Abstract: If a fallback processing involving lossy compression occurs in PDL data including a special pattern, such as a texture pattern, an electronic watermark, or an Anoto pattern, the performance of the special pattern cannot be sufficiently exhibited by image degradation due to the compression. Moreover, in order to obtain an image quality capable of sufficiently exhibiting the performance of the special pattern, a high-capacity memory is necessary to raise the cost. Document information and additional information are sequentially received from other device, and a pre-preparation processing for bit-mapping the document information is started, and upon receipt of the additional information by a receiving unit, a bit map is generated using the information (display list) obtained by the pre-preparation processing for the document information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an instruction unit. The acquisition unit acquires print data from an information processing apparatus. The setting unit receives a user operation executed via an input device and configured to execute a print setting for the print data. The instruction unit instructs the acquisition unit to acquire the print data based on a print instruction for executing printing and instructs the setting unit to receive an input by the user operation for executing a print setting for the print data.

Abstract: A first apparatus, which does not mount any metadata generation unit generating metadata used to specify image data from the image data, and a second apparatus, which mounts the metadata generation unit, are connected via a network in the image processing system. The first apparatus stores image data. The first apparatus requests the second apparatus to generate metadata associated with the stored image data, and the metadata generation unit mounted in the second apparatus generates metadata. The first apparatus requests the second apparatus to retrieve image data using the generated metadata, and a retrieval unit mounted in the second apparatus executes a high-level retrieval.

Abstract: In a pull printing system, it is possible to perform an alternate print with appropriate security and in consideration of loads on a server while securing convenience of the user requesting a third party for the alternate print. An image processing apparatus in the pull printing system comprises a user authentication unit configured to confirm authority of an alternate process to a first user during login, a bibliographic information managing unit configured to acquire bibliographic information of print data stored in a storage server by a second user from a bibliographic information server for displaying the print data corresponding to the second user and a log information managing unit configured to acquire a log of an operation of the alternate process executed by the first user to the print data corresponding to the second user.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method for controlling printing, the apparatus and method including acquiring printing apparatus identification information for identifying a printing apparatus from a removable medium connected to the information processing apparatus, producing print data to be printed by the printing apparatus using a printer driver compatible with the printing apparatus identified by the printing apparatus identification information, storing the print data produced by the print data production unit on the removable medium.

Abstract: Even when vector data contains resolution dependent data, the vector data is generated at a resolution of quality without deterioration even if the vector data is output from any device on a network. When spooling the vector data, an MFP 1, receiving PDL data containing resolution information on a data processing resolution from a PC 2, analyzes the resolution information, and determines a processing resolution used at a time when an image forming device executes resolution dependent processing. After that, when the resolution dependent processing is necessary to generate the vector data, the MFP 1 executes the resolution dependent processing in accordance with the determined processing resolution.

Abstract: If a fallback processing involving lossy compression occurs in PDL data including a special pattern, such as a texture pattern, an electronic watermark, or an Anoto pattern, the performance of the special pattern cannot be sufficiently exhibited by image degradation due to the compression. Moreover, in order to obtain an image quality capable of sufficiently exhibiting the performance of the special pattern, a high-capacity memory is necessary to raise the cost. Document information and additional information are sequentially received from other device, and a pre-preparation processing for bit-mapping the document information is started, and upon receipt of the additional information by a receiving unit, a bit map is generated using the information (display list) obtained by the pre-preparation processing for the document information.

Abstract: A method for extracting a character string from print data rasterizes the print data into a raster image. Then, the method divides the raster image into a character region and non-character region and determines character data used for metadata based on the raster image of the character region and character data extracted from the print data and drawn at approximately the same position as the character region.

Abstract: A print job often includes secret information, and information may suffer sniffing from devices that execute distributed processing of jobs, or on the network. Therefore, executing the distributed processing of a print job including secret information reduces the robustness in terms of security protection. Hence, upon reception of a job, a task manager (TM) issues, to a dynamic job scheduler (DJS), a request of target devices of distributed processing according to a security level indicating the importance level of data included in that job. The DJS notifies the TM of the target devices, and the TM transmits divided jobs to the target devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an instruction unit. The acquisition unit acquires print data from an information processing apparatus. The setting unit receives a user operation executed via an input device and configured to execute a print setting for the print data. The instruction unit instructs the acquisition unit to acquire the print data based on a print instruction for executing printing and instructs the setting unit to receive an input by the user operation for executing a print setting for the print data.

