Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided. Firmware customized for a user who uses the image processing apparatus has been installed in advance in the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus has a hardware processor configured to monitor a condition of use of the image processing apparatus and determine whether or not the monitored condition of use is a condition of use adapted to the customized firmware, and to perform processing for updating to the latest standard firmware when it is determined that the monitored condition of use departs from the condition of use adapted to the customized firmware.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of being remotely operated by a mobile terminal includes: a specification unit configured to specify an image to be displayed on the mobile terminal as an operation image for the image forming apparatus; an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on the number of display units of the mobile terminal; a decision unit configured to, when a plurality of images is specified as the operation images and the number of the display units of the mobile terminal is recognized as two or more, make a first decision that at least two of the plurality of images are to be displayed on at least two of the two or more display units of the mobile terminal; and a transmission unit configured to transmit a display instruction based on the first decision to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus remotely operated by an external terminal includes a generation unit that generates a first composite image by combining a first image and a second image such that the second image is displayed within and over the first image, the first image being an operation screen image corresponding to an operation screen of the image forming apparatus, and the second screen being an image of an area including hardware key images corresponding to hardware keys of the image forming apparatus, a transmission unit that transmits first image data that is image data of the first composite image to the external terminal as data for displaying a remote operation image for the image forming apparatus, and a reception unit that receives, from the external terminal, first manual input information on manual input to the first composite image displayed as the remote operation image on the external terminal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided. Firmware customized for a user who uses the image processing apparatus has been installed in advance in the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus has a hardware processor configured to monitor a condition of use of the image processing apparatus and determine whether or not the monitored condition of use is a condition of use adapted to the customized firmware, and to perform processing for updating to the latest standard firmware when it is determined that the monitored condition of use departs from the condition of use adapted to the customized firmware.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of being remotely operated by a mobile terminal includes: a specification unit configured to specify an image to be displayed on the mobile terminal as an operation image for the image forming apparatus; an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on the number of display units of the mobile terminal; a decision unit configured to, when a plurality of images is specified as the operation images and the number of the display units of the mobile terminal is recognized as two or more, make a first decision that at least two of the plurality of images are to be displayed on at least two of the two or more display units of the mobile terminal; and a transmission unit configured to transmit a display instruction based on the first decision to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a transmitter that transmits user information input by a user, to an authentication server; a receiver that receives an authentication result from the authentication server; a job execution portion that executes a job if the user is successfully identified as an authorized user; a register storage that stores accumulated information including information about the executed job; an information transfer portion that transfers the accumulated information to the authentication server; a detector that detects an event if the authentication server is down; a time settings portion that specifies either “at a predetermined time” or “when log-on is requested”, as the time to check the status of the authentication server; and a status checking portion that: transmits acknowledgment request data to the authentication server at the specified time; and checks the status of the authentication server if acknowledgment data is received from the authentication server.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises: a display part on which various types of screens are displayed; a manipulation detecting part for detecting an input by a user on the screen; a grouping part for classifying multiple screen parts contained in the screen into a group as a closed region by the screen part that is capable of receiving the same event and associating the same event with the group as the common event in the group; an event determining part for identifying the closed region where the user's input is detected and running only an operational event determining routine corresponding to the event associated with the group of the identified closed region of a plurality of operational event determining routines when the input is detected, thereby specifying the event corresponding to the user's input; and a controlling part for controlling operations based on the specified event.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus that discards a job on elapse of an auto clear time. In the case a job is interrupted due to an insufficient balance to pay the fee for the job, the image formation apparatus judges whether the cause of the interruption can be eliminated in a short time or it takes a long time to be eliminated. If the cause takes a long time to be eliminated, the image formation apparatus extends the auto clear time to prevent the job from being discarded for the reason that the user does not have enough time to pay an additional fee.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a transmitter that transmits user information input by a user, to an authentication server; a receiver that receives an authentication result from the authentication server; a job execution portion that executes a job if the user is successfully identified as an authorized user; a register storage that stores accumulated information including information about the executed job; an information transfer portion that transfers the accumulated information to the authentication server; a detector that detects an event if the authentication server is down; a time settings portion that specifies either “at a predetermined time” or “when log-on is requested”, as the time to check the status of the authentication server; and a status checking portion that: transmits acknowledgment request data to the authentication server at the specified time; and checks the status of the authentication server if acknowledgment data is received from the authentication server.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus remotely operated by an external terminal includes a generation unit that generates a first composite image by combining a first image and a second image such that the second image is displayed within and over the first image, the first image being an operation screen image corresponding to an operation screen of the image forming apparatus, and the second screen being an image of an area including hardware key images corresponding to hardware keys of the image forming apparatus, a transmission unit that transmits first image data that is image data of the first composite image to the external terminal as data for displaying a remote operation image for the image forming apparatus, and a reception unit that receives, from the external terminal, first manual input information on manual input to the first composite image displayed as the remote operation image on the external terminal.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises: a display part on which various types of screens are displayed; a manipulation detecting part for detecting an input by a user on the screen; a grouping part for classifying multiple screen parts contained in the screen into a group as a closed region by the screen part that is capable of receiving the same event and associating the same event with the group as the common event in the group; an event determining part for identifying the closed region where the user's input is detected and running only an operational event determining routine corresponding to the event associated with the group of the identified closed region of a plurality of operational event determining routines when the input is detected, thereby specifying the event corresponding to the user's input; and a controlling part for controlling operations based on the specified event.

