If an image read by an image reading unit is formed by an image forming unit, a control unit synthesizes a first encoded image and a second encoded image with the image formed by the image forming unit to generate a synthetic image, the first encoded image representing encoded data where reading setting information used for the image reading unit to read the image is encoded, the second encoded image representing encoded data where forming setting information used for the image forming unit to form the image is encoded, the first encoded image being synthesized at a position where a direction in which the document is read by the image reading unit is specifiable, and the second encoded image being synthesized at a position where a direction in which the image is formed on the sheet is specifiable. The image forming unit forms the synthetic image on the sheet.

A reading apparatus includes a communication unit, a scanner, and a processor. The communication unit communicates with a wireless tag provided on paper. The scanner scans the paper. The processor acquires data from the wireless tag through the communication unit, acquires an image from the paper by using the scanner, and generates a file in which the data is embedded in the image as hidden characters.

The present invention relate generally to signal encoding and decoding. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining color image data or color video data, the color image data or color video data comprising an encoded signal pattern, the encoded signal pattern aiding detection of an encoded message, the pattern comprising first frequency components and second frequency components, the color image data or color video data comprising first color data and second color data, in which the first color data comprises the first frequency components encoded therein, and the second color data comprises the second frequency components encoded therein; combining the first color data and the second color data, said combining yielding combined color data; utilizing one or more processors or electronic processing circuitry, detecting the encoded signal pattern from the combined color data, said detecting yielding rotation and scale information; and using the rotation and scale information to detect the encoded message from the combined color data. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided too.

An image processing system receives an input of authentication information from a user, and authenticates the user based on the received authentication information. The image processing system further selects a folder setting method in a case where an operation key for setting a folder of the user as a destination of image data is operated, sets the folder according to the selected folder setting method in response to the operation of the operation key, and sends the image data to the set folder as the destination.

Information apparatus and application software supporting printing over air or network are herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus may include one or more software components that include (1) a discovery component to discover a supported printer in a local area network (LAN) and to receive device information related to the printer (e.g., capability, language or format supported, identification) from the printer, and (2) a printing component to generate or obtain print data based on the device information received and to transmit the print data to the discovered printer. After establishing the connection to the LAN, application software (e.g., Internet browser, email, photos, documents) in the information apparatus may print digital content by using the discovery component to discover the printer in the LAN, and may use the printing component to obtain and transmit print data in a form that is acceptable to the printer for printing the digital content.

An image printing system includes a plurality of image printing apparatuses each configured to accept a print order and print the image data, a payment machine performing a billing process, and a ticketing machine. If payment at the payment machine is selected, the image printing apparatus issues a first ticket and transmits order details to the payment machine. If payment at a counter is selected, the image printing apparatus 1 transmits second key information to the ticketing machine. After performing a billing process, the payment machine issues a third ticket on which first key information is printed and transmits the first key information to the image printing apparatus. The ticketing machine issues a fourth ticket including the second key information. The image printing apparatus prints the image data if accepting input of the key information printed on the third ticket or the fourth ticket.

A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.

An image processing apparatus comprises an image processing device. The image processing device comprises a receiving port and a processor connected together. The receiving port receives old image data corresponding to a document image of a document. The processor divides the old image data into first area image data corresponding to a first area image of the document, and second area image data corresponding to a second area image of the document, and further performs image enhancement processing on the first area image data to obtain enhanced first area image data. Thus, the first area image may be separated from the second area image, and the image enhancement processing is performed on the first area image. The enhanced first area image data and the second area image data are separately outputted or combined for output. An image processing method for the image processing apparatus is also provided.

An information forwarding device includes a forwarding unit, a reception unit, and a control unit. The forwarding unit forwards information stored in a predetermined folder to a preset destination. The reception unit receives an edit to a destination stored in advance. In a case in which the reception unit receives an edit to a destination set as a forwarding destination of the forwarding by the forwarding unit, the control unit executes control to defer of the forwarding of the information by the forwarding unit to the destination after the edit until a predetermined condition is satisfied.

An information processing apparatus includes a storage device, a generating circuit, and an initialization circuit. The storage device stores control device configuration information in relation to resolution information of a control device. The control device configuration information is included in list information that is a list of information on the control device. The generating circuit generates dummy list information that is a dummy of the list information using the control device configuration information. The initialization circuit initializes the control device based on the dummy list information.