Abstract: Collection status and delivery status of recoverable products are stored in a database in association with a plurality of suppliers, and unitarily managed at a collection center. Collection/delivery information associated with identification information transmitted from a terminal is returned as required.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for requesting a predetermined job to be done for an apparatus in use via a network, the apparatus comprising a specifying unit for specifying the apparatus in use and the predetermined job to be done for the apparatus in use, a search unit for searching for a job request destination corresponding to the apparatus in use and the predetermined job specified by the specifying unit, and a transmitter for transmitting job request information corresponding to the apparatus in use and the predetermined job specified by the specifying unit to the job request destination found by the search unit.

Abstract: An application 11, a printer driver 12, and a Graphical Device Interface 13 cooperate to prepare Enhanced Meta Files for each print job. The Enhanced Meta Files do not depend on the type of device. The Enhanced Meta Files are then stored as a spool file 18. The page separation unit 22 recognizes the print job of the spool file 18, and separates the Enhanced Meta Files for the respective pages from one another. The job preparation unit 27 prepares a new print job by processing the separated Enhanced Meta Files based on commands for processing the separated Enhanced Meta Files. According to these operations, a new print job comprised of the processed Enhanced Meta Files does not depend on the device. The personal computer can thus control special types of printing using simple processes.

Abstract: A computer 1 is provided with an application 2 and a printer driver 3. A user of the computer 1 generates image data using the application 2. When the image data is for a plurality of pages, the user selects a desired watermark for each of the plurality of pages. The printer driver 3 converts the image data into print data, and combines selected watermarks with the print data for corresponding pages, thereby generating updated print data. The updated print data is output as a single print job to the printer 7. The printer 7 executes printing operations based on the print job so as to an image on a plurality of pages each formed with a corresponding watermark.

Abstract: A data communication system includes a first and a second information processing units. The second information processing unit transmits transmission requests to the second information processing unit and determines if there is any reception data from the second information processing unit at time intervals in which the value of a timer becomes zero. When such reception data does not exist, the timer is set to “A”. When the reception data exists, the second information processing unit executes a data reception process and the timer is set to “B”, which is smaller than “A”. In addition, the second information processing unit determines the existence of transmission data to be transmitted to the second information processing unit. When such transmission data does not exist, the timer is set to “A”.

Abstract: A data communication system includes a first and a second information processing units. The second information processing unit transmits transmission requests to the second information processing unit and determines if there is any reception data from the second information processing unit at time intervals in which the value of a timer becomes zero. When such reception data does not exist, the timer is set to “A”. When the reception data exists, the second information processing unit executes a data reception process and the timer is set to “B”, which is smaller than “A”. In addition, the second information processing unit determines the existence of transmission data to be transmitted to the second information processing unit. When such transmission data does not exist, the timer is set to “A”.

Abstract: A facsimile control system includes a facsimile device connected to a host device. The host device has an operation instructing mechanism for instructing an operation of the facsimile device. The host device also has a sending/receiving mechanism for sending or receiving data to or from the facsimile device based upon an instruction outputted from the operation instructing mechanism. The operation instructing mechanism activates the sending/receiving mechanism before instructing the operation of the facsimile device.

Abstract: A printing system in which print data created by an application program and transferred to a printer is stored and managed in a print data storage device, providing that the print data is authorized for reprinting. A printer monitor is provided to constantly monitor the printer for a request to retransmit data that has already been printed. When such a retransmission request from the printer is detected, the print data requested for retransmission is specified in the print data storage device and is transmitted to the printer for reprinting.

Abstract: A multifunction information processing system includes a host device and a multifunction peripheral device. Data is transmitted from the host device to the multifunction peripheral device in units of data packets whose header includes an identification flag of a driver of the host device. In the same way, data is also transmitted from the multifunction peripheral device to the host device in units of data packets whose header includes the identification flag of the driver program that corresponds to the unit of the multifunction peripheral device that is sending the data. The data packets to be transmitted or received are arranged as a temporal sequence. The host device and the multifunction peripheral device perform the data transmission and data reception operations in parallel through time-sharing.

Abstract: A plurality of personal computers 12 and a first printer 20 is connected to the LAN circuit 10. A plurality of printers 20a-20x is connected to the first printer 20 in a series. If it is possible, the printer 20 prints received printing data. However, if it is not possible, the printing data is transmitted to the second printer 20a. Therefore, if at least one of the printers 20-20x is in the available condition for printing, the printing data can be printed. That is, even if the printer 20 cannot perform the printing operation, overall printing work will not be backed up.

