Abstract: A system for choosing a printer based on proximity comprising: a beacon to broadcast a transmission having a beacon ID; a printer to: receive the transmission, determine a received signal strength indicator for the transmission, generate a printer location signal including the beacon ID, the received signal strength indicator, and a printer ID associated with the printer, and transmit the printer location signal to a host server; the host server including a processor and a memory, the server configured to: receive the printer location signal from the printer, determine a printer location based on a predetermined location of the beacon, the beacon ID, and the received signal strength indicator, and associate the printer location with a printer zone; a printer proximity application to: receive a print request, the print request including a print data and a target zone, and transmit the print data to the printer in the target zone.

Abstract: An MFP specifies an MFP application to be started in a portable terminal and another application to be started after start of the MFP application. An NFC tag records information that allows the specified MFP application and the specified another application to be identified in the portable terminal. The portable terminal acquires the application information recorded in the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication. The portable terminal controls a communication-connection changeover according to an application to be started based on the acquired information. At this moment, if a type of communication to be used by the MFP application and a type of communication to be used by the another application are different, the portable terminal starts the another application after making a changeover to communication connection corresponding to this another application.

Abstract: A letter number specifying unit specifies a letter number of a sealed letter to be informed to a user, based on a content of a transfer error detected by an error detector. A searching unit searches a letter-number-specific print content table, in which letter number identification information for identifying each letter number, and print content information indicating a content of an image to be printed on a sheet which forms the sealed letter of each letter number are associated with each other, and finds the print content information associated with the letter number identification information of a letter number identification code read by a code reader from the sheet which forms the sealed letter of the letter number specified by the letter number specifying unit. An information displaying unit displays the print content information found by the searching unit on a display.

Abstract: An image formation control apparatus includes a setting reception section that collectively receives settings of a plurality of adjustment factors with respect to image formation, an instruction section that instructs an image forming apparatus main body to perform adjustments with respect to the settings of the adjustment factors, which are received by the setting reception section, an adjustment result reception section that receives results of the adjustments of the respective adjustment factors, which are instructed by the instruction section, in the image forming apparatus main body, and a controller that performs control such that the results of the adjustments of the respective adjustment factors, which are received by the adjustment result reception section, are stored in company with a recording medium accommodation unit that accommodates a recording medium.

Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read the image of the original placed on the platen glass. The image reading apparatus determines whether the original is on the platen glass or not. If it is determined that the original is on the platen glass, the image reading apparatus determines whether the original is blank or not based on the image read by the reading unit. If it is determined that the original is not on the platen glass, or if it is determined that the original is blank, the image reading apparatus notifies the user that the original is not on the platen glass or the original is blank.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a recording device, a reading device, a first sheet supporter, a second sheet supporter, and a connection device. A display displays first notification information when a switch of the first sheet supporter, the second sheet supporter, or the connection device from the OFF state to the ON state is detected. The first notification information has object identification information identifying a first object for which the switch is detected, and a second object different from the first object among the first sheet supporter, the second sheet supporter, and the connection device. The display displays an acceptance image for accepting an instruction of execution of a processing to be executed using the first object and the second object, when a switch of a state of the second object from the OFF state to the ON state is detected, with the first notification information being displayed.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading circuit, an instruction accepting circuit, a timer circuit, a standby time determining circuit, and a reading start timing control circuit. The instruction accepting circuit accepts an image reading instruction. The timer circuit sets a preliminary specified reference event as an origin. The timer circuit measures an elapsed time from the origin until the instruction accepting circuit accepts the image reading instruction. The standby time determining circuit determines a standby time based on the elapsed time measured by the timer circuit. The reading start timing control circuit causes the image reading circuit to start image reading of the document at an elapse of the standby time determined by the standby time determining circuit from the reference event when the reference event occurs after the standby time determining circuit determines the standby time.

