Patent ID: 6181893
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A digital image reproduction apparatus comprising:a scanner unit,a printer unit,a memory,an operator control unit integrated in the apparatus and provided with an input device and a display for a user to give operator control commands to the apparatus,a network connection unit for coupling to a network for the purpose of communication with a digital external environment having at least a number of workstations of users,a management unit connected to the said scanner unit, said printer unit, said memory and said network connection unit, and, via the network connection unit, to the workstations,said management unit maintaining logic storage spaces in said memory, each allocated to a respective user,wherein said management unit, when receiving from one of the user's workstations a digital data file for printing, stores the digital data file in the logic storage space of the relevant user and passes it for printing to said printer unit only on an operator control command from said operator control unit, which operator control command identifies the relevant file,wherein, on receipt from the operator control unit of an operator control command for scanning, the command being provided with a user identification, said management unit stores the digital data generated by said scanner unit in executing the command in the logic storage space of the relevant user and passes the digital data generated by said scanner unit to the workstation of the relevant user only on a command from the workstation of the relevant user that identifies the relevant file,wherein said management unit, on receiving from the workstation a digital data file for printing, such file being provided with a user identification, checks whether said management unit is already managing a logic storage space for the relevant user, and if that is not the case, adds a logic storage space for the relevant user and stores therein the received digital data file.