Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program

• US 6,642,943 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Machida, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/559,454
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 345/717, 345/733, 345/736, 345/737, 345/738, 345/739, 345/740, 345/746, 345/748, 345/804, 345/805, 345/762-764, 345/771, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32512 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

When plural data are combined with others as one data, it aims to freely provide excellent operation environment which does not demand any complicated operation to a user. To do so, combination order of information input respectively from plural indicated input sources is displayed by means of an arrangement of icons representing the input information. On the basis of an execution instruction, the information input from each of the plural indicated input sources is combined with others in the arranged and displayed order, thereby controlling combination function based on plural peripheral devices.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus which can perform data communication with various devices, which include a device comprising a print unit for printing data on a sheet, connected on a predetermined communication medium, comprising:

acquirement means for acquiring function information of each device, connection information and status by communicating with the various devices;

management means for storing and managing the function information of each device, the connection information and the status acquired by said acquirement means;

system display means for causing a display unit to display a system structure by first icons, on the basis of the connection information and the status stored and, managed by said management means;

first indication means for indicating a combination of the arbitrary first icons displayed on the display unit;

function setting screen display means for causing said display unit to display a combination function setting screen based on the combination indicated by said first indication means;

second indication means for indicating one or more generation sources of printable data other than printable first data that is to be combined with printable first data generated by any device indicated by said first indication means when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group;

combination order display means for causing said display unit to display an order of the combination of the first data generated by the device indicated by said first indication means and the other data from the one or more generation sources indicated by said second indication means, by means of an arrangement of second icons representing the data which include the first data and the other data, when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group; and

control means for controlling so as to combine, as the printable data included in one group, the printable first data from the device indicated by said first indication means and the other data from the one or more generation sources indicated by said second indication means in an order according to the order of the second icons arranged and displayed by said combination order display means, on the basis of an execution instruction input via the combination function setting screen displayed by said function setting screen display means, when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising combination order change means for instructing a change of the arrangement order of the second icons representing the data displayed by said combination order display means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data includes document data or image data of an image file in own apparatus or another communicatable data processing apparatus, and image data generated by a device different from the device indicated by said first indication means.

4. A data processing apparatus which can perform data communication with various devices which include a device comprising a print unit for allowing a printing process of data to a sheet, comprising:

indication means for allowing an indication of one or more devices from the various devices;

combination order display means for causing a display unit to display a combination order of a plurality of data, which can be printed by said print unit, respectively generated by the one or more devices indicated by said indication means, by means of an arrangement of icons; and

control means for controlling so as to combine, as the data included in one group, the plurality of data, which can be printed by said print unit, respectively generated by the one or more devices indicated by said indication means, in an order according to the arrangement order of the icons on said display unit, when the plurality of mutually independent data generated by said one or more devices are combined into one group as the data printable by said print unit included in one group.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising combination order change means for instructing a change of the arrangement of said icons concerning the plurality of data displayed by said combination order display means, and

wherein, when the arrangement order of said icon is changed by said combination order change means, said control means controls so as to combine the plurality of data into one group as the data printable by said print unit included in one group, in an order according to the arrangement order after the change by said combination order change means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said data processing apparatus which can communicate with plural other data processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium which includes a network.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein any of said plural data processing apparatuses can be registered as a management server.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the various devices include at least any of a printer, a fax machine, a digital copying machine, a scanner, a digital camera and a modem.

9. A data processing method which can perform data communication with various devices, which include a device comprising a print unit for printing data on a sheet, connected on a predetermined communication medium, comprising:

an acquirement step of acquiring function information of each device, connection information and status by communicating with the various devices;

a management step of storing and managing the finction information of each device, the connection information and the status acquired in said acquirement step;

a system display step of causing a display unit to display a system structure by icons, on the basis of the connection information and the status stored and managed in said management step;

a first indication step of indicating a combination of the arbitrary icons displayed on the display unit;

a function setting screen display step of causing the display unit to display a combination function setting screen based on the combination indicated in said first indication step;

