Information transmission system

Claim 2

An information transmission system comprising a plurality of stations, said plurality of stations including at least a first station, which comprises at least a reader, a second station, which comprises at least a printer, and a third station, which comprises both a reader and a printer, all of said plurality of stations being connected to each other through a transmission channel; wherein image information from each station provided with a reader is transmitted through the transmission channel to a station provided with a printer for image recording; wherein each station provided with a reader comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information read in said reader to the transmission channel; wherein each station provided with both a printer and a reader operates to supply image information through said communication control unit to said printer, said communication control unit comprising selector means for releasing the image information either to said printer or to the transmission channel or to both.

Claim 3

An information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein each station comprises at least one of a reader and a printer.

Claim 4

An information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein each station provided with a printer performs an image recording operation according to instructions from a communication control unit of a station provided with a reader.

Claim 5

An information transmission system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission channel, said stations being connected to each other through said transmission channel; wherein image information from a station provided with a reader is transmitted to a station provided with a printer for image recording through said transmission channel; wherein each station provided with a reader comprises a first interface unit for information delivery between said reader and said transmission channel; and wherein each station provided with only a printer comprises a second interface unit for information delivery between said transmission channel and said printer, said second interface unit being different from said first interface unit.

Claim 6

An information transmission system according to claim 4, wherein said first interface unit is for active information transmission and said second interface unit is for passive information transmission.

Claim 7

An information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of stations are connected to each other through a loop transmission channel.

Claim 8

An information transmission system comprising a transmission channel and a plurality of stations, at least one of which comprises at least a reader and at least one of which comprises at least a printer, all of said plurality of stations being connected to each other through said transmission channel; wherein image information from each station provided with a reader is transmitted to a station provided with a printer for image recording through said transmission channel; wherein each station provided with a reader for reading an image comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information from said reader to said transmission channel; and wherein said communication control unit permits transmission of the image information after confirmation of absence of information on said transmission channel.

Claim 9

An information transmission system comprising a transmission channel and a plurality of stations, at least one of which comprises at least a reader and at least one of which comprises at least a printer, all of said plurality of stations being connected to each other through said transmission channel; wherein image information from each station provided with a reader is transmitted to a station provided with a printer for image recording through said transmission channel; wherein each station provided with a reader for reading an image comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information from said reader to said transmission channel; and wherein said communication control unit permits transmission of the image information after confirmation of absence of information on said transmission channel.

Claim 10

An information transmission system according to claim 7, wherein each station provided with a printer receives the image information through said transmission channel and performs image recording.

Claim 11

An information transmission system according to claim 7, wherein said communication control unit operates so as not to transmit the image information if information is present on said transmission channel.

Claim 12

An information transmission system for transmitting image information among plural stations through a loop transmission channel, said system comprising a plurality of stations and a loop transmission channel; wherein each station comprises a switchable path for transmitting the information entered from said transmission channel directly to said transmission channel; wherein each station, upon reception of image information, forms said path simultaneously with intake of the image information; wherein each station, upon reception of control information relating to image information, cuts off said path simultaneously with intake of said image information; and wherein each station, when inactive, maintains said path formed.

Claim 13

An information transmission system for transmitting image information among plural stations through a loop transmission channel, said system comprising a plurality of stations and a loop transmission channel; wherein each station comprises a switchable path for transmitting the information entered from said transmission channel directly to said transmission channel; wherein each station, upon reception of image information, forms said path simultaneously with intake of the image information; wherein each station, upon reception of control information relating to image information, cuts off said path simultaneously with intake of said image information; and wherein each station, when inactive, maintains said path formed.

Claim 14

An information transmission system according to claim 10, wherein said path is formed or cut off according to presence or absence of data on said transmission channel.

Claim 15

An information transmission system according to claim 10, wherein each station includes means for supplying power for forming said path, when that station is inactive.

Claim 16

An information transmission system according to claim 10, wherein each station comprises at least one of a reader for reading an original document to generate image information for recording or for transmission or for both, and a printer for recording an image based on read or intaken image information.

Claim 17

An information transmission system for transmitting image information among plural stations through a loop transmission channel, said system comprising a plurality of stations and a loop transmission channel; wherein each station comprises a switchable path for transmitting the information entered from said transmission channel directly to said transmission channel; wherein each station, upon reception of image information, forms said path simultaneously with intake of said information; wherein each station, upon reception of control information relating to image information, cuts off said path simultaneously with intake of said image information; and wherein said path is formed or cut off according to presence or absence of data on said transmission channel.

Claim 18

An information transmission system for transmitting image information among plural stations through a loop transmission channel, said system comprising a plurality of stations and a loop transmission channel; wherein each station comprises a switchable path for transmitting the information entered from said transmission channel directly to said transmission channel; wherein each station, upon reception of image information, forms said path simultaneously with intake of said information; wherein each station, upon reception of control information relating to image information, cuts off said path simultaneously with intake of said image information; and wherein said path is formed or cut off according to presence or absence of data on said transmission channel.

Claim 19

An information transmission system according to claim 14, wherein said path is formed when a corresponding station is inactive.

Claim 20

An information transmission system according to claim 14, wherein said path is formed when data on said transmission channel is image information.

Claim 21

An information transmission system according to claim 14, wherein each station comprises at least one of a reader for reading an original document to generate image information for recording or for transmission or for both, and a printer for recording an image based on read or intaken image information.

Claim 22

An information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein command information relating to an operation of image information transmission is exchanged among said communication control units prior to transmission of image information.

Claim 23

An information transmission system comprising a station, which comprises a reader and a printer, connected to a transmission channel; wherein image information from said reader is transmitted to another station through the transmission channel; wherein said station comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information from said reader to the transmission channel; wherein said station operates to supply the image information through said communication control unit to said printer; and wherein said communication control unit comprises selector means for selectively releasing the image information either to said printer or to said transmission channel or to both.

