Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Data corruption – power interruption – or print prevention
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-16
2001-03-06
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Data corruption, power interruption, or print prevention
C358S001150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198541
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control unit of an image forming device for printing images based on print data, and more specifically to a control unit including a memory for storing print data even after the images are printed out.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been provided a system including a plurality of personal computers and a printer communicable with each other via a local area network (LAN) including a host computer. This kind of system is being used in an increasing number of companies. Because, in this kind of system, users of the personal computers can share a single printer, costs of office equipment can be reduced, and also space taken up by the equipment in the office can be saved.
However, In this case, some personal computers may be located a fair distance from the printer. When a user of such personal computer wishes to print out a document, the user operates an input unit of the personal computer to transmit print data to the printer, and then, walks to the printer to fetch the document. After the user examines and approves contents of the document, the user may wish to obtain additional copies of the document. In this case, the user needs to walk back to the personal computer to again transmit the print data to the printer.
There has been also proposed an image forming device including a memory for storing print data transmitted from an external device. The print data is stored in the memory without being erased at least until an image is formed based on the print data.
When this kind of printer is provided in the above described system, the same image can be repeatedly formed as long as the print data is stored in the memory. Therefore, the user needs not walk back to the personal computer to again transit the print data when the user wishes to obtain the additional copies of the document.
However, when an other user transmits different print data to the printer, the current print data in the memory is replaced by the different print data. That is, the current print data may be erased while the user is examining the contents of the document. Then, when the user wishes to obtain additional copies of the document, the user needs to go back to the personal computer to again transmit the print data.
It is conceivable to print out a plurality of copies of the document from the beginning without examining the contents of the document. However, in this case, if the user finds errors in the contents, all copies will need to be disposed. This means that the user wastes time for printing out copies of flawed and undesirable document. Also, the recording media used for these copies is also wasted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to overcome the above-described problems and to provide an image forming device capable of preventing print data from being erased undesirably.
In order to achieve the above and the other objectives, there is provided an image forming device communicable with an external device. The image forming device includes a memory, image forming means, first control means, and second control means. The memory stores image data transmitted from an external device. The image forming means forms an image on a recording medium based on the image data so as to provide at least one copy of a document. The first control means prohibits the memory from erasing the image data. The second control means allows the memory to erase the image data. The first control means prohibits the memory from erasing the image data until the second control means allows the memory to erase the image data.
There is also provided an image forming device communicable with an external device. The image forming device includes a memory, image forming means, first control means, second control means, and an input unit. The memory stores image data transmitted from an external device. The image forming means forms an image based on the image data to provide at least one copy of a document. The first control means prohibits the memory from erasing the image data. The second control means allows the memory to erase the image data. A user input a next command through the input unit. After the image forming means has provided a first one of a plurality of copies of the document, the image forming means provides rest of the plurality of copies when the next command is input by the user. The second control means allows the memory to erase the image data when the image forming means provides the rest of the plurality of copies.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5579522 (1996-11-01), Christeson et al.
patent: 5604917 (1997-02-01), Saito
patent: 5684864 (1997-11-01), Shibata
patent: 5883842 (1999-03-01), Miyauchi
patent: 5894312 (1999-04-01), Ishiwata et al.
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Grant II Jerome
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
LandOfFree
Control unit of image forming device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Control unit of image forming device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Control unit of image forming device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2483130