Image output apparatus and method thereof, and image output system

• US 6,538,758 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ikegawa, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Arthur G.
• Application Number:
  US09/309,495
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/304, 358/498, 399/6, 399/16, 399/361, 399/382, 399/383, 270/1.01, 400/578, 400/582, 400/586, 400/607, 400/611
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00

Abstract

In an image output apparatus which performs printing based on transferred data, when bus reset occurs during isochronous data transfer through a serial bus, the data transfer is suspended and a print error is caused. Therefore, when bus reset occurs during image data transfer through the serial bus, transferring and outputting of image data is performed again, and stapling is performed for proper stapling. Similarly, when bus reset occurs, transferring and outputting of image data is suspended, the printouts whose printing has been suspended are discharged to a dedicated bin provided for erroneous printouts, and transferring and outputting of the image data is performed again. Accordingly, an erroneous printout caused by bus reset is not intermingled with proper printouts on the same bin.

Claims

1. An image output apparatus connected to another device by a serial bus, comprising:

communication means for performing communication with the another device through the serial bus and receiving image data transferred by the another device;

image formation control means for controlling to form an image on a print medium based on the image data received by said communication means;

staple control means for controlling to staple a plurality of print media on which image forming is performed; and

detection means for detecting an initialized state of the serial bus during image data reception by said communication means,

wherein in a case where said detection means detects the initialized state of the serial bus, said communication means requests the another device to transfer the image data and receives the image data again, then said image formation control means controls to form an image on a print medium based on the received image data, and said staple control means controls to staple print media on which image forming is performed.

2. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where said detection means detects the initialized state of the serial bus, said communication means suspends reception of image data.

3. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication means receives image data isochronously transferred.

4. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication means requests image data transfer by asynchronous transfer.

5. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initialized state of the serial bus is a state in which a new network is constructed.

6. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting whether or not staple control is to be performed by said staple control means.

7. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image forming means whose image formation is controlled by said image formation control means.

8. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the serial bus is in conformity with the IEEE 1394 standard.

9. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the serial bus is in conformity with the USB standard.

13. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication means receives image data isochronously transferred.

10. An image output apparatus connected to another device by a serial bus, comprising:

communication means for performing communication with the another device through the serial bus and receiving image data transferred by the another device;

image formation control means for controlling to form an image on a print medium based on the image data received by said communication means;

discharge control means for controlling to discharge the print medium on which image forming is performed; and

detection means for detecting an initialized state of the serial bus during image data reception by said communication means,

wherein said discharge control means controls to discharge print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means detects the initialized state of the serial bus, so as not to be intermingled with another print medium on which image forming is performed.

11. The image output apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said discharge control means controls to discharge the print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means does not detects the initialized state of the serial bus, to a first discharge outlet, and controls to discharge the print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means detects the initialized state, to a second discharge outlet different from the first discharge outlet.

12. The image output apparatus according to claim 10, wherein in a case where said detection means detects the initialized state of the serial bus, said communication means suspends reception of image data and requests transferring of the image data.

14. The image output apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said communication means requests image data transfer by asynchronous transfer.

15. The image output apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the initialized state of the serial bus is a state in which a new network is constructed.

16. The image output apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising setting means for setting one of at least two discharge outlets as the second discharge outlet.

17. The image output apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said setting means sets a discharge outlet, which is not used when said detection means detects the initialized state of the serial bus, as the second discharge outlet.

18. The image output apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising image forming means whose image formation is controlled by said image formation control means.

19. The image output apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the serial bus is in conformity with the IEEE 1394 standard.

20. The image output apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the serial bus is in conformity with the USB standard.

