An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives print instruction information; an authenticating unit that performs an authentication for permitting a printing process; an execution unit that executes the printing process when the authentication succeeds; a near field communication unit; a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication that differs in a communication protocol from the near field communication; a transmitting unit that transmits identification information of the information processing apparatus to a terminal device when a connection via the near field communication is established in response to an operation of passing the terminal device over the near field communication unit; and a control unit that, when the receiving unit receives the print instruction information via the wireless communication using the identification information as a transmission destination, temporarily disables a function of the authenticating unit, and causes the execution unit to execute the printing process.

The invention facilitates a setting state updating operation of the printer. An updating system of a setting state of a printer comprises an application activating unit which issues an application binding command upon detection of a predetermined operation when an application is executed by a mobile. The application binding command designates a printing application and a predetermined setting state updating command. The updating system further comprises a setting state updating unit which executes an updating of the setting state of the printer in the printing application activated by the application activating unit according to the predetermined setting state updating command included in the application binding command. A predetermined operation in the application triggers activation of the printing application for an automatic updating of the printer setting state.

The amount of data transmitted is reduced and processing is accelerated in a process that uses image difference data to reduce the amount of data. A host computer 1 segments a first image and a second image into corresponding rectangular cells each containing plural pixels, compares the first image and the second image and identifies corresponding cells that differ, and extracts the identified cells. The host computer 1 then combines plural extracted cells into rectangular units, and outputs image difference data based on the generated units to a printer 5.

A management system includes an information processing apparatus that stores management information about cartridges that store consumables and is configured to update the stored management information, and an image forming apparatus configured to print an image on a sheet using the consumables stored in an attached cartridge, storing cartridge information about a cartridge that has been previously attached to the image forming apparatus, and configured to, when a cartridge is attached, retrieve cartridge information from the attached cartridge as first cartridge information and the stored cartridge information as second cartridge information, and transmit the first and second cartridge information to the processing apparatus. Upon receipt of the cartridge information, the processing apparatus determines whether the attached cartridge is a refilled cartridge, and if so, updates the management information so that the cartridge is identified as a refilled cartridge. The processing apparatus transmits a determination result to the image forming apparatus.

A print output control device operably connected to a printer, is configured to periodically check a first buffer sequentially storing print data received from the printer; accumulate, when the print data is stored in the first buffer, the stored print data in a second buffer; store, when status information on the printer is included in the print data, the status information in a status storage unit; store, when a first function is executed, in a third buffer, the print data accumulated in the second buffer to send back the stored print data as an acquisition value for the first function; and store, when a second function is executed, in a third buffer, the print data accumulated in the second buffer from when the second function is executed to send back the stored print data as an acquisition value for the second function.

An image forming apparatus capable of coping with speedup of a printing operation without requiring a design change of a controller is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image generating unit configured to generate image data, an image forming unit configured to control image formation based on the image data, a storage unit that is provided between the image generating unit and the image forming unit and temporarily stores the image data, a first connecting unit that connects the image generating unit and the storage unit and performs transferring of the image data at a first operating frequency, and a second connecting unit that connects the storage unit and the image forming unit and performs transferring of the image data at a second operating frequency higher than the first operating frequency. When a predetermined data amount is accumulated in the storage unit, the accumulated image data is transferred to the image forming unit.

A method for evaluating a print quality of a printed document that is printed by a printer is provided. The printer comprises a pre-print image scanner, a post-print image scanner, and a printhead disposed between the pre-print image scanner and the post-print image scanner. The method comprises generating a pre-printing image of a print media, generating the printed document, generating a post-printing image of the printed document, generating a validation image by comparing the post-printing image with the pre-printing image, and comparing the validation image with the source image.

Proper print processing is performed in a print system in which a first information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer and a second information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the printer via the first information processing apparatus are connected via a network. To this end, an information processing method executed by the first information processing apparatus includes: obtaining setting information on communications of the printer, obtaining information on a status of the printer from the printer, and executing predetermined processing. The predetermined processing is executed while waiting to communicate with the printer, in a case where the setting information indicates that the printer is ready to communicate with the second information processing apparatus and that the second information processing apparatus generates a PDL.

A printing device printing on a medium while being manually moved in relation to the medium is provided. The printing device includes: a movement detection unit detecting an amount of movement of the printing device in relation to the medium; and a control unit causing a print head to print a print image according to the amount of movement of the printing device detected by the movement detection unit, and causing a display to display a display image showing a current printing position in the print image according to the amount of movement of the printing device detected by the movement detection unit.

A print data generating device is configured to generate print data for creating a printed medium by printing a target image on a heat-sensitive medium with a printing device. The printing device includes a thermal head having a heating element. The heat-sensitive medium includes: a base material; and a heat-sensitive layer. The base material has a transparency. The heat-sensitive layer is provided over one surface of the base material and is configured to develop a first color when heated to a first temperature or higher. The printing device is configured to control the heating element according to the print data to heat the heat-sensitive medium. The print data generating device includes a controller. The controller is configured to perform: (a) determining a condition of a background area on which the heat-sensitive medium is to be superimposed; and (b) generating the print data in accordance with the condition determined in (a).