Abstract: An apparatus includes a specification unit configured to specify character information included in document data, a generation unit configured to generate image data of the specified character information, a conversion unit configured to convert the generated image data or a parity value of the generated image data into a two-dimensional code, and a printing unit configured to print a printed matter in which the two-dimensional code is combined with the document data, wherein a size of the generated image data is smaller than a size of image data of the document data.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for reducing the amount of event notifications within a Web Service Application (WSA) of a device such as a multi-functional peripheral (MFP). In one technique, a Subscription ID is linked with a Job ID within a reduced notification table. When an event occurs related to a specific job, an event notification is sent only to the subscriber associated with that job.

Abstract: An obtaining unit obtains, from a connected apparatus, performance data related to a function of the apparatus. If it is determined the apparatus includes a plurality of functions based on the obtained performance data, information of individual processes related to the plurality of processes is divided in the obtained performance data. The individual processes are used to generate a workflow.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a browsing setting table storage portion for storing a keyword specified by a user, an update presence/absence determination portion for retrieving, from information publicized through a server, publicized information that includes updated or newly added contents and that also includes the keyword stored in the browsing setting table storage portion, and a printing control portion for controlling a printing unit to print the publicized information thus retrieved.

Abstract: A reception controller receives print data. A volatile memory stores program information for performing image formation. An image forming unit forms an image based on the print data. An image formation controller receives the program information and controlling the image forming unit. A power supply stops supply of power to the volatile memory, image forming controller and image formation unit during supply power to the reception controller when a normal mode is switched to a power saving mode. An auxiliary volatile memory is supplied with power. An information saving path is for saving information in the volatile memory to the auxiliary volatile memory. In response to a detection of the switching from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the reception controller instructs the power supply to supply power to the image formation controller, volatile memory and image forming unit, and transfers the program information in the auxiliary volatile memory to the volatile memory.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing an image of print data includes a generating unit to analyze the print data to generate rendering command data, which includes rendering commands regarding rendering objects for each page, a storing unit to store the rendering command data, and a plurality of rendering processing units to read the rendering command data to execute the rendering commands associated with respective rendering blocks to perform rendering, wherein, upon completing rendering of a first rendering block, a first one of the rendering processing units sends a notice of completion to a second one of the rendering processing units that is performing rendering of a second rendering block, and wherein, in response to the notice, the second one of the rendering processing units divides the second rendering block, and requests the first one of the rendering processing units to perform rendering of part of the second rendering block.

Abstract: Finishing settings to be applied to a new subset are selected from finishing settings applied to existing subsets in a file, and when the new subset is set to be inserted into the file, the selected finishing settings are applied to the new subset and the new subset is inserted. When an existing subset in the file is to be replaced with the new subset, the selected finishing settings are applied to the new subset, and the existing subset in the file is replaced with the new subset.

Abstract: A recording head (16) is operated to form a regular pattern of image swaths on a recording media (17). The regular pattern of image features comprises a first set of image features (60A) that is formed with an imaging parameter set to a first predetermined value and a second set of image features (60B) is formed with an imaging parameter set to a second predetermined value, different from the first predetermined value. Image features in the first set and the second set are arranged on the recording media with a sub-scan spatial frequency equal to a non-integer multiple of a sub-scan spatial frequency of the image swaths. A scanner (40) generates data (47) of the scanned pattern, wherein a first integer multiple of a sampling spatial frequency employed by the scanner is equal to a second integer multiple of the sub-scan spatial frequency of the first set and the second set of image features.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for processing a raster image so that the white color filled in the raster image during building the raster image can be differentiated from that contained in the figure objects presented in the page, which will be inserted into the raster image later. The method comprises building the raster image and filling the raster image with a white color; and transferring the white color in a figure object described in a page and inserting the figure object into the raster image. In this way, the white color filled in the raster image during building the raster image can be differentiated from that contained in the figure objects presented in the page, which will be inserted into the raster image later.

Abstract: An image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses installed in a plurality of areas and in communication with one another via a network includes a management unit configured to manage level information indicating a level related to information management with respect to each of the plurality of areas, and a job issuing unit configured to issue a job, including data for image formation, for causing at least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses to perform image formation. The image forming system identifies at least one image forming apparatus that can be selected as a destination of the job issued by the job issuing unit based on the level information managed by the management unit.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, a driver for a printing device receives a print job comprising a poster document. The print job is designated to be printed on a printing device. The driver identifies the size of the paper for which the poster document is initially formatted. The driver determines whether the target printing device is capable of printing on larger paper. If the target printing device is capable of printing on larger paper, the driver reformats the poster document for printing on the larger paper.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing the processing of function based object operations in interpreted page description languages are presented. In some embodiments, the method comprises parsing the PDL document to identify a function based operator in the PDL document; generating program code in a programming language, wherein the program code is functionally equivalent to the function based operator; compiling the program code to generate a shared object and dynamically linking the software that performs the document processing functions to the entry point of the shared object; and invoking the shared object associated with the function based operator when the function based operator is processed.

Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of efficiently performing necessary actions to thereby reduce downtime. At least one job can be registered. Image formation is performed according to the at least one registered job. Action objects are detected on which actions necessary for the image forming apparatus should be taken.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which the reusability of digital image data is improved is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image reading unit reading a draft and obtaining the digitized image data; an image writing unit printing image data on a transfer paper; a recording unit recording image data and attached information of the image data; an external I/F unit transmitting and receiving image data and attached information of the image data; a first and a second image data processing units processing the image data from the image reading unit and the recording unit, respectively; and a bus controlling unit connecting each of the units. The first and the second image data processing units match the characteristics of the image data to prescribed characteristics so that the matched image data can be usable for both the image writing unit and the external device.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus coupled in tandem to the first image forming apparatus which are assigned differently to print images on respective different regions on a recording sheet. The first image forming apparatus includes two compressing and expanding sections and is configured to receive both image data to be printed by the first image forming apparatus and image data to be printed by the second image forming apparatus. When performing any one process of a compressing process and an expanding process for the image data to be printed by the first image forming apparatus and a compressing process for the image data to be printed by the second image forming apparatus, a compressing and expanding section being used for no process is selected from the two compressing and expanding sections, and assigned to perform the any one process.

Abstract: A print controller in a printing system includes a reprogrammable page description language (PDL) processor that defines a page-break function. The print controller also includes a job ticket interpreter. The print controller receives a printable file in the page description language that contains logical pages indicated by page-break indicators. The job ticket interpreter receives a job ticket associated with the printable file and containing layout parameters for the logical pages. The job ticket interpreter re-defines the page-break function in the PDL processor so that the print controller prints a plurality of the logical pages without referencing the job ticket for each page. In some embodiments, the PDL processor is a PostScript processor and the job ticket interpreter is a JDF interpreter encoded as a PostScript program interpreted by the PostScript interpreter.

Abstract: A system and method of modeling and evaluating workflows that provides workflow auto generation and Hierarchical Dependence Graphs for workflows. Modeling and evaluation of workflows is accomplished by accessing a knowledge database containing service descriptions, generating valid workflows models, simulating workflow and obtaining customer requirements through a Graphical User Interface. This system and method generate and display workflows that satisfy a users requirements. In addition, Hierarchical Dependence Graphs provide abstract views that provide additional analysis and control of workflow.

Abstract: In a system configured to enable a printing unit to execute another job preferentially to a job not prepared for printing, when no predetermined time has elasped from a timing in which it has been determined that the job was not prepared for printing, it is inhibited to execute the other job preferentially to the job. When the predetermined time has elapsed from the timing, it is permitted to execute the other job preferentially to the job. This configuration can prevent unconditionally executing the another job preferentially to the job not prepared for printing.

Abstract: A printing system and a printing control method for a printing system that enables automatically resumption of printing after recovering from a printing interrupt event without adding any changes to the conventional page printer, serial printer, line printer, or other type of printer and without needing to monitor which page is being printed when a printing interrupt event occurs. A reprint data management unit temporarily stores one page of print data to which page end information is added. A printing completion monitor monitors reception of a completion report that is sent by the printer when the printer reads the page end information. When the printing completion monitor detects the completion report, the reprint data management unit deletes the stored page of print data. A print interruption monitor detects if a printing interrupt event occurs during printing.

Abstract: A detection system includes: an acquiring unit that acquires document data representative of a document which includes a plurality of pages; a selector that selects, for each page of the document, a first printing sheet which contains a detected element or a second printing sheet which does not contain the detected element such that the first printing sheet is selected for at least one page; a supplier that supplies the first or the second printing sheet selected by the selector; a printer that sequentially prints the document acquired by the acquiring unit on the printing sheets supplied by the supplier; a detector that detects a detected element contained in a printing sheet on which the document is printed by the printer; and a reporter that reports detection of the detected element in a printing sheet by the detector.

