Author: claimsbot

1. A method for authenticating a client within a distributed data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a digital certificate from the client at a host within the distributed data processing system;
obtaining a host identity for the client from the digital certificate, wherein the host identity for the client identifies the client to the host, and wherein the host is not a certifying authority that issued the digital certificate;
retrieving host-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity from the digital certificate;
decrypting the host-decryptable secret data with a host private key to generate secret data; and
authenticating the client at the host using the host identity and the secret data.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the host acts as a proxy for the client.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
verifying the received digital certificate.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
generating, at the client, a request for a digital certificate comprising host identity mapping data;
sending the request for the digital certificate to a certifying authority (CA); and
receiving a digital certificate comprising host identity mapping data from the certifying authority.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
storing the host identity in the request for the digital certificate;
encrypting secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of the certifying authority to generate CA-decryptable secret data; and
storing the CA-decryptable secret data in the request for the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the CA-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the request for the digital certificate.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
receiving, at the certifying authority, the request for a digital certificate;
generating the digital certificate in response to the received request for the digital certificate; and
sending the generated digital certificate to the client.
7. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
retrieving CA-decryptable secret data from the host identity mapping data in the request for the digital certificate;
decrypting the CA-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity using a private key of the certifying authority to generate secret data;
encrypting the secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of the host to generate the host-decryptable secret data; and
storing the host-decryptable secret data in the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the digital certificate.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital certificate comprises multiple host identities for multiple hosts within the distributed data processing system.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital certificate is formatted according to the X.509 standard.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity is stored within an X.509 extension within the digital certificate.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
performing multiple authentication processes within the distributed data processing system for the client through the host using information within the digital certificate.
12. A method for generating a digital certificate, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a certifying authority (CA), a request for a digital certificate from a client, wherein the request for a digital certificate comprises host identity mapping data, wherein a host identity for the client within the host identity mapping data identifies the client to a host, and wherein the host is not the certifying authority;
generating the digital certificate in response to the received request for a digital certificate; and
sending the generated digital certificate to the client, wherein the digital certificate comprises host identity mapping data.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
retrieving CA-decryptable secret data from the host identity mapping data in the request for a digital certificate;
decrypting the CA-decryptable secret data associated with a host identity using a private key of the certifying authority to generate secret data;
encrypting the secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of a host to generate a host-decryptable secret data; and
storing the host-decryptable secret data in the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the digital certificate.
14. An apparatus for authenticating a client within a distributed data processing system, the apparatus comprising:
first receiving means for receiving a digital certificate from the client at a host within the distributed data processing system;
obtaining means for obtaining a host identity for the client from the digital certificate, wherein the host identity for the client identifies the client to the host, and wherein the host is not a certifying authority that issued the digital certificate;
first retrieving means for retrieving host-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity from the digital certificate;
first decrypting means for decrypting the host-decryptable secret data with a host private key to generate secret data; and
authenticating means for authenticating the client at the host using the host identity and the secret data.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the host acts as a proxy for the client.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
verifying means for verifying the received digital certificate.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
first generating means for generating, at the client, a request for a digital certificate comprising host identity mapping data;
first sending means for sending the request for the digital certificate to a certifying authority (CA); and
second receiving means for receiving a digital certificate comprising host identity mapping data from the certifying authority.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:
first storing means for storing the host identity in the request for the digital certificate;
first encrypting means for encrypting secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of the certifying authority to generate CA-decryptable secret data; and
second storing means for storing the CA-decryptable secret data in the request for the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the CA encrypted CA-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the request for the digital certificate.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:
third receiving means for receiving, at the certifying authority, the request for a digital certificate;
second generating means for generating the digital certificate in response to the received request for the digital certificate; and
second sending means for sending the generated digital certificate to the client.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:
second retrieving means for retrieving CA-decryptable secret data from the host identity mapping data in the request for the digital certificate;
second decrypting means for decrypting the CA-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity using a private key of the certifying authority to generate secret data;
second encrypting means for encrypting the secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of the host to generate the host-decryptable secret data; and
third storing means for storing the host-decryptable secret data in the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the digital certificate.
