Patent ID: 8279468

Claim:
A printing device comprising: network communication means for connecting the printing device to at least one client computer; input means for performing an input to select an image format of general-purpose image format data from among multiple image formats, and for performing an input to set a transmission condition for sending the general-purpose image format data to the at least one client computer; storage means for storing the selected image format and the set transmission condition inputted through the input means; control means for converting page description language (PDL) data sent from the at least one client computer to the printing device into pixel map format data, converting the pixel map format data into general-purpose image format data based on the image format stored in the storage means, and performing a control operation such that, based on the transmission condition stored in the storage means, the general-purpose image format data and a source information file containing source information indicating the source of the PDL data are sent to the at least one client computer via the network communication means, the transmission condition including information indicating the source of the PDL data; memory means for storing the pixel map format data obtained through the conversion performed by the control means; and a printer for printing the pixel map format data on a sheet.