An information processing apparatus includes a first interface, a second interface, and a controller configured to receive first power source information related to a power source of a first external device connected to the first interface, receive second power source information related to a power source of a second external device connected to the second interface, select one of the first external device and the second external device to which a power request is to be transmitted based on the first power source information and the second power source information, and transmit a power request to the selected external device based on a result of the selection processing of one of the first external device and the second external device.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program is provided. The program is executed in a personal digital assistant to operate a recording apparatus including a recording unit that performs recording on a medium from the personal digital assistant. The program causes the personal digital assistant to display, on a display of the personal digital assistant, information on a user operation method based on an event that occurred when a medium is to be fed from back of the recording apparatus, the method being to be performed after the event occurred.

A lubrication mechanism applies a lubricant to an image carrier of an image forming device. The lubrication mechanism includes a solidified lubricant rod, an application brush, a lubricant pressing part, and a controller. The application brush scrapes the lubricant from the lubricant rod and supplies the lubricant to the image carrier. The lubricant pressing part presses the lubricant rod against the application brush. The controller controls rotational drive of the application brush. The controller executes a detection mode of controlling a rotation speed of the application brush and detecting a value of a drive load of the application brush which corresponds to the rotation speed. The controller estimates a remaining amount of the lubricant rod based on the value of the drive load of the application brush and/or the rotation speed of the application brush at a time of detection.

A processing job generation apparatus includes a decision unit that decides whether or not a sheet processing apparatus can execute a processing of a sheet based on a layout data.

A management apparatus receives a data set from a target device that is one of a plurality of devices, the data set including a data type, a data body, and identification information of the target device; each time the data set is received, calculates scheduled transmission time for the target device based on reception time of the data set and on the identification information and the data type; estimates a load of the management apparatus at the scheduled transmission time based on the scheduled transmission time and on next transmission time of the data set for the plurality of devices other than the target device; and in a case where the load is higher than a particular level, transmit, to the target device, corrected transmission time as next transmission time for the target device, the corrected transmission time being obtained by adding a correction value to the scheduled transmission time.

A laying sheet is laid between a printing device configured to perform printing on a medium and an installation surface on which the printing device is installed. The laying sheet includes a first surface coming into contact with the installation surface and a second surface being a surface opposite to the first surface. The second surface is provided with at least one mark indicating information relating to the printing device.

An information processing apparatus that makes it possible to properly use the apparatus according to an actual installation location of the apparatus. A multifunction peripheral as the apparatus includes an installation location information controller configured to acquire installation location information of the multifunction peripheral that performs information processing, and a controller configured to determine whether or not to restrict at least part of functions of the multifunction peripheral based on a result of comparison performed by a controller of an authentication server, which configured to compare position information stored in advance and the installation location information acquired by the installation location information controller when a predetermined time elapses.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device and circuitry. The image forming device is configured to form an image on a sheet. The circuitry is configured to acquire density information from image information of the image formed on the sheet, determine a width of each of a plurality of gradation patches to be formed in a conveyance direction of the sheet based on the density information, and cause the image forming device to form the plurality of gradation patches having different widths from each other in the conveyance direction of the sheet, in a margin area of the sheet.

A management apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus for managing usage of the image forming apparatus is disclosed. The management apparatus includes a user data storage part for storing user identification data and use restriction data corresponding to the user identification data, and a use restriction data acquiring part for acquiring the use restriction data corresponding to the user identification data.

Provided is a printer connected to a management server via a network. The printer includes a storage control unit that, when an event occurs, stores in a storage unit event information indicating a content of the event that has occurred and time when the event occurs, and a transmission unit that push-transmits the event information stored in the storage unit to the management server. The storage control unit adds, to the event information, transmission information indicating whether the event information has been transmitted or has not been transmitted to the management server and stores the event information in the storage unit. Among the event information stored in the storage unit, the transmission unit push-transmits, to the management server, untransmitted event information to which transmission information indicating the event information has not been transmitted is added.