21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the digital certificate comprises multiple host identities for multiple hosts within the distributed data processing system.
22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the digital certificate is formatted according to the X.509 standard.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity is stored within an X.509 extension within the digital certificate.
24. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
performing means for performing multiple authentication processes within the distributed data processing system for the client through the host using information within the digital certificate.
25. An apparatus for generating a digital certificate, the apparatus comprising:
receiving means for receiving, at a certifying authority (CA), a request for a digital certificate from a client, wherein the request for a digital certificate comprises host identity mapping data, wherein a host identity for the client within the host identity mapping data identifies the client to a host, and wherein the host is not the certifying authority;
generating means for generating the digital certificate in response to the received request for a digital certificate; and
sending means for sending the generated digital certificate to the client, wherein the digital certificate comprises host identity mapping data.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:
retrieving means for retrieving CA-decryptable secret data from the host identity mapping data in the request for a digital certificate;
decrypting means for decrypting the CA-decryptable secret data associated with a host identity using a private key of the certifying authority to generate secret data;
encrypting means for encrypting the secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of a host to generate host-decryptable secret data; and
storing means for storing the host-decryptable secret data in the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the digital certificate.
27. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for use in a distributed data processing system for authenticating a client, the computer program product comprising:
instructions for receiving a digital certificate from the client at a host within the distributed data processing system;
instructions for obtaining a host identity for the client from the digital certificate, wherein the host identity for the client identifies the client to the host, and wherein the host is not a certifying authority that issued the digital certificate;
instructions for retrieving host-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity from the digital certificate;
instructions for decrypting the host-decryptable secret data with a host private key to generate secret data; and
instructions for authenticating the client at the host using the host identity and the data.
28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the host acts as a proxy for the client.
29. The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:
instructions for verifying the received digital certificate.
30. The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:
instructions for generating, at the client, a request for a digital certificate comprising host identity mapping data;
instructions for sending the request for the digital certificate to a certifying authority (CA); and
instructions for receiving a digital certificate comprising host identity mapping data from the certifying authority.
31. The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising:
instructions for storing the host identity in the request for the digital certificate;
instructions for encrypting secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of the certifying authority to generate CA-decryptable secret data; and
instructions for storing the CA-decryptable secret data in the request for the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the CA-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the request for the digital certificate.
32. The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising:
instructions for receiving, at the certifying authority, the request for a digital certificate;
instructions for generating the digital certificate in response to the received request for the digital certificate; and
instructions for sending the generated digital certificate to the client.
33. The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising:
instructions for retrieving CA-decryptable secret data from the host identity mapping data in the request for the digital certificate;
instructions for decrypting the CA-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity using a private key of the certifying authority to generate secret data;
instructions for encrypting the secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of the host to generate the host-decryptable secret data; and
instructions for storing the host-decryptable secret data in the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the digital certificate.
34. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the digital certificate comprises multiple host identities for multiple hosts within the distributed data processing system.
35. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the digital certificate is formatted according to the X.509 standard.
36. The computer program product of claim 35 wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity is stored within an X.509 extension within the digital certificate.
37. The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:
instructions for performing multiple authentication processes within the distributed data processing system for the client through the host using information within the digital certificate.
38. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for use in a distributed data processing system for generating a digital certificate, the computer program product comprising:
instructions for receiving, at a certifying authority (CA), a request for a digital certificate from a client, wherein the request for a digital certificate comprises host identity mapping data, wherein a host identity for the client within the host identity mapping data identifies the client to a host, and wherein the host is not the certifying authority;
instructions for generating the digital certificate in response to the received request for a digital certificate; and
instructions for sending the generated digital certificate to the client, wherein the digital certificate comprises host identity mapping data.