Claim 24

An information transmission system comprising a station, which comprises a reader and a printer, connected to a transmission channel; wherein image information from said reader is transmitted to another station through the transmission channel; wherein said station comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information from said reader to the transmission channel; wherein said station operates to supply the image information through said communication control unit to said printer; and wherein said communication control unit comprises selector means for selectively releasing the image information either to said printer or to said transmission channel or to both.

Claim 25

An information transmission system according to claim 19, wherein said reader operates to form the image information using a first reference signal in a case in which the image information is transmitted to the transmission channel and a second reference signal, different from the first reference signal, in a case in which the image information is supplied to said printer.

Claim 26

An information transmission system according to claim 19, wherein command information relating to an operation of image information transmission is transmitted to the transmission channel by said communication control unit prior to the transmission of image information.

Claim 27

An information transmission system comprising a plurality of stations, said plurality of stations including at least a first station, which comprises at least means for generating image information, a second station, which comprises at least means for forming an image, and a third station, which comprises both a generating means and a forming means, all of said plurality of stations being connected to each other through a transmission channel; wherein image information from each station provided with a generating means is transmitted through the transmission channel to a station provided with a forming means; wherein each station provided with a generating means comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information generated by said generating means to the transmission channel; wherein each station provided with both a forming means and a generating means operates to supply image information through said communication control unit to said forming means; and wherein said communication control unit comprises selector means for releasing the image information either to said forming means or to the transmission channel or to both.

Claim 28

An information transmission system comprising a plurality of stations, said plurality of stations including at least a first station, which comprises at least means for generating image information, a second station, which comprises at least means for forming an image, and a third station, which comprises both a generating means and a forming means, all of said plurality of stations being connected to each other through a transmission channel; wherein image information from each station provided with a generating means is transmitted through the transmission channel to a station provided with a forming means; wherein each station provided with a generating means comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information generated by said generating means to the transmission channel; wherein each station provided with both a forming means and a generating means operates to supply image information through said communication control unit to said forming means; and wherein said communication control unit comprises selector means for releasing the image information either to said forming means or to the transmission channel or to both.

Claim 29

A information transmission system according to claim 22, wherein said generating means comprises a reader for reading an original document to generate image information.

Claim 30

An information transmission system according to claim 22, wherein said forming means comprises a printer for recording an image on a recording medium on the basis of image information.

Claim 31

An information transmission system according to claim 22, wherein command information relating to an operation of image information transmission is exchanged among said communication control units prior to transmission of image information.

Claim 32

An information transmission system according to claim 22, wherein each station provided with a forming means performs an image forming operation according to instructions from a communication control unit of a station provided with a generating means.

Claim 33

An information transmission system comprising a transmission channel and a plurality of stations, at least one of which comprises at least means for generating image information and at least one of which comprises at least means for forming an image, all of said plurality of stations being connected to each other through said transmission channel; wherein image information from each station provided with a generating means is transmitted to a station provided with a forming means through said transmission channel; wherein each station provided with a generating means comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information generated by said generating means to said transmission channel; and wherein said communication control unit permits transmission of the image information after confirmation of absence of information on said transmission channel.

Claim 34

An information transmission system comprising a transmission channel and a plurality of stations, at least one of which comprises at least means for generating image information and at least one of which comprises at least means for forming an image, all of said plurality of stations being connected to each other through said transmission channel; wherein image information from each station provided with a generating means is transmitted to a station provided with a forming means through said transmission channel; wherein each station provided with a generating means comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information generated by said generating means to said transmission channel; and wherein said communication control unit permits transmission of the image information after confirmation of absence of information on said transmission channel.

Claim 35

An information transmission system according to claim 27, wherein each station provided with a forming means receives the image information through said transmission channel and performs image formation.

Claim 36

An information transmission system according to claim 27, wherein said communication control unit operates so as not to transmit the image information if information is present on said transmission channel.

Claim 37

An information transmission system according to claim 27, wherein said generating means comprises a reader for reading an original document to generate image information.

Claim 38

An information transmission system according to claim 27, wherein said forming means comprises a printer for recording an image on a recording medium on the basis of image information.

Claim 39

An information transmission system comprising a station, which comprises means for generating image information and means for forming an image, both connected to a transmission channel; wherein said station comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information generated by said generating means to the transmission channel; wherein said station operates to supply the image information through said communication control unit to said forming means; wherein image information generated by said generating means is transmitted to another station through the transmission channel; and wherein said communication control unit comprises selector means for selectively releasing the image information either to said forming means or to said transmission channel or to both.

Claim 40

An information transmission system comprising a station, which comprises means for generating image information and means for forming an image, both connected to a transmission channel; wherein said station comprises a communication control unit for transmitting image information generated by said generating means to the transmission channel; wherein said station operates to supply the image information through said communication control unit to said forming means; wherein image information generated by said generating means is transmitted to another station through the transmission channel; and wherein said communication control unit comprises selector means for selectively releasing the image information either to said forming means or to said transmission channel or to both.

Claim 41

An information transmission system according to claim 32, wherein said generating means operates to form the image information using a first reference signal in a case in which the image information is transmitted to the transmission channel and a second reference signal, different from the first reference signal, in a case in which the image information is supplied to said forming means.

Claim 42

An information transmission system according to claim 32, wherein command information relating to an operation of image information transmission is transmitted to the transmission channel by said communication control unit prior to the transmission of image information.

Claim 43

An information transmission system according to claim 32, wherein said generating means comprises a reader for reading an original document to generate image information.

Claim 44

An information transmission system according to claim 32, wherein said forming means comprises a printer for recording an image on a recording medium on the basis of image information.