An image reading apparatus connectable to a post-processing apparatus includes an image reading unit for transmitting image data to an inspection processing unit, and a communication unit for outputting a sheet discharge timing signal to the post-processing apparatus through a signal line. The communication unit outputs the sheet discharge timing signal having different waveforms to the post-processing apparatus on the basis of an inspection result of a sheet obtained from the inspection processing unit such that the sheet discharge timing signal includes a first waveform when the sheet determined by the inspection processing unit as that there is no image abnormality is discharged and such that the sheet discharge timing signal includes a second waveform different from the first waveform when the sheet determined by the inspection processing unit as that the image abnormality occurs is discharged.

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.

During TRIM processing, an apparatus cannot read/write data from/to a semiconductor storage device, and thus cannot perform processing using the device. If the TRIM processing is executed irrespective of a user's intention, the user is to wait for completion of the TRIM processing before performing a desired function of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a nonvolatile storage unit having semiconductor areas, a control unit configured to count a value of at least one type of data, an execution unit configured to execute TRIM processing that notifies the storage unit of an unused area among the semiconductor areas and performs wear leveling on an area in use among the semiconductor areas, and a notification unit configured to provide a notification prompting the execution of the TRIM processing when the counted value of the data satisfies a condition for a threshold.

An image processing apparatus for inspection of a sheet on which a code image obtained by encoding predetermined information is printed includes: a first acquisition unit which acquires positional information indicating a position and a size of the code image in the sheet; a second acquisition unit which acquires a plurality of read images obtained by a plurality of reading units reading different portions of the sheet, respectively, wherein the read images become an image indicating the entire sheet by being combined; a determination unit which determines whether any one of the read images includes the entire code image based on the positional information; and an extraction unit which extracts the predetermined information by, in a case where there is a read image including the entire code image, reading the code image in that read image.

An information processing apparatus includes: a selection unit configured to select, based on a selection criterion, one or more first colorimetric regions in an image to be formed based on image data; an input/output control unit configured to receive a first user input for selecting one or more second colorimetric regions from the one or more first colorimetric regions selected by the selection unit; and a transmission unit configured to transmit a print job including information indicating the one or more second colorimetric regions and the image data, to an image forming apparatus.

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.

A reading apparatus includes a reading device and processing circuitry. The reading device reads a recording medium. The processing circuitry outputs maintenance information based on read information read by the reading device.

An image forming apparatus comprises a reading unit that reads a document sheet, specifies image data of a comparison source document sheet, among image data of document sheets read by the reading unit; extracts a difference by comparing the image data of the specified comparison source document sheet, and image data of each of other document sheets included in the read document sheets; and creates a composite image by composing the extracted difference and the image data of the comparison source document sheet.

An inspection system extracts feature points from a scan image and from a reference image, performs alignment of the scan image and the reference image based on the extracted feature points, inspects a printed material using the aligned scan and reference images, and performs processing in accordance with a method selected from among a plurality of methods including at least a first method and a second method in a case where the number of the feature points in the reference image is less than a predetermined number. The processing is performed such that, in the case where the number of the feature points in the reference image is less than the predetermined number, the alignment using at least the extracted feature points is performed when the first method is selected, and the inspection is then carried out, whereas the inspection is not carried out when the second method is selected.

There is provided an information processing system comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain read image data generated by reading an image printed on a sheet by a printing apparatus; and a controller configured to determine an abnormality of the printing apparatus by determining, based on the read image data obtained by the obtaining unit, a type of a stain that appears in the read image data from among a plurality of stain types