Method and apparatus for copier request and retrieval of files from multiple computers

An image processing apparatus which comprises connection means capable of being connected to at least one computer and print means for printing an image based on image data sent from the computer through said connection means, said apparatus comprising:

• a console which operates said apparatus;
• selection means for selecting a file to be printed by said print means, from among files managed by the computer based on an instruction from said console;
• request means for requesting, to the computer, a sending of image data in the file selected by said selection means based on the instruction;
• and
• control means for controlling a print operation of said print means in accordance with either one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode said print means prints an image based on the image data sent from the computer in an absence of an instruction from said console, and wherein in the second mode said print means prints the image based on the image data sent from the computer in accordance with the request by said request means based on the instruction from said console.

A data processing apparatus comprising:

• management means for managing a plurality of image data as files;
• connection means for connecting to an image processing apparatus which visibly outputs the image data of the files managed by said management means;
• acceptance means for accepting a file designation from the image processing apparatus through said connection means for designating one of the files managed by said management means;
• search means for searching for an application which is to be used to process the one file, on the basis of the file designation accepted by said acceptance means;
• initiation means for initiating the application searched for by said search means an for causing the initiated application to process the one file in accordance with the file designation accepted by said acceptance means;
• output means for outputting the image data of the one file as processed by the application initiated by said initiation means;
• and
• transfer means for transferring the image data output by said output means to the image processing apparatus through said connection means.

An image processing method operative in an image processing apparatus which comprises a console for operating the image processing apparatus, connection means for connecting to a computer network to which a plurality of computers are connected and print means for printing an image based on image data sent from any of the computers through the connection means, said method comprising the steps of:

• specifying a computer from among the plurality of computers as a specified computer based on an instruction from the console;
• accessing the specified computer;
• selecting a file to be printed by the print means, from among files managed by the specified computer;
• requesting, to the specified computer, a sending of image data in the file selected in said selection step based on the instruction from the console;
• and
• causing said accessing step to access the specified computer and causing the print means to start printing a respective image based on the image data sent from the computer accessed in said accessing step in accordance with a request in said requesting step.

An image processing method operative in an image processing apparatus which comprises a console which operates the apparatus, connection means capable of being connected to at least one computer and print means for printing an image based on image data sent from the computer through the connection means, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a file to be printed by the print means, from among files managed by the computer, based on an instruction from the console;
• requesting, to the computer, a sending of image data in the file selected in said selection step based on the instruction;
• and
• controlling a print operation of the print means in accordance with either one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the print means prints an image based on the image data sent from the computer in an absence of an instruction from the console, and wherein in the second mode the print means prints the image based on the image data sent from the computer in accordance with the request in said requesting step based on the instruction from the console.

A data processing method operative in a data processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• managing a plurality of image data as files;
• connecting the data processing apparatus through a connection means to an image processing apparatus which visibly outputs the image data of the files managed by said managing step;
• accepting a file designation from the image processing apparatus through the connection means for designating one of the files managed by said management step;
• searching for an application which is to be used to process the one file, on the basis of the file designation accepted in said accepting step;
• initiating the application searched for in said searching step and causing the initiated application to process the one file in accordance with the file designation accepted in said accepting step;
• outputting the image data of the one file as processed by the application initiated by said initiation step;
• and
• transferring the image data output by said output step to the image processing apparatus through the connection means.

A computer program, stored in a computer readable storage medium, for executing an image processing method operative in an image processing apparatus which comprises a console for operating the image processing apparatus, connection means for connecting to a computer network to which a plurality of computers are connected and print means for printing an image based on image data sent from any of the computers through the connection means, said method comprising the steps of:

• specifying a computer from among the plurality of computers as a specified computer based on an instruction from the console;
• accessing the specified computer;
• selecting a file to be printed by the print means, from among files managed by the specified computer;
• requesting, to the specified computer, a sending of image data in the file selected in said selection step based on the instruction from the console;
• and
• causing said accessing step to access the specified computer and causing the print means to start printing a respective image based on the image data sent from the computer accessed in said accessing step in accordance with a request in said requesting step.

A computer program, stored in a computer readable storage medium, for executing an image processing method operative in an image processing apparatus which comprises a console which operates the apparatus, connection means capable of being connected to at least one computer and print means for printing an image based on image data sent from the computer through the connection means, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a file to be printed by the print means, from among files managed by the computer, based on an instruction from the console;
• requesting, to the computer, a sending of image data in the file selected in said selection step based on the instruction;
• and
• controlling a print operation of the print means in accordance with either one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the print means prints an image based on the image data sent from the computer in an absence of an instruction from the console, and wherein in the second mode the print means prints the image based on the image data sent from the computer in accordance with the request in said requesting step based on the instruction from the console.

A computer program, stored in a computer readable storage medium, for executing a data processing method operative in a data processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• managing a plurality of image data as files;
• connecting the data processing apparatus through a connection means to an image processing apparatus which visibly outputs the image data of the files managed by said managing step;
• accepting a file designation from the image processing apparatus through the connection means for designating one of the files managed by said management step;
• searching for an application which is to be used to process the one file, on the basis of the file designation accepted in said accepting step;
• initiating the application searched for in said searching step and causing the initiated application to process the one file in accordance with the file designation accepted in said accepting step;
• outputting the image data of the one file as processed by the application initiated by said initiation step;
• and
• transferring the image data output by said output step to the image processing apparatus through the connection means.