Abstract: To make it easy to set a desired job and execute a series of tasks on an image reading device, an image reading system is equipped with an image reading device and a plurality of information terminals connected to the image reading device by a communication network, wherein the information terminals are equipped with setting means (unit) for setting a job to be executed on the image reading device, and response means (unit) for responding to a job inquiry and sending the job to the image reading device. The image reading device is equipped with inquiry means (unit) for sending the job inquiries to the plurality of information terminals, display means (unit) for displaying the jobs received from the plurality of information terminals so as to be selectable, selection means (unit) for selecting the displayed jobs, and execution means (unit) for executing the selected job.

Abstract: To make it easy to set a desired job and execute a series of tasks on an image reading device, an image reading system is equipped with an image reading device and a plurality of information terminals connected to the image reading device by a communication network, wherein the information terminals are equipped with setting means (unit) for setting a job to be executed on the image reading device, and response means (unit) for responding to a job inquiry and sending the job to the image reading device. The image reading device is equipped with inquiry means (unit) for sending the job inquiries to the plurality of information terminals, display means (unit) for displaying the jobs received from the plurality of information terminals so as to be selectable, selection means (unit) for selecting the displayed jobs, and execution means (unit) for executing the selected job.

Abstract: The technique of the present invention intermediates between an arbitrary client and an arbitrary printer connecting with a network to actualize practical printing works. A print portal system utilizing a server connected to the network intermediates between the client and the printer to execute a printing operation. The client outputs a printing requirement, which specifies print data of interest and a printer as an output resource, to the print portal system. The print portal system converts the input print data into data of a general purpose format, which does not depend upon the type of the printer, and transfers the converted print data to the specified printer.

Abstract: A constructed system includes multiple clients, a server like a print portal, and multiple printers connecting with a network. A client transmits a printing requirement, which specifies a content of interest to be printed and a printer as an output resource, to the print portal. The print portal transmits the specified content of interest to the specified printer, which then carries out the actual printing operation. A security system interposed between the print portal and the printer in principle refuses transmission of data from the print portal, but allows transmission of the printing requirement from the client when direct communication between the printer and the client is established by means of infrared ray or feeble radio wave. This arrangement ensures the sufficient level of security, while enhancing utility of printing via the network.

Abstract: A communication control method and apparatus quickly confirms the status of a communication port when connecting a peripheral device 2 and an information device 1 through a communication port of the information device 1. The communication control method has a first step in which the second module of the information device 1 creates an object and executes a process to connect the device 2 based on a device connection command from the first module, and then eliminates the object when the connection is no longer needed. A second step confirms if the object was already created when the first module instructs the second module to open a connection to the device 2. A third step determines that the port is closed and the device 2 is not connected if the object is not already created, and instructs the second module to open the port and connect the peripheral device.

Abstract: A correlation element 134 correlates a source device with a destination device according to an instruction given by the user. A decision element 122 determines whether or not a certain combination of device classes is operable as a composite device. In the case of the affirmative answer, a determination element 136 identifies the type of the composite device and specifies a user interface for operating the composite device. A data output element 132 then displays the specified user interface in a window on a monitor 170 at a specific timing. This arrangement effectively improves the operatability of the device control.

Abstract: When a user drags and drops a digital camera category icon 705 onto a printer category icon 702, an application unit 112 detects the drag and drop action (S106). The application unit 112 gains access to a server 400 (S108), and obtains data regarding the names of individual digital cameras and the names of individual printers present on a network 500 and corresponding icons, out of pieces of information stored in a common database 410 (S110). The application unit 112 subsequently opens a digital camera category window 601 and a printer category window 602 on a screen 182 of a monitor 180, based on the obtained data, and causes device icons of the digital cameras and device icons of the printers to be displayed simultaneously but separately in the window 601 and in the window 602 (step S112). This arrangement ensures the user good usability and operatability when the user requires some operation between an arbitrary set of devices.

Abstract: The technique of the present invention intermediates between an arbitrary client and an arbitrary printer connecting with a network to actualize practical printing works.

