Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main CPU, and, in an unused period in which the image forming apparatus is not used, the main CPU detects whether or not a person exists within a human detection range, on the basis of an output of a human detection sensor. When a person has been detected, by outputting a notification voice regarding an intruder, which indicates that the intruder has been detected, from a speaker, the main CPU notifies the surroundings of the image forming apparatus and also transmits an electronic mail including a message indicating that the intruder has been detected to an address that has been registered in advance and thereby notifies a user of a terminal of the address of the detection of the intruder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a CPU. After a print image is printed on a sheet, the CPU determines whether a print result is dissatisfactory. When it is determined that the print result is dissatisfactory, the image forming apparatus provides support to resolve the quality mismatch indicating the difference between the actual print quality and the print quality desired by the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a CPU. After a print image is printed on a sheet, the CPU determines whether a print result is dissatisfactory. When it is determined that the print result is dissatisfactory, the image forming apparatus provides support to resolve the quality mismatch indicating the difference between the actual print quality and the print quality desired by the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main CPU 70. During an unused period in which the image forming apparatus is not used, the main CPU 70 detects, based on the output of a first operation detection sensor, the presence of a first operation, which is an operation that causes a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen. When the main CPU 70 detects the first operation, theft alert audio which indicates that there is a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen is output from a speaker. Also, the main CPU 70 transmits an email to a pre-registered destination which includes a theft alert message, which indicates that there is a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main CPU, and, in an unused period in which the image forming apparatus is not used, the main CPU detects whether or not a person exists within a human detection range, on the basis of an output of a human detection sensor. When a person has been detected, by outputting a notification voice regarding an intruder, which indicates that the intruder has been detected, from a speaker, the main CPU notifies the surroundings of the image forming apparatus and also transmits an electronic mail including a message indicating that the intruder has been detected to an address that has been registered in advance and thereby notifies a user of a terminal of the address of the detection of the intruder.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral of the present invention includes a monitor mode that monitors for a presence or absence of an intruder by utilizing a motion detector. The monitor mode is activated during a non-usage period when the multifunction peripheral is not in use. The monitor mode on the other hand is temporarily cancelled when a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied during the non-usage period. In a state in which the monitor mode is temporarily cancelled, the multifunction peripheral is returned to the monitor mode when the predetermined return condition is satisfied. The multifunction peripheral can in this way flexibly respond to the needs of a user who wants to use basic functions of the multifunction peripheral such as copy function when the multifunction peripheral is in the monitor mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main CPU 70. During an unused period in which the image forming apparatus is not used, the main CPU 70 detects, based on the output of a first operation detection sensor, the presence of a first operation, which is an operation that causes a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen. When the main CPU 70 detects the first operation, theft alert audio which indicates that there is a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen is output from a speaker. Also, the main CPU 70 transmits an email to a pre-registered destination which includes a theft alert message, which indicates that there is a concern that consumable items or the like may be stolen.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main CPU, and, in an unused period in which the image forming apparatus is not used, the main CPU detects whether or not a person exists within a human detection range, on the basis of an output of a human detection sensor. When a person has been detected, by outputting a notification voice regarding an intruder, which indicates that the intruder has been detected, from a speaker, the main CPU notifies the surroundings of the image forming apparatus and also transmits an electronic mail including a message indicating that the intruder has been detected to an address that has been registered in advance and thereby notifies a user of a terminal of the address of the detection of the intruder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main CPU, and, in an unused period in which the image forming apparatus is not used, the main CPU detects whether or not a person exists within a human detection range, on the basis of an output of a human detection sensor. When a person has been detected, by outputting a notification voice regarding an intruder, which indicates that the intruder has been detected, from a speaker, the main CPU notifies the surroundings of the image forming apparatus and also transmits an electronic mail including a message indicating that the intruder has been detected to an address that has been registered in advance and thereby notifies a user of a terminal of the address of the detection of the intruder.

Abstract: An MFP is provided with a main CPU for controlling operation of the MFP according an operating condition set to the MFP, a job management table for sequentially registering input jobs by priority, and a job execution control portion for determining whether or not to permit execution of the job according to the order of registration from a job with high priority that is registered in the job management table. The job execution control portion calculates, based on a job condition of a job intended for permission determination, utilization of the CPU associated with execution of the job, then restricts an operating condition of the MFP in a case where the calculated CPU utilization exceeds a predetermined value, and permits execution of the job according to the restricted operating condition in a case where the CPU utilization when the operating condition is restricted becomes the predetermined value or lower.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a blank document determination section determining whether or not input image data is image data of a blank document, regardless of a process mode set for setting a process with respect to the input image data; a storage device storing the input image data in association with a determination result made by the blank document determination section; and a control section (i) reading out the input image data from the storage device and (ii) excluding the input image data determined as image data of a blank document by the blank document determination section, from images to be displayed by the image display device, when the image display device carries out a preview display of the input image data. This configuration makes it possible to carry out a preview display in which a blank document (blank page document) is skipped, without reading the document again.

