# US 2017/0257526 A1 · Image forming apparatus, print system, method for controlling image forming apparatus, method for controlling print system, and storage medium storing program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0257526 A1 - Document ID: US20170257526A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/443,895 - Filed: 2017-02-27 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-01 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tadahiro Nakamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170257526A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/4433: {to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function} - H04N 1/00344: {with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus (monitoring H04N1/00002)} - H04N 1/00477: {Indicating status, e.g. of a job (for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219)} - H04N 1/32765: {Initiating a communication} - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external device which manages print data includes an operating unit and a controller. The operating unit receives a user operation of an operating user. The controller includes circuitry or a processor to execute instructions stored in a memory to acquire unacquired print data from the external device based on a receiving process performed first after start-up of the image forming apparatus among a plurality of receiving processes including a first receiving process for receiving a notification which encourages acquisition of print data and a second receiving process for receiving the user operation by the operating unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external device which manages print data, the image forming apparatus comprising: an operating unit which receives a user operation of an operating user; and a controller having circuitry or a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to: acquire unacquired print data from the external device based on a receiving process performed first after start-up of the image forming apparatus among a plurality of receiving processes including a first receiving process for receiving a notification which encourages acquisition of print data and a second receiving process for receiving the user operation by the operating unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the operating unit receives the user operation after a connection with the external device is established, the controller acquires unacquired print data from the external device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, upon start-up of the image forming apparatus, the controller establishes a connection with the external device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit includes a plurality of buttons for receiving user operations, and wherein, in a case where the operating unit receives a user operation by a predetermined button among the plurality of buttons, the controller acquires unacquired print data from the external device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit includes a hard key, and wherein, in a case where the operating unit receives a user operation by the hard key, the controller acquires unacquired print data from the external device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller further is configured to execute instructions to cause a display unit to display information, and wherein, in a case where the operating unit receives a user operation of making a predetermined screen be displayed on the display unit, the controller acquires unacquired print data from the external device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined screen is a job status screen for checking a current job status. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the operating unit receives a user operation for authenticating a user, the controller acquires unacquired print data from the external device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, in a case where the authentication is completed successfully, the controller requests the external device to provide print data corresponding to an authenticated user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, in a case where the number of times that a predetermined user operation is received in the operating unit is equal to or less than a prescribed number of times after start-up of the image forming apparatus, the controller acquires the print data from the external device, and wherein, in a case where the number of times that predetermined user operation is received in the operating unit is greater than the prescribed number of times after start-up of the image forming apparatus, the controller does not acquire unacquired print data from the external device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the prescribed number of times is 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller receives setting of the prescribed number of times. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unacquired print data is print data for which notification is received in the first receiving process but acquisition is not yet completed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller executes instruction to form an image from the acquired print data on a sheet and the image forming apparatus outputs the sheet. ### Claim 15 A method for an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external device which manages print data, the method comprising: receiving a user operation of an operating user; and acquiring unacquired print data from the external device based on a receiving process performed first after start-up of the image forming apparatus among a plurality of receiving processes including a first receiving process for receiving a notification which encourages acquisition of print data and a second receiving process for receiving the user operation. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory storage medium configured to store a program to cause a computer to perform a method for an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external device which manages print data, the method comprising: receiving a user operation of an operating user; and acquiring unacquired print data from the external device based on a receiving process performed first after start-up of the image forming apparatus among a plurality of receiving processes including a first receiving process for receiving a notification which encourages acquisition of print data and a second receiving process for receiving the user operation.