Abstract: An image processing apparatus which, in outputting images including copies of original images, if an image that has restriction information embedded therein and an image that has no restriction information embedded therein are in a state mixed in the original images, is capable of embedding the restriction information in an image that is output based on the image that has no restriction information embedded therein. When the copy restriction information is extracted from a read image, the copy restriction information is stored in an embedded information-extracting section. When the copy restriction information is not extracted from the read image, dot pattern data corresponding to the copy restriction information stored in the embedded information-extracting section is generated. The dot pattern data and image data output from a scanner are synthesized. A printer prints an image on a sheet based on the synthesized image data.

Abstract: A print image processing apparatus, includes N image processing circuits; a selection unit that estimates, every N pages, a necessary time corresponding to each of (i) a page-based parallel method for allocating image processing of the N pages to the image processing circuits in units of pages to perform the image processing of the N pages in parallel, and (ii) a paginal-object-based parallel method for allocating image processing of each single page to the image processing circuits in units of objects to perform the image processing of the objects of each single page in parallel, and selects one of the page-based parallel method and the paginal-object-based parallel method such that the estimated necessary time corresponding to the selected one of the parallel methods is shorter than the estimated necessary time; and an allocation unit that allocates image processing of the N pages to the N image processing circuit, respectively.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a header acquiring part, a table connection determining part, and a table connecting part. The header acquiring part acquires a header from a table, having rows and columns, included in each of plural pieces of image data arranged in a predetermined order. The table connection determining part determines whether the headers acquired from the tables match one another and determines, as a set of tables to be connected, adjacent tables having the matching headers. The table connecting part deletes the header from each of one or more second tables and connects a first table and the one or more second tables to each other in accordance with the predetermined order. The first table is included in a first piece of pieces of image data of the determined set of tables in the predetermined order.

Abstract: An electronic method for printing is disclosed, the method including receiving print data from a host computer, the print data including an indicator, wherein the print data does not include supplemental duplex or simplex printing settings, determining that the indicator is within the print data, analyzing the indicator to determine duplex or simplex printing, writing a first portion of the print data to a memory unit, writing a second portion of the print data to the memory unit, printing a first side of a paper according to the first portion of the print data, and printing a second side of the paper according to the second portion of the print data.

Abstract: A printing device can transmit a remote procedure call message to invoke a network device. The RPC message includes data read from a memory that is an integrated part of a replacement component.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus stores pixel data of an input image in a storage apparatus after performing resolution conversion encoding, and performs a pixel interpolation process after reading out the pixel data stored in the storage apparatus and performing resolution conversion decoding. The image processing apparatus determines, when resolution conversion encoding the pixel data of the input image, whether a resolution of the pixel data will decrease due to the pixel interpolation process, based on attribute information indicating an attribute of the pixel data, and performs processing to decrease the resolution of the pixel data in the resolution conversion encoding, if it is determined that the resolution will decrease.

Abstract: A printing device includes at least one printing engine that comprises customer replaceable units. At least one engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine, and the engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. At least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. Additionally, at least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the customer replaceable units. The customer replaceable units each comprise a memory unit. The adapter card reads incoming print jobs before the print jobs are delivered to the controller and the adapter card accumulates and stores statistics relating to print jobs within the memory unit of the customer replaceable units. The adapter card passes the incoming print jobs to the controller in an unaltered manner.

Abstract: A device includes: a receiver receiving a displacement of an image formation target area in a sub-scanning direction from a reference position on a continuous form with side portions having holes and with a page boundary per a length; a calculator calculating marker lengths of markers marking upper and lower ends of a page of the continuous form based on the displacement, a shortest distance to the holes from the page boundary, and a reference length for when the displacement is not specified for the markers; another calculator calculating start positions of the markers based on the displacement, the distance, the reference length, and a length of the target area in the sub-scanning direction; and a controller performing, with respect to an apparatus, control of the image formation of the markers in the side portions from the start positions over the marker lengths.

Abstract: Facsimile image data received from a normal facsimile apparatus connected to a general telephone network can be transmitted as an e-mail to the e-mail address of a computer network such as a LAN or the like designated by the source facsimile apparatus. An apparatus has a LAN I/F (6-14) for connecting to the LAN, and a line I/F (6-6) for connecting to the public telephone network. Upon reception of a remote instruction from the public telephone network, a CPU (6-3) converts received facsimile image data into e-mail data, and transmits the converted e-mail data to the e-mail address designated by the received remote instruction.

