An image forming apparatus including a plurality of processing units capable of performing different support processing for a user asking for support, and a remote support apparatus operated by an operator are connected via a communication path. The remote support apparatus transmits to the image forming apparatus a request to perform the support using the selected processing unit, or a request to switch the processing unit to a selected specific processing unit and a request to perform the support. The image forming apparatus allows the processing unit which follows the request to perform the support, to perform the support, and switches the processing unit according to the request to switch the processing unit to allow the switched processing unit to perform the support. Further, the image forming apparatus returns a result which should be returned, among results of the performed support, to the remote support apparatus.

Determination is made as to whether or not image data inputted in a state where a mode for confirming a print result is set in a maintenance mode used by a service person includes information that indicates data for maintenance, and in a case that it is determined that the information is included, image formation is performed after superimposing a particular pattern on the image data, and in a case that it is determined that the information is not included, image formation in accordance with the image data is performed after waiting for the mode to be released.

A calibration system includes an image forming apparatus, a color-measurement device, a primary-color-input-output-characteristics adjustment unit, and a secondary-color-input-output-characteristics adjustment unit. The primary-color-input-output-characteristics adjustment unit adjusts input-output characteristics of a primary color of the image forming apparatus by correcting a gamma correction table for the primary color. The secondary-color-input-output-characteristics adjustment unit adjusts input-output characteristics of a secondary color of the image forming apparatus by correcting the gamma correction table for the primary color using the measurement results of the chart for the secondary color. The chart for the secondary color is printed by the image forming apparatus after the adjustment. The secondary-color-input-output-characteristics adjustment unit, as a combination ratio of two color materials, obtains the combination ratio where a hue angle of the specific secondary color becomes a defined hue angle so as to correct the gamma correction table for the primary color corresponding to the obtained combination ratio.

Facsimile reception is prohibited when an operation mode in which a service person performs printing for the purpose of maintenance is set.

A method of measuring a display delay time includes a step where a display pattern displayed on a first display including i (i is a natural number greater than 2) display elements is switched to a display pattern other than the display pattern at every elapse of a pattern continuation time, and j (j is a natural number, 1<j<i) display elements brought into a first display state is switched at every elapse, a step where an image of the display pattern on the first display is captured, a step where the captured image is displayed on a second display, and a step where the display delay time from capturing the image on the first display to displaying the image on the second display is measured based on a difference between the display pattern on the first display and the display pattern on the second display.

A method of measuring a display delay includes a first step where a first display device performs a switching operation of switching a display pattern displayed on a display unit of the first display device, a second step where a first camera captures a first image and displays the first image in a live view mode, a third step where a second camera captures a second image containing the first image and records at least the first image contained in the captured second image while being correlated with information indicative of an imaging time when the second image is captured, and a fourth step where a display delay time of the first camera from the imaging of the first image to the display of the first image is deduced from the time indicated by the display pattern contained in the first image and the information indicative of the imaging time.

An apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain first image data obtained by reading, performed by a reading unit, a chart on which an image has not been formed by an image forming unit and second image data obtained by reading, performed by the reading unit, a chart formed by the image forming unit, and an estimation unit configured to change the second image data using the first image data and estimate a cause of an abnormality that has occurred in the image forming unit from a feature amount obtained by analyzing the changed image data.

A technology that enables accurate position specification on an image displayed on a screen to perform processing and correction of the image data is provided. When the image is printed on a sheet on which a dot pattern is printed, a reference point of the image on the display device is set and the reference point is printed in a visible mark together with the image. This mark is imaged with an imaging means, and calibration is performed in which position coordinates of the marks on the sheet and the reference points of the image are matched, thereby preventing variation in coordinates between designation made on the sheet with the imaging means and processing on the image.

An apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain first image data obtained by reading, performed by a reading unit, a chart on which an image has not been formed by an image forming unit and second image data obtained by reading, performed by the reading unit, a chart formed by the image forming unit, and an estimation unit configured to change the second image data using the first image data and estimate a cause of an abnormality that has occurred in the image forming unit from a feature amount obtained by analyzing the changed image data.

An image reading device includes: a sensor module having a light source and a plurality of sensors; a white reference plate; and an image processor that generates correction data to be used for shading correction and performs the shading correction on image signals, using the correction data. The light source is configured to switch between at least a first luminous intensity and a second luminous intensity lower than the first luminous intensity. The image processor acquires intermediate data by causing the plurality of sensors to acquire an image signal of the white reference plate illuminated with the second luminous intensity, generates black correction data, based on the intermediate data, and performs the shading correction, using the black correction data, so that a density unevenness, in an image, caused by interference between image signals from the plurality of sensors.