JP2000270151A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To send a reply to a transmitting destination to indicate that the image data can be printed when the image data has been received in an electronic mail and printed. SOLUTION: When an image processor A has received an electronic mail attached with the image data from a server via an internet NET1, the image data are stored in a store device (1-15) as necessary. Then a print processing control part (1-23) inquires of a system control part (1-6) about the operation mode of print output. If the operation mode is equal to a print assurance mode, a reception confirming mail is immediately sent back to the transmitting side. If the operation mode is equal to a non-print assurance mode, the image data are printed and then the reception confirming mail is sent back to the transmitting side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a function of developing image data into drawing data while receiving or storing image data transmitted from a communication terminal connected to a network, and recording and outputting the drawing data. Image processing apparatus, in particular, an image processing apparatus having a function of receiving image data from a communication terminal having a function of confirming that image data has arrived at an image receiving apparatus and returning a message to the communication terminal via a network About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, communication devices that can connect to the Internet in offices and homes have been increasing. According to such a communication device, it is possible to communicate with Internet connection terminals all over the world, and it is possible to easily exchange information by using the mail function of the Internet. Furthermore, facsimile machines that can transmit documents over telephone lines have been widely used in offices and homes. Internet facsimile for transmitting and receiving images has begun to be used.

[0003] A facsimile apparatus using the Internet transmits and receives image data using electronic mail, so that errors in transferring image data are guaranteed by a communication protocol. However, unlike a telephone line facsimile machine, the image data is transmitted without confirming the connection with the destination image receiving device. There is an operational difference that you can not confirm. Therefore, when an operator who is capable of performing facsimile operations on a public line uses a facsimile using the Internet, there is a request to know that image data has arrived at a transmission destination. The following technologies have been developed to meet this demand.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-242326 discloses a facsimile apparatus using electronic mail on the Internet, which, when receiving an electronic mail, notifies the sender of the electronic mail of the sender that the electronic mail has been received. A facsimile-type electronic mail device is disclosed. According to this technology,
When the image data is received by e-mail on the Internet, an e-mail indicating that the image data has been received is transmitted to the transmission source. Since confirmation is possible, there is an advantage that the trouble of confirming the transmission of the image data can be reduced.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-242326 discloses a facsimile apparatus using electronic mail on the Internet. When an electronic mail is received, a character string at a predetermined position of character code data received as the electronic mail is transmitted. A facsimile-type electronic mail apparatus having a function of analyzing and transmitting image data received as an electronic mail to another facsimile apparatus via a line is disclosed. According to this technique, there is an advantage that image data can be transmitted via the Internet even to a facsimile apparatus not connected to the Internet.

[0006]

In the prior art described above, when an e-mail as image data arrives, a notification to the effect that the e-mail has arrived is transmitted to the transmitting side by e-mail. The operator can confirm that the image data has arrived. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to confirm whether the image data has been correctly printed out.

[0007] Further, in the case where image data received via an electronic mail is transferred through a line in an Internet receiving apparatus, the electronic mail is transmitted to the transmitting side before the image data is transferred to the transfer destination. For this reason,
There is a problem that the sender has to check the print output with the receiver at the transfer destination to determine whether the print output has been made.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a first object of the present invention is to determine the guarantee of print output when image data is received and printed by Internet e-mail. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of performing the above. A second object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of determining whether print output can be performed by a receiving apparatus at a line transfer destination even when image data received by e-mail is transferred through a line. It is.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input means for inputting image data from an external device via a network, and an input means for inputting image data from the input means. Image forming means for forming an image of image data; determining means for determining whether image formation of the image data by the image forming means is guaranteed;
A transmission unit that transmits information indicating completion of reception to the external device when the determination unit determines that the data is guaranteed. According to the present invention, when image data is received and printed by Internet e-mail, it is possible to determine the guarantee of print output. Therefore, when image data is received and printed by Internet e-mail, It is possible to notify the transmitting side at an appropriate timing.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, input means for inputting image data from an external device via a network, and transfer of image data sent together with the image data input by the input means Transfer destination information extracting means for extracting the destination information, transfer means for transferring the input image data to the transfer destination of the extracted transfer destination information, and image formation of the image data at the transfer destination is guaranteed. And a transmitting unit that transmits information indicating completion of reception to the external device when it is determined that the data is guaranteed by the determining unit. According to the present invention, even in the case where image data received by e-mail is transferred through a line, it is possible to determine whether or not print output can be performed by a receiving device that is a transfer destination of the line. It is possible to notify the transmitting side at an appropriate timing.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1. 1. Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus A is connected to an e-mail server (not shown) via the Ethernet NET1, and is also connected to a public line NET2 by a telephone line. In the image processing apparatus A, the network interface unit (1-3) is a processing unit that is connected to a network and transmits and receives data via the Ethernet NET1. Specifically, it receives image data and code data that are received data from the e-mail server, and passes the received data to the received data processing unit (1-21).

