Abstract: The wearable article (11) comprises a power source (111) and a processor (112). The processor (112) determines whether a power transfer condition is satisfied. In response, the processor (112) is arranged to control the wearable article (11) to transfer power from the power source (111) to an electrical load of an external apparatus. The wearable article (11) may comprise an interface element (114) for forming an electrical connection with the externa apparatus. The wearable article (11) may comprise a power transmitter (113) for beaming electromagnetic energy to the external apparatus. The wearable article (11) may be a garment.

Abstract: A nip forming device includes an endless belt that is flexible and rotates. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite an inner circumferential face of the endless belt. A pressure rotator rotates and presses against the nip formation pad via the endless belt to form a nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, through which a conveyed object is conveyed. A housing supports the pressure rotator. A separator is disposed downstream from the nip in a conveyance direction in which the conveyed object is conveyed. The separator separates the conveyed object from the endless belt. The separator moves toward and away from the endless belt. A restrictor restricts motion of the separator that moves toward the endless belt. The restrictor is mounted on the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of sheet feeding units, a job reception unit configured to receive a print job, an instruction reception unit configured to receive a reservation instruction for reserving at least one sheet feeding unit of the plurality of sheet feeding units, an identification unit configured to identify a sheet feeding unit from among the plurality of sheet feeding units based on a setting of the received print job, and a notification unit configured to notify, in response to an execution instruction of a print job in which a sheet feeding unit for which the instruction reception unit has received the reservation instruction is identified, and in which a specific setting is not made, a user of information indicating that the sheet feeding unit is reserved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operation unit for receiving an instruction given by a user, and according to receipt of a request of a print-and-delivery job from an external apparatus, performs print processing to produce a print and passes the produced print to a print delivery apparatus that delivers a print to a designated delivery destination. A controller controls an order of execution of jobs. In a state in which a print-and-delivery job has been registered in a job queue of the image forming apparatus, in a case where an instruction for executing a predetermined job which cannot be processed in parallel with the print-and-delivery job is received from the operation unit, the controller performs predetermined job priority control for causing the predetermined job to be preferentially executed.

Abstract: It is hereby disclosed a method to print on porous substrate by a printer comprising: a print zone; a conveyor to receive a porous substrate on a loading zone and to move the porous substrate along a transport direction between the print zone and the loading zone; a print engine positioned on the print zone for ejecting printing fluid towards the porous substrate; wherein the method comprises ejecting printing fluid towards a front side the porous substrate and, by a controller, activating a vacuum source as to exert a vacuum on a back side of the porous substrate being the vacuum exerted while the porous substrate is within the print zone.

Abstract: A method of controlling an information processing apparatus includes transmitting a first job to a job processing apparatus, executing first control for holding the first job in a job queue that the information processing apparatus has in a state where processing based on the first job is executed in the job processing apparatus, and executing second control for terminating holding of the first job by the job queue based on a fact that a second job is registered in the job queue in a state where the first job is held in the job queue even in a case where the processing based on the first job is executed in the job processing apparatus. The first control includes control not to transmit an EndJob command even though transmission of the first job is completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes a sheet feeding unit and forms an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit. Electronic data item is acquired from a cloud service that manages a plurality of electronic data items. A sheet size is extracted from the electronic data item. An image of the electronic data item is formed on a sheet having the extracted sheet size. In a case where predetermined attribute information indicating a job using the cloud service is included in the electronic data item, the image of the electronic data item, appropriate to a sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit, is formed on the fed sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet of perforated paper; an input unit configured to receive first information and second information; and a processor configured to display an alarm display without performing sheet-passing of the sheet of perforated paper. The first information is information concerning the sheet of perforated paper on which an image is to be formed by the image forming unit and the second information is information concerning whether to perform automatic double-sided printing on the sheet of perforated paper or not. The processor is configured to display the alarm display in a case where the automatic double-sided printing is instructed and it is determined that the sheet of perforated paper has a cut-off portion.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprising an allocation unit for rearranging an order of original data of a plurality of pages and allocating the original data to book data used to generate a printed product having a book form, a display unit for displaying each of the original data and the book data along one direction on a predetermined display unit, and a setting unit for setting a binding method of the printed product having the book form, wherein the allocation unit changes, based on the setting of the binding method, an arrangement order of the book data to be displayed by the display unit.

