In a case of a first function of carrying out a cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction from a user of a multifunction peripheral (10), the user is set as an execution user. In a case of a second function of carrying out a cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction from an application, a user instructed by the application is set as an execution user. Further, in a case where an execution user of a cooperative processing carried out using the first function and an execution user of a cooperative processing carried out using the second function are identical, use history information of the execution user is managed as use history information of a single user. This makes it possible to appropriately manage use history information of a cooperative processing.

A method and system of producing a three-dimensional object with an anti-counterfeiting measure uses a processor to access a data file including a plurality of parameters for producing a three-dimensional object, wherein the parameters comprise a plurality of structural parameters. The processor may also cause a three dimensional printing device to form the three dimensional object that exhibits the structural parameters by identifying a build material, identifying at least one anti-counterfeiting measure that when included in the 3D object will prevent creation of a digital model of the three-dimensional object by causing the 3D object to obstruct a possible 3D scanning method, and causing the three dimensional printing device to form the three-dimensional object with the anti-counterfeiting measure using the build material.

Restricting the printing of sensitive electronic documents. After the client downloads a document (e.g., by viewing the document in a web browser), the client intercepts a print command, pauses the print, and issues a print request to a server. From a server perspective, upon receiving the request, the server determines whether the document is print restricted. If not, the print operation is permitted to proceed. If so, the server responds negatively to the print request and alters the document so that, even if printed, sensitive information is not printed. In another embodiment, the server may restrict printing prior to downloading a document. For example, the server may make the document read-only, or replace the document with another printable document that does not contain sensitive content.

A method for securing a computer-aided design (CAD)-based shape to prevent shape counterfeiting by unauthorized three-dimensional (3D) printing includes creating and embedding a security element in the CAD-based shape itself. In some embodiments, the method includes splitting (slicing) a first solid of a three-dimensional 3D model into at least two parts, such that the 3D model comprises at least two distinct solids. The shape of the distinct solid(s) may be specified by a plurality of curved surfaces, which are defined by performing a finite element analysis on the CAD-based shape to determine an optimal shape for each curved surface. The method further includes converting the 3D model to a digital surface geometry schema according to a first resolution. The digital surface geometry schema describes the surface geometry of the at least two distinct solids. The first resolution is part of the security controls of the CAD-based shape. The first resolution may be selected based on a shape of the split of the first solid, a location of the split of the first solid, a 3D printer type, an anticipated horizontal print direction, an anticipated vertical print direction, an anticipated slicer software scheme, an anticipated slice thickness, and/or an anticipated slice location.

An image forming apparatus including applications and system side software for providing system side services to the applications is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: an authentication module for displaying an authentication screen on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, wherein the authentication module allows the image forming apparatus to display a screen for using the image forming apparatus instead of the authentication screen if authentication data input from the authentication screen satisfies an authentication condition, and wherein the authentication module is provided in the image forming apparatus separately from the system side software.

An image processing apparatus including a processor that performs: compressing target data for printing; decompressing the compressed target data; and when the resolution of the uncompressed target data is higher than the resolution of low-resolution data included in the compressed target data, generating sample data by decompressing only the low-resolution data, the sample data to be used for a process of detecting data of a particular image from the target data.

An image processing apparatus includes an authenticating unit, a first communication interface, a second communication interface, an image forming unit, and a managing unit. The first communication interface is disposed for communication with an external apparatus, the second communication interface differs from the first communication interface and can connect to an external apparatus if a predetermined requirement for operation is satisfied. The image forming unit forms an image on a medium in accordance with an execution instruction received from an external apparatus via the first communication interface or the second communication interface. The managing unit handles one process performed by the image forming unit separately from the image forming unit.

An image forming apparatus includes an image processing device, an image forming device, an operating device, a vital sensor, and a controller. The image processing device corrects an image. The image forming device performs an image formation of forming the image on a recording sheet. The operating device is operable by a user and through which an instruction to start the image formation by the image forming device is inputted. The vital sensor is provided at the operating device and detects a blood oxygen level of the user who is operating the operating device. The controller, when the instruction to start the image formation is inputted through the operating device, causes the image processing device to correct the image in accordance with the blood oxygen level of the user detected by the vital sensor and causes the image forming device to form a corrected image on the recording sheet.

An image forming apparatus includes a management section and an instruction section. The management section manages, in a case of accepting a print job, first information for identifying matter of content included in the print job in association with the print job. The instruction section gives, in a case where second information accepted from an information processing apparatus matches the first information, an instruction for executing the print job associated with the first information.

A system and method are provided for implementing control of the 3D printing of an object by a 3D printer. The method includes providing 3D printing apparatus comprising a controller and a 3D printing module. A digital print file (DPF) representative of the object to be printed, including layer by layer information, is provided to the printing apparatus and to the controller, details of objects pre-defined as subject to printing control are also provided to the controller. The digital print file is processed to provide a representation of the object to be printed which is then interrogated to determine whether there a possible match between the features of the object to be printed and features of an object predefined as subject to print control. Printing is interrupted if it is indicated that the object to be printed has been determined to show a possible match to features to an object pre-defined as subject to print control.