An information processing apparatus connectable to one or more devices via a network. The apparatus includes a measuring unit measuring an inclination of the apparatus; a determining unit determining whether the inclination of the apparatus relative to a given surface of one of the one or more devices is within a predetermined inclination range; a receiving unit that receives radio waves; an obtaining unit obtaining identification information from the radio waves; a radio wave strength measuring unit measuring strength of the radio waves; a selection unit determining whether to select a given one of the one or more devices based on the strength of the radio waves; and a connection unit connecting the information processing apparatus to one of the one or more devices selected by the selection unit and for which the inclination of the apparatus is within the predetermined inclination range.

A server includes memory, a connection establisher, a first transmission request receiver, a first determiner, a first screen data transmitter, a second screen data transmitter, and a first disconnector. The connection establisher establishes continuous connection with a communication device. The first transmission request receiver receives a first transmission request t for displaying a setting screen corresponding to a first type of service. In response to the first transmission request being received from the external device, the first determiner determine whether a second type of service is currently provided. The first screen data transmitter transmits first screen data for displaying a first setting screen to the external device in response to the first determiner determining that the second type of service is not currently provided. The first disconnector disconnects the continuous connection in response to selection of a disconnection button included in the first setting screen displayed on the external device.

An image forming apparatus, detection method, and image forming system are provided. The apparatus includes a communication interface, a detector, and a notification interface. The communication interface communicates with a wireless tag at a connection position where a sheet conveyance path is formed between the apparatus and a retrofit device equipped with the wireless tag. The detector detects a connection state between the retrofit device and the apparatus based on a communication result of the communication interface. The notification interface provides a notification based on the connection state detected by the detector. The detection method includes detecting a connection state between the retrofit device and the apparatus based on a communication result of the communication interface, and providing a notification based on the connection state detected in the detection. The image forming system includes an apparatus and a retrofit device provided with a wireless tag.

An image forming apparatus, detection method, and image forming system are provided. The apparatus includes a communication interface, a detector, and a notification interface. The communication interface communicates with a wireless tag at a connection position where a sheet conveyance path is formed between the apparatus and a retrofit device equipped with the wireless tag. The detector detects a connection state between the retrofit device and the apparatus based on a communication result of the communication interface. The notification interface provides a notification based on the connection state detected by the detector. The detection method includes detecting a connection state between the retrofit device and the apparatus based on a communication result of the communication interface, and providing a notification based on the connection state detected in the detection. The image forming system includes an apparatus and a retrofit device provided with a wireless tag.

A first communication apparatus may repeat a broadcast transmission of a trigger signal via a second interface, which is a signal to be used by a second communication apparatus as a trigger for sending a wireless connection request to the first communication apparatus. The wireless connection request may be for forming a first wireless network to which both the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus belong. The first wireless network may be a network for performing a wireless communication via a first interface. The first communication apparatus may receive the wireless connection request via the first interface from the second communication apparatus which has received the trigger signal, and establish a first wireless connection via the first interface with the second communication apparatus so as to form the first wireless network.

A medium processing apparatus includes a medium processing mechanism that processes a medium, a first board configured to communicate with an external apparatus by a first communication method and control the medium processing mechanism, a second board configured to communicate with the first board by the first communication method, a third board configured to communicate with the second board by the first communication method and communicate with the external apparatus by a second communication method different from the first communication method, a switcher that switches a communication destination of the first board to the second board or the external apparatus, and a notification section that makes, when the communication destination of the first board is switched to the second board by the switcher, a notification of communication information based on the second communication method.

An image forming system includes a mobile terminal apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The mobile terminal apparatus displays a captured image of an operation panel of the image forming apparatus and transmits, in response to a user operation on the captured image, captured image data indicating the captured image and operation position data indicating a position of the user operation to the image forming apparatus. Based on the captured image data and the operation position data received from the mobile terminal apparatus, the image forming apparatus identifies an indirectly operated part of the operation panel, and executes an action corresponding to the identified part.

Method and system are described for fax transmission distribution by an online fax service provider. In one embodiment, an electronic document is received, over a computer network, to be routed to a fax telephone number. A request is transmitted to an online database to determine whether the fax telephone number is registered to not receive incoming fax transmissions over a circuit-switched network. In response to determining that the fax telephone number is registered, the electronic document is transmitted to a destination address. In response to determining that the fax telephone number is not registered, an outgoing call is placed to the fax telephone number and the electronic document is transmitted in a fax format over the outgoing call.

Systems and methods are provided though which a transaction, e.g., in a multi-tier, distributed application may be initiated from a portable or hand-held device, such as a smartphone. A computer system or systems, possibly remote from the device, may approve the transaction, complete it, or both, and the remote computer system or systems may cause a document to be printed, e.g., by a printer physically proximate to the device.

Aspects of the invention are illustrated by embodiments in which a drug prescription may be created electronically using a hand-held device. In such an embodiment, the prescription may be transmitted to one or more remote computer systems, such as an application server, for processing. If specified, the remote computer systems may cause a prescription to be printed, e.g., at a printer near the prescriber's location. The prescriber may sign the printed prescription and give it to a patient or pharmacy.

A communication system comprising an information processing apparatus and a mobile terminal, wherein when the mobile terminal receives a packet transmitted from the information processing apparatus, it determines whether or not a login condition for transmitting a login request is satisfied based on a received signal strength of the packet, and it transmits the login request to the information processing apparatus in a case where it determines that the login condition is satisfied, and does not transmit the login request to the information processing apparatus in a case where it is determines that the login condition is not satisfied.