a second indication step of indicating one or more generation sources of printable data other than printable first data to be combined with printable first data generated by any device indicated in said first indication step when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group;

a combination order display step of causing the display unit to display an order of the combination of the first data generated by the device indicated in said first indication step and the other data from the one or more generation sources indicated in said second indication step, by means of an arrangement of second icons representing the data which includes the first data and the other data, when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group; and

a control step of controlling so as to combine, as the printable data included in one group, the printable first data from the device indicated in said first indication step and the other data from the one or more generation sources indicated in said second indication step in an order according to the order of the second icons arranged and displayed in said combination order display step, on the basis of an execution instruction input via the combination function setting screen displayed in said function setting screen display step, when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising a combination order change step of instructing a change of the arrangement order of the second icons representing the data displayed in said combination order display step.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the data includes document data or image data of an image file in own apparatus or another communicatable data processing apparatus, and image data generated by a device different from the device indicated in said first indication step.

12. A data processing method which can perform data communication with various devices which include a device comprising a print unit for allowing a printing process of data to a sheet, comprising:

an indication step of allowing an indication of one or more devices from the various devices;

a combination order display step of causing a display unit to display a combination order of a plurality of data, which can be printed by the print unit, respectively generated by the one or more devices indicated in said indication step, by means of an arrangement of icons concerning the plurality of data, when the plurality of mutually independent data generated by the one or more devices are combined into one group as the data printable by the print unit included in one group; and

a control step of controlling so as to combine, as the data included in one group, the plurality of data, which can be printed by the print unit, respectively generated by the one or more devices indicated by said indication step, in an order according to the arrangement order of the icons on the display unit, when the plurality of mutually independent data generated by the one or more devices are combined into one group as the data printable by the print unit included in one group.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising a combination order change step of instructing a change of the arrangement of said icons concerning the plurality of data displayed in said combination order display step, and

wherein, when the arrangement order of said icon is changed in said combination order change step, said control step controls so as to combine the plurality of data into one group as the data printable by the print unit included in one group, in an order according to the arrangement order after the change in aid combination order change step.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the various devices include at least any of a printer, a fax machine, a digital copying machine, a scanner, a digital camera and a modem.

15. A storage medium which stores a computer readable program to control a data processing apparatus capable of performing data communication with various devices, which include a device comprising a print unit for printing data on a sheet, connected on a predetermined communication medium, said program comprising:

an acquirement step of acquiring function information of each device, connection information and status by communicating with the various devices;

a management step of storing and managing the function information of each device, the connection information and the status acquired in said acquirement step;

a system display step of causing a display unit to display a system structure by first icons, on the basis of the connection information and the status stored and managed in said management step;

a first indication step of indicating a combination of the arbitrary first icons displayed on the display unit;

a function setting screen display step of causing the display unit to display a combination function setting screen based on the combination indicated in said first indication step;

a second indication step of indicating one or more generation sources of printable data other than printable first data to be combined with printable first data generated by any device indicated in said first indication step when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group;

a combination order display step of causing the display unit to display an order of the combination of the first data generated by the device indicated in said first indication step and the other data from the one or more generation sources indicated in said second indication step, by means of an arrangement of second icons representing the data which includes the first data and the other data, when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group; and

a control step of controlling so as to combine, as the printable data included in one group, the printable first data from the device indicated in said first indication step and the other data from the one or more generation sources indicated in said second indication step in an order according to the order of the second icons arranged and displayed in said combination order display step, on the basis of an execution instruction input via the combination function setting screen displayed in said function setting screen display step, when said printable first data and said printable other data independent of said first data are combined with each other as the printable data included in one group.

16. A storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a combination order change step of instructing a change of the arrangement order of the second icons representing the data displayed in said combination order display step.

17. A storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the data includes document data or image data of an image file in own apparatus or another communicatable data processing apparatus, and image data generated by a device different from the device indicated in said first indication step.