21. An image output apparatus comprising:

communication means for performing communication with another device through a serial bus and receiving image data transferred by the another device;

image formation means for forming an image on a print medium based on the image data received by said communication means;

discharge means for discharging the print medium on which image forming is performed;

detection means for detecting an initialized state of the serial bus during image data reception by said communication means; and

control means for controlling said discharge means such that print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means detects the initialized state of the serial bus, is discharged so as not to be intermingled with another print medium on which image forming is performed, and controlling said communication means such that reception of image data is suspended and a transfer request of the image data is sent.

22. The image output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said control means controls said discharge means to discharge the print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means does not detects the initialized state of the serial bus, to a first discharge outlet, and discharge the print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means detects the initialized state, to a second discharge outlet different from the first discharge outlet.

23. An image output method of an image output apparatus connected to another device by a serial bus, comprising:

a receiving step of performing communication with the another device through the serial bus and receiving image data transferred by the another device;

an image formation control step of controlling to form an image on a print medium based on the image data received in said receiving step;

a staple control step of controlling to staple a plurality of print media on which image forming is performed;

a monitoring step of monitoring occurrence of an initialized state of the serial bus during said receiving step; and

a transfer request step of requesting the another device to transfer the image data when the initialized state of the serial bus is detected,

wherein in a case where the initialized state of the serial bus is detected in said monitoring step, print media, on which image forming is performed based on image data transferred in response to a transfer request in said transfer request step, are controlled to be stapled in said staple control step.

24. The image output method according to claim 23, wherein in a case where the initialized state of the serial bus is detected in said monitoring step, said receiving step is suspended.

25. The image output method according to claim 23, wherein in said receiving step, image data isochronously transferred is received.

26. The image output method according to claim 23, wherein in said transfer request step, image data transfer is requested by asynchronous transfer.

27. The image output method according to claim 23, wherein the initialized state of the serial bus is a state in which a new network is constructed.

28. The image output method according to claim 23, further comprising a setting step of setting whether or not said staple control step is to be executed.

29. An image output method of an image output apparatus connected to another device by a serial bus, comprising:

a receiving step of performing communication with the another device through the serial bus and receiving image data transferred by the another device;

an image forming control step of controlling to form an image on a print medium based on the image data received in said receiving step;

a monitoring step of monitoring occurrence of an initialized state of the serial bus during said receiving step; and

a discharge control step of controlling to discharge the print medium, on which image forming is performed when the initialized state of the serial bus is detected in said monitoring step, so as not to be intermingled with another print medium on which image forming is performed.

30. The image output method according to claim 29, wherein in said discharge control step, the print medium, on which image forming is performed when the initialized state of the serial bus is not detected in said monitoring step, is discharged to a first discharge outlet, and the print medium, on which image forming is performed when the initialized state is detected, is discharged to a second discharge outlet different from the first discharge outlet.

31. The image output method according to claim 29, further comprising a transfer request step of requesting the another device to transfer the image data again after suspending said receiving step in a case where the initialized state of the serial bus is detected in said monitoring step.

32. The image output method according to claim 29, wherein image data isochronously transferred is received in said receiving step.

33. The image output method according to claim 31, image data transfer is requested by asynchronous transfer in said transfer request step.

34. The image output method according to claim 29, wherein the initialized state of the serial bus is a state in which a new network is constructed.

35. The image output method according to claim 30, further comprising a setting step of setting one of at least two discharge outlets as the second discharge outlet.

36. The image output method according to claim 35, wherein in said setting step, a discharge outlet, which is not used when the initialized state of the serial bus is detected in said monitoring step, is set as the second discharge outlet.

37. An image output system in which an image input apparatus and an image output apparatus are connected by a serial bus,

said image input apparatus comprising:

first communication means for performing communication with said image output apparatus through the serial bus and transferring image data to said image output apparatus, and

said image output apparatus comprising;

second communication means for performing communication with said image input apparatus through the serial bus and receiving the image data transferred by said image input apparatus;

image formation control means for controlling to form an image on a print medium based on the image data;

staple control means for controlling to staple a plurality of print media on which image forming is performed; and

detection means for detecting an initialized state of the serial bus during image data reception by said second communication means,

wherein in a case where said detection means detects the initialized state of the serial bus, said second communication means requests said image input apparatus to transfer the image data and receives the image data again, then said image formation control means controls to form an image on a print medium based on the received image data, and said staple control means controls to staple print media on which image forming is performed.