Abstract: The present invention is an image forming device capable of executing an authentication print printing. The image forming device includes: an authentication print detecting unit which detects whether to execute a job as the authentication print printing by referencing predetermined data; an authentication unit; a user authentication unit which outputs the result of the user authentication; a job executing unit; a user interface; and a user interface input mode switching unit which switches an information input/output mode of the user interface, wherein, an instruction to execute a first process can be received, and wherein the first process includes processes in which: the execution of the authentication print printing starts based on the result of the user authentication output by the user authentication unit; and the result of the user authentication is invoked so that the information input/output mode of the user interface is switched to a login mode.

Abstract: Under a contention between a copy job and a print job, it is possible that a general user misunderstands that the payment he has made for the copy job is mistakenly used on the print job requested by another user. One solution to avoid such undesirable possibility is to display information indicating that the billing process is correctly done. Yet, the general user may fail to notice the display. In view of this, a billing and printing system prevents occurrence of job contention as long as the balance of payment made by a general user remains. An MFP included in the system does not accept any print job if a balance of received payment remains, and does not accept any payment if there is a queued print job.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that executes a job and determines a billing amount for the job depending on a parameter value given to a parameter that relates to the execution of the job, the image forming apparatus comprising: a storage that stores therein a first table and a second table, the first table defining billing amounts for a plurality of non-overlapping value ranges in one-to-one correspondence, the second table defining billing amounts for a plurality of specific values in one-to-one correspondence; and a determiner operable to refer to the second table before referring to the first table and judge whether the parameter value is identical to any one of the plurality of specific values in the second table (step S402), and if identical (Yes in step S402), determine the billing amount for the job according to the second table (step S403).

Abstract: The image forming device capable of executing an authentication print printing includes: a communication interface for receiving job data; a job data property deriving unit for deriving a property of the job by referencing data contained in the job data other than data explicitly indicating to execute/not to execute the authentication print printing and outputting the property as job property data; an authentication print setting deciding unit for deciding whether or not to execute the job as the authentication print printing; an authentication unit; a user authentication unit for outputting the result of the user authentication; and a job executing unit for executing the job related to the job data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming device capable of maintaining a security level of a document constant, and an image forming device terminal. The image forming device capable of executing an authentication print printing includes a storage unit for storing a document data file and setting data of the authentication print printing of the document data file; a communication interface for receiving instruction data containing instruction of a process related to the document data file; an authentication print setting determination unit for determining whether to execute as the authentication print printing based on setting data stored in the storage unit; an authentication unit; a user authentication unit for outputting the result of the user authentication; a job executing unit for executing the job; and an authentication print setting registration unit for editing the setting data stored in the storage unit based on the instruction data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with increased convenience of setting an operation panel includes a touch panel LCD, an LCD controller, a video RAM, a control RAM, a panel CPU performing an operation for realizing the image forming apparatus based on data input from outside, a nonvolatile RAM a backup power supply, a flash ROM, a communication unit, a printer CPU performing communications for realizing image formation processing with the panel CPU through the communication unit, an input/output unit, a control RAM, an image RAM, a flash ROM, and an external I/F controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming device terminal for enhancing the productivity of the image forming process such as printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that warns that a JOB fails to be pulled out is provided. Warning processes executed by a CPU of a printer that is one example of the image forming apparatus includes the steps of determining whether a JOB list is updated, setting a job counter JB_S_CTA for checking JOB at an initial value “1” and setting an upper limit counter JB_S_CTB at an upper limit value when the JOB list is updated, executing a failure-to-pull-out warning process if JOBs counted by JB_S_CTA belong to the same client, and incrementing the JB_S_CTA by “1”.

Abstract: A process cartridge having a nonvolatile memory for storing prescribed information corresponding to addresses is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming device. The nonvolatile memory includes a first address at which data including a shipment destination used by a control system of the main body of the image forming device is stored, a second address where data including process control information to further control the control system of the main body is stored, a first unused address at which data including a destination code is stored and which is used by the control system of the main body of the image forming device is not defined, and a second unused address at which no data is stored and of which use by the control system of the main body of the image forming device is not defined.