Abstract: A printer driver and an image forming apparatus for appropriately combining additional information (such as a stamp) and an original to print the combined image data. The printer driver according to one embodiment of the present invention, relates to a printer driver connected to a printer for registering form data transmitted from the printer driver, and for combining the registered form data and contents data. The printer driver transmits transparent data as form data and a command indicating that the form data is transparent data, to the printer.

Abstract: The invention discloses an order system for printed matter, where printed matter is defined in an article-based database in the order system and an order for the production of the printed matter is using an interface in the order system, and a method for calculating production of printed matter, where first an interface in such an order system is used to give an order for production and where, when the order has been given, parameters for the printed matter are taken as a basis for using a calculation module in a Management Information System controlling networked graphical production to calculate the production and in order to trigger the automated calculation when an order has been given using an article-based order system, it is proposed that production-specific parameters for the printed matter be able to be defined in the order system's database and that, when the order has been given, the order system provide the parameters for calculating production of the printed matter via an interface.

Abstract: A user can easily tell whether image position adjustment is being appropriately performed for accommodating units in which printing media is accommodated. A printing method for controlling a printing apparatus so as to cause a printing unit to print on a sheet fed from a sheet accommodation unit, includes: accepting input of an adjustment value for image adjustment for a sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodation unit; causing the printing unit to print an image adjusted according to the accepted adjustment value; and in a case where adjustment is necessary for a sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodation unit, prompting input of the adjustment value.

Abstract: When a maintenance agreement has been made based on a contract printing rate and the contract number of printed sheets, an image forming apparatus can determine before an image is actually formed, whether or not terms and conditions will be exceeded. When a user instructs to copy, after all images of original documents are scanned, it can be determined whether or not the number of remaining printable sheets exceeds a certain number, e.g., 100. When the number of remaining printable sheets is not more than 100, after calculating an average per/page printing rate of the scanned image data, the converted number of sheets, which is converted using the contract printing rate, is calculated from the average printing rate, the contract printing rate, and the number of printed sheets for one copy job, and a screen used in inquiring whether or not to print is displayed.

Abstract: According to aspects of the invention, there is provided an image forming system which is configured such that a user is allowed to set color adjustment parameters, and information image data representing the contents of the color adjustment parameters set by the user is generated. Then, the information image data is combined with main image data to generate combined image data. An image is printed based on the combined image data with the color being adjusted in accordance with the color adjustment parameters set by the setting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus allows a print unit to print a sheet on which a user handwrites, and combines a handwritten image included in an image obtained by reading out a handwritten sheet with a background image, and prints the combined image. Further, a decor to determine decoration contents for the handwriting image and a painting pattern of a decorated area can be designated by the user, and the handwriting image is decorated according to the determined decoration contents and the painting pattern. Further, the decoration contents are determined according to the designated painting pattern as well as the designated decor. That is, the decor that the user desires may be adjusted to be suitable for the designated painting pattern and the decoration contents may be determined.

Abstract: A clearing section includes a counter for measuring a period up to the reset of contents set by means of an operation panel to initial values. If a position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a first position, the clearing section starts measuring the period by means of the counter from the first entry made to the operation panel. When a count value reaches a predetermined value, the clearing section executes an automatic clear processing to reset the contents set by means of the operation panel to the initial values. On the other hand, the clearing section cancels the execution of the automatic clear processing if the position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an image on a medium; a main body portion; a medium storage portion; a state detection portion for detecting a movement of the medium storage portion from the main body portion; a medium characteristic identifying portion for identifying a characteristic feature of the medium; a medium characteristic recording portion for recording information of the characteristic feature of the medium; and a control portion for controlling an operation of each portion according to the information of the characteristic feature. The control portion controls the medium characteristic identifying portion to identify the characteristic feature of the medium and update the information of the characteristic feature when a power source is changed from an off state to an on state and the state detection portion detects the movement of the medium storage portion from the main body portion.

Abstract: Characterized by having a printer cover that is attached to a main unit and opens and closes; a contact member that contacts or separates from an installation surface according to the state of the printer relative to an installation surface on which the printer is placed; and a preventing member that does not prevent the opening or closing operation of the printer cover when the contact member contacts the installation surface, and prevents the opening or closing operation of the printer cover when the contact member separates from the installation surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; image forming cartridges detachably disposed in the main body and each including; an image carrier unit having an image carrier; a developing unit that is configured to swing with respect to the image carrier unit and has a developing roller; and an elastic member configured to bring the developing roller into contact with the image carrier; a cover to open or close a portion of the main body; a contact-separating unit that is disposed in the main body and is configured to selectively separate the developing roller and the image carrier of each of the image forming cartridges; and a connecting unit that causes the contact-separating unit to operate according to operation of the cover.

