Abstract: A communication terminal uses a Web printing function to print a Web page of a URL designated through an operation panel, together with the URL of the Web page and an entry column for entering keywords, on a sheet of paper. When an image is read from the sheet of paper, the communication terminal specifies contents written in a specific position. When any URL is contained in the contents and any keyword is specified together with the URL, the communication terminal registers the URL and the keyword associatively in a data table. After that, a user can make the communication terminal print the Web page of the designated URL by designating the URL registered in the data table on the basis of the keyword corresponding to the URL.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is connected to a WAN and a LAN and can perform a bidirectional communication with each terminal in those networks. In the printing apparatus, a CPU sends a Web server a request signal, which received from a LAN terminal, and receives content data sent from the web server as a response to the request signal. On the basis of a predetermined determination condition, the CPU determines whether to cause a printing unit to print the content data sent from the web server. If determining that the content data is to be printed, the CPU causes the printing unit to print the content data.

Abstract: In a communication system, an access source page is printed, together with an entry column and code regions on a sheet of paper, the entry column being provided for entering a command content to access destination pages, the code regions being provided for entering codes for specifying access destination pages corresponding to the entry column. Then, the sheet of paper on which the command content has been entered by a user is read. A URL of an access destination page corresponding to each entry column in which the command content has been entered is specified on the basis of contents entered in the code regions, a link list or a text file. At least one command to the specified URL is specified on the basis of check-off states of check columns constituting each entry column. Then, at least one process corresponding to the command is applied to the URL.

Abstract: When a user inputs a URL character string indicating data for an order document, the CPU receives data for the order document indicated by the URL and reading method data from the web server at the URL destination and prints the order document on a recording unit. The user then fills in circles on the order document to indicate desired content and feeds the order document into the manual-feed paper tray on the facsimile device. At this time, the facsimile device reads a user number and data regarding printing details and scrapbook entry details and transmits order data described as a URL to the web server.

Abstract: A facsimile device includes a communication module for communicating with a web server connected to the Internet. A web printing unit of the communication module receives data from the web server, and adds accumulated data information indicating a saving position of the received data to a corresponding data file if the received data conforms to predetermined sorting conditions. When the amount of received data for which the accumulated data information has been stored in the data file exceeds one page worth, then n-pages worth of received data is converted into print data and recorded in a print FIFO.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a shortcut key database. The shortcut key database stores address data in association with corresponding numeral keys, enabling a user to specify desired address data by pressing a corresponding numeral key. When download data form a server is network data including address data, then the shortcut key database is automatically updated with the data address included in the network data.

Abstract: A facsimile device downloads data from a web server if a URL of the web server is not listed in an access prohibited database. If it is determined that the downloaded data is of the type for which image formation is prohibited, then a printing function is set to OFF. If the printing function is ON, then a display unit displays an outline of the downloaded data, enabling a user to determine whether or not the downloaded data should be printing out. If the user input a print instruction, then the downloaded data is printed out. On the other hand, if the user input a cancel instruction, then the downloaded data is not printed out.

Abstract: A facsimile device includes an outer case accommodating a circuit controller and a communication module. The communication module has a router function and can be directly connected to a broadband-capable modem, such as an ADSL modem, by a cable. The communication module can perform bi-directional communications with a web server on the Internet via the broadband-capable modem. The communication module also has a web printing function for printing images of data received from a web server on a recording unit. Hence, by connecting a broadband-capable modem to the communication module, the facsimile device can print data from web servers onto paper to facilitate viewing.

Abstract: A facsimile machine including an electronic mail receiving device, a condition data setting portion sets various condition data related to output of electronic mail (e-mail) message and stores the set condition data into an EEPROM. The condition data is used when an output method and an output timing of the e-mail message are specified based on contents of the e-mail message. The condition data can be set by a user using an operation inputting portion to meet user's needs. Next, an output condition determining portion compares the e-mail message received at a mail receiving portion, with the set condition data, to specify an output method according to the condition data.

Abstract: A communication apparatus that executes communication in a desired communication mode determined upon the detection of a predetermined operation done by a user to the communication apparatus prior to communication. Recipient information corresponding to the desired communication mode, that is, a telephone, facsimile, or e-mail mode, is retrieved from an electronic address book in which various kinds of recipient information corresponding to the various communication modes are registered and managed together on a recipient-by-recipient basis, in association with names of recipients. A display unit displays thereon a list of names of recipients associated with the retrieved recipient information to allow the user to designate a recipient from the list.