Abstract: A constructed system includes multiple clients, a server like a print portal, and multiple printers connecting with a network. A client transmits a printing requirement, which specifies a content of interest to be printed and a printer as an output resource, to the print portal. The print portal transmits the specified content of interest to the specified printer, which then carries out the actual printing operation. A security system interposed between the print portal and the printer in principle refuses transmission of data from the print portal, but allows transmission of the printing requirement from the client when direct communication between the printer and the client is established by means of infrared ray or feeble radio wave. This arrangement ensures the sufficient level of security, while enhancing utility of printing via the network.

Abstract: A constructed system includes multiple clients, a server like a print portal, and multiple printers connecting with a network. A client transmits a printing requirement, which specifies a content of interest to be printed, to the print portal through communication C1. The printing requirement is kept in the print portal in such a state that enables specification by address information IPMP of the client. Direct communication C2 is established between a printer and the client by means of feeble radio wave or infrared, and the print portal fetches address information IPMP of the client and identification information of the printer through the direct communication C2. The print portal compares the two pieces of address information received on the two different communication lines with each other and specifies the printer identified by the identification information as an output resource.

Abstract: An image displayed in a scanner home page is dragged and dropped in a printer home page (S100). The URL of a device service unit of the scanner side is transmitted from a web browser unit of the scanner side to a web browser unit of the printer side (S102). The URL is transmitted from the web browser unit of the printer side to the device service unit of the printer side via a web server unit in the printer side (S104). The device service unit of the printer side, based on the URL, accesses the device service unit of the scanner side and acquires the image data (S106). The image data is transmitted from the device service unit of the printer side to the printer (S108).

Abstract: An eyeglass lens of the present invention has a surface which is a refracting surface arranged such that two coordinate axes X and Y are set to contact with the refracting surface at a determined point thereon while directions of the coordinate axes and an XY plane including the two axes are determined, that a perpendicular line is dropped toward the XY plane from an arbitrary point on the refracting surface, and then X, Y coordinates of an intersecting point between the perpendicular line and the XY plane are denoted by x and y, respectively, and the length of the perpendicular line by z, and that a value of z is expressed as follows: ##EQU1## where r.sup.2 =x.sup.2 +y.sup.2 ; C.sub.x, C.sub.y, K.sub.x, K.sub.y, A.sub.n,m,j are constants to define the shape of lens;n, m, j are integers satisfying conditions of 2.ltoreq.n, 0.ltoreq.m, 0.ltoreq.j, and l.ltoreq.m+j;coefficients satisfy the following conditions: ##EQU2## which cannot be simultaneously zero.

Abstract: An eyeglass lens of the present invention has a surface which is a refracting surface arranged such that two coordinate axes X and Y are set to contact with the refracting surface at a determined point thereon while directions of the coordinate axes and an XY plane including the two axes are determined, that a perpendicular line is dropped toward the XY plane from an arbitrary point on the refracting surface, and then X, Y coordinates of an intersecting point between the perpendicular line and the XY plane are denoted by x and y, respectively, and the length of the perpendicular line by z, and that a value of z is expressed as follows: ##EQU1## where r.sup.2 =x.sup.2 +y.sup.2 ; C.sub.x, C.sub.y, K.sub.x, K.sub.y, A.sub.n,m,j are constants to define the shape of lens;n, m, j are integers satisfying conditions of 2.ltoreq.n, 0.ltoreq.m, 0.ltoreq.j, and 1.ltoreq.m+j;coefficients satisfy the following conditions: ##EQU2## which cannot be simultaneously zero.

Abstract: A lens for eyeglasses which corrects an astigmatism includes a first refracting surface and a second refracting surface. Each refracting surface has an optical center and a periphery. At least one of the refracting surfaces is divided into a first portion and a second portion in which the first portion has a variation in curvature of the lens which is greater than the variation of curvature of the second portion.

Abstract: A lens for eyeglasses which corrects an astigmatism includes a first refracting surface and a second refracting surface. Each refracting surface has an optical center and a periphery. At least one of the refracting surfaces is divided into a first portion and a second portion in which the first portion has a variation in curvature of the lens which is greater than the variation of curvature of the second portion.