Abstract: In a system in which a plurality of image forming devices are connected on one or more image processing devices through a network, efficiency of image formation is improved by assigning priority, or by ordering, the image forming devices according to power consumption and wait time. An image forming device is selected according to one of the power consumption and the wait time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a threshold matrix generating device including a basic dot pattern generating unit for obtaining a basic dot pattern by carrying out a filter process by a convolution filter to an initial dot pattern in which dots are arbitrarily arranged, by obtaining a dot density of the dots included in the initial dot pattern and by repeating a process of moving dots to a pixel in which the dot density is smallest from a pixel in which the dot density is greatest and a threshold setting unit for generating a threshold matrix of a FM screen by increasing or decreasing dots from the basic dot pattern and by repeating a process of setting a threshold to a pixel in which the dots are increased or decreased, and the threshold matrix has a shape which is to be arranged in an oblique direction by having an angle.

Abstract: An image-data acquiring unit acquires image data of an image. An image processing unit performs a predetermined image processing on the image data. A signal generating unit generates a scanning signal for determining a section of the image data for performing the image processing. A signal control unit stores waveform information of a scanning signal in a normal operation as a control signal, compares the control signal with the scanning signal generated by the signal generating unit, and detects an abnormality of the scanning signal. A scan control unit determines whether the image processing is to be continued based on a result of detection by the signal control unit.

Abstract: There are provided an image processing device, an image processing method and a program that generate an electronic document in a format specification that is optimal for many purposes of electronic documents. A table region is discriminated from an input image, and a table structure in the table region is analyzed. A table line determination is made on the analyzed table structure as to whether or not each ruled line is representable in the format, and ruled line information and a vector line object are created according to the determination result. The created ruled line information and vector line object are used to generate the electronic document.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions to control a computer connected with a communication device is provided.

Abstract: An information processing device transmits and receives information to and from plural devices, which are coupled to the information processing device. A memory unit stores a control program that corresponds to each of the devices. An acquisition unit acquires device information from a selected one of the devices. A determination unit determines whether the selected device is controllable based on the acquired device information. A reading unit reads a control program from the memory unit that corresponds to the selected device, if the determination unit determines that the selected device is controllable. A command generation unit of the relevant control program generates commands for the selected device. A transmission control unit transmits commands generated by the command generation unit to the corresponding device. The transmission control unit transmits a set of the commands generated by the command generation unit in a block.

Abstract: A method for the automatic detection of at least one property of at least one replaceable component of an apparatus for the production of printed products is disclosed and such an apparatus and a system for the production of printed products are disclosed. The property of the component of the apparatus or of the system is detected by using an electronic device for a wireless detection of component-related data.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a frequency modulation unit that generates a clock whose frequency is modulated by an arbitrary modulation cycle; a modulation cycle setting unit that sets the modulation cycle; a driving unit that drives the photoelectric conversion element by the clock; a signal generating unit that generates an analog signal corresponding to a frequency change of the clock; an amplification inversion unit capable of amplifying an alternating current component of the analog signal with an amplification factor corresponding to a setting value set externally, and capable of switching between inversion and non-inversion; a signal superimposing unit that superimposes the analog image signal on an analog signal output from the amplification inversion unit; and a controlling unit that calculates a feature amount, and that controls the amplification factor and the inversion or the non-inversion of the amplification inversion unit based on a calculation result.

Abstract: In a method and arrangement for authenticating a data processing system, first information is generated by a first data processing system and delivered to a second data processing system for a control unit. First data are transmitted from the second data processing system to the first data processing system over a data line, the first data being generated by the second data processing system with aid of the first information and additional information contained in the second data processing system. Second data are generated by the first data processing system depending on the first data and transmitted from the first data processing system to the second data processing system. Authentication information for authenticating the second data processing system is generated by the second data processing system with aid of the second data.

Abstract: When an image is formed, a document including an original image and an original additional image is read to provide document image data, the additional image being visualized when the document is reproduced. Original image data in correspondence to the original image is extracted from the document image data, and output image data is created based on the extracted original image data. Then, printing is performed based on the created output image data.