Abstract: An image inspection device which enables the user to know the cause of an abnormality in a read image. The image inspection device includes: an image reader outputting a read image generated by reading an image formed on a sheet of paper by an image forming device; an image inspection section inspecting the read image and outputting an inspection result which takes the read image determined not to have an abnormality as a normal image and the read image determined to have the abnormality as an abnormal image; an inspection result report generator generating an inspection result report according to the read image and the inspection result; an inspection result report output section outputting the inspection result report; and a controller performing control to cause the inspection result report output section to output the normal image and the abnormal image in a comparable manner.

Abstract: An image display method includes displaying a first image and a second image on a display and, when the first image to which a first additional image identifying the first image is added and the second image to which a second additional image identifying the second image is added are displayed on the display along a first axis in a still state, making a display mode different between the first additional image added to the first image and the second additional image added to the second image.

Abstract: The wearable article (11) comprises a power source (111) and a processor (112). The processor (112) determines whether a power transfer condition is satisfied. In response, the processor (112) is arranged to control the wearable article (11) to transfer power from the power source (111) to an electrical load of an external apparatus. The wearable article (11) may comprise an interface element (114) for forming an electrical connection with the externa apparatus. The wearable article (11) may comprise a power transmitter (113) for beaming electromagnetic energy to the external apparatus. The wearable article (11) may be a garment.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a body support section, an apparatus body supported by the body support section, and a reading section configured to read a document. The apparatus body is configured to rotate about a rotation shaft with respect to the body support section and the apparatus body is rotated to be switched to a first position or a second position, a position of the center of gravity of the apparatus body is located at a position vertically above a shaft axis of the rotation shaft and closer than the shaft axis to an apparatus front in an apparatus depth direction when the apparatus body is in the first position, and is located at a position vertically above the shaft axis of the rotation shaft and closer than the shaft axis to an apparatus rear in the depth direction when the apparatus body is in the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a memory and processing circuitry. The memory stores an identifier for identifying a defective page and an identifier for identifying a print job that includes the defective page. The processing circuitry determines whether print job data is data of a print job to be reprinted and determines whether a page included in a conveyance medium conveyed is a defective page, based on the identifier for identifying the defective page. The processing circuitry also performs control to eject a first conveyance medium including a page not determined to be defective to a first ejection destination, eject a second conveyance medium including a defective page to a second ejection destination, print an image of the defective page on a third conveyance medium, and eject the third conveyance medium on which the image is printed to the first ejection destination.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a sheet feeder that feeds a sheet; a controller that: discriminates a sheet type of the sheet, and receives a user input to specify a sheet type; and an image forming device that has two setting modes including an automatic discrimination mode in which an image is formed based on the discriminated sheet type and a user specified mode in which an image is formed based on the sheet type specified by the user input. The controller automatically switches one of the two setting modes to the other based on a defined condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a wireless tag communication device to write data to, and read data from, a wireless tag attached to a sheet. An image forming device in the apparatus is configured to form an image on the sheet. A controller in the apparatus is configured to determine whether a writing of data to a wireless tag was successful based on a notification from the wireless tag communication device and generate investigation support information if the writing was not successful and control the image forming device to form an investigation support image corresponding to the investigation support information if the writing was not successful.

Abstract: A printing system is provided that does not produce a wasteful defective product by suppressing inconsistency in collated pages between a reference image and an inspection image. In a case where a read image obtained by reading an image on a sheet for which print processing has been performed based on a print job is a blank sheet image but a reference image registered in association with the print job is not a blank sheet image, a page of a reference image and a page of the read image are matched with each other by using a blank sheet image registered as a reference image not in association with the print job.

