Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an authentication information requesting portion that transmits one or more requests for authentication information to a portable terminal apparatus upon receipt of a connection request therefrom, the connection request not requiring user identification; a first authentication portion that performs first authentication not requiring user identification by comparing authentication information to first reference data, the authentication information being received in return for the request; a second authentication portion that performs second authentication by comparing the authentication information to second reference data for user identification; and a processor that takes one piece of authentication information or any one of multiple pieces of authentication information received in return for the one or more requests, according to a predetermined rule, and that makes the second authentication portion perform the second authentication using the one piece of authenticati

Abstract: An image processing system includes: an image processing apparatus; an instruction server configured to transmit instruction information to the image processing apparatus via a router having a firewall function; and a session server configured to set up a session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server. The image processing apparatus is configured to switch, in a case where the state of the image processing apparatus is a power saving state when a time specified by a transmission interval elapses from transmission of a connection confirmation packet for the session with the instruction server, to a state in which at least the connection confirmation packet can be transmitted.

Abstract: An MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) includes a display device with a touch panel for displaying a variety of information. A plurality of screens including a base screen and a pop-up screen overlapping one another are displayed on the touch panel. The MFP accepts operation on any one of the screens and identifies the user who performs the accepted operation. If the identified user does not have operation authority over the pop-up screen, the MFP does not specify the pop-up screen as a screen serving as a target of the operation but specifies the base screen as a screen serving as a target of the operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an import unit configured to import import data from a storage apparatus in which the import data is stored, a job accepting unit configured to accept a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine a type of job-related information that is specific information required to execute the job among information included in the import data, an acquisition unit configured to acquire the job-related information of the type determined by the determination unit from the storage apparatus before completion of import processing performed by the import unit, and a job execution unit configured to execute the job, using the job-related information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: A plurality of image processing servers in charge of a first-order service individually transmit their server selection information to a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a second-order service, and those in charge of the second-order service individually select one of those in charge of the first-order service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information received therefrom. Similarly, a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a third-order service individually select one of those in charge of the second-order service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information of those in charge of the second-order service received therefrom. Also similarly, an image forming apparatus selects one of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of the final service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information of those in charge of the final service received therefrom.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that is one of a large number of image forming apparatuses logically connected in a hierarchical structure of multiple levels. The image forming apparatus includes: a state obtaining unit configured to obtain an available processing capacity of each of a plurality of child apparatuses, the plurality of child apparatuses being a plurality of image forming apparatuses on a lower level by one from the image forming apparatus; and a distribution control unit configured to transmit update data to the plurality of child apparatuses, the update data relating to firmware of apparatuses, wherein the distribution control unit determines a distribution order relating to the plurality of child apparatuses based on the available processing capacity of each of the plurality of child apparatuses, and transmits the update data to the plurality of child apparatuses in accordance with the distribution order.

Abstract: An image forming device for executing an authentication print job including: a communication interface unit for receiving print data; a job data holding unit for holding job data based on the print data for the authentication print job; a user authentication unit for outputting the result of the user authentication to a control unit; a job execution unit for executing a job based on the job data; a job list generating unit for generating a list of the authentication print jobs; a display unit for displaying the list; and the control unit for, in receiving the result of the user authentication, acquiring a number of the authentication print jobs of the user authenticated by the user authentication, wherein, when the number is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the control unit causes the job list generating unit to generate the list of the authentication print jobs of the authenticated user, the display unit to display the list, and the job execution unit to execute the authentication print job o

