An image forming apparatus includes (a) a plurality of image forming unit arranged along a transfer medium, each of which is arranged movable between a lower position and an upper position; (b) an estrangement controller to move each of the image forming units between these positions; (c) a print mode management part to determine a designated print mode; (d) an image forming part to select one or more of the image forming units corresponding to the designated print mode, and to form an image to be transferred to the transfer medium by using the selected image forming units; and (e) a correction process part that performs a correction process. Wherein (f) the correction process part regularly judges whether or not a correction process execution condition is satisfied, and performs a regular correction process when the correction process execution condition is satisfied, and (g) the print mode management part judges whether or not another print process in the designated print mode has been performed after a previous regular correction process, and sets a print mode based on a judgment result by the print mode management part.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image processor configured to perform first image processing on image data having a first resolution and to add tag data to a target pixel where second image processing is to be performed; a resolution converter configured to convert the image data into image data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution, and to perform the second image processing based on arrangement of the image data having the first resolution and the tag data; a pulse generator configured to generate an on-off modulation signal and an application-current switching signal in accordance with the image data having undergone the second image processing; and a light source driver configured to drive the light source in accordance with a current setting value output from an application current setter depending on the application-current switching signal and the on-off modulation signal.

An information processing system includes: an authenticating unit configured to perform an authenticating process based on information on a user of at least one image forming apparatus, the information being transmitted from an information processing apparatus to a server, and identify the at least one image forming apparatus; an extracting unit configured to extract device information including information on availability of the identified at least one image forming apparatus and history information on the identified at least one image forming apparatus; an information output unit configured to output the device information on the identified at least one image forming apparatus to the information processing apparatus; and a display processing unit configured to display the device information transmitted from the information output unit on a display unit.

Systems and methods are provided through which a transaction, e.g., in a multi-tier, distributed application may be initiated from a portable or hand-held device, such as a smartphone. A computer system or systems, possibly remote from the device, may approve the transaction, complete it, or both, and the remote computer system or systems may cause a document to be printed, e.g., by a printer physically proximate to the device.

Aspects of the invention are illustrated by embodiments in which a drug prescription may be created electronically using a hand-held device. In such an embodiment, the prescription may be transmitted to one or more remote computer systems, such as an application server, for processing. If specified, the remote computer systems may cause a prescription to be printed, e.g., at a printer near the prescriber's location. The prescriber may sign the printed prescription and give it to a patient or pharmacy.

An information processing system includes a processor configured to receive information regarding a first threshold, and cause, based on information regarding a rejection ratio which is a ratio of printed matters not satisfying a printing criterion each image forming apparatus has and the first threshold value, the image forming apparatus in which the rejection ratio is equal to or less than the first threshold value to execute a printing operation.

Systems and methods are provided though which a transaction, e.g., in a multi-tier, distributed application may be initiated from a portable or hand-held device, such as a smartphone. A computer system or systems, possibly remote from the device, may approve the transaction, complete it, or both, and the remote computer system or systems may cause a document to be printed, e.g., by a printer physically proximate to the device. Aspects of the invention are illustrated by embodiments in which a drug prescription may be created electronically using a hand-held device. In such an embodiment, the prescription may be transmitted to one or more remote computer systems, such as an application server, for processing. If specified, the remote computer systems may cause a prescription to be printed, e.g., at a printer near the prescriber's location. The prescriber may sign the printed prescription and give it to a patient or pharmacy.

Systems and methods are provided though which a transaction, e.g., in a multi-tier, distributed application may be initiated from a portable or hand-held device, such as a smartphone. A computer system or systems, possibly remote from the device, may approve the transaction, complete it, or both, and the remote computer system or systems may cause a document to be printed, e.g., by a printer physically proximate to the device.

Aspects of the invention are illustrated by embodiments in which a drug prescription may be created electronically using a hand-held device. In such an embodiment, the prescription may be transmitted to one or more remote computer systems, such as an application server, for processing. If specified, the remote computer systems may cause a prescription to be printed, e.g., at a printer near the prescriber's location. The prescriber may sign the printed prescription and give it to a patient or pharmacy.

A printing system, which has a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network and executes a print job with one image forming apparatus among the plurality of the image forming apparatuses, comprises a first image forming apparatus, a job sending section and a second image forming apparatus. The first image forming apparatus cannot carry out a first print job due to setting parameters of the first print job. The job sending section sends the first print job to an image forming apparatus designated via an operation section of the first image forming apparatus. The second image forming apparatus which is the designated image forming apparatus executes the first print job received from the job sending section without receiving an instruction of job execution via its own operation section.

An image processing apparatus includes: a providing unit that provides a document data accumulated in a host apparatus according to a request from another apparatus in a same apparatus group to which the host apparatus belongs; and a control unit that acquires information of a size of document group accumulated in each of other image processing apparatuses from each of those image processing apparatuses in the apparatus group, and performs control of moving the document among the host apparatus and those image processing apparatuses in such a manner that the size of the document group accumulated in the host apparatus and each of those image processing apparatuses approaches uniform.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image processor configured to perform first image processing on image data having a first resolution and to add tag data to a target pixel where second image processing is to be performed; a resolution converter configured to convert the image data into image data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution, and to perform the second image processing based on arrangement of the image data having the first resolution and the tag data; a pulse generator configured to generate an on-off modulation signal and an application-current switching signal in accordance with the image data having undergone the second image processing; and a light source driver configured to drive the light source in accordance with a current setting value output from an application current setter depending on the application-current switching signal and the on-off modulation signal.