Patent ID: 8630029

Claim:
A method of reading document image data scanned by a scanner apparatus and of transferring the image data to a data reception apparatus, comprising: setting memory areas for storing the image data in a data storage section of the data reception apparatus and setting a reading condition, upon receipt of a scan start command from the data reception apparatus; transmitting the scan start command for instructing the scanner apparatus to start reading operations; instructing the scanner apparatus to transmit the image data to a transfer data storage section of the scanner apparatus to receive and store the image data read by the scanner apparatus; transferring the image data stored in the transfer data storage section to the data storage section of the data reception apparatus in response to a data transferring request command from a host apparatus; transmitting a document end signal received from the scanner apparatus to the data storage section; executing feeding of subsequent original document sheets based on available status of the transfer data storage section, without transmitting another scan start command for instructing the scanner apparatus to start the reading operation of the subsequent original document sheets; determining whether or not a distance from a rear end of a preceding original document sheet is a predetermined length or more, and concurrently, whether or not an available space of the transfer data storage section is a predetermined amount or more; and controlling a feeding section based on determination results from a determining section in feeding the second and subsequent original document sheets.