JP2000295465A - Output control device and output control method - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To provide an output control device and an output control method for performing control so that output suitable for FAX data can be performed when FAX data is output to an image forming apparatus that is a shared resource on a network. . SOLUTION: Fax data different from a preset size that can be output by an image forming apparatus is provided.
The image is output after performing the scaling process (step S405) or
Another image forming apparatus capable of outputting the data output size is detected and output (step S410), or the image forming apparatus is set in advance and waits until the output size of the facsimile data can be output (step S410). S41
5) Output. Which of these processes is to be performed is set in advance by the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output control device and an output control method for outputting received facsimile data (fax data) to a printer connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computer networks have rapidly spread. Further, among information processing apparatuses connected to such networks, those capable of receiving FAX data from public lines are increasing.

[0003]

Normally, fax data received by this type of information processing apparatus is printed by a printer designated in advance. At this time, if the specified printer cannot handle the paper size that is optimal for the print size that the fax data originally has, or if the optimal size paper is not set, the output is performed on paper that can be used by the printer at that time. The processing is interrupted by warning the user to set a sheet of an appropriate size, or the processing ends abnormally without being printed.

[0004] In view of such a situation, there has been an increasing demand for an output control device capable of performing output in accordance with a user's request.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an output control device and an output control method capable of appropriately outputting according to a user's request.

[0006]

That is, the gist of the present invention is an output control device for outputting FAX data to an image forming apparatus connected to a network as a shared resource, and acquires an output size of FAX data. A data size obtaining unit, an output size obtaining unit that obtains a size that can be output by the predetermined image forming apparatus, and if the data size is not a size that can be output by the predetermined image forming apparatus,

(1) FAX data is processed (2) Output by an alternative image forming apparatus other than the predetermined image forming apparatus (3) After output is enabled by the predetermined image forming apparatus, one of the outputs is selected and processed And a control means for performing the control.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is an output control method for outputting FAX data as a shared resource to an image forming apparatus connected to a network, comprising: a data size obtaining step for obtaining an output size of FAX data; An output size obtaining step of obtaining a size that can be output by the predetermined image forming apparatus, and if the data size is not a size that can be output by the predetermined image forming apparatus,

(1) FAX data is processed (2) Output by an alternative image forming apparatus other than the predetermined image forming apparatus (3) After output is enabled by the predetermined image forming apparatus, one of the outputs is selected and processed And an output control method.

Another aspect of the present invention is a storage medium storing a program executable by the apparatus, wherein the apparatus executes the program to function as the output control apparatus of the present invention. Exists.

Another aspect of the present invention resides in a storage medium characterized in that the output control method of the present invention is stored as a program executable by an apparatus.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the configuration of a computer network to which the present invention can be applied will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a case where a network board (NB) 101 for connecting a printer to a network is connected to a printer 102 having an open architecture. The NB 101 connects to a local area network (LAN) 100 by, for example, an Et having a coaxial connector.
It is connected via a LAN interface such as a hernet interface 10Base-2 or 10Base-T having RJ-45.

A plurality of personal computers (PCs) such as a PC 103 and a PC 104 are also connected to the LAN 100, and these PCs 103 and 104 can communicate with the NB 101 under the control of a network operating system. In this state, one of the PCs, for example, the PC 103 can be designated to be used as the network management unit. Also, PC1
A printer such as the printer 105 connected to the printer 04 may be connected.

The file server 10 is connected to the LAN 100.
6, which manages access to files stored on a large-capacity (for example, 10 billion bytes) network disk 107. Print server 108
Causes a printer such as the connected printers 109a and 109b or the printer 105 at a remote location to perform printing. Further, other peripheral devices (not shown) may be connected to the LAN 100.

More specifically, the network shown in FIG. 1 can use network software such as Novell or UNIX software to efficiently communicate between various network members. Although any network software can be used, for example, Novell's NetWare (registered trademark of Novell, hereinafter abbreviated) software can be used. For a detailed description of this software package, please refer to the online documentation included with the NetWare package. It is available for purchase from Novell with the NetWare package.

Briefly describing the configuration of FIG. 1, the file server 106 plays a role as a file management unit for receiving, storing, queuing, caching, and transmitting data files between LAN members. For example, the data files created by each of the PC 103 and the PC 104 are sent to the file server 106, which arranges these data files in order, and prints the arranged data files according to a command from the print server 108 to the printer. 109
Send to a.