Abstract: An image processing system comprises an image forming apparatus and a plurality of image processing servers. An image processing server transmits a test image to a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a former image processing operation, collects test results from all of them, and selects one of the image processing servers having returned the test results which are judged as being equal to or higher than a standard value, as the most preferred server, while an image forming apparatus transmits a test image to a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a final image processing operation, collects test results from all of them, and selects one of the image processing servers having returned the test results of the final image processing operation which are judged as being equal to or higher than a standard value, as the most preferred server.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an import unit configured to import import data from a storage apparatus in which the import data is stored, a job accepting unit configured to accept a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine a type of job-related information that is specific information required to execute the job among information included in the import data, an acquisition unit configured to acquire the job-related information of the type determined by the determination unit from the storage apparatus before completion of import processing performed by the import unit, and a job execution unit configured to execute the job, using the job-related information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus obtains area information indicating target areas to be subjected to image processing from a plurality of image processing servers and judges whether or not their target areas are overlapping each other. The image forming apparatus examines the priority levels set in advance for the image processing servers if their target areas are overlapping each other, then repeats to instruct an image processing server with a lower priority level than another image processing server to adjust the position of its target area until it is judged that the target areas are not overlapping each other. And the image forming apparatus transmits information of the target areas confirmed to be not overlapping each other to the image processing servers, so that the image processing servers can successfully perform image processing on their own target areas according to the information.

Abstract: An MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) includes a display device with a touch panel for displaying a variety of information. A plurality of screens including a base screen and a pop-up screen overlapping one another are displayed on the touch panel. The MFP accepts operation on any one of the screens and identifies the user who performs the accepted operation. If the identified user does not have operation authority over the pop-up screen, the MFP does not specify the pop-up screen as a screen serving as a target of the operation but specifies the base screen as a screen serving as a target of the operation.

Abstract: An image forming device which is arranged to execute an authentication print job.

Abstract: An image processing system comprises an image forming apparatus and a plurality of image processing servers. An image processing server transmits a test image to a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a former image processing operation, collects test results from all of them, and selects one of the image processing servers having returned the test results which are judged as being equal to or higher than a standard value, as the most preferred server, while an image forming apparatus transmits a test image to a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a final image processing operation, collects test results from all of them, and selects one of the image processing servers having returned the test results of the final image processing operation which are judged as being equal to or higher than a standard value, as the most preferred server.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus obtains area information indicating target areas to be subjected to image processing from a plurality of image processing servers and judges whether or not their target areas are overlapping each other. The image forming apparatus examines the priority levels set in advance for the image processing servers if their target areas are overlapping each other, then repeats to instruct an image processing server with a lower priority level than another image processing server to adjust the position of its target area until it is judged that the target areas are not overlapping each other. And the image forming apparatus transmits information of the target areas confirmed to be not overlapping each other to the image processing servers, so that the image processing servers can successfully perform image processing on their own target areas according to the information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a job storage portion that stores a print job relating to an image forming process and a command job relating to a control process of operation of the image forming apparatus, a job management portion that registers the print job and the command job in the job storage portion and manages the print job and the command job, an image formation portion that executes the print job, a command execution portion that executes the command job, and a controller that performs control such that the print job stored in the job storage portion is executed ahead of the command job.

Abstract: A plurality of image processing servers in charge of a first-order service individually transmit their server selection information to a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a second-order service, and those in charge of the second-order service individually select one of those in charge of the first-order service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information received therefrom. Similarly, a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a third-order service individually select one of those in charge of the second-order service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information of those in charge of the second-order service received therefrom. Also similarly, an image forming apparatus selects one of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of the final service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information of those in charge of the final service received therefrom.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a job storage portion that stores a print job relating to an image forming process and a command job relating to a control process of operation of the image forming apparatus, a job management portion that registers the print job and the command job in the job storage portion and manages the print job and the command job, an image formation portion that executes the print job, a command execution portion that executes the command job, and a controller that performs control such that the print job stored in the job storage portion is executed ahead of the command job.

Abstract: An image forming device for executing an authentication print job including: a communication interface unit for receiving print data; a job data holding unit for holding job data based on the print data for the authentication print job; a user authentication unit for outputting the result of the user authentication to a control unit; a job execution unit for executing a job based on the job data; a job list generating unit for generating a list of the authentication print jobs; a display unit for displaying the list; and the control unit for, in receiving the result of the user authentication, acquiring a number of the authentication print jobs of the user authenticated by the user authentication, wherein, when the number is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the control unit causes the job list generating unit to generate the list of the authentication print jobs of the authenticated user, the display unit to display the list, and the job execution unit to execute the authentication print job o

Abstract: An image forming device which is arranged to execute an authentication print job.