User controllable digital printer

摘要

A combined digital reproduction apparatus suitable for making prints in response to operation of keys on its operating panel (e.g. copies of documents scanned with a scanner) and making prints on its own initiative (prints in accordance with a digital print file received from a network). In this apparatus, a user present at the apparatus for an order is given priority. The control process of the apparatus for this purpose executes any print orders arriving via the network only if it does not detect any signs indicative of the fact that a user is preparing or executing a reproduction process at the apparatus. Such signs may, for example, be in the form of actuation of a key on the operating panel or the actual execution of a copying order. If the control process detects such signs, it does not start the print orders received via the network, and exclusively responds to orders from the operating panel, and is kept in this state for a predetermined time (tw). <IMAGE>