Abstract: The present invention enables connections of electronic components of an electronic apparatus to be inspected easily and reliably. To accomplish this, an electronic apparatus including a plurality of electronic components, includes a control circuit which controls input and output of an electric signal to and from the plurality of electronic components and a plurality of inspection circuits which inspect connections of the plurality of electronic components. The plurality of inspection circuits are connected in series, the control circuit is connected to an end of the series, inspection signals output from the plurality of inspection circuits are superimposed on one another in sequence into an signal and the signal is input into the control circuit, and determination is made at the control circuit as to whether each of the plurality of electronic components is connected properly or not.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is formed when the print controller of a print engine wirelessly transmits digital printing signals. Driving electronics receives the wirelessly transmitted digital printing signals and transmits digital signals to address plurality of thin-film transistors (TFTs) individually in a TFT array. Driving electronics also transmit pixel voltages to bias individual TFTs in the TFT array which in turn drives the hole injecting pixels overcoated with a charge transport layer to generate the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charge transport layer in response to the received digital printing signals.

Abstract: A maintenance system of an image forming apparatus is composed of an image forming apparatus and a central management apparatus connected to it via a communication line. The image forming apparatus is composed of an image forming unit for forming an image, an information output unit for outputting intra-machine information of the image forming unit, a voice information input unit for inputting voice information of a user of the image forming unit, and a first communication controller for outputting the intra-machine information and voice information via the communication line.

Abstract: Displays are provided for a graphical user interface including a device capacity mimic in a job manager in a system, such as a xerographic machine. The displays include a visual representation of the available capacity of each of a number of devices for the system, such as each output destination for a printer with multiple output destinations. The device capacity mimic shows the effect of jobs in progress on the available capacity, each job consuming a portion of the available capacity. Using this mimic, the user may, for example, revise the destination of jobs that have been planned but not yet started (e.g., by dragging the job). A mimic view of this information with a graphical user interface for managing the device assignments is provided. Thus, a user may not only view information about the device assignments for jobs, but also control or manage the device assignments for jobs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is supplied that includes a storage section that previously stores apparatus structure of a self apparatus. A structure detecting section detects apparatus structure of the self apparatus. A setting information generating section generates a definition file and an overwriting program for overwriting the definition file on the basis of the apparatus structure detected by the structure detecting section, and generates apparatus structure change information containing the generated definition file and overwriting program. An information storing section in which a sending address of an image processing apparatus in which a printer driver is installed is stored. A sending section sends the apparatus structure change information to the image processing apparatus on the basis of the sending address. The image processing apparatus automatically updates a printer driver on the basis of the apparatus structure change information.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus having a network connecting portion, a control portion, and a status information storage portion. When a status request is sent from an external apparatus while the image forming apparatus is in a power-saving status, based on a condition set by a setting portion, the control portion makes a determination of whether (a) to perform supply of power to the main body of the image forming apparatus and acquire a status information to transmit it through the network portion or (b) not to perform supply of power to the main body of the image forming apparatus, but to transmit through the network portion a status information that has been stored in the status information storage portion before the status request, and performs controls based on the determination.

Abstract: Provided is an inventory management device, connected over a network to groups of image processing devices, for managing inventory, by device group, of consumable supplies used in the image processing devices. The inventory management device includes an inventory information storage unit that stores inventory information by device group and an inventory supplement selection unit that selects supplies to supplement the inventory. The inventory information includes, in association for each supply, an inventory amount, an image processing device identifier, a device group identifier, a maximum inventory amount for the device group, and a projected replacement timing.

Abstract: A method of authenticating at least one piece of content provided to an image forming apparatus in which at least one consumable is disposed includes determining whether the at least one consumable includes authentication information of the at least one piece of content, displaying the at least one piece of content on a user interface according to a license policy corresponding to the authentication information, selecting at least one piece of content from the at least one piece of content displayed on the user interface, and executing the selected at least one piece of content.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a controller that controls the image forming unit to form, on a recording medium, an image based on image data in accordance with a first print setting; and a data recording unit that records original data of the image data and the first print setting on a non-contact tag attached to the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that holds counter information obtained by integrating a consumption of a consumable that depends on usage of service provided by the image forming apparatus. A log corresponding to the usage of the service is set in job log information with a synchronization flag set off. The log in the job log information, for which the synchronization flag is set off, is set on. The counter information and the job log information are output after the synchronization flag for the log having the synchronization flag set off has been set on.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, computer program, and product, each capable of detecting a state of an apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of devices. When at least one of the plurality of devices is determined to be in a first state, a second state of at least one of the plurality of devices is determined. When a state of the apparatus is determined to be in the first state, the second state of another apparatus is determined.