Abstract: A multifunction device (MFD) includes a control system and a plurality of associated local user interfaces including a first local user interface in communication with the control system for user selection of a selected one of a first group of mutually exclusive operations under the control of the control system and a second local user interface in communication with the control system for user selection of a selected one of a second group of mutually exclusive operations, different from the first group of operations, which are under the control of the control system. The device optionally includes a third local interface in communication with the control system, which serves as an interface between the first and second local user interfaces and the control system.

Abstract: A printer, copier, or multi-function printing device (MFP) operates in a reduced power mode in which a controller identifies a path of motion of an object external to the printer with reference to signals from a proximity sensor housed in the printer. The controller connects one or more components to electric power to transition to an elevated power operating mode if the identified path corresponds to a path history that is stored in a memory of paths of object paths that have occurred prior to operation of the printer, copier or MFP. The activation of the components reduces a delay that an operator perceives as the printer, copier or MFP transitions from the reduced power operating mode to the elevated power operating mode thus significantly reducing power consumption during operation.

Abstract: It is determined whether a login button is pressed or not. If the login button being pressed is sensed, a user authentication window appears. After the user authentication window appears, it is determined whether an authentication code is input or not. If an authentication code is input, then it is determined whether a prescribed period of time has passed or not since the last logout. If it is determined that a prescribed period of time has not passed since the last logout, authentication is performed in MFP. It is then determined whether the authentication is “OK” or not. If the authentication is “OK,” the authentication is successful. A login process is then executed.

Abstract: To execute printing on a continuous sheet by using a printing unit, a printing control apparatus includes a reversal unit, an input unit, and a printing control unit. The reversal unit reverses the continuous sheet to execute printing on a second surface of the continuous sheet after executing printing on a first surface of the continuous sheet. The input unit inputs an instruction for executing an interruption print job while executing printing by the printing unit. If instruction for executing the interruption print job is input while the printing of a two-sided print job on the continuous sheet has been currently executed, the printing control unit suspends the two-sided print job, causes the printing unit to execute the interruption print job, and resumes processing of the two-sided print job on the continuous sheet that has been held by the reversal unit after the interruption print job is completed.

Abstract: A printing system high in flexibility and/or user-friendliness which make it possible to use only post processing by a post-processing unit connected to a printing unit without requiring printing by the printing unit. An execution request receiving unit receives a request for execution of one of an inline job requiring post processing by the sheet processing unit after execution of printing by the printing unit, and an offline job requiring post processing by the sheet processing unit connected to the printing unit, without requiring printing by the printing unit. A controller performs control such that the offline job is executed by the sheet processing unit prior to an inline job associated with an execution request received earlier by the execution request receiving unit than an execution request associated with the offline job.

Abstract: An operation device receives information indicating an image processing job to be executed according to specific image processing settings and sends an execution check request to each one of a plurality of image processing apparatuses. The operation device displays, at a display, one or more image processing apparatuses capable of executing and currently available to perform the image processing job according to the specific image processing settings, based on responses respectively received from the plurality of image processing apparatuses.

Abstract: Conventionally, during a copy operation, certain advanced mode settings make the extraction of additional security information impossible. In order to solve this problem, the print control apparatus includes: determining unit for determining an interval between a pattern element and a pattern element adjacent to the pattern element from the received image data; and control unit for performing a control so as to scale the image at a magnification specified by a user and have the scaled image printed by a printing apparatus when the product of the magnification specified by the user and the interval determined by the determining unit falls within a predetermined range, and configured to terminate or interrupt the printing of the image by the printing apparatus when the product of the magnification specified by the user and the interval determined by the determining unit does not fall within the predetermined range.

Abstract: A printing system is operable to enable a printing apparatus to continue a printing of a print job by using printing media of a second supply source after using printing media of a first supply source without expending all of printing media of the first supply source. The printing media included in the first supply source are the same size and type as the printing media included in the second supply source.

