Abstract: A printing system includes a portable communication device, a printing device and plural transmission channels. The printing device is used for receiving a to-be-printed data from the portable communication device, thereby performing a printing task. The plural transmission channels are selectively in communication with the portable communication device and the printing device for transferring the to-be-printed data to the printing device. The portable communication device includes a controlling unit for judging and setting priority values of the transmission channels and selecting one of the transmission channels as a priority transmission channel according to the priority values of the transmission channels, so that the to-be-printed data is transmitted from the portable communication device to the printing device through the priority transmission channel.

Abstract: Device, system, and method of fax relay. For example, a fax relay apparatus includes a fax relay session controller which includes: a first converter to convert non-V.34 fax relay streams which are based on non-V.34 modulation and which are incoming from an Internet Protocol (IP) network into V.34 fax relay streams and to forward the converted V.34 fax relay streams to a V.34 fax relay gateway; and a second converter to convert output V.34 fax relay streams of said V.34 fax relay gateway into non-V.34 fax relay streams which are based on non-V.34 modulation and to forward the converted non-V.34 fax relay streams which are based on non-V.34 modulation to a remote device over the IP network.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium to output the image based on a print job, and the image forming apparatus includes: a control section which controls an output operation performed by the image forming apparatus; and an informing section; wherein the control section causes the informing section to inform output content confirmation information for confirming one or more contents each being of an image output operation corresponding to the print job and one or more contents each being of a predetermined output operation set in the image forming apparatus, based on the print job and a setting content of the predetermined output operation set in the image forming apparatus, the setting content being set independently of a setting of the image output operation corresponding to the print job.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus, system and control method are provide, wherein specific information used to specify a setting associated with reading set by a host PC is received from the host PC, and both the received specific information and identification information used to identify the host PC having transmitted the specific information are registered in association with a specific key. Upon an operation of the specific key, a read instruction issue request is sent to the host PC in accordance with the specific information registered in association with the specific key, an image is read in accordance with a read instruction sent from the host PC in response to the read instruction issue request sent by the host PC, and image data obtained from the image is transmitted from the image reading apparatus to the host PC.

Abstract: Controllers on the master and slave sides each perform an ink cartridge checking process and transmit a detection result, for example “NG”, obtained though the ink cartridge checking process to the other controller. Furthermore, the same ink cartridge checking process is performed in the other controller and the detection result thereof, for example “OK” is transmitted to the first controller. A mechanical control unit merges (combines) the respective detection results and if at least one of the results is NG, a merged result of NG is obtained. In the case of NG, this fact is transmitted to a host control unit and if YES is selected in a Y/N display, the error is cleared. On the other hand, in the case of a merged result of OK, an ink cartridge OK state notification is issued to a mechanical controller.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically creating and recommending a set of optimal rules based on a desired print criterion. A print governance application can be configured with respect to a rendering server to analyze one or more rendering jobs submitted within a specified time period by considering each rendering job attributes in order to collect a rendering data. A desired print criterion can be entered by an administrator in order to manage the rendering job behavior. The collected rendering data can be analyzed to dynamically create the set of optimal rules by a rules engine in order to achieve a desired level of reduction with respect to each user based on the desired print criterion. The rules can be accepted by default and/or presented to the user for acceptance with an equated level of reduction.

Abstract: A method of determining a print shop sustainability metric over a period of time may include, for each of a plurality of print devices in a print shop, determining a low-activity state sustainability metric value associated with the print device operating in one or more low-activity states over a period of time, determining a print shop low-activity state sustainability metric value associated with the print shop, and determining a processing state sustainability metric value associated with the print device operating in a processing state over the period of time, determining a print shop processing state sustainability metric value associated with the print shop, determining a print shop sustainability metric value and displaying one or more of the low-activity state sustainability metric values, the processing state sustainability metric values, the print shop sustainability metric value, the print shop processing state sustainability metric value and the print shop sustainability metric value.