39. The computer program product of claim 38 further comprising:
instructions for retrieving CA-decryptable secret data from the host identity mapping data in the request for a digital certificate;
instructions for decrypting the CA-decryptable secret data associated with a host identity using a private key of the certifying authority to generate secret data;
instructions for encrypting the secret data associated with the host identity using a public key of a host to generate host-decryptable secret data; and
instructions for storing the host-decryptable secret data in the digital certificate, wherein the host identity and the host-decryptable secret data comprise the host identity mapping data in the digital certificate.
40. A data structure representing a digital certificate for use in a data processing system, the data structure comprising:
an issuer name;
a signature;
a subject name; and
an extension, wherein the extension comprises a host identity and host-decryptable secret data associated with the host identity, wherein the host identity identifies a client to a host, wherein the host is not a certifying authority that issued the digital certificate, and wherein the host-decryptable secret data is used by the host to authenticate the client.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method comprising:
detecting invoked states of one or more activities invoked in a web application;
wherein the web application is configured to display, in a foreground, a current activity on a client device;
causing display, on the client device, of a multitask preview interface comprising one or more live previews;
wherein each live preview of the one or more live previews corresponds to an invoked state of an activity of the one or more activities;
wherein the one or more live previews includes a particular live preview that corresponds to a particular invoked state of a particular activity of the one or more activities;
detecting selection of the particular live preview; and
in response to detecting selection of the particular live preview, switching the current activity displayed in the foreground of the web application to the particular state of the particular activity;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular live preview is generated by applying at least one of JavaScript or CSS to an object in a HTML DOM tree corresponding to the particular state of the particular activity.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular live preview is updated in real time while the multitask preview interface is currently displayed.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the web application is a single-page application having no background display area for displaying any of the one or more activities.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more live previews includes a preview that corresponds to an activity, of the one or more activities, that is not currently displayed in the foreground of the web application.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
detecting invocation of a given activity of the web application during a current session;
responsive to detecting invocation of the given activity, if the given activity is a specific type of activity, then automatically adding the invoked state of the given activity to the one or more activities for which live previews are generated in the multitask preview interface.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the specific type of activity is one of: composing a first specific document, viewing a second specific document, or searching a specific term.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more live previews are displayed in one or more groups in the multitask preview interface based on activity type.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the multitask preview interface comprises user interface controls for removing at least one unwanted live preview from the multitask preview interface.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining at least one advertisement based on a current state of one of the one or more activities; and
displaying the at least one advertisement in the multitask preview interface with at least one corresponding live preview.
11. A non-transitory computer storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of a method comprising the steps of:
detecting invoked states of one or more activities invoked in a web application;
wherein the web application is configured to display, in a foreground, a current activity on a client device;
causing display, on the client device, of a multitask preview interface comprising one or more live previews;
wherein each live preview of the one or more live previews corresponds to an invoked state of an activity of the one or more activities;
wherein the one or more live previews includes a particular live preview that corresponds to a particular invoked state of a particular activity of the one or more activities;
detecting selection of the particular live preview; and
in response to detecting selection of the particular live preview, switching the current activity displayed in the foreground of the web application to the particular state of the particular activity.
12. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein the particular live preview is generated by applying at least one of JavaScript or CSS to an object in a HTML DOM tree corresponding to the particular state of the particular activity.
13. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein the particular live preview is updated in real time while the multitask preview interface is currently displayed.
14. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein the web application is a single-page application having no background display area for displaying any of the one or more activities.
15. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more live previews includes a preview that corresponds to an activity, of the one or more activities, that is not currently displayed in the foreground of the web application.
16. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, the method further comprising:
detecting invocation of a given activity of the web application during a current session;
responsive to detecting invocation of the given activity, if the given activity is a specific type of activity, then automatically adding the invoked state of the given activity to the one or more activities for which live previews are generated in the multitask preview interface.
17. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the specific type of activity is one of: composing a first specific document, viewing a second specific document, or searching a specific term.
18. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more live previews are displayed in one or more groups in the multitask preview interface based on activity type.
19. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein the multitask preview interface comprises user interface controls for removing at least one unwanted live preview from the multitask preview interface.
20. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, the method further comprising:
obtaining at least one advertisement based on a current state of one of the one or more activities; and
displaying the at least one advertisement in the multitask preview interface with at least one corresponding live preview.
21. A system comprising a processor and one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform:
detecting invoked states of one or more activities invoked in a web application;
wherein the web application is configured to display, in a foreground, a current activity on a client device;
causing display, on the client device, of a multitask preview interface comprising one or more live previews;
wherein each live preview of the one or more live previews corresponds to an invoked state of an activity of the one or more activities;
wherein the one or more live previews includes a particular live preview that corresponds to a particular invoked state of a particular activity of the one or more activities;
detecting selection of the particular live preview; and
in response to detecting selection of the particular live preview, switching the current activity displayed in the foreground of the web application to the particular state of the particular activity.

1. An image scanning apparatus that simultaneously scans a face-side image and a back-side image of an original with respect to two types of originals of a booklet type and a tablet type, the apparatus comprising:
a face-side scanning unit configured to perform main scanning in a first direction along a main scanning direction and perform sub scanning in a predetermined direction along a sub scanning direction, thereby scan an image of a predetermined size at a time with respect to the face-side image of the original, and output the image of the predetermined size as a face-side image element having a predetermined data width;
a back-side scanning unit configured to perform main scanning in a second direction parallel to the first direction and perform sub scanning in the predetermined direction along the sub scanning direction, thereby scan an image of the predetermined size at a time with respect to the back-side image of the original, and output the image of the predetermined size as a back-side image element having the predetermined data width;
a face-side address calculating unit configured to calculate a memory address at which each of the face-side image elements should be stored according to the original type, with respect to each of the face-side image elements outputted from the face-side scanning unit;
a back-side address calculating unit configured to calculate a memory address at which each of the back-side image elements should be stored according to the original type, with respect to each of the back-side image elements outputted from the back-side scanning unit; and
an image data storage unit configured to store each of the face-side image elements and the back-side image elements to the memory address at which each element should be stored, and thereby store the face-side image and the back-side image;
wherein the face-side scanning unit and the back-side scanning unit scan the image of the predetermined size synchronously with a synchronizing signal and simultaneously with each other; and
the face-side address calculating unit and the back-side address calculating unit calculate the memory address at which each of the face-side image elements and each of the back-side image elements should be stored according to the original type, in such a manner that the face-side image and the back-side image to be stored in the image data storage unit have the same up-down direction and the same left-right direction.
2. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit configured to accept setting with respect to whether the original type is the booklet type or the tablet type, and setting of size of the original.
3. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a total number of times of access calculating unit configured to calculate a total number of times of access in the main scanning direction by dividing the length of the original in the main scanning direction by the width of the predetermined size that is scanned at a time in the main scanning direction, in accordance with the size of the original, and to calculate a total number of times of access in the sub scanning direction by dividing the length of the original in the sub scanning direction by the width of the predetermined size in the sub scanning direction; and
a reference address calculating unit configured to calculate a reference address that is to be a memory address at which a first scanned image of the predetermined size should be stored, in accordance with the original type, the total number of times of access in the main scanning direction, the total number of times of access in the sub scanning direction, leading address in a memory area of the image data storage unit where each of the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored, and the predetermined data width.
4. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a calculation formula deciding unit configured to provide a calculation formula for calculating the memory address at which the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored in accordance with the original type, to the face-side address calculating unit and the back-side address calculating unit,
wherein the face-side address calculating unit and the back-side address calculating unit calculate the memory address at which each of the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored in accordance with the original type, on the basis of the calculation formula.
5. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a memory control unit configured to store each of the face-side image element and the back-side image element received from the face-side scanning unit and the back-side scanning unit into the image data storage unit in such a manner that each of the elements is stored at the memory address calculated by the face-side address calculating unit and the back-side address calculating unit.
6. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
a counter configured to store, every time the face-side scanning unit scans an image of the predetermined size, a number of times of main scanning access that indicates how many times a forward movement has been made in the first direction along the main scanning direction to reach the scanned image from the first scanned image of the predetermined size, and a number of times of sub scanning access that indicates how many times a forward movement has been made in the predetermined direction along the sub scanning direction to reach the scanned image; and
a counter control unit configured to update the number of times of main scanning access and the number of times of sub scanning access stored in the counter;
wherein the counter control unit receives the synchronizing signal and updates the number of times of main scanning access and the number of times of sub scanning access.
7. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a calculation formula storage unit configured to store the calculation formula for calculating the memory address at which the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored, in accordance with the original type,
wherein the calculation formula deciding unit acquires the calculation formula for calculating the memory address by searching the calculation formula storage unit in accordance with the information of the original type.
8. An image forming apparatus that simultaneously scans a face-side image and a back-side image of an original with respect to two types of originals of a booklet type and a tablet type, the apparatus comprising:
a scanner unit; and
an image forming unit configured to print image scanned by the scanner unit, onto a recording paper,
the scanner unit comprising:
a face-side scanning unit configured to perform main scanning in a first direction along a main scanning direction and perform sub scanning in a predetermined direction along a sub scanning direction, thereby scan an image of a predetermined size at a time with respect to the face-side image of the original, and output the image of the predetermined size as a face-side image element having a predetermined data width;
a back-side scanning unit configured to perform main scanning in a second direction parallel to the first direction and perform sub scanning in the predetermined direction along the sub scanning direction, thereby scan an image of the predetermined size at a time with respect to the back-side image of the original, and output the image of the predetermined size as a back-side image element having the predetermined data width;
a face-side address calculating unit configured to calculate a memory address at which each of the face-side image elements should be stored according to the original type, with respect to each of the face-side image elements outputted from the face-side scanning unit;
a back-side address calculating unit configured to calculate a memory address at which each of the back-side image elements should be stored according to the original type, with respect to each of the back-side image elements outputted from the back-side scanning unit; and
an image data storage unit configured to store each of the face-side image elements and the back-side image elements to the memory address at which each element should be stored, and thereby store the face-side image and the back-side image;
wherein the face-side scanning unit and the back-side scanning unit scan the image of the predetermined size synchronously with a synchronizing signal and simultaneously with each other; and
the face-side address calculating unit and the back-side address calculating unit calculate the memory address at which each of the face-side image elements and each of the back-side image elements should be stored according to the original type, in such a manner that the face-side image and the back-side image to be stored in the image data storage unit have the same up-down direction and the same left-right direction.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an operation unit configured to accept setting with respect to whether the original type is the booklet type or the tablet type, and setting of size of the original.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
a total number of times of access calculating unit configured to calculate a total number of times of access in the main scanning direction by dividing the length of the original in the main scanning direction by the width of the predetermined size that is scanned at a time in the main scanning direction, in accordance with the size of the original, and to calculate a total number of times of access in the sub scanning direction by dividing the length of the original in the sub scanning direction by the width of the predetermined size in the sub scanning direction; and
a reference address calculating unit configured to calculate a reference address that is to be a memory address at which a first scanned image of the predetermined size should be stored, in accordance with the original type, the total number of times of access in the main scanning direction, the total number of times of access in the sub scanning direction, leading address in a memory area of the image data storage unit where each of the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored, and the predetermined data width.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a calculation formula deciding unit configured to provide a calculation formula for calculating the memory address at which the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored in accordance with the original type, to the face-side address calculating unit and the back-side address calculating unit,