Abstract: A method, computer-readable medium and data processing system for printing multiple data sources is provided. A plurality of data sources is collected. Each data source of the plurality of data sources are assigned to one of a plurality of sheet representations that each comprise a logical representation of one of a sequence of sheets on which the data sources are to be printed. A number of data sources assigned to a sheet representation is independent of a number of data sources assigned to other sheet representations. The plurality of data sources may then be printed on the sequence of sheets according to assignments of the data sources to the sheet representations.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that executes printing by using a recording material includes an accepting unit which accepts an instruction from a user, a receiving unit which receives a command from an external device, a first shifting unit to shift the printing apparatus to a state in which the user can supply the recording material according to the instruction accepted by the accepting unit, and a second shifting unit configured to shift the printing apparatus to a state in which the user can supply the recording material according to the command received by the receiving unit. In a case where the printing apparatus is shifted by one of the first shifting unit and the second shifting unit, the printing apparatus is no longer shifted by the other one of the first shifting unit and the second shifting unit.

Abstract: A print control program comprising: a first step of waiting until one or more of post-treatment functions is selected, or until a start instruction is entered; a second step of determining whether a specified post-treatment function of the post-treatment functions is selected, when the start instruction is detected; and a third step of enabling one or more of resource saving functions to be selected only if the specified post-treatment function is not selected, and of starting printing if another start instruction is detected after enabling the resource saving function/s to be selected.

Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed provide for validating branching print workflows by segmenting the workflows into a plurality of linear sequences of steps, and validating each of the linear sequences. In one embodiment, a system receives a print workflow for a print job. The print workflow comprises steps identifying the print shop activities to perform for the print job. The system determines whether the print workflow comprises a branching workflow. If the print workflow is a branching workflow, then the system segments the branching workflow into a plurality of linear sequences of steps. The system then determines if the branching workflow is valid by analyzing each of the linear sequences based on workflow rules.

Abstract: A method for performing a reservation job of an image forming apparatus includes: selecting the kinds of jobs to be reserved as job data; setting a time for starting and a period for performing the job reserved as the job data; and performing the selected job reserved as the job data at the set time and period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit configured to print an input print job including a plurality of pages, wherein, if it is determined that a remaining amount of a recording agent in a cartridge is less than or equal to a threshold value, the printing unit prints a portion of print data in the print job, temporarily stops printing, and displays a toner out message on a display unit to prompt a user to replace the cartridge, and repeats, if the user does not replace the cartridge after the toner out message is displayed, printing a portion of print data in the print job that is different from the print data that the printing unit has already printed, temporarily stopping printing, and displaying on the display unit the toner out message.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an execution portion configured to execute a job, a providing portion configured to provide a Web page in response to a request, a determination portion configured to determine a time-out period, which is a period during which a response from the providing portion to the request is acceptable, depending on conditions of a job that is being executed by the execution portion and conditions of a job that waits to be executed by the execution portion, and a management portion configured to manage execution of a process by the execution portion and a process by the providing portion in such a manner that the former is executed before the latter.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus may execute printing on a continuous sheet by using a printing unit. The printing control apparatus includes a reversal unit, an input unit, and a printing control unit. In executing printing by the printing unit on both surfaces of the continuous sheet, the reversal unit reverses the continuous sheet to execute printing on a second surface after executing printing on a first surface. If the printing on the first surface currently is being executed by the printing unit to execute two-sided printing of a preceding job based on a preceding job in a case where an instruction for interruption printing is input by the input unit, the printing control unit executes the interruption printing according to the instruction subsequent to the printing on the first surface of the continuous sheet based on the preceding job, and supplies the printed continuous sheet to the reversal unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus enabling a user to place originals on any of sheet feed trays without confirming requested orientation of the originals, either front facing or back facing. Image data of an original fed from a first sheet feed tray and read by a first reading unit is processed handling as image data of a front surface of the original, and image data of an original fed from the first sheet feed tray and read by a second reading unit is processed handling as image data of a back surface thereof. Image data of an original fed from a second sheet feed tray and read by the first reading unit is processed handling as image data of the back surface of the original, and image data of an original fed from the second sheet feed tray and read by the second reading unit is processed handling as image data of the front surface thereof.