Next, a system control section (1-6) is a control section for controlling the entire image processing apparatus A. The system control section (1-6) detects a hardware error and executes an initialization process at power-on. It is configured. Also, a system control unit (1-6)
Has a register for storing a reception confirmation flag therein. The acknowledgment flag indicates when to send a reply to the e-mail destination,
The states include "A" indicating that a reply is made before printing is completed, "B" indicating that a reply is made after printing is completed, and "C" indicating not sending a reply. Therefore, by referring to the contents of this register, it is possible to know at what timing a reply should be executed.

Next, the memory management unit (1-60) secures a page unit memory (1-61) used when the image data developing unit (1-20) develops the bitmap image. Assigned to the image data development unit (1-20), network interface unit (1-3), line fax
It manages a ring buffer memory (1-62) for data transmission and reception, which is necessary when the output unit (1-16) operates.

Next, the print processing management section (1-9) is a control section that controls printing relating to print output processing of the image data received by the reception data processing section (1-21). For example, control is performed to print out image data sequentially sent from the e-mail server in the order of arrival of the image data. Next, a recording output unit (1-12) is a processing unit that records and outputs the developed bitmap image, and is a laser beam electrostatic recording type print output device.
The recording output control unit (1-11) includes a recording output unit (1-1).
2) Pause and restart, and recording output unit (1-12)
The control unit controls a recording output unit (1-12) for controlling the order of pages to be recorded and output. Next, the operation display processing unit (1-19) notifies the print processing management unit (1-9) and the system control unit (1-6) of information instructed from the operation panel of the image processing apparatus A. The processing unit that performs the operation includes an operation panel and control software for the operation panel. Next, the NVRAM (1-7) is a non-volatile memory and stores initialization parameters and the like of the image processing apparatus A.
The parameter information can be retained even when the power of the image processing apparatus A is turned off.

Next, the reception data processing section (1-21)
The e-mail transmitted from the e-mail server connected to the network is converted into an e-mail received from the network interface unit (1-3) or an e-mail is expanded by the received data processing expansion unit (1-24). The extracted image data is stored in the storage device (1-15), the image data stored in the storage device is taken out, and a print processing request is made to the print processing management unit (1-9). A processing unit for processing received data, comprising a communication control information analysis unit (1-22) and a received data processing development unit (1).
-24), a print processing control unit (1-23), a received data storage unit (1-25), and a storage device (1-15).

Next, the communication control information analysis processing section (1-2)
2) Analyzes the destination information (forwarding destination information) of the e-mail sent from the e-mail server and the mail format information indicating the data structure of the e-mail, and confirms the destination of the received e-mail and performs appropriate conversion. This is a processing unit that performs a process of selecting a format. Next, the received data processing developing unit (1-24) includes a communication control information analysis processing unit (1-24).
Based on the information analyzed by 22), the received electronic mail is separated into mail information (for example, text data) and image data information, and the mail is separated for each destination set in the storage device (1-15). This is a processing unit that performs processing for accumulating information and image data information. Next, the reception data storage unit (1-25) stores the image data sent from the e-mail server in the communication control command determination processing unit (1-25).
22) stores the received e-mail in the storage device (1-15) or the ring buffer (1-
62) and the received data processing development unit (1-2)
4) is a storage unit for storing the developed image data and mail information. Next, the print processing control unit (1-2)
3) extracting the image data stored in the storage device (1-15) by the reception data storage unit (1-25),
A processing unit that issues a print or line FAX transmission processing request to the print processing management unit (1-9). Next, the storage device (1-15) is a storage unit for storing image data by the received data storage unit (1-25), and in this embodiment, is constituted by a hard disk.