PC 103 and PC 104 are respectively
Generation of data file and L of generated data file
It is composed of a proper PC capable of transmitting to the AN 100, receiving a file from the LAN 100, and displaying and / or processing such a file.
It should be noted that although FIG. 1 shows a personal computer device, other computer devices that are suitable for executing network software may be included. For example, if you are using UNIX software,
Workstations may be included in the network, and these workstations may be used with the illustrated PC under appropriate circumstances.

Typically, a LAN, such as LAN 100, provides services to a somewhat local group of users, such as a group of users on one floor or multiple consecutive floors in a building. For example, a wide area network (WAN) may be created as one user moves away from another user, such as when the user is in another building or another prefecture. WA
N is basically an aggregate formed by connecting several LANs with a high-speed digital line such as an integrated high-speed service digital network (ISDN) telephone line.
Therefore, as shown in FIG.
10 and the LAN 120 are modulated / demodulated (MODEM) /
Connected via transponder 130 and backbone 140 to form a WAN. These connections are simple electrical connections with several buses. Each LAN
Includes a dedicated PC, and usually, but not necessarily, includes a file server and a print server.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Is a PC 111, a PC 112, and a file server 113.
, Network disk 114, print server 1
15 and a printer 116 and a printer 117.
In contrast, LAN 120 includes only PC 121 and PC 122. LAN 100, LAN 110, LAN 12
The device connected to device 0 can access the functions of other LAN devices via the WAN connection.

<Hardware Configuration> Next, the configuration of an information processing device operable as the output control device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a device configuration according to the embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1b denotes a video RAM (VRAM) which expands and stores characters and images displayed on the screen of the CRT display device 1a. A bit move unit (BMU) 1c controls data transfer between memories or between a memory and each device. 1
d is a keyboard provided with various keys for input,
1e is a pointing device (PD) used for pointing an icon or the like on a screen, and 1f is a CPU.
Then, each part of the apparatus is controlled based on a control program stored in the ROM of 1 g (including a program and an error processing program according to the present invention as well as a program for realizing the present invention described later). .

1h is the program for each program described above,
A RAM used as a work area when the U executes, a RAM used as a temporary save area for error processing, and a hard disk drive (HDD) used for storing an OS, various programs (including device drivers), data, libraries, etc. 1j is a floppy disk drive (F
DD), 1k indicates a printer (PRN), respectively.
Each disk is used for storing application programs, data, libraries, and the like, which will be described later. 1 l
(L) is a network interface (NET-I
/ F), and performs data control and diagnosis on the network in order to perform data transfer with other devices via the network.

Reference numeral 1m denotes an apparatus for receiving FAX data from a public line by a modem. 1n is an I / O bus (consisting of an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus) for connecting the above-described units.

In the above configuration, when the apparatus is powered on, the CPU 1f initializes the apparatus according to the boot program in the ROM 1g, loads the OS from the HDD 1i, and thereafter operates various applications.

It should be noted that a device having such a configuration is provided with a commonly used interface (SCSI, IDE, ATAP).
I, USB, PCI, ISA, IEEE1394, RS
232C) can be realized by using a general information processing device (such as a personal computer). In the above description, the program is stored in a hard disk or the like. However, it is needless to say that the program may be stored in the ROM 1g, or may be read by a CD-ROM drive (not shown). The method of storing the data and the method of obtaining the data are not limited. Further, devices other than those shown in FIG. 3 may be connected.

<Network Configuration Having Shared Resources> Next, for the sake of simplicity, of the large-scale network shown in FIG. This will be described in more detail.

Reference numeral 2a denotes a network (for example, Ethernet is used as a backbone), and a LAN in FIG.
100, 110 and 120. 2b
Indicates a device used by the user (hereinafter, referred to as a client machine or simply a client). The client 2b has a modem 2d as a means for connecting to the public line 2c. FAX data is received using the 2d modem. The method of receiving FAX data can be arbitrarily selected from known methods.

Reference numeral 2e denotes an information processing apparatus (printer shared machine) to which a printer (hereinafter referred to as a "shared printer") 2h usable as a shared resource on the network is connected, and in this case, a printer server. Reference numerals 2f and 2g denote printer servers to which shared printers 2i and 2j are connected, respectively. A machine having a shared resource is hereinafter referred to as a server. The output control device of the present invention,
It is a client because it uses a printer that is a shared resource on the network.