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

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate using end-user feedback to automatically distinguish between a normal behavior and a device failure which can be a hard failure (e.g., a device malfunction) or a soft failure. For instance, upon detection of a usage switch from a first device to a second device by a user, a survey message is sent to the user to solicit information regarding the reasons for the switch. If the switch was triggered by a device malfunction, the detected device failure is verified and an alert is sent to an administrator and/or potentially impacted users. If the switch was triggered by the user's need for functionality (e.g., color printing, collation, etc.) not provided by the first device, which is otherwise functioning properly, then the detected failure is determined to be a failure and the failure detection algorithm is updated accordingly.

Abstract: A management server is connected to an MFP and a client PC through LAN. The management server includes a leaving information acquiring portion that acquires leaving information related to recording paper sheets left unremoved for each print job accepted by the MFP, a leaving information count portion that counts the acquired leaving information for each user, and a warning portion that transmits warning information for prompting a user not to leave a recording paper sheet. The leaving information count portion counts the number of print jobs associated with the detection of the recording paper sheets left unremoved for each time zone based on the leaving detection time and the user ID from the leaving information acquiring portion, and when accepting a print job from a client PC, the warning portion transmits warning information to the client PC for a user having the counted number not less than a predetermined number.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing the processing of print data at a printing device based upon available consumable resources. A printing device includes a print process configured to determine consumable resources that are currently available at the printing device. The print process is further configured to determine which print data is to be processed based upon the consumable resources currently available at the printing device and the consumable resources required to completely process each of the print data. Print data that can be completely processed using the currently available consumable resources are selected for processing. The print process may also be configured to cause a notification to be provided to a client device to indicate the consumable resources currently available at a printing device and/or that insufficient consumable resources were available to process particular print data and to recommend other consumable resources to process the particular print data.

Abstract: A replaceable unit monitor assembly includes a substrate member, multiple thermal insulating stand-off members, and a monitor device mounted on the substrate member. The stand-off members mount the substrate member to an end hub of a fuser roll of a printing machine while limiting conductive heat transfer to the monitor device.

Abstract: A network device includes a content processing module that is configured to perform intelligent document content processing, such as confidential information processing, content optimization and workflow optimization. The network device authenticates a user and determines electronic document data that is to be processed. The electronic document data may be created at the network device, e.g., by a scanning module on the network device, or at a client device, e.g., by a word processing application executing on the client device. The content processing module retrieves particular user preference data based upon the user authentication. The particular user preference data may specify confidential information preferences, content optimization preferences and/or workflow preferences. The content processing module performs intelligent document content processing on the electronic document data based upon the particular user preference data and generates processed electronic document data.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for imaging device job definition. Some aspects relate to methods and systems whereby device capabilities are communicated and stored with simple and complex compositors. Some aspects relate to method and systems whereby an imaging device job may be described with simple and complex compositors. Some aspects relate to a job definition list that may be constructed with said simple and complex compositors. Some aspects relate to methods and systems whereby an application requests a list of job configuration properties from an imaging device and uses the job configuration properties to create a job definition that may be sent to the imaging device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus management server, a Service Continuity Score (SCS) calculating method of the management server, and an image forming apparatus management system. A setup manager sets a priority with respect to items required to calculate an SCS indicative of a normal operation time of an image forming apparatus, an incident manager registers and manages an incident related to the image forming apparatus, and an SCS manager calculates the SCS using the registered incident and the priority set for the items.

Abstract: A management server is provided. The management server includes a reception unit which receives information regarding expendable supplies status from at least one image forming apparatus, a storage unit which stores a management condition for each item of expendable supplies of the at least one image forming apparatus, a management unit which manages expendable supplies in an automatic management mode or in a manual management mode according to the stored management condition for each item of expendable supplies, and a controller which changes an expendable supplies management mode for each item of each image forming apparatus by resetting an expendable supplies management condition for each item of the at least one image forming apparatus according to expendable supplies management status of each of the at least one image forming apparatus. Accordingly, an order for expendable supplies may be placed effectively.