Abstract: A system and methods for coordinating and displaying a short name of a drug are disclosed. The short name may be a subset of the prescribed drug's name, it may be an independent name, or it may be a graphical symbol. Short names for multiple drugs of a patient may be related by a common naming convention. Short names may be printed onto a reference card along with an indication corresponding to the drug's dosing regime. Short names may also be printed onto medicament container labels, additional instruction sheets, labels used for stocking and the like. The short name may be selectable and may be stored.

Abstract: A print setting display device includes: a print job data acquiring section which acquires print job data representing printing targets classified in accordance with a plurality of classification units; and a print setting acquiring section which acquires setting completion information representing print settings corresponding to the classification units; and a display control section which allows a predetermined display unit to display information representing the printing targets, the classification units, and the setting completion information.

Abstract: A main controller stores levels and information to be stored in accordance with the levels. An operation screen is used to enter operation information for operating a complex machine 1. A scanner engine and a plotter engine execute operations based on the operation information. A memory records only information on operations in a level corresponding to the entered level information among the operations performed by the complex machine.

Abstract: A method for determining a print job schedule for a printing production facility having a set of availably printing resources, comprising: defining one or more scheduling classifications; receiving one or more print jobs, each print job having a print job description specified by a set of print job attributes; determining one or more scheduling classification corresponding to the received print jobs; using a processor to automatically determine the print job schedule for the received print jobs using an answer set programming language solver responsive to the print job descriptions, a set of resource descriptions, a set of scheduling rules, and a historical decision database.

Abstract: A print-document conversion apparatus includes a conversion-module activation section that activates, as a process, a conversion module for performing conversion processing for converting print-document data which is described in a page description language and which includes units of processing into print-image data. The conversion module includes a thread activation part, an assigning part, and a shared cache. The thread activation part activates conversion processing threads. The assigning part assigns the units of processing to the conversion processing threads, and causes the conversion processing threads to perform processing on the units of processing. The shared cache is shared by the conversion processing threads. When a conversion result obtained by converting an object included in the units of processing is stored in the shared cache, each of the conversion processing threads obtains the stored conversion result instead of obtaining the conversion result by converting the object.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of retrieving print option from a print file include a converting unit to convert a document to print and print options set for the document to print into a print file recognizable at an image forming apparatus, and a driver control unit to retrieve the print options from the print file.

Abstract: A method of controlling a print device using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location. A second server may transmit a query directed to a first server. The second server may be prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall. If the first server has a relevant command available, the second server may receive a response to the query. The response may include the relevant command. The second server may determine a print device for which the command is relevant. An instruction corresponding to the relevant command may be sent from the second server to the print device. Communication between the print device and the second server may not be restricted by the firewall. The printing device may implement the instruction. If the first server does not have a relevant command available, the transmitting may automatically repeat until the first server has a relevant command available.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a color converter for converting cyan, magenta and yellow components of a first image signal to equivalent neutral density, calculating a first gray component from cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density, subtracting the first gray component from each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density, subjecting each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density from which the first gray component is subtracted to an inverse conversion of the equivalent neutral density conversion, and outputting a second image signal comprising cyan, magenta and yellow components which are obtained by carrying out the inverse conversion to the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density from which the first gray component is subtracted, the first black component and the first gray component; an image forming section for forming an image on a paper based on the second image signal

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body with an opening formed on an upper face thereof; an original document reading device that opens and closes the opening; an original document holder that is supported openably and closably by the original document reading device; a first lock mechanism that locks opening and closing of the original document reading device with respect to the apparatus main body; and a second lock mechanism that locks opening and closing of the original document holder with respect to the original document reading device, in which the first lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism are disposed inside a cabinet of the original document reading device.