Abstract: An image forming system (100) includes an image forming apparatus (1) and an image reading apparatus (50). The image forming apparatus (1) include a first casing (10) including a top plate (13) having a first opening (11) and a second opening (12); and a fixing member (20) disposed below the top plate (13), having a first projecting part (21) and a second projecting part (22) and operated such that the first projecting part (21) is protruded and retracted through the first opening (11) and the second projecting part (22) is protruded and retracted through the second opening (12).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a roller, a heater configured to heat the roller, an endless belt, a nip forming member, a supply roller configured to supply a sheet, and a controller. The sheet is nipped between the endless belt and the roller. The endless belt is nipped between the nip forming member and the roller such that a nip portion is formed. The controller is configured to supply a plurality of first kind of sheets by the supply roller at a first interval when the plurality of first kind of sheets are sequentially conveyed and supply a plurality of second kind of sheets by the supply roller at a second interval greater than the first interval when the plurality of second kind of sheets belonging to a kind in which curl occurs more frequently than the plurality of first kind of sheets are sequentially conveyed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for loading a picture. A target page element is obtained. A motion state of the target page element is obtained. A to-be-loaded picture carried by the target page element is obtained. The to-be-loaded picture is added to a to-be-loaded queue based on the motion state being a scrolling state. The to-be-loaded queue is configured to monitor the to-be-loaded picture based on a change of the motion state. The to-be-loaded picture is added to a loading state based on the motion state changing to a non-scrolling state.

Abstract: Print driving control method and apparatus, a storage medium, and a program product are provided. The method includes transmitting a converted print task content to a background processing module of an operating system of a terminal device; receiving the print task content processed and transmitted by the background processing module, and caching the print task content in a memory space preset where the print task content includes print data and print identifiers; and determining whether the print identifiers includes a job end identifier to obtain a first determination result, determining a transmitting strategy according to the first determination result, and transmitting the print task content according to the transmitting strategy.

Abstract: A voice operation system includes: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material; a server that accepts voice information related to an operation on the image forming apparatus, and gives an operation instruction to the image forming apparatus; and a voice input/output device that converts an input voice into voice information, sends the voice information to the server, receives voice information as a response to the voice information related to the operation on the image forming apparatus, and emits a sound of the voice information, wherein the server has a hardware processor that stores information on a part of a function or configuration of the image forming apparatus, and the server determines executability of an operation associated with voice information transmitted from the voice input/output device, and causes the image forming apparatus to execute determination of executability of an operation that is not determinable.

Abstract: A method for configuring a raster image processor (RIP) for a digital printing system includes receiving a file for a print job; receiving or determining job characteristics of the print job or the file for the print job; receiving or determining hardware characteristics of hardware upon which the RIP is operating; inputting the job characteristics and the hardware characteristics into a trained artificial intelligence (AI) module; and selecting, using the trained AI module, a configuration or settings for the RIP for processing of the file based on the plurality of job characteristics and the plurality of hardware characteristics.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry receives a timing selected for re-forming an image and re-forms the image determined to be defective based on information about the image formed on a first conveyance medium, on a second conveyance medium at the selected timing.

Abstract: A count destination management apparatus includes a processor configured to receive image information entered by a user having plural count destinations and specify a count destination corresponding to the image information among the plural count destinations on a basis of identification information included in the image information, the identification information being registered in advance for each of the plural count destinations.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a feed roller configured to feed a document, a transport roller disposed downstream of the feed roller and configured to transport the document downstream; a transport motor being a drive source of the transport roller; a reading unit disposed downstream of the transport roller and configured to read the document; and a control unit configured to control the reading unit and the transport motor, wherein the control unit is configured to obtain information on a document type and an inclination detection reference value for an inclination of image data set in accordance with the document type and obtained from the reading unit, and when the inclination of the image data exceeds the inclination detection reference value in accordance with the document type, the control unit stops the transport motor.

Abstract: A host computing device includes a host processor, host memory in electronic communication with the host processor, and an auxiliary service controller. The host computing device also includes a communication interface and a messaging interface between the host processor and the auxiliary service controller. A message handler is stored in the host memory. The message handler is executable by the host processor in response to detecting a messaging interface signal on the messaging interface. Execution of the message handler by the host processor causes a firmware update patch to be read from a shared memory region in the auxiliary service controller via the communication interface.