Abstract: Methods and printing devices herein establish a current physical position of a printing device and then receive current physical position readings from different portable computing devices (when the portable computing devices or its users are physically interacting with the printing device). The portable computing devices each have a physical position locator. The method then processes the current physical position readings to refine the current physical position of the printing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a predicting unit that predicts a prediction lifetime of a consumable that is detachably mounted in the image forming apparatus, based on consumption information corresponding to an operation of the image forming apparatus; a connection determining unit that determines whether or not the image forming apparatus is connected to a managing apparatus that manages a replacement time of the consumable that is detachably mounted in the image forming apparatus; a consumption information transmitting unit that transmits the consumption information to the managing apparatus located outside the image forming apparatus; a managed lifetime information receiving unit as defined herein; a replacement time determining unit that determines whether or not the replacement time of the consumable has been reached; a learning unit as defined herein; and a prediction lifetime updating unit as defined herein.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs image stabilization after a printed page count exceeds a first threshold, if either an end of a job or a mode switch from monochrome mode to color mode has been detected. Even if neither the end of the job nor the mode switch from monochrome mode to color mode has been detected, the image forming apparatus performs image stabilization if the printed page count exceeds a second threshold that is larger than the first threshold.

Abstract: This invention discloses a printing control apparatus capable of allowing even an inexperienced operator to execute a printing process by properly and efficiently using a plurality of printing devices in accordance with the contents of each job, printing conditions, and the like. A printing control apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of this invention determines device combinations suitable for the attributes of a printing job from performance information of the devices and the attributes of the printing job. The printing control apparatus presents the combinations so as to be able to select one of them, and displays an explanation of printing process steps using the selected combination.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a search unit which broadcasts a search message for searching for a connectable host device, a communication interface unit which receives a response message for notifying that a print job is executable from host devices in response to the search message, a user interface unit which displays host devices corresponding to the received response message and receives a selection from a user regarding a host device to be connected from among the displayed host devices, and a controller which controls the communication interface unit to transmit a connection message for requesting connection with the image forming apparatus to the selected host device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a monitoring device for monitoring the operating states of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the operating amount of a part is detected, information about the operating amount is stored in relation to the part, and the stored information is sent to the monitoring device, the first consumed level of the part, which is calculated by the monitoring device based on the sent information, is acquired, and the acquired first consumed level is output in relation to the part. The second consumed level is calculated based on the stored information. When the first consumed level is acquired from the monitoring device, the first consumed level is output. When the first consumed level cannot be acquired from the monitoring device, the calculated second consumed level is output.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a communication unit which communicates with a server, a print instruction acceptance unit which accepts a print instruction to make a printing apparatus execute printing, a judgment unit which judges whether or not the printing apparatus is a registered printing apparatus, a permission unit which permits the printing apparatus to execute printing based on the print instruction when the printing apparatus has been judged to be the registered printing apparatus, a restriction unit which inhibits the printing apparatus from executing printing based on the print instruction when the printing apparatus has not been judged to be the registered printing apparatus, and a notification unit which makes a notification for prompting a user to register the printing apparatus on the server as the registered printing apparatus when the printing apparatus has not been judged to be the registered printing apparatus.

Abstract: An intelligent on-board monitoring system for replaceable module for a printing apparatus includes a memory element, an input for receiving information either from sensors on the replaceable module, or from the printing apparatus concerning printing operations performed, and a microprocessor connected to the memory for performing calculations upon data stored in the memory and upon the input information. By expanding this intelligent on-board monitoring system with expanded memory, either on board the replaceable module, or by way of network access, the capability to enable software upgrades is provided. The software upgrades may relate to the performance of the replaceable module or to the machine into which it is installed. These software upgrades may be accomplished without requiring computational resources of the printing apparatus itself and by proper scheduling without impacting customer machine utilization.

Abstract: Techniques described herein overcome many of the issues that have previously made the printing of a single copy of a book from a digital version unattractive and infeasible. According to one embodiment of the invention, an automated mechanism such as a computer program automatically determines whether the spine thickness of a to-be-printed copy of a digital version of a book will exceed the specified maximum spine thickness that a specified binding or other finishing device can handle. In response to determining that the spine thickness will exceed the specified maximum spine thickness, the automated mechanism automatically splits the digital version of the book into two or more volumes such that, for each volume, the spine thickness of the printed version of that volume will be no greater than the specified maximum spine thickness that the specified binding or other finishing device can handle.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for efficiently performing inventory management, including storage places, of expendable supplies to be used in devices. Storage place information in which held storage places and classifications of expendable supplies are associated with each other is updated based upon an association of a designated storage place and a specified classification of expendable supplies.

