Patent ID: 6970958

Claim:
An image output apparatus that performs output processes of a plurality of kinds of image data in different forms or states in accordance with the forms or states, comprising: output means including first output means for outputting image data in printed form, second output means for outputting image data in fax form, and third output means for outputting image data in scanned form; image storage means for storing or saving image data having undergone the output processes with the image data being sorted in accordance with the forms or states; wherein said image storage means comprises a first image storage section for storing or saving the image data having undergone the output processes, a second image storage section having separate storage folders for the respective forms or states, and a storage management means for sorting the image data stored or saved in said first image storage section in accordance with the forms or states of the image data and storing or saving the sorted image data in the respective storage folders associated with the forms or states of said image data in said second image storage section, so that in the second image storage section the image data output via the first output means in printed form is stored in a first storage folder, the image data output via the second output means in fax form is stored in a second storage folder, and the image data output via the third output means in scanned form is stored in a third storage folder different than the first and second storage folders.