Abstract: A fixation device includes: a heating roll that heats a transported recording medium whose front end is gripped by a gripping part while rotating; a pressing roll that is disposed so as to face the heating roll, around which at least a part of the transported recording medium is wound, and presses the wound part of the recording medium toward the heating roll while rotating; a peeling part that peels the recording medium off from the pressing roll by lifting the front end of the recording medium up in a state where the front end of the recording medium has passed a portion where the pressing roll and the heating roll face each other and is no longer gripped by the gripping part; and a reducing part that reduces momentum of the peeling part lifting the front end of the recording medium up.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a conveying mechanism configured to convey a continuously-fed paper, a print head, a memory, and a controller. The controller obtains printing information including a plurality of pieces of the unit-image data, pitch information, and speed information of a continuously-fed paper. The controller determines a first period of time which is required to print a predetermined number of unit-images on the continuously-fed paper and a second period of time which is required to store the predetermined number of pieces of the unit-image data into the memory. The controller determines, based on the first period of time and the second period of time, a stored-number which is a number of pieces of the unit-image data to be stored into the memory and starts printing the plurality of unit-images when the stored-number of pieces of the unit-image data is stored into the memory.

Abstract: An electronic device according to certain embodiments may include: a sensor, a display panel including a sensor area overlaying or underlying the sensor and a pixel area including at least one pixel and a drive wiring line configured to drive the at least one pixel while surrounding the sensor area, a window disposed over the display panel, and one or more opaque members disposed between the sensor and the window and along an edge of the sensor area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image onto a sheet based on an image forming condition, a conveyance roller to convey the sheet in a first conveyance path, a sheet discharger to discharge the sheet conveyed in the first conveyance path, and a sensor to read, in a second conveyance path branched from the first conveyance path, a test image formed on the sheet. In addition, a tray receives the sheet discharged via the second conveyance path, and a controller generates the image forming condition based on a reading result of the sensor. The controller executes first control of controlling the image forming unit to form a first test image and second control of controlling the image forming unit to form a second test image.

Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes a separation roller, an imaging device to generate an input image, a conveyance roller to convey the medium separated by the separation roller to the imaging device, a first medium sensor located between the separation roller and the conveyance roller, a second medium sensor located between the conveyance roller and the imaging device, a processor to start imaging by the imaging device in response to detection of the medium by the first medium sensor and generate a cutout image from the input image in response to detection of the medium by the second medium sensor, and an output device to output the cutout image. The processor generates the cutout image based on a position imaged by a predetermined amount before a position imaged at a timing when the second medium sensor detects the medium, in the input image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a hardware processor that forms an image on a conveyed recording medium; and a determining device that determines whether a type of the recording medium is a first recording medium or a second recording medium, wherein if the type of the recording medium is determined to be the first recording medium, the hardware processor forms a normal image on the recording medium, whereas if the type of the recording medium is determined to be the second recording medium, the hardware processor forms a test image on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharge tray, a sheet contact plate, an arm, a slider, and a spring. The sheet contact plate includes a first end portion and a second end portion located downstream in a sheet discharge direction and is pivotable about a first axis located at the first end portion between a retracted position and a protruding position. The arm includes a third end portion and a fourth end portion. The third end portion is supported by the second end portion of the sheet contact plate such that the arm is pivotable about a second axis located at the third end portion. The slider supports the fourth end portion of the arm such that the arm is pivotable about a third axis located at the fourth end portion. The spring urges the slider away from the first axis along the sheet discharge direction.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first feeding portion configured to feed a recording sheet, an image forming portion, a sheet conveyance path, a second feeding portion configured to feed an inserting sheet from any of a plurality of supporting portions including a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion, a detection portion, and a controller. The controller is configured to execute, during execution of a process of feeding a first inserting sheet from the first supporting portion to the sheet conveyance path, a movement processing of moving a second inserting sheet supported on the second supporting portion to a position where a trailing edge of the second inserting sheet is placed downstream in a sheet conveyance direction of a detection position of the detection portion and thereafter stopping the second inserting sheet.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a first pair of conveying rollers and a first motor driving the first pair of conveying rollers at a first speed. The image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit, a second pair of conveying rollers arranged downstream of said first pair of conveying rollers and a second motor driving the second pair of conveying rollers at a second speed lower than the first speed. The second motor drives the second pair of conveying rollers at the second speed so as to form a loop of the sheet between the first pair of conveying rollers and the second pair of conveying rollers.