Abstract: An image processing device is configured to provide a service relating to at least one of (1) the image data generated by the function of the image processing device and (2) image data representing the image to be formed, in response to a request from the image processing device. The image processing device may include a parameter designating unit, a service request unit, and a function implementation unit that is adapted to implement the function of the image processing device based on the service providing parameter designated by the parameter designating unit. The service providing device is provided with a service provision executing unit that is adapted to execute a process to provide the service to the image processing device after receiving the request from the service request unit provided to the image processing device.

Abstract: It is confirmed whether or not a job that instructs the execution of multiple processes using the XML language includes a process that cannot be executed by a job processing unit, and in the case where it has been confirmed that the job includes a process that cannot be executed by the job processing unit, the job processing unit is caused to execute a process that the job processing unit is capable of executing from among the multiple processes. Processes that cannot be executed by the job processing unit are ignored, cancelled, or processed according to a pre-set specification.

Abstract: A document transmission apparatus reduces troublesome labor of an operator when transmitting document data, inputted from a scanner or the like, by various transmission methods such as electronic mail, facsimile, remote printing and file transfer. An address book containing a receiver and a plurality of transmission methods for transmitting document data to the receiver is generated. Upon transmission instruction, an appropriate transmission method is selected by the receiver, then document data is converted into data of an appropriate data format, and the converted data is transmitted. Further, a notice of transmission indicating that the document data has been transmitted is transmitted to the receiver of the document data by a method different from the transmission method of the document data. Thus, the document data can be reliably delivered to the receiver.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a capturing unit for capturing an image; an operation unit for inputting information specifying a specific information processing device among a plurality of information processing devices; an information request processing unit for externally transmitting an information acquisition request including a concurrent notification request and identification information identifying the specific information processing device; a destination determination processing unit for determining a transmission destination according to answer information relative to the information acquisition request; and an image information transmission processing unit for transmitting the image captured with the capturing unit to the transmission destination determined with the destination determination processing unit.

Abstract: A CPU perform the steps of: (a) causing a compression/decompression processor to decompress the compressed data of one of three bands in the data area except for the first block in the band, and storing decompressed bitmap data in the data area; (b) rasterizing each of the intermediate data blocks in the band and synthesizing the rasterized data and the decompressed bitmap data in the band; and (c) causing the compression/decompression processor to compress the synthesized bitmap data and storing the compressed data in the data area. The CPU performs the steps (a) to (c) in different respective tasks in parallel, and performs the steps (a) to (c) along the order of (a), (b), (c) for each of the intermediate code blocks in each of the bands while using the 1st to the 3rd bitmap data area in turn for each of the steps (a) to (c).

Abstract: An apparatus continues, before a number of pages where image data started to be input reaches N pages, inputting of the image data until an amount of the image data stored in a storage unit reaches a first amount, and thereafter, continue the inputting of the image data until the amount of the stored image data reaches a second amount, which is smaller than the first amount.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives job data of plural pages; plural RIP processors that interpret and expand the job data into raster images; and an allocating unit that allocates the plural pages of the job data to the plural RIP processors for RIP processing, the allocating unit dividing the job data based on a predetermined data size regardless of page breaks, allocating job data that is to be RIP processed to the plural RIP processors, sending job data, corresponding to and after the pages of the data that is to be RIP processed, to the plural RIP processors, and when a head part of the job data that is to be RIP processed allocated by the allocating unit is in the middle of a page, the plural RIP processors RIP processing the job data from the beginning of the next page.

Abstract: An image capture device comprises an output settings module configured to receive a selection of at least one output setting for at least one of a plurality of objects to be concurrently imaged by the image capture device, the at least one output setting automatically applied to a scanned image of the at least one object.