18. A storage medium which stores a computer readable program to control a data processing apparatus capable of performing data communication with various devices which include a device compromising a print unit for allowing a printing process of data to a sheet, said program comprising:

an indication step of allowing an indication of one or more devices from the various devices;

a combination order display step of causing a display unit to display a combination order of a plurality of data, which can be printed by the print unit, respectively generated by the one or more devices indicated in said indication step, by means of an arrangement of icons concerning the plurality of data, when the plurality of mutually independent data generated by the one or more devices are combined into one group s the data printable by the print unit included in one group; and

a control step of controlling so as to combine, as the data included in one group, the plurality of data, which can be printed by the print unit, respectively generated by the one or more devices indicated by said indication step, in an order according to the arrangement order of the icons on the display unit, when the plurality of mutually independent data generated by the one or more devices are combined into one group as the data printable by the print unit included in one group.

19. A storage medium according to claim 18, further comprising a combination order change step of instructing a change of the arrangement of said icons concerning the plurality of data displayed in said combination order display step, and

wherein, when the arrangement order of said icon is changed in said combination order change step, said control step controls so as to combine the plurality of data into one group as the data printable by the print unit included in one group, in an order according to the arrangement order after the change in said combination order change step.

20. A storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the various devices include at least any of a printer, a fax machine, a digital copying machine, a scanner, a digital camera and a modem.

21. A data processing apparatus which can control an image formation apparatus, comprising:

selection means for allowing a selection of one or more series of data on which an image can be formed by said image formation apparatus;

display control means for causing a display apparatus to display an icon concerning a series of data, on which the image can be formed by said image formation apparatus, selected by said selection means; and

control means for causing said image formation apparatus to perform an image formation of the series of data corresponding to the icon on said display apparatus,

wherein said selection means can select plural series of different data mutually independent,

said control means can control so as to cause said image formation apparatus to consecutively perform the image formation of the series of data mutually independent as a series of data included in one group, when the plural series of data mutually independent are selected by said selection means,

said display control means causes said display apparatus to arrange and display plural icons respectively corresponding to the plural series of data mutually independent when the plural series of data mutually independent are selected by said selection means, and

said control means causes said image formation apparatus to perform image formation of the plural series of data mutually independent as a series of data included in one group in the order according to the arrangement order of the plural icons, corresponding to the plural series of data mutually independent, displayed on said display apparatus when it causes to perform the image formation of the plural series of data mutually independent as the series of data included in one group.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising change means capable of changing the arrangement order of the plural icons displayed on said display apparatus, prior to the image formation operations of the plural series of data by said image formation apparatus,

wherein said control means causes said image formation apparatus to consecutively perform the image formation of the plural data, as a series of data included in one group, in the order according to the arrangement order changed by said change means when the arrangement order of the plural icons is changed by said change means.

23. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image formation apparatus can be connected on a predetermined data communication path.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein each of the plural series of images is generated by a different image generation source.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein plural devices acting as the data generation sources are connected on said data communication path, and each device independently outputs the series of data to said image formation apparatus through said data communication path.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the plural devices include a data input apparatus which includes a scanner disposed remotely from said data processing apparatus.

27. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said data processing apparatus and said image formation apparatus are disposed remotely from each other, and said data processing apparatus controls said image formation apparatus through a data communication path.

28. A data processing method for a data processing apparatus which can control an image formation apparatus, said method comprising:

a selection step of allowing a selection of one or more series of data on which an image can be formed by the image formation apparatus;

a display control step of causing a display apparatus to display an icon concerning a series of data, on which the image can be formed by the image formation apparatus selected in said selection step; and

a control step of causing the image formation apparatus to perform an image formation of the series of data corresponding to the icon on the display apparatus,

wherein said selection step can select plural series of different data mutually independent,

said control step can control so as to cause the image formation apparatus to consecutively perform the image formation of the series of data mutually independent as a series of data included in one group, when the plural series of data mutually independent are selected in said selection step,

said display control step causes the display apparatus to arrange and display plural icons respectively corresponding to the plural series of data mutually independent when the plural series of data mutually independent are selected in said selection step, and

said control step causes the image formation apparatus to perform image formation of the plural series of data mutually independent as a series of data included in one group in the order according to the arrangement order of the plural icons, corresponding to the plural series of data mutually independent, displayed on the display apparatus when it causes to perform the image formation of the plural series of data mutually independent as the series of data included in one group.

29. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to cause a data processing apparatus capable of controlling an image formation apparatus to execute following steps:

a selection step of allowing a selection of one or more series of data on which an image can be formed by the image formation apparatus;

a display control step of causing a display apparatus to display an icon concerning series of data, on which the image can be formed by the image formation apparatus selected in said selection step; and

a control step of causing the image formation apparatus to perform an image formation of the series of data corresponding to the icon on the display apparatus,

wherein said selection step can select plural series of different data mutually independent,

said control step can control so as to cause the image formation apparatus to consecutively perform the image formation of the series of data mutually independent as a series of data included in one group, when the plural series of data mutually independent are selected in said selection step,

said display control step causes the display apparatus to arrange and display plural icons respectively corresponding to the plural series of data mutually independent when the plural series of data mutually independent are selected in said selection step, and

said control step causes the image formation apparatus to perform image formation of the plural series of data mutually independent as a series of data included in one group in the order according to the arrangement order of the plural icons, corresponding to the plural series of data mutually independent, displayed on the display apparatus when it causes to perform the image formation of the plural series of data mutually independent as the series of data included in one group.

30. A control method of a system which at least includes a device capable of processing printable data, comprising:

a display control step of causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing the display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes the device of the system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group; and

a control step of causing the device of the system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, when it causes the device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising a combination data processing mode setting step of allowing to set a processing mode for the combination data in which the plurality of data are combined as the data included in one group, without setting a processing mode for each of the plurality of mutually independent printable data,

wherein said control step controls to perform a process according to the processing mode set in said combination data processing mode setting step, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said combination data processing mode setting step allows to set the processing mode in at least any of a plurality of setting items which include a first setting item for setting the number of output sheets in case of printing the combination data, a second setting item for setting a sheet size in case of printing the combination data, a third setting item for setting whether or not to print the data included in the combination data to front and back faces of a sheet in case of printing the combination data, a fourth setting item for setting a layout in a case where the data of plural pages included in the combination data are printed on the same face of a single sheet in case of printing the combination data, a fifth setting item for setting whether or not to perform a stapling process to the sheet in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, a sixth setting item for setting a magnification of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, a seventh setting item for setting a density of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, and an eighth setting item for setting a quality of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, and

said control step controls to perform the process according to the processing mode set in said combination data processing mode setting step, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein the system includes a device having a printer unit, and

said control step causes the printer unit of the device having the printer unit to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, on the sheet in accordance with an instruction from a user.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein said control step causes a memory of the device in the system to store the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

35. A method according to claim 30, wherein the system includes at least one or more devices in the plurality of devices including a computer, a scanner, a printer, a copying machine, a digital camera, a facsimile machine and a multifunctional machine.

36. A method according to claim 30, wherein

the system includes two or more devices,

said method further comprises a selection step of selecting the data to be combined as the combination data,

said selection step allows to select the data to be combined, from the plurality of data individually generated respectively by the plurality of devices included in the system, and

said selection step causes to combine the plurality of mutually independent data individually generated from the plurality of devices, as the printable data included in one group.

37. A method according to claim 30, further comprising a changing step of allowing to change the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit,

wherein said display control step causes, in a case where the displaying manner is changed in said changing step, the display unit to display the first display and the second display according to the displaying manner changed in said changing step, and

said control step causes, in the case where the displaying manner is changed in said changing step, the device to generate the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the changed displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

38. A method according to claim 30, wherein

said display control step causes the display unit to arrange and display a first icon concerning the first data and a second icon concerning the second data, and

said control step causes the device to generate the combination data in which the first data and the second data mutually independent are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the arrangement order of the first icon and the second icon on the display unit.

