# US 2013/0155429 A1 · Image forming apparatus and computer readable recording medium storing control program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155429 A1 - Document ID: US20130155429A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/711,871 - Filed: 2012-12-12 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Masaki NAKATA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155429A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/60: Colour correction or control {(H04N1/54 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00127: {Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture} - H04N 1/04: Scanning arrangements {, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa}(H04N1/387 takes precedence) - H04N 1/4433: {to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function} - H04N 1/10: using flat picture-bearing surfaces {(H04N1/113, H04N1/195 take precedence)} - H04N 2201/0067: Converting to still picture data - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - H04N 2201/0438: Scanning displays; Scanning large surfaces, e.g. projection screens, writing boards - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image forming apparatus of the present invention determines whether or not electronic information on a displayed image on a portable display terminal set on a platen can be received from outside of the image forming apparatus, and generating converted data for printing by receiving said electronic information and converting it into a printable format when it is determined that the electronic information can be received (S118 or S119). Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus generates scanned data for printing by scanning the displayed image on platen when it is determined that the electronic information cannot be received from outside (S121 or S123). The image forming apparatus then prints the displayed image based on either converted data or the read data (S124). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus for printing a displayed image on display media including a portable display terminal set on a platen, comprising: a control unit for determining whether or not electronic information on said displayed image can be received from outside of said image forming apparatus; a conversion unit for generating converted data for printing said displayed image by receiving said electronic information from outside of said image forming apparatus and converting said electronic information into a printable format when it is determined that said electronic information can be received from outside; a scanning unit for generating scanned data for printing by scanning said displayed image when it is determined that said electronic information cannot be received; and a printing unit for printing said displayed image based on either said converted data generated by said conversion unit or said scanned data generated by said scanning unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein operational restrictions are imposed on said image forming apparatus so that only a predetermined range of operations of said image forming apparatus are permitted, and said conversion unit generates said converted data only when printing of said displayed image based on said converted data is permitted under said operational restrictions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said scanning unit further generates said scanned data when printing of said displayed image based on said converted data is not permitted under said operational restrictions, and printing of said displayed image based on said scanned data is permitted under said operational restrictions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said conversion unit generates said converted data for color printing only when color printing of said displayed image based on said converted data is permitted under said operational restrictions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said scanning unit further determines whether or not said displayed image is a color image while scanning said displayed image, and said conversion unit generates said converted data for color printing only when it is determined that said displayed image is a color image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing of said displayed image based on said converted data may only be permitted within a limit of predefined maximum number of printing under said operational restrictions, and said conversion unit generates said conversion data only when total number of printing based on said converted data does not exceed said maximum number of printing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said maximum number of printing is defined for each of black-and-white printing and color printing based on said converted data, and said conversion unit generates said converted data for color printing only when total number of color printing based on said converted data does not exceed said maximum number for color printing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portable display terminal is an electronic paper device. ### Claim 9 A computer-readable recording medium storing a control program of an image forming apparatus for printing a displayed image on a display media including a portable display terminal set on a platen, said control program causing said image forming apparatus to perform a process comprising steps of: (A) determining whether or not electronic information on said displayed image can be received from outside of said image forming apparatus; (B) generating converted data for printing said image data by receiving said electronic information from outside of said image forming apparatus and converting said electronic information into a printable format when it is determined that said electronic information can be received from outside; (C) generating scanned data for printing by scanning said displayed image when it is determined that said electronic information cannot be received from outside; and (D) printing said displayed image based on either said converted data generated in said step (B) or said scanned data generated in said step (C). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The recording medium according to claim 9, wherein operational restrictions are imposed on said image forming apparatus so that only a predetermined range of operations of said image forming apparatus are permitted, and said step (B) generates said converted data only when printing of said displayed image based on said converted data is permitted under said operational restrictions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The recording medium according to claim 10, wherein said step (C) further generates said scanned data when printing of said displayed image based on said converted data is not permitted under said operational restrictions, and printing of said displayed image based on said scanned data is permitted under said operational restrictions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The recording medium according to claim 10, wherein said step (B) generates said converted data for color printing only when color printing of said displayed image based on said converted data is permitted under said operational restrictions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The recording medium according to claim 12, wherein said process further comprises a step (E) of determining whether or not said displayed image is a color image while scanning said displayed image, and said step (B) generates said converted data for color printing only when it is determined in step (E) that said displayed image is a color image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The recording medium to claim 9, wherein printing of said displayed image based on said converted data may only be permitted within a limit of predefined maximum number of printing under said operational restrictions, and said step (B) generates said converted data only when total number of printing based on said converted data does not exceed said maximum number of printing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The recording medium according to claim 14, wherein said maximum number of printing is defined for each of black-and-white printing and color printing based on said converted data, and said step (B) generates said converted data for color printing only when total number of color printing based on said converted data does not exceed said maximum number for color printing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The recording medium according to claim 9, wherein said portable display terminal is an electronic paper device.