A print engine is adapted to print image data from a plurality of pre-processing systems that supply image data at different image resolutions and halftoning states. A data interface receives the image data and associated metadata including an image resolution parameter and a halftone state parameter. A metadata interpreter interprets the metadata and determines image processing operations that are required to prepare the image data for printing using a printer module. A resolution modification processor module processes the image data to modify its resolution if the metadata interpreter determines that the image resolution of the image data does not match the printer resolution. A halftone processor module processes the image data by applying a halftoning operation if the metadata interpreter determines that the image data is not in an appropriate halftoning state.

An apparatus that operates with a detachable unit mounted therein, includes: a storage unit configured to store a public key; and a verification unit configured to verify data held by the mounted unit, based on the public key. The data includes attribute information indicating an attribute of the unit, and authentication information generated from target information including the attribute information with a secret key paired with the public key and from which the target information is restorable, and the verification unit is further configured to detect an anomaly in the attribute information or the authentication information included in the data, by determining whether the attribute information included in the target information restored from the authentication information using the public key matches the attribute information included in the data.

An apparatus that operates with a detachable unit mounted therein, includes: a storage unit configured to store a public key; and a verification unit configured to verify data held by the mounted unit, based on the public key. The data includes attribute information indicating an attribute of the unit, and authentication information generated from target information including the attribute information with a secret key paired with the public key and from which the target information is restorable, and the verification unit is further configured to detect an anomaly in the attribute information or the authentication information included in the data, by determining whether the attribute information included in the target information restored from the authentication information using the public key matches the attribute information included in the data.

In an example, a method is described that includes dividing an input image into a plurality of strips, where each strip is smaller than a whole of the input image. A plurality of binary images is then generated, where each of the binary images corresponds to one of the strips. Connected component labeling is performed on the binary images, one binary image at a time. An object map for the input image is then generated based on the results of the connected component labeling.

In an example, a method is described that includes dividing an input image into a plurality of strips, where each strip is smaller than a whole of the input image. A plurality of binary images is then generated, where each of the binary images corresponds to one of the strips. Connected component labeling is performed on the binary images, one binary image at a time. An object map for the input image is then generated based on the results of the connected component labeling.

An erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an erasing unit that erases an image formed on a sheet and a scanning unit that scans a surface of a sheet. A control determines whether or not an image on the sheet has been erased based on the scanned surface and count the number of sheets on which images are determined to have been erased, with respect to each size of the sheets. A network interface transmits information including the counted number of the sheets and a size of the sheets on which images are determined to have been erased to a managing apparatus that manages points associated with the erasing of the images on the sheets.

An erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an erasing unit that erases an image formed on a sheet and a scanning unit that scans a surface of a sheet. A control determines whether or not an image on the sheet has been erased based on the scanned surface and count the number of sheets on which images are determined to have been erased, with respect to each size of the sheets. A network interface transmits information including the counted number of the sheets and a size of the sheets on which images are determined to have been erased to a managing apparatus that manages points associated with the erasing of the images on the sheets.

In color separation processing by a method that combines a multidimensional LUT and interpolation processing, smooth gradation is implemented by reducing errors accompanying interpolation processing. An image processing apparatus includes a color separation processing unit configured to perform, by interpolation processing using a lookup table having a plurality of dimensions in accordance with signal components of an input image, color separation of an input value that is each pixel value of the input image into an output value corresponding to each of signal components handled by an output device, and each grid point of the lookup table is associated with information representing change characteristics at each portion between adjacent grid points for each dimension of the plurality of dimensions, and in the color separation processing, the interpolation processing is performed based on the information representing the change characteristics.

An electronic apparatus to which a removable device can be set is provided. The removable device includes a first memory to store first status information indicating a status of the removable device, first identification information identifying the removable device, and second identification information identifying the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes a second memory to store second status information indicating a status of the removable device that is set to the electronic apparatus, third identification information identifying the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, and fourth identification information identifying the electronic apparatus, and a processor to determine, when connected to the first memory of the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, whether the first identification information matches the third identification information and the second identification information matches the fourth identification information and update the second status information with the first status information based on a result of the determination.

An electronic apparatus to which a removable device can be set is provided. The removable device includes a first memory to store first status information indicating a status of the removable device, first identification information identifying the removable device, and second identification information identifying the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes a second memory to store second status information indicating a status of the removable device that is set to the electronic apparatus, third identification information identifying the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, and fourth identification information identifying the electronic apparatus, and a processor to determine, when connected to the first memory of the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, whether the first identification information matches the third identification information and the second identification information matches the fourth identification information and update the second status information with the first status information based on a result of the determination.