Apparatus for method for logging, storing, and redirection of process related non-densitometric data generated by color processing equipment for use by an off site host computer

An apparatus for use in a film or paper processing laboratory and connected for communications to a host system remotely located from said processing laboratory, said apparatus comprising:

• a densitometer having light source means for projecting light towards a colored surface of an object sample under test at an angle of illumination relative to said surface;
• light receiving means for receiving light rays reflected from said object sample under test at a reflection angle relative to said object sample surface;
• detection means within said densitometer connected to said light receiving means for detecting said light rays reflected from said object sample surface and for generating electrical signals representative of spectral characteristics of said object sample surface;
• processing means within said densitometer connected to said detection means and responsive to said electrical signals fur generating data representative of said spectral characteristics;
• a memory structure of predetermined length having a plurality of data storage locations of predetermined number for storing data received from and transmitted to other apparatus within said processing laboratory and said host system as a series of data blocks of variable length, each of said data blocks comprising a first set of data identifying a time of storage of a corresponding data block in said memory structure;
• means for generating and storing said time of storage of said corresponding data block;
• at least one secondary port means for receiving data from said other apparatus within said processing laboratory and for storing said received data in said data blocks;
• at least one primary port means for transmitting data stored in said data blocks to said host system;
• said processing means comprises means for transmitting said series of data blocks received from said other apparatus to said host system through said primary port means in a format consistent with the format in which said data blocks are received from said other apparatus, without said apparatus performing any modifications to the format of said data blocks as received from said other apparatus;
• and
• said apparatus does not require an independent or dedicated processor for performing or monitoring communication or control functions associated with transmission of data between said other apparatus within said processing laboratory and said host system.