38. The image output system according to claim 37, wherein said first and second communication means transfer and receive the image data by isochronous transfer.

39. The image output system according to claim 37, wherein said second communication means requests image data transfer by asynchronous transfer.

40. The image output system according to claim 37, wherein the initialized state of the serial bus is a state in which a new network is constructed.

41. The image output system according to claim 37, wherein the serial bus is in conformity with the IEEE 1394 standard.

42. The image output system according to claim 37, wherein the serial bus is in conformity with the USB standard.

43. An image output system in which an image input apparatus and an image output apparatus are connected by a serial bus,

said image input apparatus comprising:

first communication means for performing communication with said image output apparatus through the serial bus and transferring image data to said image output apparatus, and

said image output apparatus comprising;

second communication means for performing communication with said image input apparatus through the serial bus and receiving the image data transferred by said image input apparatus;

image formation control means for controlling to form an image on a print medium based on the image data;

discharge control means for controlling to discharge the print medium on which image forming is performed; and

detection means for detecting an initialized state of the serial bus during image data reception by said second communication means,

wherein said discharge control means controls to discharge the print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means detects the initialized state of the serial bus, so as not to be intermingled with another print medium on which image forming is performed, and

said second communication means suspends reception of image data and requests said image input apparatus to transfer the image data.

44. The image output system according to claim 43, wherein said discharge control means controls to discharge the print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means does not detects the initialized state of the serial bus, to a first discharge outlet, and discharges the print medium, on which image forming is performed when said detection means detects the initialized state, to a second discharge outlet different from the first discharge outlet.

45. The image output system according to claim 43, wherein said first and second communication means receive image data isochronously transferred.

46. The image output system according to claim 43, wherein said second communication means requests image data transfer by asynchronous transfer.

47. The image output system according to claim 43, wherein the initialized state of the serial bus is a state in which a new network is constructed.

48. The image output system according to claim 43, wherein the serial bus is in conformity with the IEEE 1394 standard.

49. The image output system according to claim 43, wherein the serial bus is in conformity with the USB standard.

50. A recording medium recording program codes of an image output method for an image output apparatus connected to another device by a serial bus, said program codes comprising at least:

codes for a receiving step of performing communication with the another device through the serial bus and receiving image data transferred by the another device;

codes for an image formation control step of controlling to form an image on a print medium based on the image data received in said receiving step;

codes for a staple control step of controlling to staple a plurality of print media on which image forming is performed;

codes for a monitoring step of monitoring occurrence of an initialized state of the serial bus during said receiving step; and

codes for a transfer request step of requesting the another device to transfer the image data when the initialized state of the serial bus is detected,

wherein in a case where the initialized state of the serial bus is detected in said monitoring step, print media, on which image forming is performed based on image data transferred in response to a transfer request in said transfer request step, are controlled to be stapled in said staple control step.

51. A recording medium recording program codes of an image output method for an image output apparatus connected to another device by a serial bus, said program codes comprising at least:

codes for a receiving step of performing communication with the another device through the serial bus and receiving image data transferred by the another device;

codes for an image forming control step of controlling to form an image on a print medium based on the image data received in said receiving step;

codes for a monitoring step of monitoring occurrence of an initialized state of the serial bus during said receiving step; and

codes for a discharge control step of controlling to discharge the print medium, on which image forming is performed when the initialized state of the serial bus is detected in said monitoring step, so as not to be intermingled with another print medium on which image forming is performed.

52. The recording medium according to claim 51, wherein said program codes further comprising codes for a transfer request step of suspending said receiving step in a case where the initialized state of the serial bus is detected in said monitoring step, and requesting the another device to transfer the image data again.