Abstract: With this invention, color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing generation of moiré due to the color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. To this end, an image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units C, M, Y, and K (black) which store actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers C, M, Y, and K in image forming units C, M, Y, and K. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units C, M, Y, and K calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components on the basis of the stored color shifting amounts.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit to communicate with a network using a physical layer protocol (PHY), a first control unit that includes a first Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a normal mode, and to control the image forming apparatus, a second control unit that includes a second Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode, and a switching unit to switch a data path between the PHY, the first MAC, and the second MAC according to the operation mode of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A color conversion device include a limit value setting unit that sets, in accordance with a color gamut, a limit value of a color material total amount that is used in an output device that uses color materials of M colors including black, where M is an integer equal to or larger than 4, and outputs an image; and a black amount determining unit that calculates a total amount limit value corresponding to the color gamut for each black amount on the basis of the limit value that has been set in accordance with the color gamut by the limit value setting unit and determines a black amount from a conversion target-independent color signal of a device-independent color space.

Abstract: An image forming method using extensible hypertext markup language (XHTML)-print data, including receiving registration information about an image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, generating XHTML-Print data from print data using the registration information of the information forming apparatus, transmitting the XHTML-Print data to the image forming apparatus, and printing the XHTML-Print data.

Abstract: A method for controlling the printing of overlapping swathes, the swathes extending perpendicular to a succession of print lines; for each print line a transition is defined between one swathe and the next, with the location of the transition in the print line varying between print lines, for example varying pseudo-randomly or as a curve extending in the swathe direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus connected to a network and including a storage part, a printing request receiving part for receiving a printing request from a data processing apparatus via the network and recording the printing request in the storage part, the printing request including a page description language list indicating at least one page description language applicable to the data processing apparatus, a determining part for determining whether the data processing apparatus is to convert electronic data associated to the printing request into printing data based on whether the page description language list includes a page description language processable by the image forming apparatus, a data obtaining part for transmitting first and second requests to the data processing apparatus and receiving the printing data or the electronic data in response to the first and second request; and a printing part for printing data obtained from the data obtaining part.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium using a light emitting unit including a plurality of light emitting elements includes a determination unit configured to determine a referential position of a threshold matrix corresponding to input image data based on a usage situation of each of the plurality of light emitting elements, for each processing target block, and a quantization unit configured to compare the threshold matrix determined by the determination unit with the input image data to quantize the input image data.

Abstract: An inverse image data generating unit that generates inverse image data that indicates a transparent developer amount that indicates an amount of a transparent developer, and a region where the transparent developer amount is used, based on a color plane image data that indicates a color developer amount that indicates an amount of a color developer, and a region where the color developer amount is used; a conversion unit that converts the transparent developer amount of the inverse image data into a transparent developer amount larger than the transparent developer amount by referring to a conversion table; and a transparent developer plane image data generating unit that generates transparent developer plane image data used in image formation of a transparent developer in an image forming apparatus based on the inverse image data indicating a transparent developer amount after the conversion.

Abstract: A printing apparatus to process a print job is provided. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit to form an image according to print data, a displaying device to display information concerning an operation of the printing apparatus, a first storage unit to store first user information, which identifies a user of an information processing apparatus, in association with a user-specific thumbnail image, which is to be displayed in the displaying device to identify the print job provided by the user, a first judging unit to determine as to whether the print job includes first security information, which is specified by the user to prevent contents of the print data from being disclosed, and the first user information, and a first display control unit to display the user-specific thumbnail image when the first judging unit determines that the print job includes the first security information and the first user information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus capture bitmapped images of pages of a print job that have been raster image processed by a digital front end of a printing device (while they are being printed by the printing device). The bitmapped images are captured from the printing device's buffer using a computerized device potentially positioned within the printing device. The computerized device collects image data from at least one predetermined area of the bitmapped images of the pages and performs optical character processing on the image data to identify characters and numbers within the bitmapped images. The computerized device processes the characters and numbers into accumulated data for the pages of the print job. Then the computerized device compares the accumulated data to expected data to validate whether the print job printed correctly.

Abstract: [Task] When data is printed to a printing device from a computer, the printing is approved or not approved according to the data contents. [Solution] A first control filter 23, which detects printing data output from a spooler 10, halts the printing task temporarily, and replicates the printing data, and a viewable image driver 20 which uses replicated printing data to create an image file, are provided. The image file is transmitted over a network 2 to a manager, and the manager views the image file and decides whether to perform printing on the printing device 4, and transmits a notification signal to this effect to the first control filter 23. The first control filter 23 performs printing control according to the notification signal from the manager.

Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus comprises: a communication history information part storing a communication history related to at least one of destination information of a receiver and destination information of a sender; a user information part storing user information corresponding to a plurality of users; a security function setting part enabling whether or not the destination information is outputted in a communication management report; and an output part configured to output the communication management report containing a plurality of communication histories of the users based on an output instruction by a first user, wherein when the security function setting part is in a state that the destination information is not outputted, the communication management report does not contain the destination information that does not correspond to the communication history of the first user.

Abstract: A time limit for a printer to be restored to a printable state after an occurrence of a print error that prevents the printer from printing is variably set. If the printer is not in a printable state when an elapsed time since the print error occurred in the printer reaches the time limit being set or exceeds the time limit, a print start command is transmitted to another printer, and a job assignment is switched to the other printer.

Abstract: The printing apparatus includes a receiving unit which receives a print instruction about code information generated based on a file to be printed. The printing apparatus includes a transferring unit which transfers the file to be printed to a predetermined storage device when a size of the code information exceeds a threshold. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit which prints path information indicating a storage location of the transferred file to be printed as a list.

Abstract: A page description language processing device is provided for supporting a plurality of types of page description languages. In one example, the device may be configured to read a command from data input and determine whether the command should be converted into a common intermediate code. If the judgment unit judges that the command should be converted into the common command, the controller may store a common intermediate command in the intermediate code storage unit. If the judgment unit judges that the command should not be converted into the common command, the controller may store a special intermediate command in the intermediate code storage unit. Additionally or alternatively, the device may execute a common module for the common intermediate command and a special module for the special intermediate command.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous dual-feed simplex in an image production device is disclosed. The image production device may include an image production section that includes a first media print path and a second media print path each of which produces simplex images on media, and a user interface that receives a request to print a first simplex print job and a second simplex print job, the first simplex print job being printed using the first media print path and the second simplex print job being printed using the second media print path, wherein the first simplex print job and the second simplex print job are printed at the same time.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an apparatus that communicates with a data management system sets a condition for acquiring data from the data management system, collects data of an image forming device, adds a key matching the set condition to the collected data, and transmits the data to which the key is added, to the data management system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a scanning unit, an image data synthesizing unit, and a printing unit is described. The scanning unit reads a first image, generates first image data representing the first image, reads a second image and generates second image data representing the second image. The image data synthesizing unit generates, on the basis of the first and second image data, synthesized image data representing a synthesized image of the first and second images arranged in a contact state where a first side which is one of four sides constituting an outer edge of the first image and a second side which is one of four sides constituting an outer edge of the second image are disposed immediately adjacent to each other or in a close state in which these sides are disposed parallel to and close to each other. The printing unit prints the synthesized image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus capture bitmapped images of pages of a print job that have been raster image processed while being printed by a printing device and collect electronic image data from at least one predetermined area of the bitmapped images of the pages using a computerized device. In addition, the method and apparatus capture at least one scanned image from the predetermined area of sheets of media printed by the printing device according to the print job, using an optical imaging device operatively connected to the computerized device and compare the scanned image to the electronic image data to validate whether the print job printed correctly.

Abstract: A main body controller provided in an image forming apparatus receives a VDP job from an external computer, and arranges image data of a reusable object and a variable object, which correspond to the VDP job, on a page for printout. An inspection controller performs inspection processing for printed matter for each page, and the main body controller preferentially stores image data of the reusable object, which corresponds to the page for which the printing has been determined to be defective as a result of inspection processing, in a cache unit. The main body controller acquires the reusable object, which corresponds to the page for which the printing has been determined to be defective, from the cache unit, and executes page reprint processing using the acquired reusable object.

Abstract: A system for determining a configuration of print-related devices in a document environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include programming instructions for identifying a plurality of environment requirements including one or more required print capabilities and a ratio of users to print-related devices associated with a document environment and, for each print-related device currently in the document environment, identifying a corresponding spatial entity having associated print volume information and associated print capability information, grouping a plurality of the spatial entities into one or more capability groups based on the print capability information associated with the spatial entities, and determining recommended print-related devices for the document environment.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source that emits first and second light beams, and an optical splitter to which the first and second light beams deflected by an optical deflector are incident. Principal rays of the first and second light beams incident to the optical splitter are nonparallel to each other in a plane orthogonal to a main-scanning direction. Transmitted light from the optical splitter out of the first light beam and reflected light from the optical splitter out of the second light beam are guided to corresponding scanning target surfaces, and transmitted light from the optical splitter out of the second light beam and reflected light from the optical splitter out of the first light beam reach none of the scanning target surfaces.