wherein the face-side address calculating unit and the back-side address calculating unit calculate the memory address at which each of the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored in accordance with the original type, on the basis of the calculation formula.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a memory control unit configured to store each of the face-side image element and the back-side image element received from the face-side scanning unit and the back-side scanning unit into the image data storage unit in such a manner that each of the elements is stored at the memory address calculated by the face-side address calculating unit and the back-side address calculating unit.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:
a counter configured to store, every time the face-side scanning unit scans an image of the predetermined size, a number of times of main scanning access that indicates how many times a forward movement has been made in the first direction along the main scanning direction to reach the scanned image from the first scanned image of the predetermined size, and a number of times of sub scanning access that indicates how many times a forward movement has been made in the predetermined direction along the sub scanning direction to reach the scanned image; and
a counter control unit configured to update the number of times of main scanning access and the number of times of sub scanning access stored in the counter;
wherein the counter control unit receives the synchronizing signal and updates the number of times of main scanning access and the number of times of sub scanning access.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a calculation formula storage unit configured to store the calculation formula for calculating the memory address at which the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored, in accordance with the original type,
wherein the calculation formula deciding unit acquires the calculation formula for calculating the memory address by searching the calculation formula storage unit in accordance with the information of the original type.
15. An image scanning method in which a face-side image and a back-side image of an original are simultaneously scanned with respect to two types of originals of a booklet type and a tablet type, the method comprising:
scanning the face-side comprising performing main scanning in a first direction along a main scanning direction and performing sub scanning in a predetermined direction along a sub scanning direction, thereby scanning an image of a predetermined size at a time with respect to the face-side image of the original, and outputting the image of the predetermined size as a face-side image element having a predetermined data width;
scanning the back-side comprising performing main scanning in a second direction parallel to the first direction and performing sub scanning in the predetermined direction along the sub scanning direction, thereby scanning an image of the predetermined size at a time with respect to the back-side image of the original, and outputting the image of the predetermined size as a back-side image element having the predetermined data width;
calculating a memory address at which each of the face-side image elements should be stored according to the original type;
calculating a memory address at which each of the back-side image elements should be stored according to the original type; and
storing each of the face-side image elements and the back-side image elements to the memory address at which each element should be stored, and thereby storing the face-side image and the back-side image into an image data storage unit;
wherein the scanning the face-side and the scanning the back-side execute scanning the image of the predetermined size synchronously with a synchronizing signal and simultaneously with each other; and
in the calculating the memory address at which each of the front-side image elements should be stored and in the calculating the memory address at which each of the back-side image elements should be stored, the memory addresses are calculated according to the original type, in such a manner that the face-side image and the back-side image to be stored in the image data storage unit have the same up-down direction and the same left-right direction.
16. The image scanning method according to claim 15, further comprising acquiring setting with respect to whether the original type is the booklet type or the tablet type, and setting of size of the original, as these settings are inputted by an operation unit.
17. The image scanning method according to claim 16, further comprising:
calculating a total number of times of access in the main scanning direction by dividing the length of the original in the main scanning direction by the width of the predetermined size that is scanned at a time in the main scanning direction, in accordance with the size of the original, and calculating a total number of times of access in the sub scanning direction by dividing the length of the original in the sub scanning direction by the width of the predetermined size in the sub scanning direction; and
calculating a reference address that is to be a memory address at which a first scanned image of the predetermined size should be stored, in accordance with the original type, the total number of times of access in the main scanning direction, the total number of times of access in the sub scanning direction, leading address in a memory area of the image data storage unit where each of the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored, and the predetermined data width.
18. The image scanning method according to claim 17, further comprising acquiring a calculation formula for calculating the memory address at which the face-side image element and the back-side image element should be stored in accordance with the original type;
wherein in the calculating the memory address at which each of the front-side image elements should be stored and in the calculating the memory address at which each of the back-side image elements should be stored, the memory addresses are calculated in accordance with the original type, on the basis of the calculation formula.