Abstract: An information processing system has a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus, which are connected to each other, for performing an information process by controlling, from the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing apparatus to perform the information process. The information processing system is provided with: an inquiring device contained in the first information processing apparatus for inquiring an information processing function in the second information processing apparatus of the second information processing apparatus, in advance of performing the information process.

Abstract: Even after a scanner is instructed to read an original and it is later detected by an original detecting sensor that there is no original, if the original is loaded correctly, a normal reading operation is performed even without re-instruction to read the original. Thus, the operability on the user side is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is the printing system 1 including the printer 2 and the personal computer 51 through which the command combination is selected according to kind of the print sheet A among four command combinations (the first combination is defined by both the print order standard command and the print direction standard command, and corresponds to pattern 1; the second combination is defined by the sheet plane standard command and the print direction standard command, and corresponds to pattern 2; the third combination is defined by the print order standard command and the sheet direction standard command, and corresponds to pattern 3; the fourth combination is defined by the sheet plane standard command and the sheet direction standard command, and corresponds to pattern 4), further the print condition is determined by the selected command combination, thereby image printing is conducted in the two-sided printing mode by the printer 2 under print control by the personal computer 51 while reversing the feed direct

Abstract: An image data reading system is capable of receiving image data without interruption regardless of the amount of time required to read the data. The system comprises a monitor program, a scanner driver and a viewer program. The viewer program initiates a data read process and the scanner driver orders the monitor program to read image data. Upon elapse of a predetermined time period, for example, 30 seconds, the system determines if the monitor program is still reading image data. If the monitor program is still reading image data, the scanner driver does not perform time-out processing. Instead, the system allows the monitor program to continue to read the image data until a read end message for the current page is received from the monitor program. If the monitor program is not reading image data, the scanner driver notifies the viewer program of a probable error and terminates the data read process.

Abstract: A novel method for heat-pressure fixing color toner images in which:(1) a toner produced by suspension polymerization and containing a wax of a certain molecular weight and a certain melting point in a certain amount, wherein the wax is enclosed in each particle by a vinyl resin, and THF soluble matters having specific molecular weight distribution and is used in conjunction with(2) a fixing means comprising a fixing roller and a pressure roller in mutual pressure contact, through which the transfer medium comes out in the direction inclined toward the pressure roller, and wherein the surface of the fixing roller comprises a fluorine-containing material.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image, comprising color resin particles and a particulate additive. The color resin particles contain at least a coloring agent and a binding resin. The color resin particles possess irregular surfaces but not breaks, and the irregularity may be formed by depositing and fixing onto the surface fine resin particles having an average particle size in a range of 1/200 to 1/10 of the color resin particle size. A particulate additive has an average particles size of not more than 1/10 of volume average particle size of the color resin particles. The BET specific surface area of the toner changes by 20% or less before and after the forced stirring of the toner.

Abstract: A cooler toner, comprising a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the colorant comprises organic pigment particles treated with an isocyanic ester or a silicon-containing compound.

Abstract: A color toner for developing electrostatic images including a resin component and a colorant, said resin component comprising a THF (tetrahydrofuran)-soluble and containing substantially no toluene-insoluble; wherein the THF-soluble provides a molecular weight distribution in the GPC (gel permeation chromatography) thereof such that there are a peak (Mp1) in the molecular weight range of 500 to 2,000, and a peak (Mp2) in the molecular weight range of 10,000 to 100,000; the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is 10,000 to 80,000, the number-average molecular weight (Mn) is 1,500 to 8,000, and the rate of Mw/Mn.gtoreq.3.

Abstract: A color toner for developing electrostatic images including a resin component and a colorant, said resin component comprising a THF (tetrahydrofuran)-soluble and containing substantially no toluene-insoluble; wherein the THF-soluble provides a molecular weight distribution in the GPC (gel permeation chromatography) thereof such that there are a peak (Mp1) in the molecular weight range of 500 to 2,000, and a peak (Mp2) in the molecular weight range of 10,000 to 100,000; the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is 10,000 to 80,000, the number-average molecular weight (Mn) is 1,500 to 8,000, and the rate of Mw/Mn.gtoreq.3.

Abstract: A toner is provided which is prepared by suspension polymerization of polymerizable monomer composition containing a chromatic dye or a chromatic pigment of which radical-active sites to inhibit the polymerization have been inactivated in the previously conducted bulk polymerization. The toner has superior developing characteristics and an anti-blocking property as well as superior color tone and excellent chroma.