Abstract: In a pull printing system, it is possible to perform an alternate print with appropriate security and in consideration of loads on a server while securing convenience of the user requesting a third party for the alternate print. An image processing apparatus in the pull printing system comprises a user authentication unit configured to confirm authority of an alternate process to a first user during login, a bibliographic information managing unit configured to acquire bibliographic information of print data stored in a storage server by a second user from a bibliographic information server for displaying the print data corresponding to the second user and a log information managing unit configured to acquire a log of an operation of the alternate process executed by the first user to the print data corresponding to the second user.

Abstract: When image data to which attribute bits indicating attribute information of each pixel of an image has been attached is compressed, replacement bits for replacing the attribute bits are determined in accordance with the attribute bits. If total size of the attribute bits and image data exceeds a predetermined value, the attribute bits are replaced with the replacement bits and the replacement bits and image data are compressed. A bit string having a compression rate higher than that of the attribute bits before the replacement thereof is used as the replacement bits.

Abstract: Even when vector data contains resolution dependent data, the vector data is generated at a resolution of quality without deterioration even if the vector data is output from any device on a network. When spooling the vector data, an MFP 1, receiving PDL data containing resolution information on a data processing resolution from a PC 2, analyzes the resolution information, and determines a processing resolution used at a time when an image forming device executes resolution dependent processing. After that, when the resolution dependent processing is necessary to generate the vector data, the MFP 1 executes the resolution dependent processing in accordance with the determined processing resolution.

Abstract: A first apparatus which does not mount any metadata generation unit generating metadata used to specify image data from the image data, and a second apparatus which mounts the metadata generation unit are connected via a network in the image processing system. The first apparatus stores image data. The first apparatus requests the second apparatus to generate metadata associated with the stored image data, and the metadata generation unit mounted in the second apparatus generates metadata. The first apparatus requests the second apparatus to retrieve image data using the generated metadata, and a retrieval unit mounted in the second apparatus executes a high-level retrieval.

Abstract: An image processing system and method for copying an original document while maintaining the security of the document and for providing a high quality copy each time a copy is required.

Abstract: A method for extracting a character string from print data rasterizes the print data into a raster image. Then, the method divides the raster image into a character region and non-character region and determines character data used for metadata based on the raster image of the character region and character data extracted from the print data and drawn at approximately the same position as the character region.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input image data, a vectorization unit configured to convert the image data input by the input unit into vectorized data by vectorizing at least one portion of the image data, a receiving unit configured to receive a setting for outputting by an external image output apparatus an image based on the image data input by the input unit, and a sending unit configured to send to the external image output apparatus one of the image data input by the input unit or the vectorized data obtained by the vectorization unit based on the setting received by the receiving unit.

Abstract: When image data to which attribute bits indicating attribute information of each pixel of an image has been attached is compressed, replacement bits for replacing the attribute bits are determined in accordance with the attribute bits. If total size of the attribute bits and image data exceeds a predetermined value, the attribute bits are replaced with the replacement bits and the replacement bits and image data are compressed. A bit string having a compression rate higher than that of the attribute bits before the replacement thereof is used as the replacement bits.

Abstract: To prevent generation of an error caused by a print job spooled in a memory in boot processing of an image printing apparatus, a print job file left in a hard disk is checked in boot processing. When an unprocessed print job file exists, it is regarded as the cause of abnormal operation of the image printing apparatus, and deleted. This control method can prevent abnormal operation repeated by a print job file every boot processing, and subsequent boot processing.

Abstract: There is provided a service providing system that is capable of preventing personal information on a user who has used a service from being leaked to other users without spoiling the convenience for the user, and increasing the frequency with which the user uses the service. The service providing system includes a service providing apparatus that provides a service for the user, and a password issuing device that issues a password with an expiration date that is made to correspond to identification information held by the user in response to the payment of a fee by the user. The service providing apparatus includes a memory that stores setting data used for simplifying operations relating to the service provided for the user, and a CPU. The CPU authenticates the user according to the identification information on the user, the password issued to the user, and the expiration date thereof, and gives the authenticated user a permission to perform operations on the setting data stored in the memory.