19. The image scanning method according to claim 18, further comprising storing each of the face-side image element and the back-side image element into the image data storage unit in such a manner that each of the elements is stored at the calculated memory address.
20. The image scanning method according to claim 19, further comprising:
acquiring, every time an image of the predetermined size is scanned in the scanning the face-side, a number of times of main scanning access that indicates how many times a forward movement has been made in the first direction along the main scanning direction to reach the scanned image from the first scanned image of the predetermined size, and a number of times of sub scanning access that indicates how many times a forward movement has been made in the predetermined direction along the sub scanning direction to reach the scanned image; and
updating the number of times of main scanning access and the number of times of sub scanning access that are acquired;
wherein in the updating the synchronizing signal is received and the number of times of main scanning access and the number of times of sub scanning access are updated thereafter.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A component of an earth-boring tool, comprising:
a particle-matrix composite material comprising:
a metal matrix material; and
a plurality of encapsulated diamond particles embedded within the metal matrix material, the encapsulated diamond particles comprising:
a plurality of diamonds; and
one or more layers of encapsulant material surrounding the diamonds of the plurality of diamonds;
wherein the diamonds of the plurality of diamonds comprise less than about 25% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material, the metal matrix material comprises less than about 50% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material, and the one or more layers of encapsulant material at least substantially comprise a remainder of the volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
2. The component of claim 1, wherein the metal matrix material comprises less than about 40% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
3. The component of claim 2, wherein the plurality of encapsulated diamond particles have a multi-modal particle size distribution.
4. The component of claim 1, wherein the metal matrix material comprises between about 10% and about 25% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
5. The component of claim 1, wherein the one or more layers of encapsulant material have an average total thickness greater than about fifty percent (50%) of an average diameter of the diamonds.
6. The component of claim 5, wherein the average total thickness of the one or more layers of encapsulant material is greater than about one hundred percent (100%) of the average diameter of the diamonds.
7. The component of claim 6, wherein the particle-matrix composite material has a diamond concentration of about 4.4 carats per cubic centimeter (cm3) or less.
8. The component of claim 7, wherein the particle-matrix composite material has a diamond concentration of about 3.5 carats per cubic centimeter (cm3) or more.
9. The component of claim 1, wherein the particle-matrix composite material is at least substantially free of any additional hard particles.
10. The component of claim 1, wherein the one or more layers of encapsulant material comprises a layer of metal carbide material.
11. The component of claim 10, wherein the one or more layers of encapsulant material comprises a layer of sintered metal carbide material.
12. The component of claim 11, wherein the one or more layers of encapsulant material comprises a layer of sintered tungsten carbide.
13. The component of claim 1, wherein the one or more layers of encapsulant material comprises:
a relatively thicker outer layer of encapsulant material; and
a relatively thinner intermediate layer of encapsulant material disposed between each respective diamond of the plurality of diamonds and the relatively thicker outer layer of encapsulant material.
14. The component of claim 13, wherein the relatively thinner intermediate layer of encapsulant material comprises a layer of a metal material, and the relatively thicker outer layer of encapsulant material comprises a layer of a carbide of the metal material.
15. An earth-boring tool for drilling subterranean formations, at least a portion of the earth-boring tool comprising:
a body having a formation-engaging surface and at least one cutting structure, at least a portion of the body comprising the formation-engaging surface comprising a particle-matrix composite material comprising:
a metal matrix material; and
a plurality of encapsulated diamond particles embedded within the metal matrix material, the encapsulated diamond particles comprising:
a plurality of diamonds; and
one or more layers of encapsulant material surrounding the diamonds of the plurality of diamonds;

wherein the diamonds of the plurality of diamonds comprise less than about 25% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material, the metal matrix material comprises less than about 50% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material, and the one or more layers of encapsulant material at least substantially comprise a remainder of the volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
16. The earth-boring tool of claim 15, wherein the metal matrix material comprises less than about 40% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
17. The earth-boring tool of claim 16, wherein the metal matrix material comprises between about 10% and about 25% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
18. The earth-boring tool of claim 15, wherein the one or more layers of encapsulant material have an average total thickness greater than about fifty percent (50%) of an average diameter of the diamonds.