Abstract: Provided is a technique that makes it possible to extract the image of a document area from a read image with better accuracy. An image processing apparatus capable of achieving this includes a reading unit for reading a document, which has been placed on a contact glass, as read image data; a first area determination unit for deciding a provisional document area by subjecting the read image data to detection processing for detecting a document area included in the read image data; and a second area determination unit for deciding a fixed document area by generating binary image data in an area corresponding to the provisional document area of the read image data, and executing detection processing for detecting a document area, which is included in the read image data, based upon the binary image data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method of printing data is provided, the method comprising identifying whether a single- or a double-sided printer is operatively connected to the computer, identifying whether single- or double sided media is installed in the printer, and selecting a mode of operation for the printer based on whether it is identified as a single- or a double-sided printer and whether single- or double-sided media is identified as being installed therein. Variations are provided.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus, including a symbol-related information acquirement unit which identifies a text area in a scanned document, extracts symbols from the identified text area, and acquires symbol-related information regarding each extracted symbol, a symbol division unit which divides the extracted symbols into several groups based on a preset reference value regarding the symbol-related information, and a key index generation unit which generates a key index by arranging one group of symbols from among the divided groups. Accordingly, a user can look for a desired document more easily and conveniently.

Abstract: A display input device 1 includes: a display part 11 displaying character string regions; an input part 12 accepting operation; a storage part 18 storing data including data for an image; and a display control part 10 controlling the display at the display part. The display control part 10 judges whether or not, of the character string regions, the adjacent character string regions include the same character string, and if they include the same character string, makes the display part highlight characters other than the same character string.

Abstract: A present invention is provided with a laser light source having a plurality of laser elements capable of scanning a plurality of lines in parallel in a sub-scanning direction at a second resolution, which is higher than a first resolution of an image to be formed in a main scanning direction, a multiplexer and a laser driver that set a scaling ratio of an image in the sub-scanning direction in response to the first and second resolutions and an image size for image forming, and perform control so as to select and drive any of the plurality of laser elements of the laser light source in response to the scaling ratio that has been set, and an image forming unit that forms on a print medium an image of lines scanned using laser elements driven by the laser driver.

Abstract: Inputted image data is converted to M number of multi-value data having a lower resolution than the inputted image data, and after quantization processing has been performed for each of the M number of multi-value data, an image is printed by M number of relative movements (M-pass printing) that corresponds to the M number of quantized data. By doing so, when compared with the case in which a resolution reduction process is not performed, it is possible to suppress the number of pixels that become the object of quantization processing, and it becomes possible to output an image with no fluctuation in image density or density unevenness without a decrease in the processing speed.

Abstract: The movement detection apparatus acquires a movement state of an object by clipping a template pattern from first image data and seeking a region having a high correlation with the template pattern in second image data. The movement detection apparatus performs at least one of first processing, which analyzes the first image data, and second processing, which analyzes a relationship between the first image data and third image data acquired after the first image data has been acquired and before the second image data is acquired, and sets a position at which the template patter is clipped.

Abstract: A recording control device includes an input section that inputs information on a recording direction of a recording object document and information on a blank space elimination function for recording; a setting section that performs settings relating to the recording direction of the recording object document and the blank space elimination function based on the information input by the input section; a recording control section that controls a recording apparatus to record the recording object document on a recording medium according to the settings performed by the setting section; and a determining section that determines whether the setting relating to the blank space elimination function needs to be changed.

Abstract: A problem in conventional electrical color deviation correction is that an awkward step is generated at a border where a pixel is offset by one-pixel-basis correction. Although such a step can be cancelled by less-than-one-pixel-basis correction, this smoothing process in turn generates unevenness in density. To solve these problems, in electrical color deviation correction, a draw command is analyzed to specify a draw position for color deviation correction for each of draw objects. Then, the object is drawn at the specified draw position, and an offset for color deviation correction is performed on an object basis.

Abstract: When the number (M) of passes is smaller than a threshold value, a first processing mode is selected. In the first processing mode, multivalued image data is divided into pieces of multivalued data corresponding to passes and a common multivalued data for a plurality of passes, the pieces of multivalued data are individually binarized to generate pieces of binary data corresponding to the passes, and the common multivalued data is binarized to generate common binary data for these passes. On the other hand, when the number (M) of passes is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a second processing mode is selected. In the second processing mode, multivalued image data is binarized and the binary data is divided into pieces of binary data corresponding to passes with a mask.

