	US 7,532,356 B2
	Management of print system based on printing preparation and transfer time
Yasunori Ohta, Kaisei-machi (Japan); and Tomohiko Ito, Kaisei-machi (Japan)
Assigned to FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Feb. 11, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/775,188.
Claims priority of application No. 2003-033251 (JP), filed on Feb. 12, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2004/0156057 A1, Aug. 12, 2004
Int. Cl. H04N 1/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 358—1.6 [358/1.15; 358/498; 399/361; 399/367; 399/379; 271/3.14; 271/8.1; 271/10.01]

6 Claims

1. A print system comprising:

at least two image data outputting apparatuses and one printer that prints images based on image data transferred from the at least two image data outputting apparatuses; and

control means that controls printing preparation of the recording sheet in the printer based on the transfer time, required for the transfer of the image data when the image data is transferred from each image data outputting apparatus, and a printing preparation time of printing preparation of the recording sheet for printing the images based on the image data; wherein

the printer is equipped with a plurality of trays at different positions, each of which houses recording sheets of different sizes;

printing start time is obtained that enables the time of completion of transfer of the image data and the time of completion of the printing preparation of the recording sheet to be at a substantially same time;

the printing preparation of the recording sheet is started at the above-described printing start time;

the at least two image data outputting apparatuses transfer identifying information regarding themselves when transferring the image data;

the printing preparation time for the each image data outputting apparatus is recorded in advance in the control means; and

the control means obtains the printing preparation time which corresponds to the identifying information transferred from the at least two image data outputting apparatus, and determines the printing start time based on the printing preparation time and the transfer time.