Abstract: The multi function peripheral 20 stores the common codes 40 which have been commonly assigned to plural types of message data having the same meaning in different languages, and sends the common codes and the language designation information to the data processing apparatus 60. The data processing apparatus 60 has the vernacular message group 70 in which the correspondence between the message and the common code has been established for plural languages. The data processing apparatus 60 extracts, from the vernacular message group 70, message data which are identified by combination between the common code and the language designation information received from the multiple function processing apparatuses 20, and sends the message data to the multiple function processing apparatuses 20. The multiple function processing apparatuses 20 switches display languages on the operation panel or the like by using message data received from the data processing apparatus 60.

Abstract: A method for executing a job using a remote file system that includes obtaining a plurality of job data files by the remote file system, wherein the plurality of job data files are created on the remote file system, detecting a job request for the job in an input directory to obtain a detected job request, wherein the job request is generated by a client, and executing the job based on the job data files and the detected job request, wherein executing the job generates an output file, wherein the remote file system is accessible using a local file system of the client.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes multiple application modules configured to perform image processing including scanning, printing, and copying of an image; multiple service modules configured to perform an image forming operation and to control the image forming apparatus; a nonvolatile configuration information storage part configured to contain first configuration information of the application modules and the service modules; a configuration information comparison part configured to read second configuration information of the application modules and the service modules and compare the first configuration information and the second configuration information before starting the application modules and the service modules; and a notification part configured to notify the manager of the image forming apparatus of the difference between the first configuration information and the second configuration information in response to detection of the difference.

Abstract: Identification information of a user who performs search is shared between an information processing apparatus and a device. When search from the user having the identification information is accepted, the device responds. At this time, when the condition for sending back a response can be set from both the information processing apparatus and device and is satisfied, the device transmits device information to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of freely and dynamically defining a releasing procedure of a using limitation of an apparatus and an deleting procedure for information held in an apparatus by a manager. An acquisition unit acquires information about an expiration date of the apparatus. A first determination unit determines whether the expiration date expires based on the acquired information. A limitation unit limits use of the apparatus when the expiration date expires. A registration unit registers a specific processing procedure executed by the apparatus as work flow information. A second determination unit determines whether the work flow information has been registered. A third determination unit determines whether a user instructs an execution of the processing procedure when the work flow information has been registered. An execution unit executes the processing procedure under the use limited condition, when the user instructs the execution of the processing procedure.

Abstract: A document data capturing device includes a sheet supply tray for carrying documents, a sheet discharge tray located below the sheet supply tray, and a document conveying mechanism including a conveying path along which documents are guided from the sheet supply tray to the sheet discharge tray. The document data capturing device includes a first data-capturing unit and a second data-capturing unit which scan respective sides of a document conveyed by the document conveying mechanism. The first data-capturing unit and the second data-capturing unit are each configured with a reduction-optics scanning mechanism. The conveying path along which a document to be scanned by the first and second scanning mechanisms is conveyed is formed to surround the second reduction-optics data-capturing unit. Thus, the device can be made compact.

Abstract: An image forming device may be provided with a setting data storage device, a preview image creation device, and an output device. The setting data storage device may be capable of storing a plurality of patterns of setting data. The preview image creation device may create, for each pattern of setting data stored in the setting data storage device, a preview image to which the pattern of setting data is reflected. The output device may output the plurality of preview images created by the preview image creation device.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a display unit, an original image display unit, a touch panel, a detecting unit, a selected region determining unit, an image forming unit, and a control unit. The display unit includes a display region. The original image display unit displays an original display image in the display region based on original image data. The touch panel is superposed on the display region. The touch panel enables a user of the image forming device to specify a prescribed position on the touch panel. The detecting unit detects a prescribed position touched by the user and generates position data based on the prescribed position. The selected region determining unit determines, based on the position data, a selected region in the original display image when the original image display unit displays the original display image in the display region. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium.

Abstract: An information updating apparatus compares resolution information and color information acquired from received image data with resolution information and color information acquired from an external apparatus, and, if an amount of information of the resolution information and color information acquired from the received image data is larger than an amount of information of the resolution information and color information acquired from the external apparatus, replaces image feature amount data stored in the external apparatus with image feature amount data acquired from the received image data and replaces text data stored in the external apparatus with text data extracted from the received image data.

Abstract: A host apparatus used in a printing system includes the host apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus receives print data and authentication information from the host apparatus so as to perform authentication operation referring to the authentication information. The host apparatus includes: an authentication information obtaining unit configured to obtain login authentication information from an operating system of the host apparatus as the authentication information, wherein the login authentication information obtained from the operating system is one entered when a user logs in to the host apparatus or to a network domain; and an authentication information sending unit configured to send the login authentication information to the image forming apparatus as the authentication information.