A method and apparatus for generating image information. A specific embodiment of the method includes: acquiring a rotation angle and a scaling of a target image relative to a reference image, and acquiring an intrinsic parameter of a video camera collecting the reference image; generating a projective transformation matrix based on the rotation angle, the scaling and the intrinsic parameter; generating a coordinate offset of the each neighborhood pixel of the feature point in the reference image; generating, based on a coordinate of the feature point in the reference image, the coordinate offset of the each neighborhood pixel of the feature point in the reference image and the projective transformation matrix, coordinates of the each neighborhood pixel of the feature point in the reference image; and generating a feature point descriptor of the feature point.

The present disclosure relates to formulation and implementation of rules associated with printing devices. One example embodiment includes a method. The method includes monitoring, by a computing device, events associated with one or more printing devices. The method also includes identifying, by the computing device, a correlation between a first event type of the monitored events and a second event type of the monitored events. Further, the method includes formulating, by the computing device, a rule based on the correlation. According to the rule, when the first event type occurs, the computing device causes the second event type to occur in response. In addition, the method includes receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the rule should be implemented on the one or more printing devices. The method further includes implementing, by the computing device, the rule on the one or more printing devices.

An information processing apparatus includes a determining unit that determines an information processing apparatus state realized while a bypass operation to bypass a particular fault is not being performed and a changing unit that changes, when it is no longer necessary to perform the bypass operation while the bypass operation is being performed, a current information processing apparatus state to the information processing apparatus state that is determined by the determining unit and that is realized while the bypass operation is not being performed.

A multi-function device (MFD) is disclosed. For example, the MFD includes, a communications interface to establish a communication session with other MFDs within a community of MFDs, a processor, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect an undesirable image quality level of a print job, determine an optimal setting MFD in the community of MFDs, request optimal settings from the optimal setting MFD, receive the optimal settings from the optimal setting MFD, configure settings on the MFD in accordance with the optimal settings, and execute the print job with the optimal settings.

A storage unit stores therein registered data about image forming devices connected to each other via a network. An acquisition unit refers to the registered data to acquire the number of the image forming devices. A consumption ratio monitor unit monitors a consumption ratio of consumables in at least one of the image forming devices. A prediction unit predicts a predicted time for replenishment or replacement of consumables for each image forming device monitored by the consumption rate monitor, based on the consumption ratio of consumables thereof, and corrects the predicted time based on comparison between a number that the acquisition unit has acquired and another number that the acquisition unit previously acquired. A requisition unit issues a request for replenishment or replacement of consumables at the predicted time.

In a communication apparatus, a processor receives first and second requests from an external device via an internet. The first request has first port information indicating a first port. The second request has second port information indicating a second port. In response to receiving the first and second requests, the processor transmits first and second responses to the external device via the internet. After transmitting the first response and the second response, the processor receives result information from the external device via the internet. The result information is based on a fact that the external apparatus receives the first request and the second request; and performing an addressing process on a basis of the result information. The addressing process is for addressing a security issue concerning the first port and the second port.

A diagnostic apparatus includes a first acquiring unit that acquires sound information, a second acquiring unit that acquires operation information indicating a component in operation among a plurality of components of an analysis target apparatus, and a display unit that, when the acquired sound information is reproduced, displays operating states of the plurality of components at the time point when the reproduced sound is acquired, using the operation information.

A monitoring apparatus which acquires, at a monitoring timing, device information which is a target of collection from a device includes a status information acquisition unit configured to acquire from the device, status information that includes information representing a power supply state of the device; and a monitoring interval setting unit configured to set a monitoring interval which is an interval of the monitoring timing in accordance with the power supply state denoted by the status information which has been acquired.

An image forming apparatus accepts a start of the remote maintenance function for resolving a failure of the image forming apparatus in accordance with instructions of an operator using an external terminal, generates support data including information of at least one of device information of the print server and device information of the image forming apparatus, which is that is information necessary when the operator analyzes the failure of the image forming apparatus, and transmits it to the external terminal.

The present disclosure relates to formulation and implementation of rules associated with printing devices. One example embodiment includes a method. The method includes monitoring, by a computing device, events associated with one or more printing devices. The method also includes identifying, by the computing device, a correlation between a first event type of the monitored events and a second event type of the monitored events. Further, the method includes formulating, by the computing device, a rule based on the correlation. According to the rule, when the first event type occurs, the computing device causes the second event type to occur in response. In addition, the method includes receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the rule should be implemented on the one or more printing devices. The method further includes implementing, by the computing device, the rule on the one or more printing devices.