Abstract: The invention manages the download of print resource data, which is used during print processing, to a plurality of printing apparatuses in a network system in which the plurality of printing apparatuses and a server are connected. An identifier for g the print resource data to be downloaded is input, and downloadable printing apparatuses are determined in accordance with a type of a storage device attached to each of the plurality of printing apparatuses. The print resource data corresponding to the input identifier is downloaded to the determined printing apparatuses. When the data processing apparatus holds the print resource data corresponding to the identifier, the held print resource data is downloaded, and when the data processing apparatus does not hold the print resource data corresponding to the identifier, the print resource data is acquired from the server and downloaded.

Abstract: In case a file is prepared by executing an application, the fee for the use of the application is charged according to whether such file is subjected to an output process. Thus the user of the application need not pay the fee for the use of the application for the mere preparation of the file by using the application.

Abstract: A user who intends to install software notifies the sales company of such software of the user's own credit card information. Then, the software sales company communicates such credit card information to the credit company to request the confirmation thereof. If the credit company confirms the user to be the legitimate user, the software sales company produces the installation key uniquely corresponding to the user in accordance with the credit card information for issuing it to the user. When the user inputs the installation key thus issued and the credit card information into an installer. The installer produces an installation key from the credit card information. If the installation key thus produced and the installation key thus inputted are in agreement, the installer executes installation, hence determining the legitimate use of software by avoiding the problems to be encountered in processing software or analyzing it, while coping with the replacement of computers due to out of order or the like.

Abstract: An outline forming apparatus stores first information indicating positions of first outline points for forming an outline of a pattern having a predetermined weight. The apparatus also stores second information, provided for each first outline point individually, for deciding positions of second outline points forming an outline of the pattern having a different weight. When the desired weight of an outline of the pattern is input, the position of each of the second outline points is decided based on the first and second information and the desired weight, and the outline of the pattern is generated using the second points at the decided positions.

Abstract: Types of color profiles, which are loadable into a printer, are associated and managed for every page description language (PDL) capable of being interpreted by the printer, a desired type of color profile, which is loadable into the printer, is identified based upon the types of color profiles managed, and the type of color profile identified is displayed, thereby making it possible for a user to simply determine the type of color profile that can be loaded.

Abstract: An outline forming apparatus stores first information indicating positions of first outline points for forming an outline of a pattern having a predetermined weight. The apparatus also stores second information, provided for each first outline point individually, for deciding positions of second outline points forming an outline of the pattern having a different weight. When the desired weight of an outline of the pattern is input, the position of each of the second outline points is decided based on the first and second information and the desired weight, and the outline of the pattern is generated using the second points at the decided positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a font downloading apparatus and method which can download fonts of a coding scheme not supported by a printer after converting them into a supported coding scheme. When a user on a host computer selects a printer to which a font is to be downloaded, the system acquires coding schemes supported by the selected printer. Then, when a font to be downloaded is specified, the system acquires the coding scheme of the font. If the font to be downloaded is not supported by the printer, the system makes the user to select one of the acquired coding schemes, converts the codes of the font to be downloaded to the selected coding scheme, and downloads the font to the printer.

Abstract: A thickening process of figure data (outline font data) is performed, an intersection where line segments on outlines cross is obtained, the outlines are separated at the intersection, the separated outline portions are synthesized, the rounding direction of the outlines after the outline synthesis is compared with the original rounding direction of the outlines, and the outlines in which the rounding directions are different from the original rounding direction are deleted. Thus, the outlines overlapped by the thickening process are correctly connected and the inside can be correctly painted.

Abstract: A user who intends to install software notifies the sales company of such software of the user's own credit card information. Then, the software sales company communicates such credit card information to the credit company to request the confirmation thereof. If the credit company confirms the user to be the legitimate user, the software sales company produces the installation key uniquely corresponding to the user in accordance with the credit card information for issuing it to the user. When the user inputs the installation key thus issued and the credit card information into an installer. The installer produces an installation key from the credit card information. If the installation key thus produced and the installation key thus inputted are in agreement, the installer executes installation, hence determining the legitimate use of software by avoiding the problems to be encountered in processing software or analyzing it, while coping with the replacement of computers due to out of order or the like.