Abstract: Systems and methods to configure a Raster Image Processor (RIP) are described. In one aspect, a networked computing environment includes a RIP manager coupled to at least one RIP engine. A print job is received. The RIP engine is requested to dynamically configure its RIPing operations when at least one of the RIP Engine's RIPing parameters is not congruent to a RIP manager supplied processing preference. Such dynamic configuration is requested in consideration of the RIP engine RIPing a particular portion of the print job.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus connected via a network with an authentication server for user authentication based on biometric information about a user. The image forming apparatus is also connected with a managing server for managing an operation of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a transmission unit transmitting the biometric information about the user to the authentication server, a reception unit receiving use limit information corresponding to the biometric information about the user from the managing server, and a control unit controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus based on the use limit information.

Abstract: A media separator includes air nozzles and separation plates to form a row of members, and is configured to separate a sheet conveyed from a fixing nip formed of a fixing member and a pressure member. In such a media separator, the plurality of air nozzles and at least one separation plate are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the fixing device, and the plurality of air nozzles are disposed at both lateral ends of the row of members in the longitudinal direction of the fixing device, whereby waving of the edge of the sheet in the printing of frequently used sheet can be prevented and the occurrence of jam may be prevented, and a stable sheet separation and conveyance can be realized.

Abstract: A printing device and a control method for a printing device can freely change the distribution of print data to the front and back sides to achieve the desired duplex printing result when operating in a duplex printing page mode that converts the print data for one page after setting the data conversion area. A conversion step (step S29) sets a break length hy that divides the data conversion area 105c into a first data storage area 105a for converting the first-side print data and a second data storage area 105b for converting the second-side print data in the page mode, and then converts the print data. A print step (step S36) then simultaneously prints the first-side or front print data that is converted into the conversion area before the break, and the second-side or back print data that is converted into the conversion area after the break.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image processing part that performs an image processing operation for print data having at least one field; and a controller that controls the image processing part to output the print data with a print form corresponding to a condition if the field of the print data satisfies the condition.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a total amount control unit that applies a total amount controlling process to perform correction such that a sum of density values of all pixels composing the color plane data and clear plane data becomes not larger than a certain value; a clear toner plane generating unit that generates clear toner plane data based on gloss control plane data, the clear plane data and the color plane data; a difference calculating unit that calculates a difference between the density value of a pixel of the clear toner plane data and the density value of the pixel of the clear toner plane data to which the total amount controlling process is applied, for each pixel; and a display unit that displays an inconsistent region composed of a pixel in which the difference is not smaller than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An ink reduction rate is set in accordance with the type of image and the type of recording medium. For example, when a photograph is to be printed on a glossy paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 10%. When a photograph is to be printed on a plain paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 25%. When a document is to be printed with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 50%, irrespective of the type of recording paper.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a job execution unit configured to execute at least one of an input job accompanied by inputting of image data and an output job unaccompanied by inputting of image data, an image data storage unit configured to store image data in a predetermined memory, a reference information storage unit configured to store reference information to the image data stored in the memory in the same memory, and a control unit configured to control the image data storage unit to newly store image data in the memory when the job executed by the job execution unit is an input job, and the reference information storage unit to store the reference information to the image data stored in the memory without newly storing image data in the memory when the job executed by the job execution unit is an output job.

Abstract: A printer having multiple stages of nozzles is controlled to avoid or minimize blank space between print portions when printing on roll paper. A controller in communication with the printer is configured to determine if last partial print data to be printed contains blank raster data. If so, the controller calculates the difference between a total number of rasters in the first through the last partial print data and the number of blank rasters in the last partial print data, prints the last partial print data, and controls the paper transportation mechanism to advance the roll paper only the calculated distance to eliminate excess blank space between print portions. The functionality of the controller is also embodied in a method for controlling a printer as described above.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus with a printer driver, which generates print data to be output to an image forming apparatus, corresponding to a plurality of image forming apparatuses registers a compound setting that information indicating output destinations corresponding to the plurality of image forming apparatuses and a plurality of print settings are combined, and sets information indicating an output destination included in the compound setting to the printer driver.