Patent ID: 6081342
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image forming system comprisingat least one primary image forming apparatus,at least one secondary image forming apparatus, anda transmitting apparatus for connecting said primary image forming apparatus and said secondary image forming apparatus for mutual image data transmission,wherein,(1) said secondary image forming apparatus includes:an image input section for inputting image data;a secondary image data storage section for storing said image data;an image recording section for forming a visible image based on said image data stored in said secondary image data storage section;an input section for inputting a command to issue a store request to said primary image forming apparatus, the store request being issued when the secondary image data storage section becomes temporarily incapable of storing at least a portion of said image data;a secondary control section for transferring said image data stored in said secondary image data storage section to said primary image forming apparatus having receipt of said store request through said transmitting apparatus at said command to issue a store request inputted through said input section; andrequest content confirming means for confirming a content of each request issued to said primary image forming apparatus,whereby the secondary image forming apparatus can recognize request conditions of previously issued requests for storing image data, and(2) said primary image forming apparatus includes:a primary image data storage section for storing the image data; anda primary control section for storing said image data transferred from said secondary image forming apparatus into said primary image data storage section temporarily, said primary control section also for, upon receipt of a return request from said secondary image forming apparatus, returning said image data to said secondary image data storage section of said secondary image forming apparatus through said transmitting apparatus, said image data being returned when the secondary image data storage section becomes capable of storing said image data after being temporarily incapable of storing said image data,wherein said second image forming apparatus issues a return request for the image data to said primary image forming apparatus in order of output,thereby allowing said second image forming apparatus to form at least one visible image based on the returned image data using said image recording section.