Patent ID: 7728997

Claim:
An image formation system comprising at least two units of digital copying machines including a master machine and a slave machine connected to each other, each of which has a link copy function where the master machine scans an image of a document as an object to be copied and transfers the image of the scanned document to the slave machine, and where said master machine and said slave machine share the job of printing the scanned document image, wherein said master machine is configured to perform a printer function of printing according to a print request from an outside device, and when receiving the print request from said outside device during a link copy operation based on the link copy function during a time between a start moment to an end moment of the link copy function, the master machine puts the print request on hold and continues t-he-said link copy operation, and when the master machine receives a request to interrupt @, e-said link copy operation from the slave machine, the master machine executes the link copy function on its own, said master machine is further configured to transmit a link request to the slave machine to request the slave machine whether or not it is capable of participating in said link copy operation, and upon a response from the slave machine, the master machine accepts said link copy operation and shares data required to the slave machine to perform said link copy operation, and said slave machine is configured to perform the printer function of printing according to the print request from the outside device, and when receiving the print request from said outside device during said link copy operation based on the link copy function during a time between the start moment to the end moment of the link copy function, the slave machine transmits a request to interrupt the link copying to the master machine, interrupts said link copy operation, and executes a printer operation according to the print request, when the slave machine determines the printer operation is finished, the slave machine transmits a request to restart said link copy operation to the master machine, if said link copy operation is not finished, both the master machine and the slave machine re-execute said link copy operation, and when the master machine determines said link copy operation is finished and there is the print request left on hold, the master machine starts the printer operation.