the image processing job and the firmware rewrite job are both placed in a wait state for execution.

Abstract: In an image processing system an information processor is connected to an image processor. When the image processor detects that a job is completed, the image processor transmits to an image processor that indicates the job information notifying in accordance with a first or second communications protocol that the job is completed. The information processor converts in a predetermined format the information transmitted in accordance with the first communications protocol to notify that a job is completed. Furthermore, the information processor also converts in the predetermined format the information transmitted in accordance with the second communications protocol to notify that a job is completed. The information processor then displays the converted information collectively.

Abstract: Disclosed are an information processing apparatus, a printing instruction method, and a storage medium storing a computer program, that can improve the operability. When dragging and dropping of a first icon that indicates a printer onto a second icon that indicates a document to be printed is detected, or dragging and dropping of the second icon onto the first icon is detected, a signal from an input device such as a keyboard at the time of detection of the drop event is detected, and a printing condition is determined. A print data corresponding to the second icon is transmitted to the printer that is indicated by the first icon so as to print the document to be printed in the printing condition corresponding to the signal that is output from the input device.

Abstract: When electronic mail indicating termination of firmware rewriting has arrived from an image formation apparatus that has received divided firmware, the transmitter side of the firmware determines whether rewriting has ended properly or not from the mail. When rewriting has ended properly, electronic mail with the next divided firmware attached is transmitted based on the division number, divisor value, machine type and module indicated in a Subject field. When rewriting has not ended properly, the same firmware indicated in the Subject field is transmitted again. Accordingly, divided firmware can be transmitted appropriately. Thus, firmware of a large size can be transmitted appropriately even in the case where the size set at the mail server is restricted.

Abstract: In an image formation system, an information processor stores, for each type of document, information related to the performance of each image formation apparatus to process a document. When a document to request processing by an image formation apparatus is selected, the information processor notifies of information related to performance of an image formation apparatus for each type of a relevant document.

Abstract: In a management system that manages a plurality of apparatuses by use of a centralized management unit connected to the apparatuses via a network, the expiration date and time of a mail (data) transmitted from the centralized management unit is confirmed, and an expired mail is not used for apparatus management.

Abstract: When electronic mail with firmware attached is received at a data communication apparatus, determination is made whether it corresponds to firmware data of a write process allowable state. In the case of write process allowable data, the message is downloaded from a mail server to a printer controller. Then, derived firmware is transmitted to an image formation apparatus. A firmware rewrite permission is obtained. When the firmware attached to the message does not attain a write process allowable state, waiting is conducted for reception of write process allowable firmware with the data left in the mail server. As a result, a data communication apparatus is provided that can rewrite firmware appropriately independent of a transmitted and received order of divided firmware.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus connected to a network transfers an unexecuted image processing job to another image processing apparatus connected to the network, during a rewrite time period from when new firmware for a rewrite purpose is obtained to when rewrite to the obtained new firmware is completed, the unexecuted image processing job being at least one of (a) an image processing job that is in a wait state for execution when the new firmware is obtained, and (b) an image processing job that is received during the rewrite time period.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus provided with boxes for storing various information in a sorted manner, the boxes including at least a private box having a box function of allowing an access from a specific user and/or group, includes a notification portion. The notification portion is configured such that when a document is moved in or a new document is accumulated in the private box from a user or a group other than an owner of the private box, the fact that the document is moved in or the new document is accumulated in the private box from a user or a group other than the owner of the private box is notified to the owner of the private box and that when a document not accumulated by the owner is accumulated in the private box, the fact that the document not accumulated by the owner is accumulated in the private box is also notified to the owner.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can manage commodities efficiently by unifying and maintaining commodity codes in order for companies to manage commodities. An apparatus according to the present invention manages product names each consisting of multiple levels and model names below them by means of a product family tree management section and issues commodity codes each consisting of multiple levels for model names by means of a commodity code management section.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that is connected to a network generates information about a processing time expected to be required for rewriting firmware in the image processing apparatus to new firmware, and transmits the information via the network to an external apparatus.

Abstract: A printer controller receives firmware attached to e-mail from a mail server, downloads the firmware to an internal hard disk drive, and registers the job at the bottom of a job registration table. On subsequently receiving a print job or a scan job, the printer controller registers the job in the job management table, judges whether a firmware rewriting job is registered in the job management table, and if so, moves the print job or the scan job to be before the firmware rewriting job in the job management table. In this way, firmware rewriting jobs are always executed after print jobs, meaning that processing of print jobs is not delayed.

Abstract: A document administration system includes a plurality of document storing apparatuses, and a server apparatus connected the plurality of document storing apparatuses via a network. Each of the plurality of document storing apparatuses includes a plurality of boxes for storing various information in a sorted manner, and a document storing portion for making the document storing apparatus store a document in one of the boxes.

Abstract: A document administration apparatus, includes a sharing request receiving portion configured to receive a request of sharing a document stored in a first box among boxes which are divided storing areas, a box information receiving portion configured to receive box information on one or more second boxes each correlated with each user sharing the document to which the sharing request is made, a shortcut creating portion configured to create a shortcut to all of the second boxes represented by the box information received by the box information receiving portion, the shortcut including link information to the document stored in the first box, and a link portion configured to process an access to the shortcut created by the shortcut creating portion by replacing the access with an access to the document which is a linked destination written in the shortcut.

Abstract: A system, a method, a program product, and an apparatus for managing equipments are provided in which the management can properly be carried out even if a series of data are received in a reverse of the order of transmission. Upon receiving from a center a current mail carrying a command, a data terminal 1 for monitoring a copier compares the date-1 of the current mail with the date-2 of the latest of the previous mails carrying the same type of commands (S803). When the date-1 is later than the date-2, an action determined by the command carried in the current mail is performed (S811). If the date-1 is not later than the date-2, the current mail is discarded and the discarding is informed to the center (S821).

Abstract: New firmware is attached to electronic mail from a computer of the service center to be transmitted towards a monitor device at the user side. The monitor device of the user side reads out the electronic mail from a mail server and downloads the electronic mail into its own apparatus. Then, the firmware is derived from the electronic mail and transmitted to an image formation apparatus that is the subject of transmission. The image formation apparatus receiving the firmware writes the new firmware into the flash ROM that is the subject of rewriting. Accordingly, increase of the communication traffic can be prevented and the load on the mail server can be alleviated in the case where the same firmware for a plurality of devices connected on a network is to be altered using an electronic mail system.

Abstract: Image data is transmitted from a client PC to an image formation apparatus. Upon printing, an external server conducts an authentication process. A certificate indicating that the user has been authenticated is held, with its validity period provided in the image formation apparatus. Within the validity period, the time-consuming authentication process with respect to the external server is skipped. This can reduce the burden of authentication while ensuring security, so that high productivity is guaranteed.