A system and method for tracking multifunction peripheral device user satisfaction captures user images and audio during device operation. User characteristics such as gestures, posture, spoke words or facial expressions are used in conjunction with device status information to determine whether the user is satisfied with the device. If not, remedial action is initiated, such as launching a virtual assistant on the multifunction peripheral touchscreen or summoning of a human assistant.

A printer may include a memory configured to store remaining amount-related information related to a remaining amount of color material in a single-purpose color material cartridge mounted on the printer. The printer may send first printer information to a server in a case where the single-purpose color material cartridge is mounted on the printer, and send second printer information to the server in a case where the general-purpose color material cartridge is mounted on the printer. The server may determine whether, regardless of which of the first printer information and the second printer information has been received from the printer, the remaining amount-related information included in the received first printer information or the received second printer information satisfies a predetermined condition, and execute a shipping process for shipping a new single-purpose color material cartridge in a case where the predetermined condition is satisfied.

A job processing system includes a host computer and an image forming apparatus connected via a network with each other, the host computer includes a job register acceptor that accepts a job register and a communication device that sends the job register to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a display controller and a job execution controller, the job execution controller controls sequential execution of a plurality of jobs shown in the changed job register in accordance with an execution order of the plurality of jobs, and the display controller keeps from making an update to cause a display of the changed job register immediately after a network interface device receives the changed job register, but makes an update to cause a display of the changed job register when a predetermined display updating condition is achieved after the receipt of the changed job register.

A printing device comprises a housing, a communication interface configured to communicate with a server, and a controller. The printing device is configured to operate either in a contract mode or in a normal mode. The housing is configured such that one or more consumables including a first type consumable and a second type consumable are attachable. The first type consumable is dedicated for the contract printing, and the second type consumable is usable for printing in both the contract mode and the normal mode. The controller is configured to activate the contract mode in response to an activation instruction from the server. In a case where the second type consumable is attached to the housing when the contract mode is activated, the controller changes a state of the printing device to a contract printing state in which the contract printing is activated after activating the contract mode.

An information processing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit configured to acquire resource information concerning a remaining amount of a consumable from an image output apparatus; a generation unit configured to generate notification information indicating a quantity or amount of the consumable based on the resource information acquired from the image output apparatus; and a notification unit configured to make a notification of the notification information generated by the generation unit. The acquisition unit acquires the resource information of a plurality of types of consumables from each of a first image output apparatus and a second image output apparatus. The generation unit generates the corresponding notification information for each of the plurality of types based on the acquired resource information. The notification unit makes a notification of the notification information for each of the plurality of types.

An information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and a processing execution method. The information processing system in response to a transmission of a print job from a terminal device to a virtual printer registered in an external print service, receives information for identifying the virtual printer and the print job from the external print service, based on association information associating identification information of an application and information for identifying a virtual printer, identifies an application associated with the information for identifying the virtual printer that is received, and processes the print job by the application.

An image forming system includes a print system and a management server. The print system includes one or plural image forming apparatuses. The management server receives a print order from a user, and upon receiving the print order, performs a print job using the print system under a print condition specified by the print order. Further, the management server generates a suggestion of a print condition in consideration of operation status of the print system and an amount of a consumable good required for the print job, differently from the print condition specified by the print order, and notifies the user of the suggestion.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing instructions. Executing the instructions by the processor causes the processor to perform operations. A virtual device on the information processing apparatus to transmit a print job to an image forming apparatus is selected. A user interface is displayed that is for activating, in accordance with the selected virtual device and among one or more applications to provide an additional function to the image forming apparatus, an application that corresponds to a model of the image forming apparatus to which the selected virtual device transmits the print job.

A terminal device may obtain a public key and target identification information from a communication device, search for the communication device via a wireless interface of the terminal device, based on the target identification information and a result of the search for the communication device, determine whether the communication device is to establish a wireless connection with an external device or with the terminal device, in a case where it is determined that the communication device is to establish the wireless connection with the external device, send first connection information to the communication device, in a case where it is determined that the communication device is to establish the wireless connection with the terminal device, send second connection information different from the first connection information to the communication device, establish the wireless connection with the communication device via the wireless interface by using the second connection information.

An information processing device is configured to execute a management program and a print server program. The management program determines whether a non-compliant printer is connected to the information processing device, determines whether a print server program is running when the non-compliant printer is connected, starts up the print server program when the print server program is not running, and registers a print server configured by the print server program with an operating system. The print server program receives a print job designating the print server as an output destination, obtains individual print data which is printable by the non-compliant printer, and transmits the obtained individual print data to the non-compliant printer.