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: It is set for one or more processes executable by a multi-function peripheral apparatus (101) whether or not permitting the multi-function peripheral apparatus (101) to perform, of the processes, a process, execution of which is requested by a multi-function peripheral apparatus (102) or client PC (103). Information about a process set to be permitted is transmitted to the multi-function peripheral apparatus (102) or client PC (103).

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a forming unit that forms an image on an image holder that is a rotating body holding an image; a measuring unit that measures a rotation amount of the image holder with reference to a certain position on the image holder; a determining unit that: identifies a position on the image holder from which an image is to be formed by the forming unit, according to the rotation amount measured by the measuring unit; if, while a plurality of images are successively formed on the image holder, an image for density correction is to be formed, postpones forming of the image for density correction until a timing arrives at which one image of the plurality of images is to be formed from a predetermined position on the image holder, and when the timing arrives at which the one image of the plurality of images is to be formed from the predetermined position on the image holder, determines to start forming of the image for density correction from the predetermined position, instead of form

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including plural sheet-feeding trays, and a control section that displays a schedule image to show an execution schedule of a job on a display section, wherein the control section displays a job execution schedule displaying column, and an un-executable job displaying column, both columns being included in the schedule image, wherein when a job represents a tray specifying job that specifies a sheet-feeding tray to be used among the plural sheet-feeding trays, and if the job is un-executable using the sheet-feeding tray specified by the job, the control section controls the un-executable job displaying column, not to display that the specified job is un-executable, even though the specified job is un-executable, and the control section further controls the job execution schedule displaying column to show that the job is not executable, while corresponding the job with the sheet-feeding tray specified by the job.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for flexible, configurable job workflow processing. Features and aspects hereof provide for generating workflow models from configurable templates. The workflow models may include one or more phases, each comprising one or more processes, each process comprising one or more steps. The Phases, processes, and steps may all be defined by configuring parameters of corresponding templates. Information defining the workflow models and all job information for jobs to be executed are entries in an integrated database such that creation and update of workflow model information and job information is performed as simple database queries and updates.

Abstract: An image output apparatus including: an image processing section for processing an image; a printing section that prints the image; a display section that displays the image; an instruction section that allows a user to instruct execution of a print job, and execution of a display job; and a job control section that controls the jobs to start the execution of the print job or the display job in response to the instruction, wherein when the job control section receives instructions to start print jobs and/or display jobs, the job control section controls the jobs to register the print jobs and/or the display jobs in a queue and start these jobs in the order, and when an instruction for a display job in the queue is again received from the instruction section, the job control section controls the jobs to move the display job to the forefront of the queue.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus, which makes it possible to put an implementation order of an outputting job, inputted by a user and currently in the standby state, forward, even if the concerned user does not conduct specific operations.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus and a control method for the same, with which an adjustment for satisfying an image quality is performed without fail while an execution frequency of the adjustment can be changed, for example, an unnecessary adjustment can be skipped. The image forming apparatus includes: a controller for issuing a plurality of commands; an engine for executing image formation according to the command; a control portion for holding a condition status indicating an internal condition of the engine and a factor status indicating a factor of the condition status, or the factor status and notifying, in response to the command, the condition status and the factor status, or the factor status; and a judgement unit for judging whether to adjust an image formation condition of the engine or not according to the condition status and the factor status, or the factor status.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that can be connected to an image-forming apparatus, a method, and a program used for the information processing apparatus are disclosed. The information processing apparatus comprises a control unit for controlling print-setting information set for document data to be printed, a recognition unit for recognizing information about a first function specified by the print-setting information by translating the print-setting information controlled by the control unit, an obtaining unit for obtaining information about a second function of the image-forming apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, a determination unit for determining whether or not the image-forming apparatus can perform the first function recognized by the recognition unit based on the second-function information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a modification unit for modifying the print-setting information controlled by the control unit based on the determination result.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus which allows a plurality of users to reserve jobs, the convenience of each user is further improved while ensuring security of a job to be output by each user. In order to achieve this object, an MFP according to the invention is characterized by including a registration unit (204-1) which registers the use order of the image processing apparatus based on the acceptance order of the user identifier, a notification unit (204-4) which notifies a specific user of permission to use in accordance with the use order, an permission unit (204-2) which permits to execute a job when the user who has received notification instructs to execute a job, wherein when the user who has received notification does not instruct to execute a job for a predetermined period of time, the notification unit (204-4) notifies the next user in accordance with the use order.

