Patent ID: 8559038

Claim:
An automatic file transfer system including a personal computer and one or more printers, the automatic file transfer system comprising: a transfer folder capable of containing one or more files, wherein, when the personal computer recognizes, through plug-and-play, that a printer among the one or more printers which are connected to the personal computer is powered on, if the printer currently recognized is a transfer-target printer, the personal computer executes in a repetitive manner, for the printer currently recognized, processes of: (i) determining whether or not a new file is moved into the transfer folder; and (ii) transferring, if it is determined that the new file is moved into the transfer folder, the new file to the printer currently recognized; wherein the personal computer comprises: a transfer-destination counter; and an input unit configured to transmit a force-quit signal, and wherein the personal computer executes processes of: (A) incrementing the transfer-destination counter by “1” if the personal computer recognizes, through the plug-and-play, that the printer among the one or more printers which are connected to the personal computer is powered on; (B) decrementing the transfer-destination counter by “1” if the personal computer recognizes that the printer currently recognized is powered off; (C) decrementing the transfer-destination counter by “1” if the force-quit signal is received from the input unit; and (D) terminating the processes (i) through (ii) if the transfer-destination counter indicates “0”.