Patent ID: 6816273
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus having a scanner for reading a document image, an interface for receiving image data via a communication network, a memory for storing image data input by the scanner or interface, a printer for forming the image data on an image forming medium, and an operation panel by which an operation condition of a copying job for reading out a document image to form an image on the image forming medium and a start instruction of the copying job are input, the method comprising:when the operation condition and start instruction of the copying job are requested with the operation panel, judging, based on the requested operation condition of the copying job, whether the copying job is a sequential type operation condition in which images are formed on the image forming medium by actuating the printer every time image data of a document is input by the scanner, or a completed type operation condition in which after whole image data of all document sheets is stored in the memory by the scanner, the image data is read out from the memory to form images on the image forming medium by the printer; when said judging judges that the copying job is the sequential type operation condition, determining whether or not the printer is performing image forming processing to image data of another job stored in the memory; when said determining determines that the printer is performing image forming processing to image data of another job stored in the memory, changing the operation condition of the copying job to the completed type operation condition; causing the scanner to start read processing of a document image of the copying job under the completed type operation condition; and storing the image data of the copying job read by the scanner in the memory; wherein when said determining determines that the printer is performing the image forming processing, starting, after the image forming processing is completed, image forming processing of the image data of the copying job stored in the memory by the printer.