Abstract: In controlling a network printer, a driver program of the printer connected through the network is installed. A first network group identifier step acquires a group identifier of the network according to the installation or a network group identifier based on the group identifier. An identifier of the printer and the network group identifier are stored in association with each other. A printing request is performed for requesting a printer connected through the network, which is the same as or different from the printer of which the driver program is installed, to perform a printing process. A second network group identifier step acquires, in accordance with the printing request, a group identifier of the network to which the user is connected or a network group identifier.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a position-information acquisition unit adapted to acquire position information of the data processing apparatus, a key-generation unit adapted to generate a key dependent on the position information acquired by the position-information acquisition unit, an encryption unit adapted to generate encrypted data by encrypting data using the key generated by the key-generation unit, a recording unit adapted to record the encrypted data onto an external recording medium, and a decryption unit adapted to decrypt the encrypted data recorded onto the external recording medium by using a key that is dependent on the position information acquired by the position-information acquisition unit and that is generated by the key-generation unit.

Abstract: A data processing system that enables a plurality of users to share an input format for data on a document by document basis. In a document generating system as a data processing system, a plurality of multi-function devices 120 and a document managing server 100 are connected to each other for communication therebetween. The document managing server 100 stores templates each defining therein an input format for document data. Each of the multi-function devices 120 transmits a template identifier (ID) assigned to a selected template to the document managing server 100. The document managing server 100 transmits an input format defined in the template corresponding to the received template identifier to each of the multi-function devices 120. Each of the multi-function devices 120 sets the received input format, inputs document data according to the set input format, and transmits the inputted document data with addition of information indicative of a processing method to the document managing server 100.

Abstract: An information processing method includes a storing step of storing a correspondence between destination names and e-mail addresses in a storage unit; a setting step of setting a destination name to which a document is to be transmitted; and an upload step of uploading the document to a document management server for a network printing in accordance with an e-mail address corresponding to the set destination name, a document being uploaded to the document management server and then being output in response to an output request from an owner of the e-mail address in the network printing. The uploaded document can be downloaded from the document management server to a printer through a communication medium and can be printed.

Abstract: A device managing apparatus which can collectively manage a plurality of devices connected to a network and reduce resources such as time and costs required for developing a network device managing program. It is determined whether or not each of the devices connected to the device managing apparatus via the network has a unique device management page of the device for management of the device. If any of the devices does not have a unique device management page thereof, a device management page for the device is created. If any of the devices has a unique device management page thereof, it is then determined whether or not it is possible to communicate with the device. If it is possible to communicate with the device, information indicative of the unique device management page of the device is acquired.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a network printer control method, comprising: a installing step for installing a driver program of a printer connected through a network; a first network group identifier acquiring step for acquiring a network group identifier of said network according to said installing step or a network group identifier based on said installing step; a storing step for storing the identifier of said printer and said network group identifier mutually associated; a printing request step for requesting printing in a printer connected to the network same as or different from said printer; and a second network group identifier acquiring step for acquiring a group identifier of the network to which the user is connected according to said printing request or a network group identifier based on said printing request.

Abstract: A network device control unit and method are provided in which the same password is used for both starting up the network management software, and for acquiring information and making settings in the target network device, so that password entry for access to a network device can be omitted and the operability of network management software can be greatly improved. To implement the unit and method, the password entered by the user at start-up of NetSpot is detected, and when the network device to be controlled is selected, the password previously set to control access to this selected network device is acquired. Then this network device password is compared with the NetSpot password, and when the passwords match each other, the password entry for that network device is omitted and the detailed information for that network device is acquired and displayed.