The present invention relates to a method for uploading a file from a user device (10) to a data storage service (20, 30, 40). According to the method, a category of a set of categories is assigned to the file based on at least one characteristic of the file characterising a content of the file. Furthermore, a data storage service (20, 30, 40) from a set of data storage services is assigned based on the assigned category and the file is uploaded to the assigned data storage service (20, 30, 40).

A method, apparatus, system for image processing is provided that creates an object note for a picture. The method, apparatus or system includes: automatically obtaining picture description information from a picture source, wherein the picture description information at least partly have been formed automatically; obtaining annotation information from at least two object sources, wherein the two object sources are different from the picture sources, automatically fusing the said annotation information from the two object sources to form fused annotation information, and attaching said fused annotation information to the picture to create the object note for the picture.

Synchronization techniques with state transformation are described. The synchronization techniques may include storing a data object and metadata associated with the data object at a computing device. The data object can be stored in a first representative state at the computing device. The techniques may further involve receiving user input to synchronize the data object into a second representative state at a remote computing device, automatically transforming the data object from the first representative state into the second representative state, and synchronizing the data object to a remote data object stored at the remote computing device. The remote data object can be stored in the second representative state at the remote computing device.

The invention includes a print terminal that prints input image data and outputs the input image data as a print image, and an image storage server that is connected to the print terminal via a public network, and that stores the image data sent from the print terminal and user identification information. The print terminal creates, out of the print image, user identification information based on photographing location information and photographing date/time information included as data in a user identification information image specified by the user. In a case where the print terminal receives a re-input of image data of the user identification information image, the print terminal resends user identification information to the image storage server. In a case where an image directory including the resent user identification information internally exists, the image storage server sends the image data in the image directory to the print terminal.

A printer is caused to perform a checking print for a job in a case that a predetermined user's instruction is received via a user interface. The printer is caused to perform the checking print for the job without receiving the predetermined user's instruction in a case that the job meets a predetermined condition.

A printer is caused to perform a checking print for a job in a case that a predetermined user's instruction is received via a user interface. The printer is caused to perform the checking print for the job without receiving the predetermined user's instruction in a case that the job meets a predetermined condition.

An image forming apparatus includes a reader that reads a document to generate image data, a user interface that accepts an instruction from a user, a memory device that stores instructions, and a processor that executes the instructions stored in the memory device. The instructions are executed to transmit the generated image data, set a setting regarding an output of a transmission result of transmission of the image data based on an instruction for transmitting before the user interface accepts the instruction for transmitting, and control the output of the transmission result, based on the setting, in the transmission of the image data in accordance with the instruction for transmitting.

A cell phone is disclosed for acquiring information to be transmitted to a receiving facility and for transmitting such thereto. A capture device captures information from an external source. A processor is provided for associating with the captured information a representation of the date and time of the capture of the information, such that the representation of the date and time information in association with the captured information forms augmented captured information. The processor also places the augmented captured information in association with subscriber information in a transmission of the augmented captured information to a receiving facility requiring such subscriber information. A transmitter transmits the transmission including the augmented captured information and the subscriber information to the receiving facility. An encryptor encrypts the augmented captured information with a symmetrical encryption algorithm to provide encrypted augmented captured information in the transmission with the subscriber information.

An electronic device includes: a storage unit that stores therein a plurality of images in which a first subject is imaged, and a plurality of images in which a second subject which is different from the first subject is imaged, and stores therein supplementary information about the first subject and the second subject including information about dates and times of imaging, and sites of imaging; and an extracting unit that extracts images whose dates and times of imaging are different from each other, and images imaged at a common site of imaging based on the supplementary information when extracting an image in which the first subject is imaged and an image in which the second subject is imaged. In the electronic device, when the first subject and the second subject are humans, the storage unit stores therein, as the supplementary information, birth dates of the first and second people.

An image forming apparatus acquires an input image generated by reading an image of an original document to be copied, and determination information of whether or not the input image corresponds to a blank. The image forming apparatus controls a printer to print the input image together with a page number on a sheet and output the sheet, according to a determination result indicated by the determination information. At that time, the image forming apparatus controls the printer so as to output a sheet on which the page number is not printed, with respect to the input image determined to correspond to a blank.