Abstract: A communication system includes a server and a facsimile machine. The server includes templates and provides a Web page creation service. The facsimile machine communicates with the server and includes input and output units to input and output text, images, and voice messages. When a creation of a Web page is requested from the facsimile machine to the server, a user is prompted to input text, images, and voice messages to be embedded in a template via a display unit of the facsimile machine. The text, images and voice messages input accordingly are sent to the server as input data, and embedded in the template to complete a Web page on the server.

Abstract: Two types of outline font data defining thin and thick line characters belonging to the same font category are stored in a character ROM. Intermediate line characters of the same font category are generated based on the data stored in the character ROM without need for fixedly determining an order of arrangement of a plurality of pieces of data making up the character.

Abstract: A dot-matrix data producing apparatus including a first device for transforming, according to scale data indicative of a scale of an output character within a first range of scale values, original outline data including original width data indicative of an original width of a reference stroke of an original character, into transformed outline data including first transformed width data indicative of a first transformed width of the reference stroke, according to a first relationship between transformed width values and scale values wherein the transformed width values increase as the scale values increase; a second device for transforming, according to the scale data indicative of the output-character scale within a second range smaller than the first range, the original outline data into transformed outline data including second transformed width data indicative of a second transformed width of the reference stroke, according to a second relationship between one or more transformed width values and the secon

Abstract: An apparatus for producing dot-matrix data from outline data defining an original outline of an image in an X-Y coordinate system, including a first transforming device transforming, according to transformation data, first interval data defining original intervals regarding the X and/or Y axis, into second interval data defining transformed intervals; a correcting device correcting the second interval data into third interval data defining corrected intervals; a determining device determining, based on the first and third interval data, a transformation function for each of at least one original interval; a second transforming device transforming original or first outline data into second outline data defining a transformed outline, the first outline data including original sets of x and y coordinates defining the original outline, the second outline data including transformed sets of x and y coordinates defining the transformed outline, the second transforming device transforming the x and/or y coordinate of

Abstract: A printer controller wherein original outline data representative of the outline of a figure are converted by an approximating device into approximative outline data including straight segment data representative straight segments which approximate curved segments of the original outline. The approximating device is adapted to lower the accuracy of approximation of the curved segments by the straight segments, until the amount of the approximation data is reduced to such an extent that the approximative data can be entirely stored in a currently available empty area of a random-access memory, before the approximative data are converted into bit map data representative of image dots filling the interior of the figure outline.

Abstract: A data converting apparatus having a memory for storing original outline data indicative of an outline of each stroke of a plurality of characters, which characters include characters each having at least one special stroke whose outline consists of ordinary segments, and a special chain of segments which defines a specific pattern. The original outline data indicative of the outline of the special stroke include ordinary segment data representative of the ordinary segments and special segment data indicative of the special chain of segments. The apparatus includes a generating device for generating a group of segment chain data representative of all the segments of the special chain of segments, based on the special segment data, and further includes a device for outputting normal outline data consisting of the ordinary segment data of the original outline data, and the group of segment chain data generated by the generating device.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus for processing a batch of outline data representative of outlines of characters each consisting of at least one stroke, each outline consisting of two or more straight and/or curved segments, the apparatus including an outline data memory storing the outline data. Each segment of the character outline is represented by coordinate data sets representative of coordinate values defining the segment, and attribute flag data indicative of whether the segment is a straight line or a curved line. The outline data memory includes a first storage area storing a plurality of groups of coordinate data sets for respective different outlines (such as regular and boldface outlines) of each character which define respective different stroke widths of the character, and a second storage area storing a common groups of attribute flags which is commonly used for the plurality of groups of coordinate data sets.

Abstract: A data compressing device for preparing compressed outline data from normal outline data representative of an outline of a character which consists of a plurality of segments connected end to end so as to form a closed loop. The normal outline data includes coordinate data representative of X and Y coordinate of segment specifying points which determine positions of the segments, and segment type data indicative of a type of each segments. The device is adapted to determine whether or not all of a plurality of successive points of the segment specifying points which successive points are successively located along the closed loop have a same X or Y coordinate, and omits the X or Y coordinate for at least one of those successive points, to thereby prepare the compressed outline data, if all of the successive points have the same X or Y coordinate which is equal to the X or Y coordinate to be omitted.

Abstract: A data converting apparatus for converting outline data of a character into dot data including dot-forming bits each indicative of an image dot to be formed at a position of a corresponding dot-forming picture element which lies within the outline of each stroke of the character, when the character outline is superimposed on a pixel screen wherein picture elements are defined by x-axis and y-axis pixel lines perpendicular to each other. The apparatus includes a device for changing width direction data indicative of a direction of a nominal width of each stroke, if the outline data of the character are subjected to a conversion for rotation or italicization of the character as represented by the converted outline data.