19. The earth-boring tool of claim 15, wherein the particle-matrix composite material is at least substantially free of any additional hard particles.
20. The earth-boring tool of claim 15, wherein the one or more layers of encapsulant material comprises a layer of metal carbide material.
21. The earth-boring tool of claim 15, wherein the earth-boring tool comprises a diamond impregnated rotary drill bit having a crown region comprising the particle-matrix composite material.
22. The earth-boring tool of claim 15, wherein the earth-boring tool comprises a diamond impregnated rotary drill bit having a crown region comprising at least one post or blade comprising the particle-matrix composite material.
23. A method of forming a component of an earth-boring tool, the method comprising:
encapsulating diamonds having a selected average particle size with one or more layers of encapsulant material to form a plurality of encapsulated diamond particles having a selected average encapsulant thickness;
embedding the plurality of encapsulated diamond particles in a selected volume of metal matrix material to form a volume of particle-matrix composite material; and
selecting the average particle size of the diamonds, the average encapsulant thickness of the plurality of encapsulated diamond particles, and the selected volume of metal matrix material to cause the diamonds to comprise less than about 25% of the volume of the particle-matrix composite material, the metal matrix material to comprise less than about 50% of the volume of the particle-matrix composite material, and the one or more layers of encapsulant material to at least substantially comprise a remainder of the volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein embedding the encapsulated diamond particles in the selected volume of metal matrix material comprises:
melting the metal matrix material;
infiltrating the encapsulated diamond particles with the molten metal matrix material; and
cooling and solidifying the molten metal matrix material.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein embedding the encapsulated diamond particles in the selected volume of metal matrix material comprises:
mixing the plurality of encapsulated diamond particles with a plurality of particles comprising the metal matrix material to form a powder mixture;
pressing the powder mixture to form a green body; and
sintering the green body to a desired final density.
26. The method of claim 23, wherein encapsulating diamonds having a selected average particle size with one or more layers of encapsulant material comprises encapsulating diamonds having a selected average particle size with one or more layers of metal carbide material.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein encapsulating diamonds having a selected average particle size with one or more layers of metal carbide material comprises encapsulating diamonds having a selected average particle size with one or more layers of sintered tungsten carbide.
28. The method of claim 23, further comprising selecting the average particle size of the diamonds, the average encapsulant thickness of the plurality of encapsulated diamond particles, and the selected volume of metal matrix material to cause the metal matrix material to comprise less than about 40% of the volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
29. The method of claim 23, further comprising selecting the average particle size of the diamonds, the average encapsulant thickness of the plurality of encapsulated diamond particles, and the selected volume of metal matrix material to cause the metal matrix material to comprise between about 10% and about 25% by volume of the particle-matrix composite material.
30. The method of claim 23, further comprising selecting the average encapsulant thickness to be greater than about fifty percent (50%) of the selected average particle size of the diamonds.
31. The method of claim 30, further comprising selecting the average encapsulant thickness to be greater than about one hundred percent (100%) of the selected average particle size of the diamonds.
32. The method of claim 23, further comprising selecting the average particle size of the diamonds, the average encapsulant thickness of the plurality of encapsulated diamond particles, and the selected volume of metal matrix material to cause the particle-matrix composite material to comprise a diamond concentration of about 4.4 carats of diamond per cubic centimeter (cm3) or less.
33. The method of claim 23, further comprising selecting the average particle size of the diamonds, the average encapsulant thickness of the plurality of encapsulated diamond particles, and the selected volume of metal matrix material to cause the particle-matrix composite material to comprise a diamond concentration of about 3.5 carats of diamond per cubic centimeter (cm3) or more.