2. Next, an operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In this example, it is assumed that the image processing apparatus has received an electronic mail including image data from the electronic mail server. Hereinafter, a case where the image processing apparatus itself performs the printing process (non-transfer process) and a case where the received data is transferred via the public line NET2 (the transfer process) will be described separately.

2-1: Non-Transfer Processing First, non-transfer processing for executing printing in the image processing apparatus A that has received an e-mail will be described. 2-1-1: Processing in accumulation mode First, processing in the accumulation mode will be described. The storage mode is a mode in which an e-mail is temporarily stored in a storage device (1-15), and thereafter, the stored data is processed. For example, a large amount of image data is attached to the e-mail. Applies to cases.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are flow charts for explaining the processing in the accumulation mode in the non-transfer processing. In FIG. 2, when the network interface unit (1-3) receives a connection request (S2-11) from the e-mail server, the network interface unit (1-3) transmits data to the reception data processing unit (1-21). Notifies the start of reception. When data reception is started, the communication control information analysis processing unit (1-22) determines whether or not the mode is the reception confirmation mode (S2-12). If the mode is not the reception confirmation mode, the communication control information analysis processing unit (1-22) sets the reception confirmation flag to no sending (C) in the register of the system control unit (1-6) (S2-14). .

Next, the print processing control section (1-23) starts data reception, but checks the reception mode to confirm whether to store the received e-mail data (S2).
-15) is performed. Then, based on the result, it is determined whether to store the received data (S2-16). If the determination result is the accumulation mode, the reception data accumulation unit (1
-25) stores all electronic mail data in the storage device (1-15) (S2-17). For example, when the storage contents of the ring buffer (1-62) are empty and the processing can be executed immediately, the non-accumulation processing described later is executed, but the data being processed is stored in the ring buffer (1-62). Is stored, or when the printing process cannot be executed immediately, such as when the toner used for printing is being replaced, the storage mode is set, and the process proceeds according to the following procedure.

After storing all the e-mail data, the received data processing and developing section (1-24) analyzes the received data (S2-18) and determines whether the data can be expanded and output (S2-18). 19). The case where it is determined that expansion output is impossible is, for example, a case where image data is compressed by a certain compression method and the image processing apparatus does not support this compression method. In such a case, since it is necessary to notify the sender that printing is not possible, a notification that printing is not possible is sent to the sender by e-mail (S2).
-23) Then, the received data is deleted (S2-2).
4) End the process. Thereby, the storage device (1-1)
Since the memory area of 5) can be released, the storage device (1-15) can be effectively used.

By the way, even if the stored e-mail data can be expanded and output, the page memory (1
Depending on the storage capacity of -61) or the remaining amount of print paper, it may not be clear whether print output can be guaranteed.
When the receipt confirmation mail is sent to the sender, the sender recognizes that the image is printed safely, and it is not desirable to send the receipt confirmation mail in a state where the print output can be guaranteed or not. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when it is determined that the stored e-mail data can be expanded and output, the print processing control unit (1-23) sends the image processing to the system control unit (1-6). The operation mode of the print output of the apparatus is inquired, and the operation mode of the print output is determined (S2-20). The operation modes include an output guarantee mode in which print output is guaranteed and a non-output guarantee mode in which print output is not guaranteed.

If the result of the determination is the non-output guarantee mode, the reception confirmation flag is set to (B) after completion (S2-25). Here, the initial value of the reception confirmation flag is
It is assumed that the state is set to the state before completion (A) by the system control unit (1-6) in advance. After determining the output mode, the print processing controller (1-23) issues a print processing request to the print processing manager (1-9) (S2-2).
2).

