A printed document client receives a first print stream for a soft copy document, determines whether one or more conditions for adding a graphical symbol to the printed document are satisfied, and when the one or more conditions for adding the graphical symbol to the printed document are satisfied, adds the graphical symbol to the first print stream to generate a second print stream that includes the graphical symbol, and outputs the second print stream to a printer so the graphical symbol is printed on the printed document corresponding to the soft copy document. The printed document can be a hard copy document or a soft copy document generated from the second print stream.

An image decoloring apparatus includes a reader configured to read an image on a sheet to acquire image data, a storage section configured to store the image data acquired by the reader, and a first heater configured to heat the sheet. The apparatus further includes a difference extractor configured to extract difference image data based on first image data read from the sheet before it is heated by the first heater and second image data read from the sheet after it is heated by the first heater. The apparatus additionally includes a setting section configured to set a password required to access the difference image data.

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes: an image former that forms an image on a recording medium; an image reader that reads an image formed on a recording medium; an adjuster that adjusts the image former on a basis of a reading result obtained by the image reader by reading an image formed on a recording medium by the image former; and a processor configured to output, to an external apparatus used for diagnosis of the image forming apparatus, the reading result of the image formed on the recording medium by the image former when adjustment is performed by the adjuster.

An image reading apparatus includes an image reading device, a communication device, and a control device. The image reading device reads a source document and generates image data. The communication device communicates with an information processing apparatus via a network. The control device includes a processor, and acts as a controller that generates a first image file based on the image data, when the processor executes a control program. When the image data includes code data corresponding to a code indicating a destination of the image file, the controller generates a second image file by deleting the code data from the image data, and transmits the second image file to the destination indicated by the code, and acquired from the code data, through the communication device.

According to aspects illustrated herein, methods and systems for retaining duplex scanning information in a scanned output file, is disclosed. The method includes receiving a document for scanning, having multiple pages, wherein each page has a first side such as a front side and a second side such as a back side. Then, a check for selection of a duplex scanning feature by a user, is performed. Upon scanning, an image data representing an image of the document is generated. The image data and the duplex scanning feature selected by the user is processed to generate a scanned output file. The duplex scanning information is generated, while generating the scanned output file. The duplex scanning information is retained in the scanned output file, for later retrieval and use. The duplex scanning information helps identify the first side and the second side in the scanned output file.

An image processing apparatus which is capable of merging character strings with an original image without causing garbling. A first storage unit stores first character codes corresponding to a first language in accordance with administrator's input. A second storage unit stores a second character codes corresponding to a second character in accordance with login user's input. A reading unit reads an original image in accordance with login user's input. A generation unit generates a first character image corresponding to the first language on the basis of the first character codes and generates a second character image corresponding to the second language on the basis of the second character codes. A printing unit carries out a printing process based on the first character image, the second character image and the original image.

A copy method used in a cloud server and a peripheral apparatus connected to the cloud server through a network includes steps of: scanning a document by the peripheral apparatus to obtain old image data containing an old information block; transmitting the old information block to the cloud server through the network; generating a new information block based on the old image data by the cloud server, wherein the cloud server generates the new information block being different from the old information block and containing new copy information according to old copy information; transmitting the new information block from the cloud server to the peripheral apparatus; and printing out new image data, containing the new copy information and a portion of the old image data, on a medium by the peripheral apparatus.

A printed document manager manages printed documents and is separate from Document Management Systems (DMSs) that manage electronic soft copy documents. One or more DMSs are registered with a postmark server. A client computing device executes a postmark client, detects a print event for a specified document, and queries a postmark server to determine whether the print event for the specified document should include a graphical postmark. In response, the postmark server queries one or more of the registered DMSs to determine whether the specified document matches a document in any of the repositories of the registered DMS(s). When the specified document to be printed matches a document in a registered DMS, the postmark server authorizes the postmark client to add the graphical postmark in a print stream corresponding to the print event for the specified document.

An output product producing method includes acquiring output information, specifying an output condition for an output section, converting the output information into a code having an error-correction amount corresponding to the output condition, and causing the output section to output an output product including the code under the output condition.

There is provided a main server which includes an acquisition unit that acquires voucher image data obtained by reading a voucher, a reception unit that receives designation as to whether or not to assign a timestamp to the voucher image data, a TS assignment processing unit that performs processing for assigning the timestamp to the voucher image data in a case where the reception unit receives designation to assign the timestamp, and a notification unit that performs notification that prompts a user to designate as to whether or not to assign the timestamp, when a first deadline which is set for the voucher image data arrives in a case where the reception unit does not receive the designation as to whether or not to assign the timestamp.