Image printing apparatus and method for controlling the image printing apparatus executable interruption print
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTakashi Sugiyama, Tony Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image printing apparatus includes a printer assembly, a control panel configured to receive a user input, a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive first data from a first data source such as a PC external to the printer assembly, store the first data in the memory, and control the printer assembly to print a first image based on the first data stored in the memory. In response to a first user input received from the control panel during the print of the first image, the controller is configured to receive second data from a second data source such as a scanner assembly, and store the second data in the memory during the print of the first image.
Claims33
An image printing apparatus comprising:
- a printer assembly;
- a communication interface configured to communicate with a first data source external of the image printing apparatus;
- a second data source;
- a control panel configured to receive a user input;
- and
- a controller including a memory, the controller configured to:
- receive first data from the first data source via the communication interface;
- store the first data in the memory;
- control the printer assembly to print a first image based on the first data stored in the memory;
- during the print of the first image, receive a first user input from the control panel;
- in response to the first user input received from the control panel during the print of the first image, receive second data from the second data source;
- in response to the first user input received from the control panel during the print of the first image, determine whether the memory has an area for storing a predetermined portion of the second data;
- in response to determining that the memory has the area for storing the predetermined portion of the second data, store the second data in the memory during the print of the first image;
- in response to determining that the memory does not have the area for storing the predetermined portion of the second data, wait to store the second data without suspension of the storage of the first data;
- and
- based on the predetermined portion of the second data stored in the memory, control the printer assembly to suspend the mint of the first image.
An image printing apparatus, comprising:
- a printer assembly;
- a communication interface configured to communicate with a first data source external of the image printing apparatus;
- a second data source;
- a control panel configured to receive a user input;
- and
- a controller including a memory, the controller configured to:
- receive first data from the first data source via the communication interface;
- store the first data in the memory;
- control the printer assembly to print a first image based on the first data stored in the memory;
- during the print of the first image, receive a first user input from the control panel;
- in response to the first user input received from the control panel during the print of the first image, receive second data from the second data source;
- in response to the first user input received from the control panel during the print of the first image, determine whether the memory has an area for storing the predetermined portion of the second data;
- in response to determining that the memory does not have an area for storing the predetermined portion of the second data, suspend of the storage of the first data and wait to store the second data;
- and
- based on a predetermined portion of the second data stored in the memory, control the printer assembly to suspend the print of the first image.
A method for controlling operation of an image printing apparatus, the method comprising:
- receiving first data from a first data source external of the image printing apparatus via a communication interface of the image printing apparatus;
- storing the first data in a memory of the image printing apparatus;
- printing a first image based on the first data stored in the memory;
- during the print of the first image, receiving a first user input from a control panel of the image printing apparatus;
- in response to the first user input received from the control panel during the print of the first image, receiving a second data from a second data source of the image printing apparatus;
- in response to the first user input received from the control panel during the print of the first image, determining whether the memory has an area for storing a predetermined portion of the second data;
- in response to determining that the memory has the area for storing the predetermined portion of the second data, storing the second data in the memory during the print of the first image;
- in response to determining that the memory does not have the area for storing the predetermined portion of the second data, waiting to store the second data without suspension of the storage of the first data;
- and
- based on the predetermined portion of the second data stored in the memory, suspending the print of the first image.
An image printing apparatus comprising:
- a printer assembly;
- a communication interface configured to communicate with an external device;
- a control panel configured to receive user input;
- a scanner assembly;
- and
- a controller including a memory, the controller configured to:
- receive first data from the external device via the communication interface;
- store the first data in the memory;
- control the printer assembly to print a first image based on the first data stored in the memory;
- during the print of the first image, receive a first user input from the control panel of the image printing apparatus;
- in response to the first user input received from the control panel during the print of the first image, receive second data from the scanner assembly;
- store the second data in the memory during the print of the first image;
- after one page of the second data is stored in the memory, allow the control panel to receive a second user input indicating that a second image should be printed instead of the first image, the one page of the second data defined by one side of a recording medium to be printed by the printer assembly;
- receive the second user input;
- in response to receiving the second user input, controlling the printer assembly to suspend printing of the first image;
- and
- after suspension of the printing of the first image, control the printer assembly to print the second image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.