Abstract: In a print apparatus having a photosensitive drum used for color printing, the number of sheets on which color printing has been performed and the number of sheets on which monochrome printing has been performed are obtained. It is determined whether or not the lifetime of the photosensitive drum used for color printing has expired based on a threshold value determined based on the ratio between the number of sheets on which color printing has been performed and the number of sheets on which monochrome printing has been performed and the sum of the number of sheets on which the color printing has been performed and the number of sheets on which the monochrome printing has been performed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an area sensor unit that reads image data corresponding to a plurality of frames shifted from each other by a shift of less than one pixel, an inclination angle acquiring unit that acquires an inclination angle with respect to a reference installation position of the area sensor, an angle correcting unit that corrects the inclination of the image data corresponding to a plurality of frames read by the area sensor unit by using the acquired inclination angle, and a high-resolution conversion unit that provides image data the resolution of which is higher than the resolution of the read image data by using the image data corresponding to a plurality of frames the inclination of which has been corrected by the angle correcting unit to perform interpolation processing.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a host computer, a laser printer of a paper ejecting type and another laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type, all connected to one another via a system bus. The host computer functions as the supply source of image information and as the data processor, and controls the laser printer of a paper ejecting type and the other laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type. A printing apparatus and method that can contribute to increasing the speed and convenience of secured print in this printing system are to be provided. To accomplish this, the laser printer of a paper ejecting type and the other laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type will execute interrupt print processing when the received job is a secured print job and there is any other job being processed if there are a plurality of paper discharging ports or execute promote print processing if there is only one paper discharging port.

Abstract: To provide an image processing system, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing method capable of realizing the optimum color matching between apparatuses according to various situations (the use case or the type of image) in printing one job in a plurality of image forming apparatuses. In the present invention, MFP101 acquires a color reproduction range for each of MFP102 and LBP103 (Step S903), and computes logical AND of the plurality of acquired color reproduction ranges (Step S904). Next, in accordance with the use case and the attribute of an image, MFP101 determines whether the color reproduction range in printing the image is set to the logical AND of the color reproduction ranges or to an expanded area of the logical AND of the color reproduction ranges (steps S905 to S908). Then, MFP101 adds the determined color reproduction range to the image and transmits this to MFP102, LBP103 (S909).

Abstract: A print apparatus having a photosensitive drum used for color printing. In the apparatus, the number of sheets on which color printing has been performed and the number of sheets on which monochrome printing has been performed are obtained. It is determined whether or not the lifetime of the photosensitive drum used for color printing has expired based on a threshold value determined based on the ratio between the number of sheets on which color printing has been performed and the number of sheets on which monochrome printing has been performed and the sum of the number of sheets on which the color printing has been performed and the number of sheets on which the monochrome printing has been performed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus having a function of image processing on a file stored in a storage device includes an interface unit configured to read data from the storage device, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about files stored in the storage device, via the interface unit, a display unit configured to display the information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a determination unit configured to determine whether the image processing apparatus can process a file stored in the storage device, based on a predetermined size of data of the file stored in the storage device. The display unit displays information acquired by the acquisition unit in a manner reflecting the determination result by the determination unit.

Abstract: Provided is a printing system in which the latest policy information is reflected at all times and document-by-document policy information is checked. To accomplish this, the printing system includes an information processing apparatus adapted to output print data, a policy server adapted to manage policy information and at least one printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus outputs print data to which an identification information has been appended. The printing apparatus acquires print data via an information communication medium, accesses the policy server based upon access information and acquires policy information by transmitting authentication information and an identification information to the policy server. Further, in accordance with the acquired policy information, the printing apparatus determines whether or not to execute printing. The policy server issues the policy information based upon authentication information and identification information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an area sensor unit that reads image data corresponding to a plurality of frames shifted from each other by a shift of less than one pixel, an inclination angle acquiring unit that acquires an inclination angle with respect to a reference installation position of the area sensor, an angle correcting unit that corrects the inclination of the image data corresponding to a plurality of frames read by the area sensor unit by using the acquired inclination angle, and a high-resolution conversion unit that provides image data the resolution of which is higher than the resolution of the read image data by using the image data corresponding to a plurality of frames the inclination of which has been corrected by the angle correcting unit to perform interpolation processing.

Abstract: To provide an image processing system, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing method capable of realizing the optimum color matching between apparatuses according to various situations (the use case or the type of image) in printing one job in a plurality of image forming apparatuses. In the present invention, MFP101 acquires a color reproduction range for each of MFP102 and LBP103 (Step S903), and computes logical AND of the plurality of acquired color reproduction ranges (Step S904). Next, in accordance with the use case and the attribute of an image, MFP101 determines whether the color reproduction range in printing the image is set to the logical AND of the color reproduction ranges or to an expanded area of the logical AND of the color reproduction ranges (steps S905 to S908). Then, MFP101 adds the determined color reproduction range to the image and transmits this to MFP102, LBP103 (S909).