Abstract: A first profile corresponding to a first print is generated based on first spectral data of a first print and third spectral data of a light source, which serves as an observational light source for the first print. A second profile corresponding to a second protective-film-covered print is generated based on spectral data of a second print, second spectral data of a second laminating film, and third spectral data of a light source, which serves as an observational light source for the second protective-film-covered print. Using the first profile as an input profile and the second profile as an output profile, colors of image data representing an image of the first print are converted into colors of image data representing an image of the second print.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit, a pixel color determining unit, an isolated point determining unit, and a document discriminating unit. The image reading unit scans a document to detect pixel values of color components of each pixel. The pixel color determining unit determines whether a color of each pixel is a specific color based on the detected pixel values. The isolated point determining unit determines whether each pixel is an isolated point based on the detected pixel values. The document discriminating unit discriminates whether the document is a color document or a black-and-white document based on the detected pixel values while treating the pixels, of which the color has been determined to be the specific color by the pixel color determining unit and which have been determined to be isolated points by the isolated point determining unit, as black-and-white pixels.

Abstract: Disclosed is process of forming a regular array of rows of subpixels on a workpiece. The subpixels having four different colors, and a subpixel pitch s. Of the four colors, q colors are formed by printing and r colors are formed by a non-printing method.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which converts first image data having grayscale value of a predetermined color space for each pixel into second image data having grayscale values of recording material colors of a printing section and having pixels of which the number is reduced to 1/n, includes grayscale value difference determination section that determines whether or not grayscale value difference between a predetermined target pixel and each of other pixels in a pixel block exceeds a threshold value for each of the pixel blocks for the first image data, and color conversion section that performs color conversion process by referring to color conversion table, and color conversion section performs a second process such that grayscale value of the recording material color obtained through color conversion process for an average value of grayscale values of the predetermined color space of the respective pixels is used as the second image data.

Abstract: For reducing jaggies in second image data based on first image data, the second image data obtained by performing digital halftoning on each image signal of the first image data, and attribute data indicating the attribute of each pixel in the first image data, a determination signal indicating whether or not to perform smoothing processing is output based on the first image data, edge correction data for the smoothing processing is generated from the first image data, and whether or not to perform edge correction processing that uses the edge correction data is selected according to the determination signal and the attribute data. Moreover, the second image data and the edge correction data are compared for each image signal so as to output either one thereof according to the comparison result.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining an amount of clear toner to be applied to a document image to improve smoothness in an output print rendered using a xerographic device capable of applying clear toner to the image in the image path. Using clear toner to improve smoothness enables a GCR strategy in which more black can be used. This, in turn, decreases the incremental cost for clear toner. The teachings hereof present attractive trade-offs for print shops specializing in color document reproduction and other customers of high-end xerographic devices capable of applying clear toner. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing unit configured to perform halftone processing for input image data and output halftone image data, a determination unit configured to determine a mixing ratio based on a difference value between a low frequency component of the halftone image data and a low frequency component of the input image data, and a mixing unit configured to mix the input image data and the halftone image data based on the mixing ratio.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a primary image as input data and receiving textured image data for rendering a perceived non-uniform texture on a printed output of the primary image. The primary image input data is used for determining a low coverage portion and a high coverage portion. The method then includes applying clear toner to the low coverage portion and applying colored toner at variable anisotropic orientations to the high coverage portion.

Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus that prints an image of a first colorimetric system that is constructed with a plurality of pixels by using dots having a plurality of sizes, including: a print head that ejects a printing material to form the dots on a printing medium; a color conversion unit that converts the image in the first colorimetric system to an intermediate image in a second colorimetric system that can be printed by the printing apparatus; a detection unit that detects edge pixels, which constitute an edge of the intermediate image, among a plurality of pixels constituting the intermediate image; a dot allocation unit that allocates dots having a predetermined size among the dots having the plurality of sizes to the edge pixels; and a printing unit that controls the print head based on printing data indicating the dot allocation to form the image on the printing medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reception unit which receives an electronic document, a generation unit which generates a display list containing edge information indicating the outline of an object contained in the received electronic document, fill information for controlling whether to fill in the inside of the outline of the object, and control information for controlling image formation of each page that forms the electronic document, an edge position extraction unit which obtains the intersections of the object and the line based on the edge information, and extracts the positions of the edges of the object on the line, and a setting unit which sets, based on the data amount of extracted edges and the data amount of edges in the page that is predicted by analyzing the control information, a threshold for controlling extraction of the edges to fall within a predetermined data amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a determination unit and a restriction unit. The determination unit determines an image forming capability of each of the image forming apparatus and a different image forming apparatus, an image being formed on a printing medium that is transported between the image forming apparatus and the different image forming apparatus. The restriction unit restricts an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus when the determination unit determines that the image forming capability of any one of the image forming apparatus and the different image forming apparatus is to be lower than an image forming capability of the other one of the image forming apparatus and the different image forming apparatus when independently performing an operation to form an image on the printing medium.

Abstract: Read image data is segmented into a plurality of regions in accordance with the attribute of the image data. A region to be printed using a transparent toner is set in accordance with the attributes of the plurality of segmented regions. A preview of the image represented by the image data is displayed, in which the region set to be printed using the transparent toner is distinguished from the remaining regions. An instruction to change the region to be printed using the transparent toner is accepted based on the displayed preview. Print data for the transparent toner to print, using the transparent toner, a region determined based on the change instruction to be printed using the transparent toner is generated.

Abstract: Directional data is generated representing a pattern that indicates a growing direction of a dot on a scanning line. Coefficients used to distribute the image data of a pixel of interest are set. An edge of an input image is detected. The image data of the pixel of interest of the input image is distributed to the interest pixel and a pixel adjacent to the interest pixel based on the coefficients. Image data distributed from the adjacent pixel is added to image data of the interest pixel on which the distribution is performed, and the sum of the image data is as corrected image data of the interest pixel. The corrected image data and the generated directional data are selected for an edge, and the image data of the interest pixel and input directional data are selected for a non-edge to generate an image signal pulse-width modulated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read a print product and a transmission unit configured to transmit image data of the print product to an external apparatus. The apparatus further includes an inhibition unit configured to inhibit the transmission of the image data based on inhibition information included in the image data. If the image data includes trace information to be used to trace a printer user of the print product in addition to the inhibition information, a control unit acquires the trace information and causes a display unit to perform a display based on the trace information without causing the output unit to transmit the image data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods related to data communication. A method includes consulting a database for information relating to the performance history of one or more facsimile transmitting devices. The database includes a performance score for one or more facsimile transmitting devices, and the performance score reflects the success or failure of a transmission of a data communication for an individual one of one or more facsimile transmitting device. The method further includes using the performance score to select an individual facsimile transmitting device from the one or more facsimile transmitting devices and attempting to transmit the data communication using the selected individual facsimile transmitting device.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading glass, a second guide member, and a control section. The reading glass and the second guide member together form a document feed path. The second guide member includes a white reference plate. The control section performs, when it is determined that shading correction image data is affected by a stain, a stain location determination of whether the stain is attached to the reading glass or the second guide member according to a tone value variation in the portion of the shading correction image data that corresponds to the stain edge, the variation being along a predetermined distance in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for augmenting present methods used for determining the orientation direction automatically being detected of digital pages of a plurality of scanned documents in a digital document processing environment. The present method takes advantage of the observation that pages scanned in data processing centers are often highly correlated. The present method contains five primary steps. 1) Page orientation (i.e., up/down) is detected using a traditional method. 2) Each page is classified as either directional or non-directional. 3) The pages classified as directional are clustered into groups. 4) The direction for each group is determined. 5) The directional group's direction is used to revise the orientation for pages contained in the group. Through the implementation of the teachings hereof, performance, in terms of both speed and accuracy, are very high relative to current methods and detection error rates can be reduced significantly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling legacy devices to consistently and reliably operate within a distributed scan environment using proxy scan services. A proxy scan service is communicatively coupled between a scan management service and a scanner. Information transmitted between the scan management service and the scanner is intercepted at the proxy scan service, where the scan management service recognizes a first format message for the information and the scanner recognizes a second format message for the information. The information is converted at the proxy scan service between the first format message and the second format message. The transmission between the scan management service and the scanner is completed using the converted information.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light guide arranged between a light source and a document. The light guide has a light incident surface at a side of the light source, light from the light source, is incident, a first light emitting surface at a side of the document, a second light emitting surface different from the first light emitting surface, a first reflecting surface between the first and second light emitting surfaces, a second reflecting surface between the light incident surface and the second light emitting surface, and a third reflecting surface facing the second reflecting surface. The first reflecting surface reflects light toward the first light emitting surface. The second reflecting surface reflects light toward one of the second light emitting surface and the first and third reflecting surfaces. The third reflecting surface reflects light toward the second light emitting surface or the first reflecting surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are an illuminator and an image forming apparatus employing an illuminator. The illuminator includes a light guide to guide light generated from a light source to an object to be illuminated. The light guide includes at least one incidence face facing the light source and an emission face configured to emit the light to the target object. A diffusion pattern may be formed on the emission face to extend from one longitudinal end to the other longitudinal end of the emission face. The emission face may have a constant cross section or a varying cross section along a longitudinal direction thereof. The illuminator may be part of an image reading device to uniformly or near uniformly irradiate light to a document. The illuminator may also be incorporated in an image forming apparatus to irradiate light to a photosensitive body for elimination or reduction of electric potential from the photosensitive body.