39. A method according to claim 30, wherein said control step controls the device in the system via a predetermined communication medium including a network.

82. A method according to claim 30, wherein said control step causes to generate the combination data in which the first data of a first type and the second data of a second type, the first and second types being mutually different, are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

83. A method according to claim 82, wherein the first data of the first type at least includes document data, and the second data of the second type at least includes image data.

40. A control method of a system which at least includes a device capable of processing printable data, comprising:

a display control step of causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing the display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes the device of the system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group;

a combination control step of causing the device of the system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, when it causes the device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group;

a combination data processing mode setting step of allowing to set a processing mode for the combination data in which the plurality of data are combined as the data included in one group, without setting a processing mode for each of the plurality of mutually independent printable data; and

a combination data processing mode control step of controlling so as to perform a process according to the processing mode set in said combination data processing mode setting step, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein

said combination data processing mode setting step allows to set the processing mode in at least any of a plurality of setting items which include a first setting item for setting the number of output sheets in case of printing the combination data, a second setting item for setting a sheet size in case of printing the combination data, a third setting item for setting whether or not to print the data included in the combination data to front and back faces of a sheet in case of printing the combination data, a fourth setting item for setting a layout in a case where the data of plural pages included in the combination data are printed on the same face of a single sheet in case of printing the combination data, and a fifth setting item for setting whether or not to perform a stapling process to the sheet in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, and

said combination data processing mode control step controls to perform the process according to the processing mode in at least any of the plurality of setting items set in said combination data processing mode setting step, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, by the number of outputs according to the number of output sheets in the first setting item set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

43. A method according to claim 41, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, to a sheet of the sheet size according to the second setting item set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

44. A method according to claim 41, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, to the front and back faces of a sheet according to the third setting item set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

45. A method according to claim 41, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes to print the data of the plural pages included in the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, in the layout according to the fourth setting item set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

46. A method according to claim 41, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes to perform the stapling process to the sheets on which the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit have been printed, according to the fifth setting item set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

47. A method according to claim 40, wherein said combination data processing mode setting step allows to set the processing mode in at least any of the plurality of setting items which include a sixth setting item for setting a magnification of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, a seventh setting item for setting a density of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, and an eighth setting item for setting a quality of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, and

said combination data processing mode control step controls to perform the process according to the processing mode in at least any of the plurality of setting items set in said combination data processing mode setting step, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, with the magnification according to the sixth setting item set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

49. A method according to claim 47, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, with the density according to the seventh setting item set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

50. A method according to claim 47, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, with the quality according to the eighth setting item set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

51. A method according to claim 40, wherein said combination data processing mode control step causes a memory of the device in the system to store the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit and which has been processed according to the processing mode set in said combination data processing mode setting step.

52. A method according to claim 40, wherein the system includes at least one or more devices in the plurality of devices including a computer, a scanner, a printer, a copying machine, a digital camera, a facsimile machine and a multifunctional machine.

53. A method according to claim 40, wherein said combination data processing mode control step controls the device in the system via a predetermined communication medium including a network.

54. A method according to claim 40, wherein said combination control step causes the device to generate the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, in accordance with user'"'"'s setting.

55. A method according to claim 40, wherein said display control step causes the display unit to perform a third display for allowing to set the processing mode for the combination data, and

said combination data processing mode setting step allows to set the processing mode for the combination data via the third display on the display unit.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein said display control step causes the display unit to display a screen including both the first display and the second display.

57. A method according to claim 55, wherein said display control step causes the display unit to display a screen including the first display, the second display and the third display.

58. A method according to claim 40, wherein said combination control step causes to generate the combination data in which the first data of a first type and the second data of a second type, the first and second types being mutually different, are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

59. A method according to claim 58, wherein the first data of the first type at least includes document data, and the second data of the second type at least includes image data.

