Patent ID: 8614810

Claim:
A scanner comprising: an image scanning unit configured to scan an original to generate image data; an image data input unit to which an image data from a generating source is inputted, the generating source including the image scanning unit and an external generating source other than the image scanning unit; a generating source identification unit configured to identify the generating source of the image data inputted to the image data input unit; a selection unit configured to select an image forming apparatus to which the inputted image data is to be outputted from among a plurality of the image forming apparatuses serving as output destinations to which image data is capable of being outputted, on the basis of the generating source identified by the generating source identification unit; a conversion content correspondence table storage configured to store therein a conversion content correspondence table associating each of output conditions respectively of the plurality of the image forming apparatuses with a conversion content for converting the image data in accordance with each of the output conditions, the conversion content correspondence table defining contents of image processing to be performed on image data based upon at least one of image gradation, image quality, ink type, print speed, paper and color before the image data is outputted to each of the image forming apparatuses; a converted data output unit configured to convert the image data inputted to the image data input unit by implementing the conversion content associated with the output condition of the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit in the conversion content correspondence table and to output the converted image data to the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit; an input/output table storage configured to store therein an input/output correspondence table associating each candidate for the generating source of the image data to be inputted to the image data input unit with an image forming apparatus to which the image data inputted to the image data input unit is to be outputted among the plurality of the image forming apparatuses serving as the output destinations, wherein the selection unit selects, as an image forming apparatus to which the inputted image data is to be outputted, the image forming apparatus associated with the generating source identified by the generating source identification unit in the input/output correspondence table, and wherein the input/output correspondence table associates the respective generating sources having characteristics including at least one of a condition of image quality or a condition of printing speed with the image forming apparatus being capable of outputting image data so as to satisfy the characteristics of the respective generating sources.