Patent ID: 6698950
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: G06K,H04N

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus having a multiple number of input functional devices connected thereto and producing printouts from the data to be recorded input through these input functional devices, comprising:an identifying means which identifies the user when a user of one of the input functional devices approaches the image forming apparatus; a comparing means which, after the user is identified by the identifying means, compares the priority of the input functional device of the user with that of another input functional device through which other data to be recorded has been input to the image forming apparatus, based on the priority rules determined beforehand in relation with the input functional devices; and a job interrupt means which starts the printing of the data to be recorded input through the input functional device of the user by making a job interrupt when the priority of the input functional device of the user is determined by the comparing means to be higher than that of the other input functional device through which other data to be recorded has been input to the image forming apparatus.