60. A control method of a system which at least includes a plurality of devices capable of processing printable data, comprising:

a display control step of causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing the display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes the device of the system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group;

a data selection step of selecting the data to be combined as the combination data from among the data generated by at least one or more devices in the system; and

a control step of causing the device of the system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data individually generated by the mutually different devices are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, when the mutually independent first and second data each individually generated by each of the plurality of devices included in the system are selected in said data selection step.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein

the system includes a device having a printer unit, and

said control step causes the printer unit of the device having the printer unit to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, on the sheet in accordance with an instruction from a user.

62. A method according to claim 60, wherein said control step causes a memory of the device in the system to store the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

63. A method according to claim 60, wherein the system includes at least one or more kinds of devices in the plurality of kinds of devices including a computer, a scanner, a printer, a copying machine, a digital camera, a facsimile machine and a multifunctional machine.

64. A method according to claim 60, wherein said control step controls the device in the system via a predetermined communication medium including a network.

65. A method according to claim 60, wherein said control step causes to generate the combination data in which the first data of a first type and the second data of a second type, the first and second types being mutually different, are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

66. A method according to claim 65, wherein the first data of the first type at least includes document data, and the second data of the second type at least includes image data.

67. A control method of a system which at least includes a device capable of processing printable data, comprising:

a display control step of causing a display unit to display a first icon concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing the display unit to display a second icon concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes the device of the system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group; and

a control step of causing the device of the system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first icon and the second icon on the display unit, when it causes the device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group.

68. A method according to claim 67, wherein

said display control step causes the display unit to display a screen including the first icon and the second icon, and

said control step causes the device to generate the combination data in which the first data and the second data mutually independent are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the arrangement order of the first icon and the second icon on the display unit.

69. A method according to claim 68, further comprising a changing step of allowing to change the arrangement order of the first icon and the second icon,

wherein said control step causes, in the case where the arrangement order is changed in said changing step, the device to generate the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the changed displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

70. A method according to claim 69, wherein said display control step allows the display unit to perform a change display for chanting the arrangement order.

71. A method according to claim 70, wherein said display control step causes the display unit to display a screen including the first icon, the second icon and the change display.

72. A method according to claim 68, wherein

said display control step allows to perform a mode setting display on the display unit for allowing to set a processing mode for the combination data in which the plurality of data are combined as the data included in one group without setting the processing mode for each of the plurality of mutually independent printable data, and

said control step controls to perform the process according to the processing mode for the combination data input via the mode setting display on the display unit, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the arrangement order of the first icon and the second icon on the screen.

73. A method according to claim 72, wherein said display control step causes the display unit to perform the mode setting display as wee as the display of the first icon and the second icon.

74. A method according to claim 73, wherein said display control step causes the display unit to display the screen including the first icon, the second icon and the mode setting display.

75. A method according to claim 72, wherein

said processing mode at least includes the processing mode in at least any of a plurality of setting items including a first setting item for setting the number of output sheets in case of printing the combination data, a second setting item for setting a sheet size in case of printing the combination data, a third setting item for setting whether or not to print the data included in the combination data to front and back faces of a sheet in case of printing the combination data, a fourth setting item for setting a layout in a case where the data of plural pages included in the combination data are printed on the same face of a single sheet in case of printing the combination data, a fifth setting item for setting whether or not to perform a stapling process to the sheet in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, a sixth setting item for setting a magnification of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, a seventh setting item for setting a density of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, and an eighth setting item for setting a quality of the combination data in case of printing the combination data to the sheet, and

said control step controls to perform the process according to the processing mode in at least any of the plurality of setting items set via the mode setting display, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

76. A method according to claim 68, wherein said control step causes a print unit of the device having the print unit in the system to print the combination data in which the first data and the second data mutually independent are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the arrangement order of the first icon and the second icon on the screen.

77. A method according to claim 68, wherein said control step causes a memory of the device in the system to store the combination data in which the first data and the second data mutually independent are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the arrangement order of the first icon and the second icon on the screen.

78. A method according to claim 67, wherein the system includes at least one or more devices in the plurality of devices including a computer, a scanner, a printer, a copying machine, a digital camera, a facsimile machine and a multifunctional machine.