Thereafter, the print processing control section (1-23)
After making the print processing request, the reception confirmation notification flag is confirmed as shown in FIG. 3 (S2-26). If the notification flag is “A” indicating the completion before completion (S2-27), a reception confirmation e-mail is immediately transmitted to the transmission source of the e-mail by e-mail (S2-28). On the other hand, if the notification flag does not indicate before completion, the print processing management unit (1-
From 9), a notification that the print processing has been completed is received, and printout is executed (S2-29). Thereafter, whether or not the reception confirmation notification flag is "B" indicating that the reception has been completed is determined again. Is determined (S2-30). If the reception confirmation notification flag is "B", a reception confirmation mail is transmitted by e-mail (S2-31), and the process ends. That is, if printing is not guaranteed, even if image data can be developed and output, a reception confirmation mail will not be sent until printing is completed. Therefore, the sender can surely know that the printout has been made.

2-1-2: Non-accumulation mode processing In step S2-16 shown in FIG. 2, if the reception mode is not the accumulation mode (A-3), the non-accumulation mode processing is executed. . FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are flowcharts for explaining the processing in the non-accumulation mode.

In FIG. 4, first, the print processing control unit (1)
-23) inquires of the system control unit (1-6) about the print output operation mode of the image processing apparatus, and determines the print output operation mode (S2-32, S2-33).
If the result of the determination is the non-output guarantee mode, the reception confirmation flag is set to (B2) after completion (S2-35).
Here, it is assumed that the initial value of the reception confirmation flag has been set in advance to the state before completion (A) by the system control unit (1-6). Next, the print processing control unit (1-2)
3) sends a print processing request to the print processing management section (1-9) (S2-34), and then the received data storage section (1-2).
5) is a ring buffer (1-6) for receiving e-mail.
In 2), the e-mail data is received (S2-36). The received data development processing unit (1-24) analyzes the e-mail data received in the ring buffer (S2-3).
7) It is determined whether the mail data can be expanded and output (S2-38).

When it is determined that the e-mail data being received cannot be expanded and output (S2-38), an e-mail indicating that printing is not possible is transmitted to the transmission source (S2-40), and the print processing controller (S2-40). 1-23), the printing process is stopped (S2)
-41). On the other hand, when it is determined that the e-mail data being received can be expanded and output, the printing process is continuously performed (S2-
39). The received data storage section (1-25) performs processing for storing electronic mail data until the communication control information analysis section (1-24) is notified of the end of the reception of the electronic mail data (S2-42). When the reception of the e-mail data is completed (S2-42), the reception data storage unit (1-2)
5) The print processing controller (1-2) notifies the end of data reception
Notify 3). And a print processing controller (1-23)
Confirms the reception confirmation notification flag (S2-4)
3).

When the notification flag is "A" indicating the completion before completion (S2-44), a reception confirmation mail is immediately transmitted by e-mail to the transmission source of the e-mail (S2-4).
5). If the notification flag does not indicate the state before completion, the print output is received from the print processing management unit (1-9) to notify that the print processing has been completed (S2-46), and then the reception confirmation is performed again. Check the notification flag (S2-4)
7). When the notification flag is “B” indicating after completion (S2-
47), a reception confirmation mail is transmitted by e-mail (S2).
-48) The process ends.

As described above, even in the non-accumulation mode, as in the accumulation mode described above, if printing is not guaranteed, printing is completed even if image data can be expanded and output. You will not send a receipt confirmation email until you do. Therefore, the sender can surely know that the printout has been made.

2-2: Transfer Processing Next, transfer processing for transferring received data from the image processing apparatus that has received the e-mail via the public line NET2 will be described.

2-2-1: Processing in Storage Mode FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining processing in the storage mode in the transfer processing. In FIG. 6, first, a connection request from the e-mail server (S3-
11) is received by the network interface unit (1-3).
3) notifies the reception data processing unit (1-21) of the start of data reception. When data reception is started, the communication control information analysis processing unit (1-22) determines whether or not the mode is the reception confirmation mode (S3-12). If not in acknowledgment mode,
The communication control information analysis processing unit (1-22) sets the reception confirmation flag to no sending (C) (S3-14).

