Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Junko Nemoto

Yoshio Kimura

Yuan Shao

Wilson Chiu

Andrew Daborn

Disclosed is an image forming apparatus in which even in the event that a print job is suspended by reason of payment of an insufficient fee, image formation continues effectively and appropriately. The image forming apparatus, which charges for image formation processing, has determination means for determining whether or not a fee necessary in order to execute a specified print job has been received; printing suspension means for suspending the print job if the determination means has determined that a fee received is insufficient; and authentication means for authenticating user information during suspension of printing. The apparatus further includes printing control means for saving data relating to the suspended print job and accepting a print job from a different user if use of user information that is identical with user information of the suspended print job has not been sensed by the authentication means.

Image forming apparatus, method of controlling same and control program

An approval workflow management system capable of preventing a mismatch from being caused between a document of which the contents have been confirmed for approval, and an electronic document stored in a file server, for approval, thereby enhancing the reliability of an approval workflow. The approval workflow system is formed by connecting client computers, MFPs, a file server, and an approval information management server to a network. When an MFP receives a request for printing a file, from the client computer, the MFP requests the file server to restrict editing the file, and the approval information management to approve the file. When the approval information management server notifies the MFP that approval of the file has been successful, the MFP requests the file server to cancel restriction of editing the file.

Approval workflow management system and printing apparatus with control over file editing restrictions

An image processing apparatus is premised on the assumption that it is connected to a policy server. If no access policy is given to a file to be transmitted, the image processing apparatus forms definition information for defining an access policy, and registers the formed definition information in the policy server. The image processing apparatus then transmits, to a client computer across a network, a file to which the access policy is given.

Image processing apparatus and file transmission method

When a user logs in and inputs document data into a box, a usage history of the box as used by the user is determined by referring to a user information management table. If there is a record, process attributes are set, and a process associated with the box is executed. If there is no record, a message indicating that there is no record is displayed. If execution is selected in response to this display, the process is executed. Once the process has ended, the usage record of the box as used by the user is updated to 'used'.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Junko Nemoto