When a user overlaps a region set for a picture examination and a region set for a data examination, the user is not notified that a print image examination is not performed on the overlap region. A printing system reads a printout, generates a scan image, performs a first examination to examine the printout based on the scan image and a correct image, and performs a second examination to examine data acquired from the printout based on data acquired from the scan image and correct data, and in a case where at least a first region to be examined by the first examination and a second region to be examined by the second examination are set in the correct image and the first region and the second region include an overlap region, the printing system provides a notification of the overlap of the first region and the second region.

An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of image data read from a plurality of areas of a print product, and an evaluation unit configured to obtain degrees of streaks in the plurality of areas and tilts in the plurality of areas using the plurality of image data and evaluate image quality of the print product based on the degrees and the tilts.

Disclosed here is a system enabling users/customers to receive an objective assessment of the performance of a printer. This is accomplished by comparing a quality score of an earlier-in-time image with a quality score of a later-in-time image. A processor analyzes each image based on several criteria and uses various image-analysis methods, to flag errors within an image. A numeric quality score, based on the number of errors, is provided to the user to objectively evaluate whether the printer has degraded or not. Thus, the user can objectively present an argument to a salesperson or manufacturer that the user is due a remedy.

There is provided an image forming system including at least a first image forming apparatus that includes a first image forming unit and an obtaining unit configured to obtain operation-related information related to an operation of the first image forming unit. The image forming system further includes a carryover unit configured to carry over, to a second image forming apparatus, information related to an operation of a second image forming unit of the second image forming apparatus among the operation-related information obtained by the first image forming apparatus when the second image forming apparatus is newly used in the image forming system. The operation-related information includes operation history information of the first image forming unit.

The image processing apparatus extracts an image area corresponding to a margin area of a chart for evaluation from a scanned image obtained by scanning a printed material on which the chart is printed. The image processing apparatus evaluates the printed material based on, in a case where a printing medium used for the printing is determined to be a printing medium having a specific characteristic based on the image area corresponding to the margin area, the scanned image from which influence based on the specific characteristic is decreased.

A CNN of an image forming apparatus includes: an encoder which compresses, for each tile image obtained by dividing an image into specific size pieces, information of the tile image; a decoder which restores the information of the tile image compressed by the encoder; and a blank sheet determination portion which determines whether the tile image corresponds to a blank sheet image. A segmentation image generation portion uses, when the blank sheet determination portion determines the tile image as being the blank sheet image, the blank sheet image for an image of a part corresponding to the tile image in a segmentation image, and uses, when the blank sheet determination portion determines the tile image as not being the blank sheet image, an output image of the decoder for an image of a part corresponding to the tile image in the segmentation image.

An information processing apparatus is communicably connected to one or more image forming apparatuses each including: an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium; an image reading device that reads the image to obtain read image data; and an image forming controller that executes a first inspection and detects in the read image data an image defect corresponding to a predetermined inspection item at a first cycle, the information processing apparatus including: a processing controller that: acquires inspection source data based on the read image data obtained from at least one of the image forming apparatuses, and executes a second inspection to inspect the inspection source data.

A printing apparatus connectable to an inspection apparatus in a communicable manner according to the present invention includes a reception unit configured to receive an inspection job including at least information indicating whether a correct answer image is to be registered, an analysis unit configured to analyze the received inspection job, and, a control unit configured to perform control so that the correct answer image is transmitted to the inspection apparatus in a case where the correct answer image is to be registered, and to perform control so that an instruction to select the correct answer image is transmitted to the inspection apparatus in a case where the correct answer image is not to be registered, as a result of the analysis.

A method for printing defect detection includes processing and analyzing a difference image obtained by comparing an image scanned with a verifier to a reference image. The detected defects are grouped, and the grouping is refined. Confidence level values are then assigned to the refined groups, and analysis is performed to determine if one or more servicing actions should be taken.

A method of maintaining a time measurement stored on an electronic device. The method comprises: receiving, by the electronic device, a supply item manufacturing time stamp from a supply item connected to the electronic device, comparing the supply item manufacturing time stamp with the time measurement of the electronic device, and updating, by the electronic device, the time measurement of the electronic device, based on the supply item manufacturing time stamp. An electronic device comprising a memory, the memory storing a time measurement, wherein the electronic device is configured to maintain the time measurement by: receiving a supply item manufacturing time stamp from a supply item connected to the electronic device, and updating the time measurement of the electronic device, based on the supply item manufacturing time stamp. An electronic device supply item, the supply item comprising a memory, the memory storing a supply item manufacturing time stamp, and the supply item being configured to send the supply item manufacturing time stamp to an electronic device.