Next, the print processing control section (1-23) starts data reception (S3-13), but checks the reception mode (S3) to confirm whether or not to store the received e-mail data. -15) is performed. Based on the confirmation result, it is determined whether or not the storage mode is set (S2-1).
6). In the case of the accumulation mode, the reception data accumulation unit (1-2)
5) accumulates all e-mail data in the accumulation device (1-15) (S3-17). After accumulating all the e-mail data, the received data processing development unit (1-24) analyzes the received data (S3-18), extracts the transfer destination information, and sends it to the line fax output unit (1-16). Then, an inquiry about transfer destination information is made (S3-19). Line fax
When receiving the notification that the transfer destination is not in the transfer destination list from the output unit (1-16), the print processing control unit (1-23) sets the reception confirmation flag to (B) after completion (S3-2).
3).

If the transfer destination notifies the transfer destination list (S2-19), the print processing control unit (1-23) outputs the transfer destination to the line FAX output unit (1-16) again. Inquires whether the mode is the guarantee mode,
It is determined whether output is guaranteed based on the notification information from the output unit (1-16) (S3-20). If the result of the determination is the non-output guarantee mode, the reception confirmation flag is set to (B) after completion (S3-23). Here, it is assumed that the initial value of the reception confirmation flag has been set in advance to the state before completion (A) by the system control unit (1-6). Then, after determining whether the output is guaranteed, the print processing controller (1-2)
3) A line FAX is sent to the print processing management unit (1-9).
A transfer request is made (S3-22).

After making the transfer request, the print processing control section (1-23) checks the flag for the reception confirmation notification as shown in FIG. 7 (S3-26). In the case of A indicating that the notification flag indicates before completion (S3-27), a reception confirmation mail is immediately transmitted by e-mail to the transmission source of the e-mail (S3-28). If the notification flag does not indicate before completion,
After receiving the notification that the transfer processing has been completed from the line FAX output unit (1-16) and performing transfer to the line FAX (S3-29), the reception confirmation notification flag is confirmed again (S3-29). S3-30). If the notification flag indicates B after completion (S3-30), a reception confirmation mail is transmitted by e-mail (S3-31), and the process ends.

As described above, even when the transfer process is executed, the output guarantee mode of the facsimile destination is checked, and the reception confirmation mail is transferred to the sender based on the result. Then, it is possible to know that the printout is surely made.

2-2-2: Non-accumulation mode processing In step S3-16 shown in FIG. 6, if the reception mode is not the accumulation mode (A-3), the non-accumulation mode processing is executed. . FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts for explaining the processing in the non-accumulation mode.

In FIG. 8, if the reception mode is not the DISK accumulation mode (B-3), the reception data processing development section (1-24) analyzes the reception data, extracts the transfer destination information, and The fax output unit (1-16) is queried for transfer destination information (S3-32). When receiving a notification that the transfer destination is not in the transfer destination list from the line fax output unit (1-16), the print processing control unit (1-23)
Sets the reception confirmation flag to (B) after completion (S3
-35). Here, it is assumed that the initial value of the reception confirmation flag has been set in advance to the state before completion (A) by the system control unit (1-6).

When the transfer destination is in the transfer destination list (S2-
34), the print processing control section (1-23) issues a transfer request to the line FAX to the print processing management section (1-9) (S3-34). When the transfer process is requested, the reception data storage unit (1-25) receives the e-mail data in the e-mail reception ring buffer (1-62) (S3).
-36). The received data development processing unit (1-24) extracts image data necessary for transfer from the e-mail data received in the ring buffer, and outputs the image data to the line FAX output unit (1-1).
6), and the line FAX output unit (1-16) performs a transfer process (S3-39). Received data storage unit (1-25)
Performs the process of accumulating the e-mail data until the communication control information analysis unit (1-24) notifies the end of the reception of the e-mail data (S3-42). When the reception of the e-mail data is completed (S3-42), the received data storage unit (1-25) notifies the print processing control unit (1-23) of the end of the data reception.

