There is set forth herein a system including a camera device. In one embodiment the system is operative to perform image processing for detection of an event involving a human subject. There is set forth herein in one embodiment, a camera equipped system employed for fall detection.

A printer, capable of appropriately extending an existing replacement recommendation time of a component determined based on a life prescribed for the component, includes: a time determination unit (timer), a comparison examination unit (comparator), and a notification unit (notifier). The timer determines a time at which replacement of a component is recommended based on tendency information indicating a deterioration tendency of the component with respect to an operation status. The tendency information is generated from collection and storage of information on the operation status collected from a plurality of printers and information on a degree of deterioration at a disposal time of the component. The comparator compares a time output by the time determination unit with a predetermined life of the component, and examines whether to perform recommendation for component replacement. The notifier notifies of information on recommendation for component replacement based on an examination result of the comparator.

A system and method for natural language communication between a user and a multifunction peripheral incorporates a chatbot. The chatbot response to verbal user commands or inquiries with corresponding device reports or operation. The chatbot operates in conjunction monitored multifunction peripheral states and document processing jobs, and tenders a verbal reply accordingly, supplying information to inform the user of additional matters related to the inquiry and of likely usefulness to the user.

An image forming apparatus includes a first detector detecting an operation sound based on a sound wave received by a receiver; a second detector detecting basis weight of recording material based on an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and received by the receiver; a switching unit that switches destination of a reception signal from the receiver between a first path to the first detector and a second path to the second detector; and a controller that controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the first path at a first timing and to the second path at a second timing. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the second path at the first timing or to the first path at the second timing.

An image forming device to which an external device is detachably attached, including an interface that is able to attach to the external device, a storage that stores multi-tier architecture software, and a computer that executes the multi-tier architecture software. The multi-tier architecture software includes a lower layer that includes an operating system that manages the external device, an upper layer that includes an application program that accesses the external device via the lower layer, and an intervening abstraction layer that hides implementation of the lower layer from the upper layer. The upper layer includes an access control program that is able to save path information to access the external device to the storage, and relays access from the application program to the external device by accessing the lower layer without going through the abstraction layer and accessing the external device using the path information.

In a method for simulating a printing process of print jobs in a digital high-capacity printing system with print server and printing apparatus having a plurality of modules: a simulation state of the printing apparatus is activated by (e.g. a user of) a monitoring module of the digital high-capacity printing system, a print job is started with print data at the print server by the monitoring module, the print data is transferred to the printing apparatus, printing is simulated by supplying unrastered print data to an image raster computer of the printing apparatus while data is withdrawn from the image raster computer, and feedback is provided to the monitoring module of the digital high-capacity printing system about the occurrence of an error message. The speed of the removal may correspond to the print speed.

An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of image data read from a plurality of areas of a print product, and an evaluation unit configured to obtain degrees of streaks in the plurality of areas and tilts in the plurality of areas using the plurality of image data and evaluate image quality of the print product based on the degrees and the tilts.

An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding portion, a detecting portion, and a controller. The controller sets a state of the detecting portion at a first monitoring state in which a detection result of the detecting portion is acquired to detect presence or absence of the recording material by supplying the electric power to the detecting portion in a first cyclic period. In case that the detection result of the detecting portion changes in the first monitoring state, the controller switches the state of the detecting portion to a second monitoring state in which a detection result of the detecting portion is acquired by supplying the electric power to the detecting portion in a second cyclic period shorter than the first cyclic period.

Examples of the disclosure relate to at least apparatus, methods, and computer programs, configured to control capture of two images of an area, across which a pulse propagates, using different shutter scanning directions. Either the images are converted into pulse-phase maps of the area and a pulse-phase difference map obtained which identifies differences between the pulse-phase maps of the area, or a colour difference map is obtained which identifies differences between the two images and the colour difference map is converted into a pulse-phase difference map. A shutter-time difference map is obtained which identifies differences between capture times of corresponding locations in the two images. Using the shutter-time difference map, the pulse-phase difference map is corrected to obtain a map of pulse-phase changes which have occurred over a duration of a shutter scan.

A system and method for natural language communication between a user and a multifunction peripheral incorporates a chatbot. The chatbot response to verbal user commands or inquiries with corresponding device reports or operation. The chatbot operates in conjunction monitored multifunction peripheral states and document processing jobs, and tenders a verbal reply accordingly, supplying information to inform the user of additional matters related to the inquiry and of likely usefulness to the user.