Abstract: A printing apparatus which is capable of carrying out proxy printing by a simple operation of attaching a removable storage medium, while preventing an erroneous operation without complicating an operation for selecting a function from various functions for use with the removable storage medium. The printing apparatus prints out print data stored in a storage device. When the printing apparatus cannot print out the print data stored in the storage device, print data stored in the storage unit and yet to be subjected to print processing is transferred into the external memory in response to attachment of the external memory to the printing apparatus. When the printing apparatus can print out the print data stored in the storage device, a job is executed using the external memory in response to attachment of the external memory to the printing apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a printing system in which the latest policy information is reflected at all times and document-by-document policy information is checked. To accomplish this, the printing system includes an information processing apparatus adapted to output print data, a policy server adapted to manage policy information and at least one printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus outputs print data to which an identification information has been appended. The printing apparatus acquires print data via an information communication medium, accesses the policy server based upon access information and acquires policy information by transmitting authentication information and an identification information to the policy server. Further, in accordance with the acquired policy information, the printing apparatus determines whether or not to execute printing. The policy server issues the policy information based upon authentication information and identification information.

Abstract: A sever records a history of designation of a function which is inexecutable by a printer. Additional function information indicating a function which is addable to the printer is stored in the database. The additional function information is retrieved from the database according to the inexecutable function being designated at the printer, and the additional function information is presented to a user on a display. The user can then choose to provide the printer with the additional function information so that the inexecutable function can be added to the printer.

Abstract: Attached information is designated, and it is discriminated whether or not there is a paper output port corresponding to attached information read from a storage unit for storing image data and attached information about the image data. If it is determined there is a corresponding paper output port, then the paper output port is determined as a selected paper output port. If it is determined there is not a corresponding paper output port, then an available paper output port is determined as a selected paper output port. Thus, recorded images can be automatically discriminated based on the attached information.

Abstract: An image forming method for stacking sheets in an apparatus that operates in a first mode or a second mode and includes discharging bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked. Sheets are discharged face-up in the first mode and face-down in the second mode. The method has the step of selecting the fisrt or second mode and then making different an amount of sheets stacked in the discharging bin depending on the selected mode.

Abstract: For making use of a system as effectively as possible, a request related to distributed printing for performing printing process using a first printing apparatus and a second printing apparatus can be accepted, and printing process of data for the distributed printing can be performed by the second printing apparatus under processing conditions different from processing conditions in printing process of data for the distributed printing by the first printing apparatus.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a host computer, a laser printer of a paper ejecting type and another laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type, all connected to one another via a system bus. The host computer functions as the supply source of image information and as the data processor, and controls the laser printer of a paper ejecting type and the other laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type. A printing apparatus and method that can contribute to increasing the speed and convenience of secured print in this printing system are to be provided. To accomplish this, the laser printer of a paper ejecting type and the other laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type will execute interrupt print processing when the received job is a secured print job and there is any other job being processed if there are a plurality of paper discharging ports or execute promote print processing if there is only one paper discharging port.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is shared by a plurality of users. A host computer obtains information concerning a sheet discharge bin of discrimination names and the like registered in the image recording apparatus by requested it to the image recording apparatus. A mail box sheet discharge designation screen, based on the obtained information concerning a sheet discharge bin, allows each user to designate a plurality of sheet discharge addresses for each page of printing data and the number of sheet discharge copies via the mail box sheet discharge designation screen. The host computer prepares a printing job by including instructions based on operations from users including each designation in one printing job and transmits the printing job to the image recording apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes discharge bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked, and uses a bin elevating motor to switch discharging into one discharging bin. The image forming apparatus in provided with a sensor for detecting the amount of stacked paper in one discharging bin to which discharging can be performed. When the operational discharging bin is changed, the discharging bins are moved by the bin elevating motor, whereby the sensor detects the amount of stacked paper in the discharging bin to which discharging can be performed after the moving. Subsequently, the sensor directs a start of image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes discharging bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked, and uses a bin elevating motor to switch discharging of sheets into a selected discharging bin. The image forming apparatus is provided with a sensor for detecting the amount of stacked paper in the selected discharging bin. When the selected discharging bin is changed to a newly selected discharging bin, the discharging bins are moved by the bin elevating motor, whereby the sensor detects the amount of stacked paper in the newly selected discharging bin to which discharging can be performed after the moving. Subsequently, the sensor directs the start of image formation.

Abstract: A content of a problem is notified to a service center (109) via the Internet (108), and at the service center (109), a top-priority proposal is searched based on machine-type information, error information, and job information. Then, a reply is made based on the user information, and a new proposal is shown to the user, to transmit that a more convenient operating method exists.