Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a processor, a storage unit that stores a text language processing program, an operational panel, a communication interface, and an input unit. A user application stored in the includes descriptions on (a) a conditioned reset statement with a first condition expression including an input value from the input unit and (b) a pair of (b1) at least on process executing statement and (b2) an attribution of an icon to be displayed on either a remote console via the communication interface or the operation panel. The text language processing program causes the processor (a) to interpret the user application, (b) to determine whether the first condition expression is satisfied, (c) to detect a user operation to the icon, if a result of the determination is a predetermined one, and (d) upon detecting the user operation, to execute the at least one process executing statement.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus contains: an internal device that performs a service; a message processing unit that parses a message according to service definition data, the service definition data including syntax definitions of an interface part of the service and designation of a protocol to be used for the service; and a control unit that controls the internal device according to a request obtained from a result of parsing the message by the message processing unit in order to execute the service.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus contains: an internal device that performs a service; a message processing unit that parses a message according to service definition data, the service definition data including syntax definitions of an interface part of the service and designation of a protocol to be used for the service; and a control unit that controls the internal device according to a request obtained from a result of parsing the message by the message processing unit in order to execute the service.

Abstract: A method for providing an image forming device with a user-friendly application program. A program of the image forming device includes a basic service program and a simple text language processing program. The basic service program has an operation panel control module, image input and image output modules. If a command string in a source code is a control string, the simple text language processing program passes a parameter of a button description included in the control string to the operation panel control module as an argument to cause a button to be displayed and pressing of the button when pressed. In response to the detection, corresponding modules are activated. Accordingly, different multiple modules can be easily processed. Additionally, any size of buttons can be displayed anywhere on the panel. The image forming device alone can realize the method to allow many more users to easily use the application.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus contains: an internal device that performs a service; a message processing unit that parses a message according to service definition data, the service definition data including syntax definitions of an interface part of the service and designation of a protocol to be used for the service; and a control unit that controls the internal device according to a request obtained from a result of parsing the message by the message processing unit in order to execute the service.

Abstract: An image forming system comprising: a server device including user information, for performing a user authentication via a computer network and for receiving and adding up count data on a user basis; and an image forming apparatus including: a storage unit to which a data area for storing therein the count data including a count value of an occurrence of a predetermined event can be allocated; a login processing unit for determining whether or not to permit a user to log in; a count unit for updating, when the predetermined event occurs based on an operation performed by the user permitted to log in, the count data for the user; and a transmission unit for transmitting, when the user logs out, the count data for the user to the server device.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a terminal apparatus and an image forming apparatus executing a process in response to a request from the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus sends user identification information to the image forming apparatus, receives from the image forming apparatus a token issued to a user logging into the image forming apparatus, and sends a service request associated with the token to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a network processing unit that communicates data using a predetermined protocol with the terminal apparatus; a login processing unit that permits the user to log in when the user identification information is valid and sends the token to the terminal apparatus; a determination unit that determines whether the token is valid upon receipt of the service request; and a service providing unit that executes a process designated by the service request when the token is valid.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: an authentication server device having user information, for performing a user authentication via a computer network; and an image forming apparatus including: an authentication unit for accessing the authentication server device to perform an authentication processing for a user; and a data storage device for storing therein document data generated by an image forming processing based on the user's operation, and storing document attribute information, which has the same attribute items as a part of, or all of, attribute items of the user information held by the authentication server device, in association with the document data.

Abstract: A method for creating a device for assisting in development of a user-friendly user application program. The device includes a processor, a storage unit for storing a program, a display unit, and an input unit, in addition to an operation panel, image input unit and output units. The operation panel has icons, such as image input and output icons, and areas including icon, program design, display panel design, and source code areas. The program includes an image input module, an image output module, and an operation panel control module. When placing the image input and output icons into the design area with a drag-and-drop operation, the icons will automatically be associated to each other, and a user application program will be automatically generated in the source code area, based on the button icon and the associated image input and image output icons.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: an authentication server device having user information, for performing a user authentication via a computer network; and an image forming apparatus including: an authentication unit for accessing the authentication server device to perform an authentication processing for a user; and a data storage device for storing therein document data generated by an image forming processing based on the user's operation, and storing document attribute information, which has the same attribute items as a part of, or all of, attribute items of the user information held by the authentication server device, in association with the document data.

Abstract: An image forming system comprising: a server device including user information, for performing a user authentication via a computer network and for receiving and adding up count data on a user basis; and an image forming apparatus including: a storage unit to which a data area for storing therein the count data including a count value of an occurrence of a predetermined event can be allocated; a login processing unit for determining whether or not to permit a user to log in; a count unit for updating, when the predetermined event occurs based on an operation performed by the user permitted to log in, the count data for the user; and a transmission unit for transmitting, when the user logs out, the count data for the user to the server device.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a terminal apparatus and an image forming apparatus executing a process in response to a request from the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus sends user identification information to the image forming apparatus, receives from the image forming apparatus a token issued to a user logging into the image forming apparatus, and sends a service request associated with the token to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a network processing unit that communicates data using a predetermined protocol with the terminal apparatus; a login processing unit that permits the user to log in when the user identification information is valid and sends the token to the terminal apparatus; a determination unit that determines whether the token is valid upon receipt of the service request; and a service providing unit that executes a process designated by the service request when the token is valid.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus contains: an internal device that performs a service; a message processing unit that parses a message according to service definition data, the service definition data including syntax definitions of an interface part of the service and designation of a protocol to be used for the service; and a control unit that controls the internal device according to a request obtained from a result of parsing the message by the message processing unit in order to execute the service.

Abstract: A method for providing an image forming device with a user-friendly application program. A program of the image forming device includes a basic service program and a simple text language processing program. The basic service program has an operation panel control module, image input and image output modules. If a command string in a source code is a control string, the simple text language processing program passes a parameter of a button description included in the control string to the operation panel control module as an argument to cause a button to be displayed and pressing of the button when pressed. In response to the detection, corresponding modules are activated. Accordingly, different multiple modules can be easily processed. Additionally, any size of buttons can be displayed anywhere on the panel. The image forming device alone can realize the method to allow many more users to easily use the application.

Abstract: A method for creating a device for assisting in development of a user-friendly user application program. The device includes a processor, a storage unit for storing a program, a display unit, and an input unit, in addition to an operation panel, image input unit and output units. The operation panel has icons, such as image input and output icons, and areas including icon, program design, display panel design, and source code areas. The program includes an image input module, an image output module, and an operation panel control module. When placing the image input and output icons into the design area with a drag-and-drop operation, the icons will automatically be associated to each other, and a user application program will be automatically generated in the source code area, based on the button icon and the associated image input and image output icons.