Next, the print processing control section (1-23) checks the flag for the reception confirmation notification (S3-43). If the notification flag is "A" indicating that the notification is not completed (S3-44), a reception confirmation mail is immediately transmitted by e-mail to the transmission source of the e-mail (S3-45). If the notification flag does not indicate the status before completion, as shown in FIG. 8, the transfer process is performed upon receiving a notification that the transfer process has been completed from the print process management unit (1-9), and S3-46). Then, the reception confirmation notification flag is confirmed again (S3-47). If the notification flag is "B" indicating after completion (S3-47), a reception confirmation mail is transmitted by e-mail (S3-48), and the process ends.

As described above, even when the transfer processing is executed, the output guarantee mode of the facsimile destination is checked, and the reception confirmation mail is transferred to the sender based on the result. Then, it is possible to know that the printout is surely made.

3. 2. Modifications Although the embodiment according to the invention has been described above, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications described below are possible. (1) In the above-described embodiment, the transmission timing of the notification mail to the transmission side is automatically changed by the image receiving apparatus determining whether the print output is guaranteed based on the state of the reception accumulation mode or the print mode. However, the sending side adds a command for instructing the transmission timing of the notification mail to the e-mail or the header information of the image data and transmits the e-mail, and the image processing apparatus determines the instructed timing and transmits the e-mail. When sending the notification e-mail to the side, since the sender can know the state of the receiving device intended,
Similar effects can be obtained.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, by registering the performance of the line FAX of the transfer destination in advance, it is determined whether the print output of the FAX of the transfer destination can be guaranteed, and the electronic mail for notification is transmitted. Is determined, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained by determining the timing of transmitting the notification e-mail by checking the performance of the destination FAX during the FAX communication procedure. can get.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, when image data is received and printed by e-mail on the Internet, or when image data is transferred, the transmission side is transmitted at an appropriate timing. , The load on the operation of the sender to confirm the printout of the image data or the transfer of the image data to the transmission destination is reduced. Further, it is possible to avoid an operational problem of determining that the sender has transmitted the image data while the image processing apparatus cannot perform printing or transfer of the image data. Further, a plurality of print jobs are executed on the image receiving device,
Even when the target print or image transfer job is waiting, the transmission of the e-mail notifying the sending side does not have to wait.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment executes a non-transfer processing accumulation mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment executes a non-transfer processing accumulation mode.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment executes a non-accumulation mode of a non-transfer process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment executes a non-accumulation mode of a non-transfer process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment executes an accumulation mode of transfer processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment executes an accumulation mode of a transfer process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment executes a non-accumulation mode of transfer processing.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment executes a non-accumulation mode of a transfer process.

[Explanation of symbols]

NET1 Ethernet (network) 1-3 Network interface unit (input means, transmission means) 1-6 System control unit (judgment means) 1-9 Print processing management unit (image forming means) 1 10 image data development processing unit (image forming means) 1-11 recording output control unit (image forming means) 1-12 recording output unit (image forming means) 1-23 print processing control unit ( Judging means) 1-24... Received data processing developing section (transfer destination information extracting means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting image data from an external device via a network, an image forming unit for forming an image of the image data input by the input unit, and an image of the image data by the image forming unit Determining means for determining whether formation is guaranteed; and transmitting means for transmitting information indicating completion of reception to the external device when determined to be guaranteed by the determining means. Image processing device. 2. An input unit for inputting image data from an external device via a network, and a transfer destination information extracting unit for extracting transfer destination information of image data sent together with the image data input by the input unit. A transfer unit that transfers the input image data to a transfer destination of the extracted transfer destination information; a determination unit that determines whether image formation of the image data at the transfer destination is guaranteed; An image processing apparatus, comprising: transmitting means for transmitting information indicating completion of reception to the external device when it is determined that the information is guaranteed by the means.