Abstract: An MFP is provided with a main CPU for controlling operation of the MFP according an operating condition set to the MFP, a job management table for sequentially registering input jobs by priority, and a job execution control portion for determining whether or not to permit execution of the job according to the order of registration from a job with high priority that is registered in the job management table. The job execution control portion calculates, based on a job condition of a job intended for permission determination, utilization of the CPU associated with execution of the job, then restricts an operating condition of the MFP in a case where the calculated CPU utilization exceeds a predetermined value, and permits execution of the job according to the restricted operating condition in a case where the CPU utilization when the operating condition is restricted becomes the predetermined value or lower.

Abstract: An image output apparatus including: an image processing section for processing an image; a printing section that prints the image; a display section that displays the image; an instruction section that allows a user to instruct execution of a print job, and execution of a display job; and a job control section that controls the jobs to start the execution of the print job or the display job in response to the instruction, wherein when the job control section receives instructions to start print jobs and/or display jobs, the job control section controls the jobs to register the print jobs and/or the display jobs in a queue and start these jobs in the order, and when an instruction for a display job in the queue is again received from the instruction section, the job control section controls the jobs to move the display job to the forefront of the queue.

Abstract: A user machine is made aware of a need for communication to update a version of a firmware by communication from a service center (a notification that the latest version has been released). After shutting off this communication once, communication is carried out between the official service center and the user machine by the user machine commencing communication with the official service center, the contact information of which is stored, and the service center provides information for updating the new version to the user machine in this communication state.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a blank document determination section determining whether or not input image data is image data of a blank document, regardless of a process mode set for setting a process with respect to the input image data; a storage device storing the input image data in association with a determination result made by the blank document determination section; and a control section (i) reading out the input image data from the storage device and (ii) excluding the input image data determined as image data of a blank document by the blank document determination section, from images to be displayed by the image display device, when the image display device carries out a preview display of the input image data. This configuration makes it possible to carry out a preview display in which a blank document (blank page document) is skipped, without reading the document again.

Abstract: An image output apparatus including: an image processing section for processing an image; a printing section that prints the image; a display section that displays the image; an instruction section that allows a user to instruct execution of a print job, and execution of a display job; and a job control section that controls the jobs to start the execution of the print job or the display job in response to the instruction, wherein when the job control section receives instructions to start print jobs and/or display jobs, the job control section controls the jobs to register the print jobs and/or the display jobs in a queue and start these jobs in the order, and when an instruction for a display job in the queue is again received from the instruction section, the job control section controls the jobs to move the display job to the forefront of the queue.

Abstract: A CPU includes a bus interface, a control unit, an instruction cache, a data cache, a secondary cache, an instruction decoder, an arithmetic unit, and registers. When operations can be performed only with the cache, the CPU inhibits access to external memory and stops power supply to the external memory. With this arrangement, by performing operations in the CPU without using the external memory, it is possible to realize a speedy processing and to stop power supply to the external memory, thus allowing for reduction in power consumption.

Abstract: An ASIC (semiconductor device) of an image processing section is provided with an input/output circuit for performing input and output to and from an image processing circuit and a confidential circuit. The input/output circuit performs output to outside of the ASIC at a timing shifted from a timing of output from the confidential circuit, for example, so as to hide the processing of the confidential circuit. With this arrangement, it is possible to hide an algorithm in the confidential circuit. Further, the ASIC is provided with a decryption circuit for decrypting an encrypted program stored in a nonvolatile memory provided separately from the ASIC. The decryption circuit is caused to function as a decryption section upon later-writing into an OTP.

Abstract: A user machine is made aware of a need for communication to update a version of a firmware by communication from a service center (a notification that the latest version has been released). After shutting off this communication once, communication is carried out between the official service center and the user machine by the user machine commencing communication with the official service center, the contact information of which is stored, and the service center provides information for updating the new version to the user machine in this communication state.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a display device of an image forming apparatus capable of displaying information that the user wants to obtain in a visually easy-to-recognize manner. In a compound image forming apparatus provided with: one of original reading means for reading image information from an original, image receiving means for receiving image information from a terminal connected to a network and a line image receiving means for receiving image information from a telephone line; image forming means for forming an image based on the image information obtained by the means; and a display portion for displaying the condition of the apparatus, a display condition control portion is provided that changes the display condition of the display portion to a visually easy-to-recognize condition when the condition of the compound image forming apparatus is changed.