Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.

Minolta Company, Ltd.

Shuichiro Kaneko

Hiroyuki Ozawa

Yoshikazu Ikenoue

Kazuyuki Fukui

Norihisa Takayama

Mikio Masui

Hiroshi Ootsuka

Kiyofumi Hashimoto

Katsuhiko Asai

Kenji Ogasawara

Noriyuki Matsushima

In order to promote reception of transmitted data, an image-processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of image-processing apparatuses through a network and has a designation unit to receive a designation of an arbitrary destination user as a receiver of data; a storing unit to store the data in a storing device so as to enable reading of the data by an operation by the destination user designated by the designation unit; and a control unit to execute a predetermined action with respect to the destination user designated by the designation unit when no reading operation for the data is executed by the destination user after a predetermined elapse of time from storing the data in the storing device.

Image-processing apparatus, image-processing system, and method for transmitting and receiving data suited for transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of image-processing apparatuses

An authentication apparatus outputs an application form to be used in applying for access authorization, which is printed with an identification image showing information including identification information of terminal equipment. The authentication apparatus scans the application form which is filled out by a user as required, recognizes the abovementioned information from the image data obtained by scanning, and authorizes the terminal equipment that corresponds to the abovementioned recognized information to have access to a specified network.

System and apparatus for authorizing access to a network and a method of using the same

In order to share user identification information among a plurality of MFPs without using a server, each of a plurality of MFPs forming an image processing system stores in a HDD registered user information which at least includes the user identification information for identifying a user, requests another MFP to transmit registered user information stored in the HDD provided in that MFP, receives the registered user information transmitted by that MFP according to the request made by a request portion, and stores in the HDD user data that at least includes the received registered user information.

Image processing system, image processing apparatus, and image processing program product suited for transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of image processing apparatuses

In order to efficiently store data that is to be transmitted or received, an image-processing system is provided with a plurality of MFPs and has: a designation unit to designate an arbitrary destination user as a receiver of data; a specifying unit to specify an MFP among the plurality of MFPs, the destination user designated by the designation unit belonging to the specified MFP; and a control unit to control switching between a first mode and a second mode in accordance with a predetermined condition, the first mode being for storing the data in a predetermined storing device on the network so as to enable reading of the data by an operation by the destination user designated by the designation unit, the second mode being for, instead of storing the data in the predetermined storing device, transmitting the data to the MFP specified by the specifying unit, the destination user belonging to the specified image-processing apparatus.

Information-processing system, method for transmitting and receiving data, image-processing apparatus suited especially for transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of image-processing apparatuses connected to network

The data processing system includes a storage portion to store user data that at least includes user identification information for identifying a user, a destination designation portion to display a user identified by the user identification information stored in the storage portion so as to allow designation of the user as a destination and a data designation portion to designate data to be delivered to the destination designated by the destination designation portion, a processing method designation portion to designate a processing method for processing the data, a user identification information input portion to accept an input of user identification information, a data extracting portion to extract data whose destination is the user specified by the user identification information inputted, and a data processing portion to process the extracted data by a processing method designated by the processing method designation portion.

Data processing system, data processing apparatus, and data processing program product suited for transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of image processing apparatuses

To allow inputting and outputting of data using any apparatus of a plurality of MFPs, each of the plurality of MFPs includes a HDD to store user data including user identification information for identifying a plurality of users, a job attribute information generating portion to generate job attribute information which associates location information on the network of data inputted in a scanner with one of a plurality of user identification information, a control portion to control so as to store the job attribute information in HDDs of other MFPs connected to the network, a user identification information input portion to accept an input of the user identification information, a job attribute information obtaining portion to obtain from the HDDs of other MFPs connected to the network the job attribute information including the user identification information inputted, and a data obtaining portion to obtain data associated by the job attribute information obtained.

When a new MFP is connected in a state where a plurality of MFPs are connected to a network, each of a plurality of MFPs obtains an IP address of MPF from the new MFP, and if user data including the obtained IP address is stored, then transmits to the new MFP the registered user information associated with the obtained IP address by the user data. On the other hand, if user data including the obtained IP address is not stored in HDD, the new MFP is requested to transmit registered user information. Upon reception of the registered user information, the new MFP displays a confirmation window to ask the user for permission to write that registered user information into HDD. Upon reception of the request, the new MFP transmits registered user information. This facilitates the setting for newly connecting an apparatus to the network.

Image processing system including plurality of image processing apparatuses used by plurality of users, image processing apparatus included in the image processing system

A printing device receives print data for confidential printing, and decides the output destination of the print data received for confidential printing either to be a lockable output bin that can be opened by a key so that the print data can be outputted in a format of being printed on paper, or a digital output bin that is capable of holding the print data and allowing the print data held there to be taken out for printing based on user verification.

Printing method and printing device

An image processing system includes a plurality of MFPs (Multi Function Peripheral) connected to a network, and each of the plurality of MFPs is provided with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) to store registered user information associating user identification information for identifying a user and personal information related to that user, and when the user identification information is inputted, it determines whether the personal information associated with the user identification information is stored in the HDD or not, and if the personal information is stored, the personal information is read from the HDD, and if the personal information is not stored, it transmits a personal information transmission request including the user identification information to another MFP, and receives the personal information from the MFP that stores the registered user information including the user identification information, and controls a prescribed apparatus operation based on the read or received personal information.

Image processing system having a plurality of users utilizing a plurality of image processing apparatuses connected to network, image processing apparatus, and image processing program product executed by image processing apparatus

In order to facilitate the designation of a destination of data while allowing the data to be delivered in a processing method desired by a user at the destination, an MFP includes a registration portion to register for each user a processing method for processing data, a destination designation portion to display a user registered in the registration portion in such a manner that the user can be designated as a destination, a data designation portion to designate data to be delivered to the destination designated by the destination designation portion, and a data processing portion to process data by the processing method registered in the registration portion for the user if data whose destination is the user registered in the registration portion has been delivered.

Data processing system, data processing method, and data processing program product suited for transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of image processing apparatuses

When user identification information is input, if user data including the input user identification information is stored, an MFP serving as an operation terminal requests an MFP serving as a home terminal specified by the apparatus identification information associated with the accepted user identification information by the user data to transmit the registered user information including the input user identification information and stores the registered user information received in response to the transmission request. Therefore, with a user's simple operation of inputting user identification information at an MFP as an operation terminal, the registered user information is transmitted from an MFP as a home terminal storing the registered user information and is then stored in the MFP as an operation terminal.

Image processing system including plurality of image processing apparatuses connected to network for use by plurality of users, and image processing apparatus included in the image processing system

A liquid crystal display device which has a liquid crystal display which uses liquid crystal with a memory effect. When a contact action with a screen of the liquid crystal display is made, information displayed thereon is written again thereon. Also, if no changes have been made on the information displayed for a whole day, the same information is automatically written on the liquid crystal display. The display device is attachable to and detachable from a household electrical appliance. The information is about at least one of a calendar, a recipe, a massage, stock, a picture and data reception from outside, etc.

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Yokohama, Japan

Shuichiro Kaneko