Image processing apparatus, image forming system, and printing method that decide whether to store, print and not store, or print and store image data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9607252-B2
Application number	US-201414167281-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2014
Priority date	Dec 22, 2000
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is provided with a storage unit for storing setting information including at least a size of a substitute recording medium, and a processing unit for executing a print instruction by automatically changing a size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information stored in the storage unit, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processing apparatus communicable with a host, comprising:
a memory configured to store a plurality of image data; and
a processor configured to perform a process including
deciding whether image data received from the host is to be printed upon receipt, or is to be stored in the memory, based on an instruction received from the host;
accepting selection information that is received from the host in response to a user's selection at the host and selects one of the plurality of image data stored in the memory;
accepting a change in printing of the one of the plurality of image data selected by the selection information, wherein the change in printing is received from the host in response to a user's input at the host indicating the change; and
printing, by a printer, the one of the plurality of image data stored in the memory and selected by the selection information.

2. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instruction instructs whether the image data is to be stored in the memory and also whether a print timing at which the image data is to be printed by the printer is determined by the host or the image processing apparatus.

3. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instruction includes
a first instruction which instructs storing the image data in the memory to be printed afterwards by the printer,
a second instruction which instructs printing the image data by the printer, and
a third instruction which instructs storing the image data in the memory and printing the image data by the printer.

4. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the deciding causes the image data to be stored in the memory, to be subjected to a processing including developing the image data, in response to receiving one of the first and third instructions.

5. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the deciding causes the image data to be printed by the printer, to be subjected to a processing including developing the image data, in response to receiving one of the second and third instructions.

6. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
the printer,
wherein the accepting the change accepts a change in a number of output printed material or volumes of a file.

7. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image data stored in the memory is printed after the selection information that selects the one of the plurality of image data is received.

8. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second instruction instructs printing the image data by the printer without saving the image data in the memory.

9. An image forming system comprising:
a host; and
an image processing apparatus communicable with the host,
wherein the host includes an input device, and a first processor configured to send an instruction and image data to the image processing apparatus in response to inputs to the first processor from the input device, and
wherein the image processing apparatus includes
a memory configured to store a plurality of image data; and
a second processor configured to perform a process including
deciding whether the image data received from the host is to be printed upon receipt, or is to be stored in the memory, based on the instruction received from the host;
accepting selection information that selects one of the plurality of image data stored in the memory, wherein the selection information is received from the first processor of the host in response to a selection that selects the one of the plurality of image data and is input to the first processor from the input device;
accepting a change in printing of the one of the plurality of image data selected by the selection information, wherein the change in printing is received from the first processor of the host in response to an input that indicates the change and is input to the first processor from the input device; and
printing, by a printer, the one of the plurality of image data stored in the memory and selected by the selection information.

10. The image forming system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first processor of the host is configured to send at least one of the selection information and the change in printing to the image processing apparatus when the input device is operated by a user to send the at least one of the selection information and the change in printing.

11. The image forming system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the instruction instructs whether the image data is to be stored in the memory and also whether a print timing at which the image data is to be printed by the printer is determined by one of the host and the image processing apparatus.

12. The image forming system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the instruction includes
a first instruction which instructs storing the image data in the memory to be printed afterwards by the printer,
a second instruction which instructs printing the image data by the printer, and
a third instruction which instructs storing the image data in the memory and printing the image data by the printer.

13. The image forming system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the deciding causes the image data to be stored in the memory, to be subjected to a processing including developing the image data, in response to receiving one of the first and third instructions.

14. The image forming system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the deciding causes the image data to be printed by the printer, to be subjected to a processing including developing the image data, in response to receiving one of the second and third instructions.

15. The image forming system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the image processing apparatus further includes the printer,
wherein the accepting the change accepts a change in a number of output printed material or volumes of a file.

16. The image forming system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the image data stored in the memory is printed after the selection information that selects the one of the plurality of image data is received.

17. The image forming system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the second instruction instructs printing the image data by the printer without saving the image data in the memory.

18. A printing method comprising:
sending an instruction and image data from a host to an image processing apparatus in response to inputs to the host from an input device;
deciding, by the image processing apparatus, whether the image data received from the host is to be printed upon receipt, or is to be stored in the image processing apparatus, based on the instruction received from the host;
accepting selection information that selects one of a plurality of image data stored in the image processing apparatus, wherein the selection information is received from the host in response to a selection that selects the one of the plurality of image data and is input to the host from the input device;
accepting a change in printing of the one of the plurality of image data selected by the selection information, wherein the change in printing is received from the host in response to an input that indicates the change and is input to the host from the input device; and
printing, by a printer, the one of the plurality of image data stored in the image processing apparatus and selected by the selection information.

19. The printing method as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising:
selecting,

Assignees

• Sawada Nozomi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sawada Nozomi

Classifications

• H04N1/2369

  Selecting a particular reproducing mode from amongst a plurality of modes, e.g. paper saving or normal, or simplex or duplex · CPC title

• H04N1/32673

  Adjusting or controlling an operating mode, e.g. from paper reception to memory reception (H04N1/32678 takes precedence; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925) · CPC title

• H04N1/2353

  Selecting a particular reproducing medium from amongst a plurality of media or from a particular tray, e.g. paper or transparency · CPC title

• H04N1/2338

  according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reproduction mode · CPC title

• H04N1/00774

  Adjusting or controlling · CPC title