Abstract: A list of a plurality of objects to be displayed, which corresponds to page images to be operated, respectively, is displayed; it is determined which object is selected as an object to be moved among the plurality of displayed objects to be displayed; it is determined which object is selected as a movement destination object among the plurality of displayed objects to be displayed; and allocation page images are displayed in a state where a page image corresponding to the object determined as the object to be moved and a page image corresponding to the object determined as the movement destination object are allocated to a single page.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming assembly, a first interface, a second interface, a display, a discrimination processor, and a controller. When the discrimination processor discriminates that a set value of a printing condition, received from a portable terminal through the second interface is capable of being set by the image forming apparatus, the controller causes the image forming assembly to form an image under the printing condition depending on the set value. When the discrimination processor discriminates that the set value is not capable of being set by the image forming apparatus, the controller causes the display to display a message that the set value is not capable of being set by the image forming apparatus and a message of a printing condition based on another set value capable of being set instead of the set value by the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a sheet separation device, a sheet insertion device, and circuitry. The sheet separation device is configured to perform a sheet separating operation to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet, and a sheet inserting operation to insert an inner sheet between the two sheets. The sheet lamination device is configured to perform a sheet laminating operation on the two-ply sheet after the sheet separating operation and the sheet inserting operation. The circuitry is configured to cause the sheet lamination device to perform the sheet laminating operation on the two-ply sheet while causing the sheet separation device to perform the sheet separating operation on another two-ply sheet subsequent to the two-ply sheet or the sheet separating operation and the sheet inserting operation on said another two-ply sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reader configured to read a paper used for printing, a controller configured to generate paper information indicating the type of paper read by the reader, and a storage unit configured to store the paper information in association with history information of a paper. The controller updates history information corresponding to target paper information when the target paper information indicating a same type of paper as the paper indicated by newly generated paper information is stored, and causes the storage unit to store the newly generated paper information when the target paper information is not stored. The controller searches for paper information indicating the type of paper input in a search operation, and causes an operation panel to display the history information corresponding to the found paper information.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a printing plate from a vector format image file having image and non-image areas. A boundary in vector coordinates is identified via a user interface that defines each image area corresponding to an image patch. The image file is raster image processed (RIPped) to create RIPped image information associated with the vector coordinates corresponding to the image patches. The RIPped image information and associated vector coordinates are processed to create RIPped image patches, register marks attached to each RIPped image patch, and the RIPped image patches with register marks and corresponding vector coordinates stored in a processing file. The system includes a computer memory, an interface for providing the image file, a user interface, and a computer processor configured to perform the method.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus performs acquiring measurement results obtained by measuring a characteristic of a recording medium a plurality of times; inputting information corresponding to a type of the recording medium; acquiring an extraction range of the type indicated by the information, among extraction ranges set to respective types of recording media for determination of a type; setting, based on the measurement results and the type, a parameter for correcting the measurement results to reduce difference between the measurement results and the extraction range; correcting, by using the parameter, measurement results obtained by measuring a characteristic of a recording medium to be recorded; and extracting a candidate type of the recording media, the measurement results, based on the corrected measurement results and the extraction range.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reduction of a time from setting of a job to execution of an output job including execution of scanning at the time of performing scanning. An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit configured to perform reading processing to read an image of a document and to generate image data based on the image, and a reception unit configured to receive a selection of a job, the job performing output processing based on the image data generated by the reading processing. The reception unit receives the selection of the job while the reading unit performs the reading processing.

Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes a separation roller, an imaging device to generate an input image, a conveyance roller to convey the medium separated by the separation roller to the imaging device, a first medium sensor located between the separation roller and the conveyance roller, a second medium sensor located between the conveyance roller and the imaging device, a processor to start imaging by the imaging device in response to detection of the medium by the first medium sensor and generate a cutout image from the input image in response to detection of the medium by the second medium sensor, and an output device to output the cutout image. The processor generates the cutout image based on a position imaged by a predetermined amount before a position imaged at a timing when the second medium sensor detects the medium, in the input image.

Abstract: A voice operation system includes: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material; a server that accepts voice information related to an operation on the image forming apparatus, and gives an operation instruction to the image forming apparatus; and a voice input/output device that converts an input voice into voice information, sends the voice information to the server, receives voice information as a response to the voice information related to the operation on the image forming apparatus, and emits a sound of the voice information, wherein the server has a hardware processor that stores information on a part of a function or configuration of the image forming apparatus, and the server determines executability of an operation associated with voice information transmitted from the voice input/output device, and causes the image forming apparatus to execute determination of executability of an operation that is not determinable.

Abstract: An object shaping method is provided and includes: a data reading stage of reading a three-dimensional object data representing a three-dimensional object to be shaped, a slice data generating stage of generating a slice data representing a cross section of the three-dimensional object, and an object shaping stage of shaping the three-dimensional object in accordance with the slice data. In the slice data generating stage, pieces of slice data representing shapes and colors of the three-dimensional object at a plurality of different positions set in a layer-stacking direction are generated. A color adjustment process is executed at a time of generating the slice data associated with at least part of the plurality of different positions in the layer-stacking direction. The color adjustment process is a process for moderating variability of color appearance to the eye along an outer surface shape of the three-dimensional object shaped in the object shaping stage.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a transporting portion that transports a medium along a transport path, a liquid ejecting head that performs recording by ejecting, through a nozzle, a liquid onto the medium that is being transported, a mounting portion in which a liquid storage portion that stores the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting head is mounted, and a heating portion that heats the medium on which the recording has been performed. The transport path includes an upper path positioned above the mounting portion in a vertical direction. After transporting and passing the medium, on which the recording has been performed, through the upper path, the transporting portion discharges the medium through a discharge port. The heating portion is provided above the mounting portion in the vertical direction and heats the medium transported through the upper path.

Abstract: An abnormality detecting device includes: a light emitter including a light-emitting element disposed at one side of a conveyed medium, and configured to emit a laser beam having a width in a thickness direction of the medium by the light-emitting element; a light receiver disposed at the other side of the medium to be opposed to the light emitter across the medium, including a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in the thickness direction of the medium, and configured to receive, by the plurality of light-receiving elements, the laser beam emitted by the light emitter; and a detecting unit configured to detect a lift of the medium in a case where a number of light-receiving elements indicating received light amounts not exceeding a first threshold and being arranged successively in the thickness direction among the plurality of light-receiving elements exceeds a second threshold.

Abstract: A preset information displaying method includes: performing a first registration process that is a process of registering, in a database, first preset information and first image information in a state of being associated with each other, the first preset information being used upon performing a first printing process, the first image information representing a result of the first printing process; and performing a display process that is a process of displaying, on a selection screen, the first preset information and the first image information in correspondence with each other, the first image information being associated with the first preset information in the database, the selection screen including a list of one or a plurality of pieces of preset information including the first preset information, the selection screen receiving selection operation, the selection operation being operation of selecting any of the one or the plurality of pieces of preset information.

Abstract: A signal processing device according to the present invention is a signal processing device that processes data of a detected ultrasound waveform representing a temporal change in the intensity of ultrasound generated at a measurement position in a specimen and includes: a comparison unit that compares a predetermined standard ultrasound waveform and the detected ultrasound waveform at the measurement position and that calculates a degree of similarity between the predetermined standard ultrasound waveform and the detected ultrasound waveform; and a discrimination unit for discriminating whether or not the measurement position corresponds to a predetermined examination subject on the basis of the degree of similarity.