Abstract: An image joining method for a scanner that scans and transfers image data to a terminal is provided. During scanning and data transfer, when the image data stored in a register is full, an image processor stops the scanning of a linear photodetector. Meanwhile, a matrix photodetector fetches and stores the image of a code strip. Then, the photodetectors are moved backward a distance larger than that being required to be accelerated forward when the scanner resumes scanning. After the data in the register being transferred and cleared, the linear photodetector resumes scanning at a normal moving speed. The code strip image is further fetched and compared with the stored one to get a joining point of scanned image data. By the joining point, the new and prior image data portions are joined and the scanning proceeds, and joined image data will not be overlapped or broken.

Abstract: An image reading device and an image forming apparatus having the same that can increase a scan quality by mounting positions of units to read information recorded on a document and a mounting structure of a light shielding member. The image reading device may include a first reading unit to read image information recorded on a first surface of a document, a second reading unit disposed at a predetermined distance from the first reading unit along a document feeding direction to read image information recorded on a second surface of the document, and at least one light shielding member mounted between the first reading unit and the second reading unit along the document feeding direction. The light shielding member, which may include a document guide portion, may extend in a direction different from the document feeding direction such that one end portion is located in a document feeding path.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a main unit and an openable unit is provided. One of an upper-stream section and a lower-stream section in a sheet path with respect to a U-curved section is provided as an upper-level path, and the other of the upper-stream section and the lower-stream section is arranged in a lower-level path. The openable unit includes a movable piece arranged in a position along the lower-level path and is swingable to be close to and separated apart from the lower-level path. The movable piece is movable by its own weight from a closed position to an open position when the openable unit is moved to an open position. The movable piece serves as a part of a bottom surface of the lower-level path when in the closed position and exposes a part of the lower-level path when in the open position.

Abstract: A copying apparatus with a color copy function includes: a reading unit configured to read images on a document; an input unit configured to input commands from a user; an image forming unit configured to form a mark for image adjustment, perform an image adjustment on the image read by the reading unit based on the formed mark for image adjustment and print the adjusted image; and a judging unit configured to trigger the image forming unit to form the mark for image adjustment if the command for executing color copying is input into the input unit.

Abstract: For a selected class of functions, which describe most typical banding variations, the average response can be found by sampling at only 2Nth locations, where N is the number of different frequencies of significant banding. This approach makes use of the fact that in most applications the banding frequencies of a given printer system, are known in advance, even if the amplitudes of the banding are not known. Each sample point requires a very small test area or pattern, significantly reducing the overall size of the required test areas.