Patent ID: 6839066

Claim:
An image data output apparatus to which an image output device is connected in which image data is outputted to the image output device, wherein said image data output apparatus is connected to a communication line and is capable of transmitting and receiving image data via said communication line between said image data output apparatus and another image data output apparatus to which another image output device is connected in which image data is outputted to said another image output device, said another image data output apparatus being connected to said communication line, said image data output apparatus comprises: an output section for outputting patch data representative of a confirming patch for a color precision confirmation to the image output device; a color difference computing section for computing a first color difference vector in comparison with a colorimetric value of a predetermined reference patch of a colorimetric value of the confirming patch outputted by said image output device in accordance with the patch data; a receiving section for receiving via the communication line a second color difference vector in comparison with a colorimetric value of a predetermined reference patch of a colorimetric value of the confirming patch outputted by said another image output device in accordance with the patch data outputted from said another image data output apparatus to said another image output device, or a colorimetric value which is used as a base for computation of the second color difference vector; a deviation computing section for determining a deviation between the first color difference vector and the second color difference vector; and a decision section for comparing the deviation with a predetermined reference deviation to decide a difference.