Abstract: An original reading device corrects line noise when performing original image reading by a sheet-through method, even if line noise appears due to a piece of debris simultaneously influencing all color sensors. Background plates (33) have different densities and a background plate switching motor (37) switches between the background plates in order. Before the original reaches a reading position, an image of each background plate is read to generate correction data. Image data is generated by reading an image of the original when it has reached the reading position. A noise address is detected using the correction data and/or image data. The correction data is used to calculate an influence value indicating a level of influence of a dirtiness source inferred to exist at an area corresponding to the noise address. In the image data, a line noise portion indicated by the noise address is corrected using the influence value.

Abstract: When it is detected that an external device has been connected, the printing unit is controlled so as to form an image according to image data that has been received from the external device. As a result, image forming can be started earlier compared with the case in which image forming is prepared after the image data is transmitted. Accordingly, the user waits a shorter period of time and the usability is improved.

Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.

Abstract: The present invention aims to avoid problems such as not detecting line-shaped noises or erasing images on the sheet by erroneously detecting line-shaped noises. A copy machine 1 refers to a judgment table 50b to determine a color corresponding to values of RGB color components read in Step S101 (Step S102). The copy machine 1 selects thresholds and coring levels corresponding to matched RGB color components (Step S104). The copy machine 1 sets the selected thresholds and coring levels to an image processing unit 48 (Step S106). The copy machine 1 judges whether a difference between RGB color components of a target pixel and its neighboring pixels is greater than the thresholds that has been set in Step S106 (Step S107). If judging affirmatively, the copy machine 1 stores the address of the target pixel as a line-shaped noise candidate pixel into a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b (Step s108), and extract a series of line-shaped noise candidate pixels as line-shaped noise pixels (Step S110).

Abstract: A detector detects a first key information piece embedded on one side of one sheet or more than one respective sheets from which image data is read out by a reader, and a second key information piece embedded on the other side thereof or on another sheet. And a comparator 11 compares to each other, the detected first and second key information pieces and judges whether or not these key information pieces are related to each other. Then, a controller permits an output portion to output image data read out from all judgment target sheets if it is judged about all these respective sheets that the first and second key information pieces are related to each other, meanwhile the controller prohibits the output portion from outputting image data read out from one sheet if it is judged about this sheet that those key information pieces are not related to each other.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an image data input portion that inputs image data and a text data input portion that inputs text data. The text data inputted by the text data input portion is converted into voice data by a voice data converter, and this obtained voice data and the image data inputted by the image data input portion are connected to each other by a connector, and then a file including the voice data and the image data connected to each other is created.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has first and second processors for performing first and second processings for image data received by a communication device. A data processing apparatus instructs for the image processing apparatus to execute the first and second processings for image data. When the image data and the instruction therefor are received, the image processing apparatus performs the first and second processings, and sends the image data processed by the second processor to the data processing apparatus, which replaces the received file with the transmitted file.

Abstract: In order to give notice to process the latest data, MFP includes HDD to store data, a data obtaining portion to accept target data to be output, a related data extraction portion to extract related data that is related to the target data and is newer than the target data from the data stored in HDD, a difference extraction portion to extract a difference between the extracted related data and the target data, and an output portion to output the difference.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a coder and a coding method that raise the possibility of improving the compression ratio of multivalued image data in which one pixel consists of a plurality of bits and are accordingly effective to increase the amount of image that is stored in a recording medium with a certain capacity. The coder according to the present invention includes an obtaining unit for obtaining a predetermined amount of image data in which one pixel consists of a plurality of bits, a developing unit for developing on the virtual plane each piece of the bit data in the obtained image data, and a coding unit for performing the entropy coding on the developed bit data.

