An image forming apparatus 102 that can flexibly cope with control command incompatibility caused by peripheral parts of the microcomputer device 103 to expand the function of the image forming apparatus 102. A status management unit 162 manages the state of the image forming apparatus 102, and a microcomputer command processing unit 181 communicates with the microcomputer device 103 attached to the image forming apparatus 102. The microcomputer command processing unit 181 receives request data from the microcomputer device 103 and transmits response data to the microcomputer device 103. Then, the microcomputer command processing unit 181 acquires the state of the image forming apparatus 102 from the status management unit 162 based on the received request data, and determines response data according to the acquired state of the image forming apparatus 102.

Embodiments of a fax system with adaptive protocol selection, and methods for such a system, are disclosed herein. Embodiments of a fax system may be adapted to selectively configure the protocol (both the type of protocol or aspects of a particular protocol) used in association with the transmission or reception of a specific fax. The configuration of the protocol utilized can be based on one or more attributes associated with a sender or a destination. The fax can then be transmitted or received according to those configuration parameters.

The present invention provides an information processing apparatus capable of mounting an optional hardware. The information processing apparatus comprises a processor, an image processing circuit and a socket to which the optional hardware is to be mounted, wherein the optional hardware being connected to the socket communicates with the image processing circuit. The processor transmits a predetermined packet to the optional hardware mounted to the socket, receive a response packet to the predetermined packet from the image processing circuit, determines whether or not the received response packet is an expected response packet, and controls supplying power to the optional hardware in accordance with a determination result of the received response packet.

A toner container installable in an image forming device having a controller according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A chip is positioned on the housing and configured to receive a first write command from the controller of the image forming device. The chip is further configured to determine whether a transmission cycle bit of the first write command matches a transmission cycle bit of a second write command received by the chip from the controller of the image forming device previous to the first write command. The chip is further configured to resend to the controller of the image forming device a response to the second write command if the transmission cycle bit of the first write command matches the transmission cycle bit of the second write command.

A method of processing commands from a controller of an image forming device by a chip on supply item in the image forming device is described. A toner container installable in an image forming device having a controller according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A chip is positioned on the housing and configured to receive a first write command from the controller of the image forming device. The chip is further configured to determine whether a transmission cycle bit of the first write command matches a transmission cycle bit of a second write command received by the chip from the controller of the image forming device previous to the first write command. The chip is further configured to resend to the controller of the image forming device a response to the second write command if the transmission cycle bit of the first write command matches the transmission cycle bit of the second write command.

Control circuitry includes a converter and an arbitration unit. The converter is configured to convert a first signal based on a first communication standard to an internal second signal based on a second communication standard and output the internal second signal. The arbitration unit is configured to arbitrate between access of the internal second signal output from the converter and access of an external second signal, which is also based on the second communication standard, input from outside the control circuitry.

A method for proactively creating an image product includes capturing an image of an object in a first environment by a device, storing a library of personalized products each characterized by a product type, automatically recognizing the object in the image as having a product type associated with the library of personalized products, automatically creating a design for the personalized product of the product type using personalized content, automatically displaying the design of the personalized product of the product type incorporating the selected photo in the first environment on the device, and manufacturing a physical product based on the design of the personalized product.

Embodiments of a fax system with adaptive protocol selection, and methods for such a system, are disclosed herein. Embodiments of a fax system may be adapted to selectively configure the protocol (both the type of protocol or aspects of a particular protocol) used in association with the transmission or reception of a specific fax. The configuration of the protocol utilized can be based on one or more attributes associated with a sender or a destination. The fax can then be transmitted or received according to those configuration parameters.

A method for proactively creating an image product includes capturing an image of an object in a first environment by a device, storing a library of personalized products each characterized by a product type, automatically recognizing the object in the image as having a product type associated with the library of personalized products, automatically creating a design for the personalized product of the product type using personalized content, automatically displaying the design of the personalized product of the product type incorporating the selected photo in the first environment on the device, and manufacturing a physical product based on the design of the personalized product.

A toner container installable in an image forming device having a controller according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A chip is positioned on the housing and configured to receive a first write command from the controller of the image forming device. The chip is further configured to determine whether a transmission cycle bit of the first write command matches a transmission cycle bit of a second write command received by the chip from the controller of the image forming device previous to the first write command. The chip is further configured to resend to the controller of the image forming device a response to the second write command if the transmission cycle bit of the first write command matches the transmission cycle bit of the second write command.