Copying system for enhanced color copying processor

Abstract

The invention provides a copying system that can perform copying processing for a color original document within a short time. In a color copying system, images on a color original document are read by a scanner of a multi-function center (MFC), as analog RGB data. The analog RGB data is converted into digital binary CMYK data by an ASIC. The converted digital binary CMYK data is transmitted to a PC. The binary CMYK data is image data that can be printed by a printer of the MFC, so that the binary CMYK data does not have to be converted in the PC. Therefore, when the binary CMYK data for all pages of the original documents is received by a color copying application of the PC, the binary CMYK data is then sequentially transmitted to the MFC in the order of printing by the printer of the MFC, according to the copying designation by an operator. The color copying system can accurately perform the copying processing for the color original document within a short time.

1 . A copying system including a host device having a processing device processing image data and a peripheral device connected to the host device, the peripheral device comprising: 
 an input device that designates first mode;    a first storage device that stores image data;    a first transmission device that transmits to the host device the image data stored in the first storage device in response to the first mode;    a first reception device that receives the image data processed by the processing device; and    a printing device that prints the image data that is transmitted from the host device;    the host device comprising:    a second storage device that stores various data;    a second reception device that receives the image data transmitted from first transmission device, and stores the image data in the second storage device;    a processing device that processes the image data stored in the second storage device; and    a second transmission device that transmits to the first reception device the image data that is processed by the processing device.    
   
   
       2 . A peripheral device capable of connecting to a host device, the peripheral device comprising: 
 a reading device that reads an image on an original document as image data;    a converting device that converts the image data read by the reading device, into printable data that can be printed by a printing device; and    a transmission device that transmits to the host device the printable data converted by the converting device.    
   
   
       3 . The peripheral device according to  claim 2 , wherein the printing device performs color printing using a plurality of inks, and the converting device converts the image data read by the reading device, into binary data corresponding to the colors of inks included in the printing device.  
   
   
       4 . The peripheral device according to  claim 2 , wherein the converting device includes an application-specific integrated circuit.  
   
   
       5 . The peripheral device according to  claim 2 , wherein the printing device performs color printing using a plurality of inks, and the converting device converts the image data read by the reading device, into multi-value data corresponding to the colors of inks included in the printing device.  
   
   
       6 . A host device capable of connecting to a peripheral device, the host device comprising: 
 a storage device that stores various data;    a reception control device that receives the printable data transmitted from the peripheral device, and stores the printable data in the storage device; and    a transmission device that transmits to the peripheral device the printable data stored in the storage device by the reception control device.    
   
   
       7 . The host device according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a sorting device that sorts the printable data stored in the storage device in an order of printing for printing by a printing device,    wherein the transmission device transmits to the peripheral device the printable data sorted by the sorting device, in the sorted order.    
   
   
       8 . The host device according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 an input device that inputs a designation provided by an operator,    wherein the sorting device sorts the printable data according to the operator's designation input by the input device.    
   
   
       9 . The host device according to  claim 7 , wherein the sorting device sorts the printable data in an order of printing in either a stack mode where a plurality of copies are consecutively produced for each original document, or a sort mode where a plurality of copies are produced as a set of the original documents.  
   
   
       10 . A storage medium on which is stored a copy program, the storage medium being comprised in copying system including a host device, a peripheral device connected to the host device, and a printing device, the copy program comprising instructions to perform: 
 a reading step that reads an image on an original document as image data;    a converting step that converts the image data read in the reading step, into printable data;    a first transmission step that transmits to the host device the printable data converted in the converting step;    a reception printing step that receives the printable data converted in the converting step and transmitted from the host device and causes the printing device to print the printable data;    a storage step that stores various data;    a reception control step that receives the printable data transmitted from the first transmission step, and stores the printable data in the storage step; and    a second transmission step that transmits to the peripheral device the printable data stored in the storage step in the storing step.    
   
   
       11 . The storage medium according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a sorting step that sorts the printable data stored in the storage step in an order of printing for printing in the printing step,    wherein the second transmission step transmits to the peripheral device the printable data sorted in the sorting step, in a sorted order for printing.    
   
   
       12 . The storage medium according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 an input step that inputs a designation provided by an operator,    wherein the sorting step sorts the printable data according to the operator's designation input in the input step.    
   
   
       13 . The storage medium according to  claim 11 , wherein the sorting step sorts the printable data in an order of printing in either a stack mode where a plurality of copies are consecutively produced for each original document, or a sort mode where a plurality of copies are produced as a set of the original documents.  
   
   
       14 . The storage medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the printing step performs color printing using a plurality of inks, and the converting step converts the image data read in the reading step, into binary data corresponding to the colors of inks.  
   
   
       15 . The storage medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the converting step uses an application-specific integrated circuit.  
   
   
       16 . The storage medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the printing step performs color printing using a plurality of inks, and the converting step converts the image data read in the reading step, into multi-value data corresponding to the colors of inks.  
   
   
       17 . The peripheral device according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a printing device that prints printable data;    a copy start device that starts copying; and    a reception printing device that receives the printable data converted by the converting device and transmitted from the host device and causes the printing device to print the printable data,    wherein when the copy start device starts copying, the reading by the reading device, the conversion by the converting device, the transmission by the first transmission device, and the reception and the printing by the reception printing device are performed successively based on the start by the copy start device.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising a copy start step that starts copying at the peripheral device, wherein when the copy start step starts copying, the reading step, the conversion step, the first transmission step, the reception control step, the storing step the second transmission step and the reception printing step are performed successively based on the start by the copy start step.