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.

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.

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.

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 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.