Image forming apparatus, image printing method, external device, recording medium and communication system

Abstract

An image forming apparatus receives image data by a receiver from an external device and forms an image based on the received image data. The image forming apparatus transmits an address of the receiver to the external device. The image forming apparatus receives image data transmitted with the address by the external device, The communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus is performed wirelessly. The image forming apparatus prints image data in accordance with an accepted printing condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus that has a receiver for receiving image data from an external device and forms an image based on the received image data, comprising:
 a transmitter that transmits an address of the receiver to the external device, wherein   the receiver receives image data transmitted with the address by the external device,   a communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus is performed wirelessly, and   image data is printed in accordance with an accepted printing condition.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the printing condition represents the number of copies for printing.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a data transmitter that transmits data representing a notification of a printing result to the external device.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus is a wireless communication based on an IEEE  802 . 11 .   
     
     
         5 . An image forming apparatus that has a receiver for receiving contents data from an external device and forms an image based on the received image data, comprising:
 a transmitter that transmits an address of the receiver to the external device, wherein   the receiver receives contents data transmitted with the address by the external device,   a communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus is performed wirelessly, and   contents data is printed in accordance with an accepted printing condition.   
     
     
         6 . A recording medium recording a program executed by an external device that wirelessly communicates with an image forming apparatus which has a receiver for receiving contents data from the external device and a transmitter for transmitting an address of the receiver to the external device, makes the receiver receive contents data transmitted with the address by the external device, and forms an image based on the received contents data, wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform processing of:
 reading out contents data stored in a storage unit; and 
 transmitting the read out contents data to the image forming apparatus with the address transmitted by the transmitter of the image forming apparatus. 
   
     
     
         7 . The recording medium according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform further processing of:
 receiving a printing result transmitted from the image forming apparatus; and 
 displaying the received printing result on a display unit. 
   
     
     
         8 . An image printing method with an image forming apparatus that has a receiver for receiving image data from an external device and forms an image based on the received image data, comprising steps of:
 making the image forming apparatus utilize a transmitter to transmit an address of the receiver to the external device;   making the image forming apparatus utilize the receiver to receive image data transmitted with the address by the external device;   performing a wireless communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus; and   making the image forming apparatus print the received image data.   
     
     
         9 . A communication system comprising an external device and an image forming apparatus that has a receiver for receiving image data from the external device and forms an image based on the received image data, wherein
 the image forming apparatus comprises a transmitter that transmits an address of the receiver to the external device,   the image forming apparatus utilizes the receiver to receive image data transmitted with the address by the external device,   a communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus is performed wirelessly, and   the image forming apparatus further comprises a printing unit that prints the image data received by the receiver.   
     
     
         10 . The communication system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the external device is a digital camera.   
     
     
         11 . An external device wirelessly communicating with an image forming apparatus that has a receiver for receiving image data from the external device and a transmitter for transmitting an address of the receiver to the external device, makes the receiver receive image data transmitted with the address by the external device, and forms an image based on the received image data, comprising:
 a reading out unit that reads out image data stored in a storage unit; and   an image data transmitter that transmits the read out image data to the image forming apparatus with the address transmitted by the transmitter of the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . The external device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a result receiver that receives a printing result transmitted by the image forming apparatus; and   a result display unit that displays the received printing result on a display unit.   
     
     
         13 . A recording medium recording a program executed by an external device that wirelessly communicates with an image forming apparatus which has a receiver for receiving image data from the external device and a transmitter for transmitting an address of the receiver to the external device, makes the receiver receive image data transmitted with the address by the external device, and forms an image based on the received image data, wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform processing of:
 reading out image data stored in a storage unit; and 
 transmitting the read out image data to the image forming apparatus with the address transmitted by the transmitter of the image forming apparatus. 
   
     
     
         14 . The recording medium according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform further processing of:
 receiving a printing result transmitted from the image forming apparatus; and 
 displaying the received printing result on a display unit. 
   
     
     
         15 . The recording medium according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform further processing of:
 displaying plural thumbnails of image data stored in the storage unit. 
   
     
     
         16 . The recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform further processing of:
 displaying image data regarding a selected thumbnail larger than the thumbnail. 
   
     
     
         17 . The recording medium according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform further processing of:
 transmitting selected image data to the image forming apparatus with the address transmitted by the transmitter of the image forming apparatus. 
   
     
     
         18 . The recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform further processing of:
 displaying image data regarding plural thumbnails and image data regarding a selected thumbnail. 
   
     
     
         19 . The recording medium according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus is a wireless communication based on an IEEE 802.11.   
     
     
         20 . The recording medium according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the external device is a digital camera, a mobile phone, a mobile computer or a PDA.   
     
     
         21 . The recording medium according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the image forming apparatus is a digital multifunction machine.   
     
     
         22 . The recording medium according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform further processing of:   receiving image data read out by a scanner from the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         23 . The recording medium according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the external device is controlled to perform further processing of:   receiving facsimile image data or electronic data from the image forming apparatus.