Patent ID: 6741366
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A data communication apparatus, comprising:a communication unit, which communicates data through a communication line; a connector, which connects with an information processing terminal; a memory, which stores data received by said communication unit; a transfer unit, which transfers data received by said communication unit to the information processing terminal through said connector; a printer, which prints an image based on data supplied thereto; a setting unit, which sets a first processing mode or a second processing mode, wherein, in the first processing mode, said transfer unit transfers the data received by said communication unit to the information processing terminal through said connector, and, in the second processing mode, said printer prints an image based on the data received by said communication unit, regardless of a status of the information processing terminal; a determiner, which determines whether or not said transfer unit is able to transfer the data received by said communication unit to the information processing terminal; and a controller, which controls said data communication apparatus such that: in a case where the first processing mode has been set by said setting unit and said determiner determines that said transfer unit is able to transfer the data, the data received by said communication unit is transferred by said transfer unit to the information processing terminal connected by said connector, and, in a case where the first processing mode has been set by said setting unit and said determiner determines that said transfer unit is not able to transfer the data, the data received by said communication unit is held by said memory, and, in a case where the second processing mode has been set by said setting unit, the data received by said communication unit is supplied to said printer, regardless of a status of the information processing terminal.