Abstract: A control apparatus, connected to two image forming apparatuses each forming an image on one of a first face and a second face serving as image forming faces of a continuous recording paper, includes a receiving unit that receives, from each image forming apparatus, information regarding a transfer rate affecting condition that affects a difference in toner transfer rates of the image forming faces; a determining unit that determines, based on a standard amount of toner deposit and the transfer rate affecting condition regarding each of the first face and the second face, a target deposit amount representing a target amount of toner deposit in each of the two image forming apparatuses in such a way that the target deposit amounts have a difference corresponding to the difference in the toner transfer rate between the two image forming apparatuses.

Abstract: A system of an apparatus collects, from a plurality of forming apparatuses, information about a status of occurrence of an error occurring on the plurality of forming apparatuses and a utilization environment of the plurality of forming apparatuses, executes control, if an error has frequently occurred and that the utilization environment has varied, for notifying information indicating that the error has frequently occurred on the plurality of forming apparatuses together with information about the varied utilization environment, and executes control, if the error has frequently occurred and the utilization environment has not varied, for notifying information indicating that the error has occurred on the plurality of forming apparatuses together with the information about the utilization environment.

Abstract: An imaging device capable printing images in a plurality of print modes includes an image storage, a print mode data storage that stores a plurality of pieces of print mode data corresponding to the plurality of print modes, a consumable substance quantity calculating system that calculates quantity of consumable substances necessary for printing images in accordance with image data stored in the image storage, a print cost calculating system that calculates, for each of the plurality of print modes, a print cost based on the quantity of the consumable substances calculated by the consumable substance quantity calculating system. The print costs corresponding to the plurality of print modes are displayed in association with the plurality of print modes, and a printing system executes a printing operation in a designated print mode in accordance with the image data stored in the image storage.

Abstract: A monitoring device system that includes a user apparatus, including a monitoring device application, and an image forming apparatus. The user apparatus includes an application information sending unit configured to send application information corresponding to the monitoring device application to the image forming apparatus, and a notice information control unit configured to acquire information about the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a display unit configured to display an application information item corresponding to the received application information from the user apparatus, and a communication control unit configured to send the information about the image forming apparatus to the user apparatus in response to a user selecting the displayed application information item at the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A computer readable medium has a consumables-usability determination program product stored thereon. The program product directs a portable terminal to perform as: a model-information inputting section for inputting model information indicating a model of an image forming apparatus; a consumables-information inputting section for inputting consumables information indicating consumables; a first determining section for determining whether the consumables indicated by the consumables information inputted by the consumables-information inputting section is usable to the model indicated by the model information inputted by the model-information inputting section; and a first reporting section for reporting a result determined by the first determining section to the user.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: a transmission and reception part to receive print data of each of plural pages page by page. through a USB communication interface; a cassette part; a printing part; a paper discharge part; a manual paper feed tray on which the discharged sheet is set with the image being printed on a side of the sheet and an opposite side of the sheet being to be printed; and a control part that causes the printing part to print an even page on one side of a sheet from the cassette part and to print an odd page on the other side of the same sheet from the manual paper feed tray.

Abstract: In order to shorten the waiting time and to prevent confidential data from being seen by others, an MFP has a distance measuring portion to communicate with a radio communication terminal and measure a distance between the MFP and the radio communication terminal, a print-job acquiring portion to acquire print data, an image-forming portion to form an image, and an image forming control portion to start a preparation operation to cause the image-forming portion to form an image, upon reduction of the measured distance equal to or below a first threshold value, and to cause the image-forming portion to form an image based on the acquired print data, upon reduction of the measured distance equal to or below a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that reduces a time period during which no image is formed due to a margin in leading end portion, by calculating the margin in leading end portion from position information of an image and moving forward output timing of a /TOP signal according to the margin in leading end portion.

Abstract: A system and method for managing customer orders associated with at least one printer device for consumable supplies under a contract. The method includes receiving printer usage data from at least one printer indicative of consumption of at least one consumable supply and calculating for each printer device based on the received print usage data associated with the printer device an allowed amount of at least one consumable supply that can be ordered for the printer device by a customer based on a contract. The method further includes receiving a customer order request for ordering an amount of a consumable supply for a printer device under the contract; determining whether the requested amount exceeds the allowed amount calculated for the consumable supply for the printer device, and limiting the amount of the requested consumable supply which can be ordered when the determination is positive.

