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: A central management apparatus determines whether or not data transmitted to the central management apparatus at the fixed time from a device management unit has arrived within the allowable time after the fixed time. When data have not arrived, it is determined that that device is a no reception device. When a plurality of devices are managed via connection to device management units using different communication methods, different allowable time are used for no reception determination in accordance with the communication method of the device management unit.

Abstract: A data broadcasting receiving terminal receives a data broadcasting signal from a broadcasting station to detect print-out data and a control signal associated with print-out from the data broadcasting signal. The data broadcasting receiving terminal, at a time point of the start of broadcasting, notifies an image forming apparatus of the detected print-out data and printing prohibition data included in the control signal associated with print-out. The data broadcasting receiving terminal acquires a preparation time required for print-out from the image forming apparatus and a time of restoration from a power saving mode and issues a command of printing start, in consideration of the time requirements, to the image forming apparatus so that print-out data is printed out at predetermined timing.

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: A hot melt composition containing, as essential ingredients, a specific high-molecular weight styrene block copolymer, a specific polyphenylene ether resin and a viscosity adjuster. The hot melt composition permits an easy assembling and sealing between a plurality of members. More particularly, it is possible for the hot melt composition to be melted and applied to one member in advance of the assembling work, such that the one member with the hot melt composition already applied thereto can be carried into a work site or a work line and simply joined to another member at those places. Further advantageously, the members joined or assembled via the hot melt composition can be disassembled without difficulty, which enables recycling of the used members.

Abstract: An apparatus management unit requests another apparatus management unit connected to the LAN to perform vicarious checking of the presence or absence of a packet addressed to itself. The requested apparatus management unit checks the presence or absence of a packet addressed to the requester apparatus management unit, and when there is a packet, notifies the requester apparatus management unit of the presence of the, packet via the LAN. Consequently, even in the sleep mode, the presence or absence of a mail addressed to an apparatus management unit can be checked and the mail can be taken in without any delay because the presence or absence of a packet addressed to the apparatus management unit is checked by another apparatus management unit.

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 image processing apparatus, a management system and a computer program product are disclosed that enable firmware that controls operations of the image processing apparatus to be updated appropriately, even when, for example, an initial setting in the image processing apparatus has been changed. Firmware in the image processing apparatus is stored in a rewritable storage device such as a flash ROM, and is updated by transmitting a new firmware to the image processing apparatus and rewriting the contents of the storage device. The new firmware is transmitted together with a control program (including script) that describes processing to be executed in the image processing apparatus before and/or after updating the firmware.

Abstract: In a printer in a system comprising multiple printers connected to a LAN, the service technician executes certain diagnostic adjustment through the operation of keys on the operation unit. When this is done, the controller of the printer generates a script that describes that the same service as indicated via the key input by the service technician in this diagnostic adjustment episode should be executed. The generated script is sent to the other printers. Each printer that receives the script automatically executes diagnostic adjustment based on the description of the script. As a result, the same diagnostic adjustment tasks as those executed regarding the printer from which the script was received is performed on each printer that received the script.

Abstract: A management unit includes a collector for collecting various data of a connected unit, a connector to a communication line, a communicator transmitting the various data to a centralized management unit through the communication line. The management unit has at least two data communication processing methods, and includes a timer, a comparator for comparing the time measured by the timer with a time band set in advance in the centralized management unit, and a communication process initiator responsive to the results of comparison by the comparator for selecting a data communication processing methods and initiating a communication process. As a result, it is possible for one centralized management unit to manage a plurality of management units transmitting data in accordance with different communication methods.

Abstract: In order to improve gas permeability and electric conductivity, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is so designed as to include an electrolyte 100 in the boom of an ion exchange membrane, a gas diffusion layer 110/120 arranged on each side of the electrolyte 100, and an electrode catalyst substance, dispersed in the gas diffusion layer 110/120.

Abstract: In a printer in a system comprising multiple printers connected to a LAN, the service technician executes certain diagnostic adjustment through the operation of keys on the operation unit. When this is done, the controller of the printer generates a script that describes that the same service as indicated via the key input by the service technician in this diagnostic adjustment episode should be executed. The generated script is sent to the other printers. Each printer that receives the script automatically executes diagnostic adjustment based on the description of the script. As a result, the same diagnostic adjustment tasks as those executed regarding the printer from which the script was received is performed on each printer that received the script.

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: An image processing apparatus checks a next job to be executed, and if the job is a firmware rewriting job, accesses a mail server, downloads e-mail, and obtains a job type of a job attached to the e-mail. If the job is a print job, the image processing apparatus extracts image information pertaining to the job from the e-mail, stores the image information, registers the job in a job management table, and ends processing. If there are no print jobs, the image processing apparatus executes the firmware rewriting job, deletes the job from the job management table, and ends the processing.

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: When a management request transmission interval at which a request for management information is transmitted from a management terminal is shorter than a predictive time period that is predicted to be required for rewrite to firmware, i.e., when a request for management information is scheduled to be transmitted from the management terminal during the rewrite to firmware, a print controller transmits, to the management terminal, a request to change the management information request interval, and then, instructs an image processing apparatus to execute the rewrite to firmware by transmitting the firmware to the image processing apparatus.

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: A fuel cell includes a first electrode to be used as a fuel electrode provided with a fuel gas including hydrogen, a second electrode to be used as an oxidant electrode provided with a oxidizing gas including oxygen, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane held between the first electrode and the second electrode. In the fuel cell, either the first electrode or the second electrode is formed by a gas diffusion layer compressed in the thickness direction of the gas diffusion layer in a pressing process.

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.