Abstract: There is provided a multifunction peripheral which comprises a first storage unit configured to store a relationship between a state change and at least one function expected to be used in relation to the state change, a detection unit configured to detect the state change, a function extraction unit configured to firstly extract at least one function which is expected to be used in relation to the state change detected by the detection unit in accordance with the relationship stored in the first storage unit and to secondly extract at least one function for which a predetermined condition concerning availability of each function is satisfied from among the firstly extracted at least one function, and a warm-up operation control unit configured to execute a warm-up operation of at least one device used to execute the at least one function secondly extracted by the function extraction unit.

Abstract: A process execution apparatus includes a first input unit that receives an instruction from a user, an execution unit that executes a process according to the instruction, a transmitting unit that makes a call to a terminal device having a phone number corresponding to the user, a judging unit that judges whether connection to the terminal device is made, a first authentication unit that determines whether user authentication is successful when the judging unit judges that the connection to the terminal device is made, and a controller that permits execution of the process by the execution unit when the first authentication unit determines that the user authentication is successful.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a printing device, an image orientation identification device, a medium orientation identification device, a conversion device, and a prohibition device. The printing device prints an image represented by image data onto a recording medium. The image orientation identification device identifies orientation of an image represented by the image data. The medium orientation identification device identifies orientation of the recording medium for use in printing by the printing device. The conversion device converts the image data, when there is inconsistency between the orientation of the image identified by the image orientation identification device and the orientation of the recording medium identified by the medium orientation identification device, such that the orientations of the image and the recording medium are consistent with each other. The prohibition device prohibits operation of the conversion device under a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A job management device that determines an order in which a plurality of jobs are processed. The job management device includes a storage device that stores therein issued jobs in order and a controller. The controller selects, when the job execution rate of the job is higher than the acceptable rate of the job as a result of the comparison therebetween, a next job, calculates a job execution rate of the next job, and compares an acceptable rate of the next job with an obtained job execution rate; and performs, when the job execution rate of at least one job stored in the storage device is lower than or equal to an acceptable rate of at least one job as a result of the comparison therebetween performed on each job stored in the storage device, control so that the job whose job execution rate is lower than or equal to the acceptable rate of the job is executed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that inhibits malfunctions therein via control such that respective developing devices change positions at predetermined timings. In a color laser printer, a first position is a position on a photosensitive drum facing a developing roller established when a developing roller moves to a developing position. A second position is a position on a photosensitive drum facing another developing roller when the developing roller moves to a developing position. First and second corresponding portions are portions on the conveying belt respectively corresponding to the first and second positions. The timing for moving the first developing roller and the second developing roller is controlled via a control apparatus and actuator such that a distance between the first corresponding portion and the second corresponding portion is less than a reference distance determined when the first developing roller and the second developing roller simultaneously approach the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: There is provided a multifunction peripheral which comprises a first storage unit configured to store a relationship between a state change and at least one function expected to be used in relation to the state change, a detection unit configured to detect the state change, a function extraction unit configured to firstly extract at least one function which is expected to be used in relation to the state change detected by the detection unit in accordance with the relationship stored in the first storage unit and to secondly extract at least one function for which a predetermined condition concerning availability of each function is satisfied from among the firstly extracted at least one function, and a warm-up operation control unit configured to execute a warm-up operation of at least one device used to execute the at least one function secondly extracted by the function extraction unit.

Abstract: A process execution apparatus includes a first input unit that receives an instruction from a user, an execution unit that executes a process according to the instruction, a transmitting unit that makes a call to a terminal device having a phone number corresponding to the user, a judging unit that judges whether connection to the terminal device is made, a first authentication unit that determines whether user authentication is successful when the judging unit judges that the connection to the terminal device is made, and a controller that permits execution of the process by the execution unit when the first authentication unit determines that the user authentication is successful.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus can include an integrated memory portion capable of storing settings information, a memory connection portion communicably connected to an external memory that stores settings update information, a detection portion capable of detecting a connection state and a disconnection state of the external memory with respect to the memory connection portion, a settings updating portion capable of rewriting settings information that is stored in the integrated memory portion based on settings update information that is stored in the external memory, and a control portion capable of executing restarting of the image forming apparatus after the settings updating portion executes rewriting of the settings information, based on a signal from the detection portion that the external memory is in the disconnected state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a printing device, an image orientation identification device, a medium orientation identification device, a conversion device, and a prohibition device. The printing device prints an image represented by image data onto a recording medium. The image orientation identification device identifies orientation of an image represented by the image data. The medium orientation identification device identifies orientation of the recording medium for use in printing by the printing device. The conversion device converts the image data, when there is inconsistency between the orientation of the image identified by the image orientation identification device and the orientation of the recording medium identified by the medium orientation identification device, such that the orientations of the image and the recording medium are consistent with each other. The prohibition device prohibits operation of the conversion device under a predetermined condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that inhibits malfunctions therein via control such that respective developing devices change positions at predetermined timings. In a color laser printer, a first position is a position on a photosensitive drum facing a developing roller established when a developing roller moves to a developing position. A second position is a position on a photosensitive drum facing another developing roller when the developing roller moves to a developing position. First and second corresponding portions are portions on the conveying belt respectively corresponding to the first and second positions. The timing for moving the first developing roller and the second developing roller is controlled via a control apparatus and actuator such that a distance between the first corresponding portion and the second corresponding portion is less than a reference distance determined when the first developing roller and the second developing roller simultaneously approach the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A laser printer is equipped with a device for conveying a recording medium, the device being capable of detecting errors that might occur along each possible conveying path and the total number of steps involved in error resolution methods stored in an error table and capable of storing this data along with the conveying paths. The device sorts the conveying paths in order beginning from the error resolution methods involving the least total number of steps and updates the error table to reflect this order. The device then displays at least one resolution method based on the updated error table, along with the conveying path and total number of steps required to perform each resolution method.

Abstract: A job management device that determines an order in which a plurality of jobs are processed. The job management device includes a storage device that stores therein issued jobs in order and a controller. The controller selects, when the job execution rate of the job is higher than the acceptable rate of the job as a result of the comparison therebetween, a next job, calculates a job execution rate of the next job, and compares an acceptable rate of the next job with an obtained job execution rate; and performs, when the job execution rate of at least one job stored in the storage device is lower than or equal to an acceptable rate of at least one job as a result of the comparison therebetween performed on each job stored in the storage device, control so that the job whose job execution rate is lower than or equal to the acceptable rate of the job is executed.

Abstract: A laser printer is equipped with a device for conveying a recording medium, the device being capable of detecting errors that might occur along each possible conveying path and the total number of steps involved in error resolution methods stored in an error table and capable of storing this data along with the conveying paths. The device sorts the conveying paths in order beginning from the error resolution methods involving the least total number of steps and updates the error table to reflect this order. The device then displays at least one resolution method based on the updated error table, along with the conveying path and total number of steps required to perform each resolution method.