Abstract: A printing device is provided with a printing unit configured to print images on sheets, a plurality of discharge trays configured to receive printed sheets, a detection unit configured to detect a switching instruction to switch among the plurality of discharge trays, and a discharge control unit. The discharge control unit stops a currently executed print job, selects one of following print jobs which does not designate a currently used discharge tray, and switches the discharge trays such that a discharge tray other than the currently used discharge tray as a selected discharge tray to be used, starts the selected one of following print job using the selected discharge tray, when the detection unit detects the switching instruction.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus comprising: mixed printing control unit that performs, in a situation where the job instruction to perform single-sided printing and the job instruction to perform double-sided printing coexist in a plurality of jobs continuously, double-sided printing process with a blank page set to be printed on one of the one side and the another side of the sheet of paper when performing printing corresponding to the job instruction to perform single-sided printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus receives a command from a controller for issuing commands representative of a plurality of kinds of instruction, and executes an image formation according to the command. The image forming apparatus includes a necessity judgment unit, which judges a necessity of an adjustment of an image formation condition based on a state of an inside of the apparatus, and a control unit, which transmits to the controller a request for executing the adjustment of the image formation condition based on a judgment of the necessity judgment unit, and factor information according to a factor of the request for executing the adjustment of the image formation condition. The controller performs an issue control of an execution command for instructing an execution of the adjustment of the image formation condition based on the request for executing the adjustment of the image formation condition and a kind of the factor information transmitted from the control unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a document reading unit for reading a document on a table or at a predetermined reading position to which the document is transported by a document feeder and an interrupt key for receiving an interrupt job. When a user turns on the interrupt key, an inquiry whether a document for an interrupt job is read on a table or at a predetermined reading position to which the document is transported by the document feeder is displayed on a liquid crystal display. When the user selects either one of them, an interrupt process is executed.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring hardware devices of the hardware devices network to detect failures, past logged jobs are analyzed to determine a pattern of past usage of hardware devices by users of the hardware devices network. A failure of a hardware device is inferred based on a deviation in usage of the hardware devices from the pattern of past usage. In some embodiments, a state model is constructed that assigns one of two or more available operational states to each hardware device of the hardware devices network based on a recent load of jobs logged to the hardware device and a stored history of logged jobs indicative of typical loading of the hardware devices. One or more failing hardware devices are identified based on the assigned operational states.

Abstract: Methods are presented in which one or more pages of a print job are segmented into two or more parts, with the first part being transferred and affixed to the printed medium prior to transferring and affixing the second part, in order to facilitate high TMA (pile height) printing while mitigating adverse retransfer, blur, fusing, and hollow character effects.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: a paper supply section; a transporting path for transporting a document supplied from the paper supply section; a first sensor which reads an image on a first surface of the document from one side of the transporting path; a second sensor which reads an image on a second surface of the document from the other side of the transporting path; and an image processing section which is constituted so as to correspond to a first reading mode in which two sides of the document are read using the first sensor plural times, and a second reading mode in which two sides of the document are read using the first sensor and the second sensor, and which makes a registration position and direction of an output image in both the first and second reading mode the same.

