An image forming apparatus includes a network interface and a processor configured to upon receipt of a print job from an external apparatus via the network interface, determine whether hold printing is instructed for executing the print job, when the hold printing is instructed, determine a state of the image forming apparatus, generate information about execution of the print job according to the determined state, and control the network interface to transmit the generated information to the external apparatus.

A method of generating a comparison of optimal sheet scheduling to greedy sheet scheduling, the method comprising receiving, by one or more computer processors, one or more print requests, generating, by the one or more computer processors, a greedy finite state machine based on the one or more print requests, generating, by the one or more computer processors, an optimal finite state machine based on the one or more print requests, generating, by the one or more computer processors, a cross product of the optimal finite state machine and the greedy finite state machine, identifying, by the one or more computer processors, a cycle in the cross product, and generating, by the one or more computer processors, a minimum ratio of optimal cost to greedy cost.

A coupon management device includes a network interface configured to communicate with a payment terminal installed at a store, and a processor configured to upon receipt of transaction data of a transaction settled by the payment terminal and identification information associated with the store, select one or more coupons based on the transaction data, based on the identification information, determine a number of coupons to be issued from the payment terminal, generate print data of the determined number of coupons among the selected coupons, and control the network interface to transmit the generated print data to the payment terminal.

According to one or more embodiments, an image forming apparatus comprises a communication interface, an image forming unit, and a processor. The communication interface communicates with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a network and receives print jobs from the information processing apparatuses. The image forming unit executes printing according to a first print job. The processor determines a presence of a user associated with a second print job near the image forming apparatus, and then determines, based on the presence of the user, whether to execute the first print job or to transmit or forward the first print job to another image forming apparatus.

Systems for providing efficient manufacturing of paper, sheet, and/or box products of varying size and structure, often with pre-applied print (“pre-print”), are provided herein. One or more controllers can be used to aggregate upcoming orders and information needed to complete the manufacturing process for the order. A controller enables a user to prepare control plans (e.g., reel maps, reel plans, etc.) for processing rolls of web product through the manufacturing process. Criteria filtering and/or various features enable generation of efficient and effective control plans for rolls of web product, including, in some cases, multiple orders. The control plan may include a set of instructions for operating one or more systems within the manufacturing process to form the desired finished paper-based product. In such a regard, efficient manufacturing of various paper-based products, including corrugated boxes, folded carton, labels, flexible paper, industrial bags, plates, cups, décor, and many others, can be achieved.

An example system includes a client interface to receive a print job from a client device, wherein the print job includes a user identifier (UID) and a current user location. The example system further includes a controller having an adaptive caching portion to determine that the current user location is a new user location for the UID, identify at least one printer identifier (PID) associated with the new user location, and associate the UID with the new user location and the at least one PID. The system further includes a printer interface to adaptively cache the print job in its entirety at least at one printer corresponding to the at least one PID.

An image forming apparatus includes a display configured to display a control menu to perform a function, a sensor configured to sense a user within a predetermined range and output a signal which has a voltage size corresponding to a distance of the sensed user, and a processor configured to change an operation state of the image forming apparatus based on a voltage change amount of the signal.

Systems for providing efficient manufacturing of paper, sheet, and/or box products of varying size and structure, often with pre-applied print (“pre-print”), are provided herein. One or more controllers can be used to aggregate upcoming orders and information needed to complete the manufacturing process for the order. A controller enables a user to prepare control plans (e.g., reel maps, reel plans, etc.) for processing rolls of web product through the manufacturing process. Criteria filtering and/or various features enable generation of efficient and effective control plans for rolls of web product, including, in some cases, multiple orders. The control plan may include a set of instructions for operating one or more systems within the manufacturing process to form the desired finished paper-based product. In such a regard, efficient manufacturing of various paper-based products, including corrugated boxes, folded carton, labels, flexible paper, industrial bags, plates, cups, décor, and many others, can be achieved.

An example system includes a client interface to receive a print job from a client device, wherein the print job includes a user identifier (UID) and a current user location. The example system further includes a controller having an adaptive caching portion to determine that the current user location is a new user location for the UID, identify at least one printer identifier (PID) associated with the new user location, and associate the UID with the new user location and the at least one PID. The system further includes a printer interface to adaptively cache the print job in its entirety at least at one printer corresponding to the at least one PID.

In a cloud mediation service, a server includes an acquisition unit to acquire a first storage period for storing, in a first cloud service, a first job submitted to the first cloud service, and a second storage period for storing, in a second cloud service, a second job submitted to the second cloud service, and an execution unit to execute, based on one of a first timing at which the first job is deleted due to an elapse of the first storage period and a second timing at which the second job is deleted due to an elapse of the second storage period, a cooperation process of making a period for storing the first job in the first cloud service and a period for storing the second job in the second cloud service cooperate with each other.