79. A method according to claim 67, wherein said control step controls the device in the system via a predetermined communication medium including a network.

80. A method according to claim 69, wherein said changing step allows to change the displayed arrangement order of the first icon and the second icon via at least any input device in a plurality of input devices including a keyboard and a mouse.

81. A method according to claim 80, wherein said changing step allows to change the displayed arrangement order of the first icon and the second icon by a drag and drop operation by the mouse.

84. A method according to claim 67, wherein said control step causes to generate the combination data in which the first data of a first type and the second data of a second type, the first and second types being mutually different, are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

85. A method according to claim 84, wherein the first data of the first type at least includes document data, and the second data of the second type at least includes image data.

86. A controller of a system which at least includes a device capable of processing printable data, comprising:

display controller for causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing said display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes said device of said system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group; and

controller for causing said device of said system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on said display unit, when it causes said device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group.

87. A controller of a system which at least includes a device capable of processing printable data, comprising:

display controller for causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing said display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes said device of said system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group;

controller for causing said device of said system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, when it causes said device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group; and

combination data processing mode setting unit for allowing to set a processing mode for the combination data in which the plurality of data are combined as the data included in one group, without setting a processing mode for each of the plurality of mutually independent printable data,

said controller controls so as to perform a process according to the processing mode set by said combination data processing mode setting unit, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on said display unit.

88. A controller of a system which at least includes a plurality of devices capable of processing printable data, comprising:

display controller for causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing said display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes said device of said system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group;

data selector for selecting the data to be combined as the combination data from among the data generated by at least one or more devices in said system; and

controller for causing said device of said system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data individually generated by the mutually different devices are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, when the mutually independent first and second data each individually generated by each of the plurality of devices included in said system are selected by said data selector.

89. A controller of a system which at least includes a device capable of processing printable data, comprising:

display controller for causing a display unit to display a first icon concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing said display unit to display a second icon concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes said device of said system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group; and

controller for causing said device of said system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of said first icon and said second icon on said display unit, when it causes said device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group.

90. A storage medium which stores a program to execute a control method of a system at least including a device capable of processing printable data, said method comprising:

a display control step of causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing the display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes the device of the system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group; and

a control step of causing the device of the system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, when it causes the device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group.

91. A storage medium which stores a program to execute a control method of a system at least including a device capable of processing printable data, said method comprising:

a display control step of causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing the display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes the device of the system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group;

a combination control step of causing the device of the system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, when it causes the device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group;

a combination data processing mode setting step of allowing to set a processing mode for the combination data in which the plurality of data are combined as the data included in one group, without setting a processing mode for each of the plurality of mutually independent printable data; and

a combination data processing mode control step of controlling so as to perform a process according to the processing mode set in said combination data processing mode setting step, to the combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to the displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit.

92. A storage medium which stores a program to execute a control method of a system at least including a plurality of devices capable of processing printable data, said method comprising:

a display control step of causing a display unit to execute a first display concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing the display unit to execute a second display concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes the device of the system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group;

a data selection step of selecting the data to be combined as the combination data from among the data generated by at least one or more devices in the system; and

a control step of causing the device of the system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data individually generated by the mutually different devices are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first display and the second display on the display unit, when the mutually independent first and second data each individually generated by each of the plurality of devices included in the system are selected in said data selection step.

93. A storage medium which stores a program to execute a control method of a system at least including a device capable of processing printable data, said method comprising:

a display control step of causing a display unit to display a first icon concerning first data of a plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and second data, and causing the display unit to display a second icon concerning the second data of the plurality of data, when it causes the device of the system to generate combination data in which the plurality of mutually independent printable data including the first data and the second data are combined as printable data included in one group; and

a control step of causing the device of the system to generate combination data in which the first data and the second data are combined as the printable data included in one group in the order according to a displaying manner of the first icon and the second icon on the display unit, when it causes the device to generate the combination data in which the mutually independent first data and second data are combined as the printable data included in one group.