Patent ID: 7068846

Claim:
A control method for an image input apparatus for reading an original and compressing image data of the read original in real time, said method comprising: ensuring a memory area for storing compressed image data; reading an original and outputting image data; compressing the image data in real time; storing the compressed image data in the memory area ensured in said memory area ensuring step; determining whether the compressed image data is completely stored in the memory area; and changing a compression ratio, wherein the changing of the compression ratio is performed when the compressed image data is not completely stored in the ensured memory area, and when the compression ratio is changed the reading of the same original, the compression operation using the changed compression ratio, the storing of the compressed image data, the determination operation, and the changing of the compression ratio are repeated, with the repetition being limited to a predetermined number of times, and the predetermined number of times being changed upon designation by a user.