Abstract: A communication system and a communication method for permitting a user of a cell-phone to receive data in a non-service area via an MFP. When the communication condition between a base station and a cell-phone becomes bad, the base station sends a map showing the current position of the cell-phone and the locations of nearby MFPs to the cell-phone. The user of the cell-phone selects one from the MFPs on the map and notifies the base station of the selected MFP. The base station sends an e-mail addressed to the cell-phone to the selected MFP, and the MFP stores the e-mail therein. The user of the cell-phone makes an access to the MFP by short-distance wireless communication to receive the e-mail.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, information identifying a user and information identifying portable terminal unit are stored in correlation with each other. After a sheet based on a certain printing request is outputted to an exit tray of the image processing apparatus, whether or not a sheet is present in the exit tray is judged, and whether or not a user having transmitted the printing request is situated within a predetermined distance from the image processing apparatus is judged. A message selected based on these judgment results is sent to a mobile terminal unit correlated with information identifying the user.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a coder and a coding method that raise the possibility of improving the compression ratio of multivalued image data in which one pixel consists of a plurality of bits and are accordingly effective to increase the amount of image that is stored in a recording medium with a certain capacity. The coder according to the present invention includes an obtaining unit for obtaining a predetermined amount of image data in which one pixel consists of a plurality of bits, a developing unit for developing on the virtual plane each piece of the bit data in the obtained image data, and a coding unit for performing the entropy coding on the developed bit data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, an image management method and an image management program in which a security of image data to which anti-counterfeit information and the like is added can be ensured. The image forming apparatus connected to the network has an image data forming unit which forms the image data, and a control unit which prohibits transference of anti-counterfeit added image data in which the anti-counterfeit information is added to the image data between devices connected to the network. Thus, since the transference of the anti-counterfeit added image data is prohibited in general, security of the anti-counterfeit added image data can be improved.

Abstract: An image data coding device and the like capable of improving the compression ratio of entropy coding of color image data is disclosed. The image data coding device converts input color image data into color image data whose color is expressed by color data and brightness data each represented by multiple bits. Setting a value of color data that corresponds to an achromatic color at 00h as one example, the image data coding device converts the color data of the color image data into color data whose values are assigned in such a manner that the differences between these values and the value of the achromatic color data become larger as the distances away from the value of the achromatic color become larger. The image data coding device then performs entropy coding on the color image data.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a data memory portion for storing files, a printer device for printing images and a communication interface for sending image data. The image forming device further includes a user discrimination portion for discriminating a user who operates the image forming device, a related file extraction portion for searching and extracting files having connection with the discriminated user, a display device for displaying a data list screen for the user to select files to be processed from the extracted files, and a process execution control portion for controlling the printer device, the communication interface or the hard disk drive so as to execute a predetermined process in accordance with the file selected by the user.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a coder and a coding method that raise the possibility of improving the compression ratio of multivalued image data in which one pixel consists of a plurality of bits and are accordingly effective to increase the amount of image that is stored in a recording medium with a certain capacity. The coder according to the present invention includes an obtaining unit for obtaining a predetermined amount of image data in which one pixel consists of a plurality of bits, a developing unit for developing on the virtual plane each piece of the bit data in the obtained image data, and a coding unit for performing the entropy coding on the developed bit data.

Abstract: A digital copier has a memory for storage of image data, reads image data and stores the image data in the memory, and prints an image depending on the image data stored in the memory. The digital copier can also register a plurality of jobs. Based on a registered job an image is printed. Then, based on the subsequent job an image is printed. When an image data corresponding to a new job cannot be stored in the memory, the digital copier effects the process for calculation of job execution time, a process of calculating a free memory capacity, and a process of calculating the time required for obtaining a timing at which a free memory space is provided, to display the time at which the image data corresponding to the new job can be stored. Thus, a digital copier can be provided allowing the user to form images efficiently.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has first and second processors for performing first and second processings for image data received by a communication device. A data processing apparatus instructs for the image processing apparatus to execute the first and second processings for image data. When the image data and the instruction therefor are received, the image processing apparatus performs the first and second processings, and sends the image data processed by the second processor to the data processing apparatus, which replaces the received file with the transmitted file.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a buffer memory for storing image data, a printer unit for printing based on image data output from the buffer memory, a compression unit for compressing image data output from the buffer memory to generate compression data, a hard disk for storing the compression data compressed by the compression unit, and output unit for outputting compression data from the hard disk to the buffer memory, and an expansion unit for expanding the compression data output from the buffer memory and outputting the expansion data to the printer unit. When printing multiple copies, image data are highly compressed and stored on a hard disk, and output directly to a buffer memory in a highly compressed state. Thereafter, the data are expanded and transmitted to the printer. As a result, multiple copy printing is accomplished at high speed.

Abstract: In order to provide a more user-friendly image processing apparatus, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus that is able to obtain information stored in a contactless IC tag embedded in the document paper, for example, and search for related information based on the obtained information, and display the related information on a display screen like the liquid crystal display panel in the control panel.