Patent ID: 6160631
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A printing device comprising:a printer capable of printing print data;input means for receiving a print process instruction for instructing printing of print data;selecting means for selecting, in response to a print process instruction, whether print data is desired to be printed in the printing device or in a remote printing device;first print processing means for, when the selection means selects that the print data is desired to be printed in the printing device, controlling the printer to print the print data;print mail transmitting means for, when the selection means selects that the print data is desired to be printed in the remote printing device, creating print mail including the print data and header data, the header data including print information indicative of a printing condition, at which the print data is desired to be printed, and for transmitting the print mail to the remote printing device through a communication line;mail receiving means capable of receiving ordinary mail and print mail from remote printing devices via the communication line;print information detecting means for detecting whether print information indicative of a printing condition, at which print data should be printed, is included in a header portion of mail received via the communication line, thereby determining whether the received mail is print mail or ordinary mail; andsecond printing process means for, when the printing information detecting means detects that the print information is included in the header portion of the received mail and determines that the received mail is print mail, controlling the printer to print the print data included in the received mail in accordance with the print information.