Abstract: [Problem] To suppressing part of an image not being recorded even when the image to be recorded does not fit in an area defined by the top, bottom, left, and right margins set by an application. [Solution] If the size of the image to be recorded is larger than the application-specified area defined by the margins when image information including information denoting margins on cut-sheet paper is input from an application execution unit, the printer driver execution unit of the host computer virtually enlarges the positions of the sides of the cut-sheet paper, and generates and outputs to the printer a control command to record the image described by the image data in an enlarged area, which is an area defined by sides separated by the margin from the virtually enlarged sides.

Abstract: To suppressing part of an image not being recorded even when the image to be recorded does not fit in an area defined by the top, bottom, left, and right margins set by an application. [Solution] If the size of the image to be recorded is larger than the application-specified area defined by the margins when image information including information denoting margins on cut-sheet paper is input from an application execution unit, the printer driver execution unit of the host computer virtually enlarges the positions of the sides of the cut-sheet paper, and generates and outputs to the printer a control command to record the image described by the image data in an enlarged area, which is an area defined by sides separated by the margin from the virtually enlarged sides.

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 first half-tone processing means 110 half-tone processes image data blocks using an error diffusion method. A second half-tone processing means applies a half-tone process for error value calculation on a leading portion of each image data block before the normal half-tone processing. Two error buffers store the error values output by the first half-tone processing means successively to the leading error values already stored by the second half-tone processing means. Two data buffers store the process result from the first half-tone processing means. The first half-tone processing means starts half-tone processing the image data blocks using the leading error values stored in the two error buffers.

Abstract: Device abstraction units 28a and 28b respectively transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from devices 34a and 34b, and carry out abstraction of the devices 34a and 34b (that is, abstraction of the hardware) with respect to upper constituents. Interface units 22a and, 22b transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from the device abstraction units 28a and 28b, and provide an application unit 20 with an identical interface. Communications path abstraction units 24a and 24b carry out abstraction of communications paths 26a and 26b in the process of transmission of various pieces of control information and data via the communications paths 26a and 26b across a process boundary or a network boundary. This arrangement of the present invention enables a substantially fixed control according to an applications program, regardless of the type of the device or the type of the communications path.

Abstract: Device abstraction units 28a and 28b respectively transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from devices 34a and 34b, and carry out abstraction of the devices 34a and 34b (that is, abstraction of the hardware) with respect to upper constituents. Interface units 22a and 22b transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from the device abstraction units 28a and 28b, and provide an application unit 20 with an identical interface. Communications path abstraction units 24a and 24b carry out abstraction of communications paths 26a and 26b in the process of transmission of various pieces of control information and data via the communications paths 26a and 26b across a process boundary or a network boundary. This arrangement of the present invention enables a substantially fixed control according to an applications program, regardless of the type of the device or the type of the communications path.

Abstract: Device abstraction units 28a and 28b respectively transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from devices 34a and 34b, and carry out abstraction of the devices 34a and 34b (that is, abstraction of the hardware) with respect to upper constituents. Interface units 22a and, 22b transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from the device abstraction units 28a and 28b, and provide an application unit 20 with an identical interface. Communications path abstraction units 24a and 24b carry out abstraction of communications paths 26a and 26b in the process of transmission of various pieces of control information and data via the communications paths 26a and 26b across a process boundary or a network boundary. This arrangement of the present invention enables a substantially fixed control according to an applications program, regardless of the type of the device or the type of the communications path.

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: Device abstraction units 28a and 28b respectively transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from devices 34a and 34b, and carry out abstraction of the devices 34a and 34b (that is, abstraction of the hardware) with respect to upper constituents. Interface units 22a and 22b transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from the device abstraction units 28a and 28b, and provide an application unit 20 with an identical interface. Communications path abstraction units 24a and 24b carry out abstraction of communications paths 26a and 26b in the process of transmission of various pieces of control information and data via the communications paths 26a and 26b across a process boundary or a network boundary. This arrangement of the present invention enables a substantially fixed control according to an applications program, regardless of the type of the device or the type of the communications path.

Abstract: Device abstraction units 28a and 28b respectively transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from devices 34a and 34b, and carry out abstraction of the devices 34a and 34b (that is, abstraction of the hardware) with respect to upper constituents. Interface units 22a and 22b transmit various pieces of control information and data to and from the device abstraction units 28a and 28b, and provide an application unit 20 with an identical interface. Communications path abstraction units 24a and 24b carry out abstraction of communications paths 26a and 26b in the process of transmission of various pieces of control information and data via the communications paths 26a and 26b across a process boundary or a network boundary. This arrangement of the present invention enables a substantially fixed control according to an applications program, regardless of the type of the device or the type of the communications path.

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 printing stations connecting with the Internet. A client transmits an output requirement, which specifies a content of interest to be printed and a printing station selected as an output resource, to the print portal. The print portal, which works for mediation of printing, transmits the specified content of interest to the specified printing station. The print portal converts the content of interest into a PDF file by using information included in the output requirement as a password. The printing station specifies the password based on information included in the output requirement, decodes the PDF file, and actually performs a printing operation according to the decoded PDF file. Such encoding desirably enhances the security in the print mediation system via the Internet.

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: A control system built around plural common objects is provided with greater flexibility and easy customizability, and a programming method for the control system is provided. An interface object (15) capable of two-way communications is created and used when first OCX (10), a common object, creates and controls second OCX (11). This interface object (15) is able to return events generated by second OCX (11) to first OCX (10), and first OCX (10) is able to completely control the operation of second OCX (11).

Abstract: A control system built around plural common objects is provided with greater flexibility and easy customizability, and a programming method for the control system is provided. An interface object (15) capable of two-way communications is created and used when first OCX (10), a common object, creates and controls second OCX (11). This interface object (15) is able to return events generated by second OCX (11) to first OCX (10), and first OCX (10) is able to completely control the operation of second OCX (11).

Abstract: A control system built around plural common objects is provided with greater flexibility and easy customizability, and a programming method for the control system is provided. An interface object (15) capable of two-way communications is created and used when first OCX (10), a common object, creates and controls second OCX (11). This interface object (15) is able to return events generated by second OCX (11) to first OCX (10), and first OCX (10) is able to completely control the operation of second OCX (11).

Abstract: A control system built around plural common objects is provided with greater flexibility and easy customizability, and a programming method for the control system is provided. An interface object (15) capable of two-way communications is created and used when first OCX (10), a common object, creates and controls second OCX (11). This interface object (15) is able to return events generated by second OCX (11) to first OCX (10), and first OCX (10) is able to completely control the operation of second OCX (11).