Abstract: A print support apparatus includes: a unit acquiring printing specification information; a unit acquiring printing apparatus information indicating capabilities of printing apparatuses; a unit selecting a printing apparatus as a printing destination based on the printing specification information and the printing apparatus information; a unit acquiring document data associated with the printing specification information; a unit processing the acquired document data based on printing apparatus information indicating a capability of the selected printing apparatus and the acquired printing specification information; a unit creating printing setting information including a printing setting of the selected printing apparatus based on the acquired printing specification information; and a unit requiring printing of the selected printing apparatus based on the created printing setting information and the processed document data.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a system and method for optimized routing of print jobs. The system and method comprise queuing print job data, selectively communicating the print job data to at least one of a plurality of associated printer devices so as to generate a printout therefrom, and receiving status data from at least one of the plurality of associated printer devices, which status data includes data representative of a commitment level of the at least one associated printer device relative to dominant print job requests. The system and method also comprise testing the status data against selected test criteria to determine whether at least one alternative associated printer device is desired for printing and selectively redirecting the print job data from a primary designated associated printer device to a secondary associated printer device in accordance with an output of the test means.

Abstract: An intelligent print system includes at least one document generating side, a priority generating unit and a machine side. The document generating side has been installed therein a printer driver for outputting a ready-for-print document. The priority generating unit is used for selectively providing a priority value to the document. The machine side includes a receiving and processing unit for receiving the document from the document generating side, a manual operation unit having an interrupt button and for a user to select documents having higher priority, a job selecting unit for discriminating the priority order of the document, and a print control unit for printing the document.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, at the time of print recording of a set of image data to a plurality of recording sheets, by the use of a recording sheet interval that is an interval between a position where print recording of a recording sheet of the plurality of recording sheets ends and a position where print recording of a succeeding recording sheet starts, an image processing portion executes image processing of another set of image data read by a scanner portion and divided by an image dividing portion, in accordance with an operation command of a control portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet by permanent color toner and decolorizing toner to be decolorized includes a detector unit to detect whether a predetermined identification image to indicate execution of a image forming process by decolorizing toner is formed or not at least on either of a first side and a second side of a sheet which is a subject of the image forming process to be executed and a process controlling unit, when the predetermined identification image is detected by the detector unit, to prohibit the image forming process by permanent color toner on a sheet side on which the predetermined identification image is detected.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives a request of a user; a fixing unit that heats an unfixed image on a recording medium to thereby fix the same to the recording medium; an executing unit that executes at least one function that consumes electric power other than a fixing function by the fixing unit; and a controller that controls to reserve execution of the other function by the executing unit that is required to execute the request in the case where electric power consumption exceeds a prescribed value because a start-up operation of the fixing unit and the execution of the other function by the executing unit are performed in parallel, and the fixing unit is used to execute the received request during the start-up operation that raises the temperature of the fixing unit to a prescribed target temperature with a prescribed amount of electric power.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which an image quality priority mode in which image density adjustment or image gradation control is effected to thereby give priority to the quality of an output image, and a speed priority mode in which gradation control is partly effected or is not effected to thereby output the output image within a short time can be selected by a user. A mode selection screen for selecting an image forming mode is displayed on the operating panel of the image forming apparatus. The image quality priority mode giving priority to the quality of image and the speed priority mode giving priority to speed are selectively displayed. When the user selects the image quality priority mode, and image control parameter is renewed immediately before image forming by image control, and the image forming is effected by the use of the renewed image control parameter, and when the speed priority mode is selected, at least part of the image control is not effected, but the image forming is effected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an example of the invention includes first connecting means for receiving image data, second connecting means for receiving control information for subjecting the image data to output control, the control information corresponding to the image data, third connecting means for communicating first print job information of the image data, and a display unit that displays the first print job information received by the third connecting means.

Abstract: A printing process is preset for each page of a print job such that the printing process is halted when a page needs off-line processing, and the printing process is resumed in response to an operation to resume the printing process. After the print job is started, a CPU determines for each page whether off-line processing is specified to be performed. If the current page is specified to be subjected to off-line processing, the printing process is halted. If an operation to resume the print processing is detected, the printing process is resumed. Thus, after the print job is started, a user can make a confirmation in terms of the printing state of the printer before printing for the particular page is started.