Communication apparatus, control method of the communication apparatus, facsimile apparatus, communication method, and program

• US 7,173,726 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Izumi, Michihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHLACK, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US10/268,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.18, 358/402, 358/1.14, 358/407, 347/14, 709/235, 709/227
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32786 Ending a communication H04N1/32614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm

Abstract

Disclosed are a communication apparatus capable of efficiently using a communication line, a control method of the communication apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a communication method, and a program. To accomplish this, if “print later” in a menu is selected with an image displayed during data communication while a line is connected (S432), printing data is generated from an HTML file of the displayed image (S433). That is, the displayed image is designated as an image to be printed after the line is disconnected. The generated printing data is stored in a printing data buffer (S434). If the presence of the data in the printing buffer is detected (S437) after the line is disconnected (S436), the data is printed (S438).

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving data via a telephone line;

display means for displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

first input means for inputting an instruction to print the image displayed by the display means;

inquiring means for inquiring of user whether to print the image while the line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated, before executing printing;

second input means for inputting a first instruction to print the image while the line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated; and

control means for performing control such that when inputting the first instruction, the image is printed before disconnecting the telephone line and when inputting the second instruction, the image is printed after the telephone line is disconnected.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

storage means for storing data corresponding to the image designated by said designating means; and

converting means for converting the data into printing data after the line is disconnected.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data is described in markup language.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

converting means for converting the data of the image designated by said designating means into printing data; and

storage means for storing the printing data generated by said converting means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising instructing means for giving an instruction such that the image displayed on said display means is printed while the line is connected,

wherein said control means performs control, in accordance with the instruction by said instructing means, such that the image displayed on said display means is printed while the line is connected.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said designating means can designate a plurality of images, and

said control means performs control such that the plurality of images are printed at once after the line is disconnected.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising printing means for printing an image under the control of said control means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.

8. A communication apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving data via a telephone line;

display means for displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

first input means for inputting an instruction to print the image displayed by the display means;

determining means for determining whether cleaning of a printhead is necessary, in response to the instruction inputted by the input means, before executing printing;

inquiring means for inquiring of a user whether to print the image while the telephone line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the telephone line is terminated, when said determining means determines that the cleaning of the printhead is necessary;

second input means for inputting a first instruction to print the image while the telephone line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the telephone line is terminated; and

control means for controlling printing means to print the image while the telephone line is connected when the first instruction is inputted, or controlling said printing means to print the image after the telephone line is disconnected when the second instruction is inputted.

9. A communication apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving data via a telephone line;

display means for displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

first input means for inputting an instruction to print the image displayed by the display means;

determining means for determining the presence/absence of the printing medium, in response to the instruction inputted by the input means, before executing printing;

inquiring means for inquiring of a user whether to print the image while the line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated, when said determining means determines that the print medium is absent;

second input means for inputting a first instruction to print the image while the line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated; and

control means for controlling printing means to print the image while the telephone line is connected when the first instruction is inputted, or controlling the printing means to print the image after the line is disconnected when the second instruction is inputted.

11. A communication method comprising:

a reception step of receiving data via a telephone line;

a display step of displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

a first input step of inputting an instruction to print the image displayed in said display step;

an inquiring step of inquiring of user whether to print the image while the line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated, before executing printing;

a second input step of inputting a first instruction to print the image while the line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated;

a control step of performing control such that when inputting the first instruction, the image is printed before disconnecting the telephone line and when inputting the second instruction, the image is printed after the telephone line is disconnected.

12. A method of controlling a communication apparatus for printing an image by using a printhead, comprising:

a reception step of receiving data via a telephone line;

a display step of displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

a first input step of inputting an instruction to print the image displayed in said display step;

a determination step of determining whether cleaning of a printhead is necessary, in response to the instruction inputted in said input step, before executing printing;

an inquiring step of inquiring of a user whether to print the image while the telephone line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the telephone line is terminated, when said determining step determines that the cleaning of the printhead is necessary;

a second input step of inputting a first instruction to print the image while the telephone line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the telephone line is terminated;

a cleaning step of cleaning the printhead after disconnecting the line, if the determination step determines that cleaning of the printhead is necessary; and

a printing step of printing the image after the cleaning step is completed.

13. A method of controlling a communication apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium, comprising:

a reception step of receiving data via a telephone line;

a display step of displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

a first input step of inputting an instruction to print the image displayed in said display step;

a determination step of determining the presence/absence of the printing medium, in response to the instruction inputted in said first input step, before executing printing;

an inquiring step of inquiring of a user whether to print the image while the line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated, when said determining step determines that the print medium is absent;

a second input step of inputting a first instruction to print the image while the line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated;

a waiting step of waiting for replenishment of the printing medium after disconnecting the line, if the determination step determines that the printing medium is absent; and

a printing step of printing the image when detecting replenishment of the printing medium.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising a program for allowing a computer to execute:

a reception step of receiving data via a telephone line;

a display step of displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

a first input step of inputting an instruction to print the image displayed in said display step;

an inquiring step of inquiring of user whether to print the image while the line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated, before executing printing;

second input means for inputting a first instruction to print the image while the line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated; and

a control step of performing control such that when inputting the first instruction, the image is printed before disconnecting the telephone line and when inputting the second instruction, the image is printed after the telephone line is disconnected.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising a program for controlling a communication apparatus for printing an image by using a printhead, wherein said program allows a processor installed in said communication apparatus to execute:

a reception step of receiving data via a telephone line;

a display step of displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

a first input step of inputting an instruction to print the image displayed in said display step;

a determination step of determining whether cleaning of a printhead is necessary, in response to the instruction inputted in said first input step, before executing printing;

an inquiring step of inquiring of a user whether to print the image while the telephone line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the telephone line is terminated, when said determining step determines that the cleaning of the printhead is necessary;

a second input step of inputting a first instruction to print the image while the telephone line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the telephone line is terminated;

a cleaning step of cleaning the printhead after disconnecting the line, if the determination step determines that cleaning of the printhead is necessary; and

a printing step of printing the image after the cleaning step is completed.

16. A computer-readable medium comprising a program for controlling a communication apparatus for printing an image by using a printhead, wherein said program allows a processor installed in said communication apparatus to execute:

a reception step of receiving data via a telephone line;

a display step of displaying an image corresponding to the received data;

a first input step of inputting an instruction to print the image displayed in said display step;

a determination step of determining the presence/absence of the printing medium, in response to the instruction inputted in said first input step, before executing printing;

an inquiring step of inquiring of a user whether to print the image while the line is kept connected or to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated, when said determining step determines that the print medium is absent;

a second input step of inputting a first instruction to print the image while the line is kept connected or a second instruction to print the image after the connection to the line is terminated;

a waiting step of waiting for replenishment of the printing medium after disconnecting the line, if the determination step determines that the printing medium is absent; and

a printing step of printing the image when detecting replenishment of the printing medium.