Abstract: In case a file is prepared by executing an application, the fee for the use of the application is charged according to whether such file is subjected to an output process. Thus the user of the application need not pay the fee for the use of the application for the mere preparation of the file by using the application.

Abstract: A network system includes a plurality of electronic devices (4-9), a manager PC (3) for downloading data to these electronic devices, and a server (2). The server (2) holds data downloaded to by the manager PC (3) and information pertaining to the download, thereby unitarily managing these data and information.

Abstract: A thickening process of figure data (outline font data) is performed, an intersection where line segments on outlines cross is obtained, the outlines are separated at the intersection, the separated outline portions are synthesized, the rounding direction of the outlines after the outline synthesis is compared with the original rounding direction of the outlines, and the outlines in which the rounding directions are different from the original rounding direction are deleted. Thus, the outlines overlapped by the thickening process are correctly connected and the inside can be correctly painted.

Abstract: A network system comprising a plurality of peripheral devices, a resource updating apparatus for updating resources used by the peripheral devices and a resource manager apparatus for managing the resources being respectively connected via a network is provided. The resource manager apparatus comprises means for storing setting information indicating relation between each of the peripheral devices and resources set thereon, means for, when resources of one of said peripheral devices are updated, searching for the others concerning the updated resource on the basis of the setting information, and means for notifying said resource updating apparatus that resources of the searched peripheral device should be updated.

Abstract: An output device has storage means for storing a compressed font, representing characters by compressed data corresponding to dot patterns, a first generation unit for generating dot patterns based on the compressed data, and a second generation unit for generating outline information of characters from the compressed data and then generating dot patterns. The first generation unit or the second generation unit is selected in accordance with an output condition.

Abstract: It is an object to convert to outline font data that is closer to an actual character outline. A check is made to see if the data read out from a memory is which one of straight line data and curve data. In case of the curve data, a check is made to see if an extremum exists in a curve formed by the curve data. If YES, the curve is divided into segments at the position of the extremum. The curve data obtained by dividing the curve into the segments and the straight line data judged to be the straight line are stored in the memory, thereby realizing the object.

Abstract: A curve conversion apparatus can automatically convert a cubic curve into a quadratic curve and automatically convert data for outline font that are constituted by cubic curves and straight lines into data for outline fonts that are constituted by quadratic curves and straight lines. According to this apparatus, control points of a cubic curve, such as a cubic Bezier curve or a cubic B spline curve, are employed to acquire control points of a quadratic curve, and the acquired control points are stored.

Abstract: An output apparatus having a dot matrix memory and a non-dot-matrix memory, and a method applicable to such an apparatus, in which the dot matrix memory stores an externally entered download font for converting code data into dot matrix data, and in which the non-dot-matrix memory stores non-dot-matrix data for converting code data into non-dot-matrix data and then into dot matrix data. When code is received, the two mentioned memories are controlled so as to have priority in the order: dot matrix memory, then non-dot-matrix memory, to obtain a desired dot pattern in response to the received code data.

Abstract: An output apparatus for outputting a character or the like by using an outline font comprises: an outline information memory to store outline information which expresses a character by points on the outline; a correction information memory to store correction information to correct a value of the outline information; and a correction unit to correct the outline information stored in the outline information memory by using the correction information stored in the correction information memory, thereby preventing a slight difference of the outline points of the original character from a large difference when the character size is changed, and enabling such a slight difference to be correctly expressed when the character is enlarged.

Abstract: In a pattern generation method, corresponding binary bit map data is generated based on a desired one of vector font data, an area of the binary bit map data on a memory is divided to judge a density in a predetermined area, and digital multi-value data is generated in correspondence with the judged density. There is also disclosed a pattern generation apparatus for carrying out this method.

Abstract: A character pattern generating apparatus for generating a bit map data from outline data corresponding to a pattern having a curve portion comprises: a discriminating circuit to discriminate a size of pattern data to be output; and a deciding circuit to decide whether the bit map data is generated or not by regarding the curve portion as a straight line from the outline data on the basis of the discrimination of the discriminating circuit. The curve portion is a portion to form a Bezier curve on the basis of the outline data.