Image forming system, image forming apparatus, control method thereof, image forming method, and storage medium

A control method for an image forming apparatus capable of performing data communication with an image data generation apparatus through a data communication medium, said method comprising:

• a step of receiving data from the image data generation apparatus through the data communication medium;
• a step of invalidating acceptance from other image data generation apparatus when the data from the image data generation apparatus received through the data communication medium is image data, and causing to perform a printing process of the image data from the image data generation apparatus;
• and
• a step of releasing the invalidation of acceptance from the other image data generation apparatus, according to whether the data from the image data generation apparatus received through the data communication medium is first information output when an error occurs in the image data generation apparatus and representing the error in the image data generation apparatus.

A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to cause an image forming apparatus capable of performing data communication with an image data generation apparatus through a data communication medium to execute:

• a step of receiving data from the image data generation apparatus through the data communication medium;
• a step of invalidating acceptance from other image data generation apparatus when the data from the image data generation apparatus received through the data communication medium is image data, and causing to perform a printing process of the image data from the image data generation apparatus;
• and
• a step of releasing the invalidation of acceptance from the other image data generation apparatus, according to whether the data from the image data generation apparatus received through the data communication medium is first information output when an error occurs in the image data generation apparatus and representing the error in the image data generation apparatus.

An image forming system which comprises an image data generation apparatus for reading an original image and generating image data, transmission means for transmitting the image data on a network, and plural image forming apparatuses for printing an image based on the image data, wherein

• said image data generation apparatus comprises
• error detection means for detecting an error in said image data generation apparatus, and
• error transmission means for transmitting, when the error is detected by said error detection means, error information to said plural image forming apparatuses through said transmission means, and
• each of said plural image forming apparatuses comprises
• reception means for receiving the error information from said error transmission means through said transmission means, and
• control means for performing control, when the error information is received by said reception means, to once stop image output of the image information transmitted from said image data generation apparatus and accept a job from other apparatus.

An image forming method in an image forming system which comprises an image data generation apparatus for reading an original image and generating image data, a transmission means for transmitting the image data on a network, and plural image forming apparatuses for outputting an image based on the image data, wherein

• the image data generation apparatus executes
• an error detection step of detecting an error in the image data generation apparatus, and
• an error transmission step of transmitting, when the error is detected in said error detection step, error information to the plural image forming apparatuses through the transmission means, and
• each of the plural image forming apparatuses executes
• a reception step of receiving the error information transmitted in said error transmission step through the transmission means, and
• a control step of performing control, when the error information is received in said reception step, to once stop image output of the image information transmitted from the image data generation apparatus and accept a job from other apparatus.

A storage medium which computer-readably stores a program for an image forming method in an image forming system comprising an image data generation apparatus for reading an original image and generating image data, a transmission means for transmitting the image data on a network, and plural image forming apparatuses for outputting an image based on the image data, wherein, according to said program,

• a computer causes the image data generation apparatus to execute
• an error detection step of detecting an error in the image data generation apparatus, and
• an error transmission step of transmitting, when the error is detected in said error detection step, error information to the plural image forming apparatuses through the transmission means, and
• said computer causes each of the plural image forming apparatuses to execute
• a reception step of receiving the error information transmitted in said error transmission step through the transmission means, and
• a control step of performing control, when the error information is received in said reception step, to once stop image output of the image information transmitted from the image data generation apparatus and accept a job from other apparatus.