Abstract: A system having an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus includes setting whether the status of the image forming apparatus is immediately confirmed by a user, transmitting a file containing a status log based on the status change of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus to an external file server, and displaying a list of the image forming apparatus to be contained in the system on a screen in the information processing apparatus, wherein with respect to the image forming apparatus as to which a setting is made to immediately confirm the status, a button to instruct confirmation of the status of the apparatus is displayed in the list, and wherein when an instruction to confirm the status is executed from the list, status of the image forming apparatus is displayed based on the status log to be contained in the file transmitted from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of which maintenance work can always be conducted appropriately independent of time-degradation of the apparatus is provided. In the image forming apparatus of which maintenance work is done in accordance with either a user mode or a service engineer mode, an image forming unit including an image forming station prints an image in accordance with image data, and a main CPU calculates duration of use of the apparatus as an index indicating time-degradation, and determines whether or not the calculated duration of use of the apparatus has reached one year as a predetermined threshold value. Based on the result of determination, a user mode or a service engineer mode is set as a maintenance method for conducting maintenance work.

Abstract: A device management system for a plurality of devices, including a data collecting device that acquires device data for one or more of the plurality of devices, and a transmission circuit that transmits the device data to a device management, wherein the device management station determines any outlying devices within the plurality of devices. Moreover, a device management method for a plurality of devices that includes acquiring device data for one or more of the plurality of devices, transmitting the device data to a device management station, generating a control chart on the basis of the transmitted device data, determining whether at least one of the plurality of devices is outside at least on of the upper limit and the lower limit, and providing an appropriate action to take on the basis of the determination.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a controller configured to switch the security level between a first state and a second state. The first state allows printing by an image forming section of only first print data provided with verification information among print data a communication unit received. The second state allows printing by the image forming section of print data the communication unit received irrespective of presence or absence of verification information. When, in the first state, the controller receives a permission signal instructing permission of printing of second print data not provided with verification information, the controller switches the security level from the first state to the second state so as to allow printing of the second print data by the image forming section.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus and a monitoring system monitor a person who removed an output sheet for a print job or a copy job from an image forming apparatus that can be used by a plurality of users. With the use of a job-start notification, a job-end notification, and a sheet-removal notification received from the image forming apparatus, a video image during a period including the time at which the sheet output from the image forming apparatus was removed by a person can be recorded, and the video image can be managed in association with job information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a condition determining device that calculates a deviation amount of image data from a normal condition and determines if the image forming apparatus is in an abnormal condition. An abnormal section specifying device specifies an abnormal section in the image forming apparatus based on a condition of the image forming apparatus. An image processing device executes image processing for abnormal use in accordance with an output of the abnormal section specifying device when the image data condition determining device determines that the image forming apparatus is in an abnormal condition. A service person call output device outputs a service person call signal indicative of calling a service person to a center when the image data condition determining device determines that the image forming apparatus is in an abnormal condition.

Abstract: An image forming system includes image forming apparatuses that communicate with each other via a network. Each of the image forming apparatuses includes a network computer, a power saving controller for applying a power saving control in a first power saving mode in which a supply of power to a printing function portion that forms an image on a sheet is stopped and a power is fed to the network controller when the apparatus acts as a main apparatus, and applying a power saving control in a second power saving mode in which a supply of power to the printing function portion and the network controller is stopped when the apparatus acts as subordinate apparatus, and a main apparatus deciding unit for deciding the image forming apparatus out of the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on a calculation of power consumption of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

Abstract: To display appropriately the progress status for each processing device in one series of print operations so that the person in charge of each processing device may visually confirm the status. A management server transmits the processing information adapted to one series of print operations to any of the processing devices, collects the notification information notified from each processing device, generates the display data for displaying relevantly the progress status of each print operation and the process state of each processing device, and transmits the generated display data to each processing device. Each processing device acquires the display data transmitted from the management server, and displays and switches dynamically the progress status of the processing devices in linkage with a processing device selected from among a plurality of processing devices.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: a print processing unit; a fixing unit; a first storage unit to store use frequency information of respective parts forming the print processing unit and the fixing unit and failure information; a wireless transmission unit; and a controller. The configured allows the wireless transmission unit to transmit maintenance information to a wireless terminal positioning within an area to which the wireless transmission unit transmits a wireless signal.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling machines, such as printers, copiers, facsimile machine and other image forming machines. A server is used for transmitting and communicating information among machines and computers. The server acquires, after machine installation, reference values and during operation, current condition information. The server evaluates this information with the reference values such that a response to the machine may be executed remotely. The server also may update the reference values which change during operation.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling machines, such as printers, copiers, facsimile machine and other image forming machines. A server is used for transmitting and communicating information among machines and computers. The server acquires, after machine installation, reference values and during operation, current condition information. The server evaluates this information with the reference values such that a response to the machine may be executed remotely. The server also may update the reference values which change during operation.