The three printer servers 2e, 2f, and 2g in FIG. 4 correspond to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, which does not have the modem 1m. However,
In order to function as a printer server, not only the hardware resources shown in FIG. 3 but also a corresponding server program needs to be operated on each device. On the other hand, the device 2b operates as a client, and is different in that it does not have the printer hardware resources 1k and has a program for functioning as a client instead of a server program (shared program). The hardware configuration is the same. The point is that the server shares its own resources with the server, and the client receiving the service is the client. Incidentally, there may be a server / client device.

<Output Processing of Received FAX Data> The received FAX data is basically output by a printer designated in advance (designated printer). The feature is in the processing when the size does not match the FAX data.

In the present embodiment, when it is determined that the FAX data and the paper size of the designated printer do not match, (1) the FAX data is set so as to match the size of the paper set or handled in the designated printer. Reduction /
Enlarge and output (2) Output using another printer on which paper of the size suitable for FAX data is set or can be handled. (3) Save the FAX data and use the paper tray (manual feed) of the designated printer. Hold the output until paper of an appropriate size is set in the tray (including the tray).

<Process Setting Screen> FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a screen for allowing a user to set how to process received FAX data in the output control device according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 3a denotes a control for designating a default output printer. A group of printers that can be used by the output control device as a client on the network is displayed in the area 3b as a drop-down list. FIG.
In the case of the configuration shown in (1), three printers 2h, 2i, and 2j are listed in this control. Reference numeral 3c denotes a button control for calling a window for performing detailed settings of the designated printer.

In the area 3d, processing corresponding to the above-described processing (1) to (3), 3d, 3e, and 3d, is performed when the paper size of the designated printer indicated by 3d does not match the facsimile data. 3f is to allow the user to select one of the three methods. Control groups 3d, 3e, and 3f are processes in which only one of the three is selected. The selection of the process is performed by selecting a radio button provided at the left end of each control with a keyboard 1d or a pointing device 1e such as a mouse. The designation of the printer and the setting of the processing are reflected by designating the OK button 3h with a keyboard or a pointing device and pressing (eg, pressing a key or clicking a mouse). On the other hand, when the cancel button 3i is pressed, the screen of FIG. 4 is closed with the original setting contents or without setting. The setting contents are stored as a setting file in the HDD 1i, for example.

The specific operation of each process will be described with an example. For example, suppose that the received fax data is A3 paper size, the printer of 2h is A4 paper size, the printer of 2i is A3 paper size, the printer of 2j is A5 paper size, and the designated printer is 2h.

When the radio button control of "Resize received data according to paper size」 "of 3d is selected, since the received fax data is A3 paper size, it becomes A4 size which is 2h paper size of the designated printer. Thus, the received fax data is reduced and output by 70%.

When the "output to a printer having an appropriate paper size" control 3e is selected,
For example, if you obtain the size of each printer available on the network by querying the print server,
Since the printer 2i is A3 paper size, the received fax
Data is output from 2i. And 2 for the user
The output is notified by displaying a message on the screen.

Further, if the "hold data on disk until proper paper is set" control 3f is selected, the designated printer 2h is A4 paper size, and the received data is A3 paper size. Notify the user that the output has been delayed because of this. The FAX data is held in the HDD 1i until the user sets A3 paper in the printer 2i, and the user stores the fax data in the printer 2h.
FAX stored in HDD when 3 sheets are set
Output data.

<Processing Procedure> Next, the output control processing of the received FAX data in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S401,
The paper size of the received FAX data is acquired. The facsimile data handled in the present invention may be in a normal format, and the facsimile data in the normal format has paper size data therein, so that data at a specific position in the facsimile data may be obtained.

Further, in obtaining the paper size of each available printer, a unique printer driver (software) is registered in the OS, regardless of whether the printer is locally connected or on a network. Same thing. The only difference is that if it is local, it is redirected to the port of its own machine, and if it is a printer on the network, it is redirected to its share name. Therefore, by checking the printer driver registered in the OS, device attribute information of each printer can be obtained. That is, it is possible to know the paper size of the printer. In addition to this, for example, it is also conceivable to inquire each server.

Now, the method of acquiring the paper sizes of the available printers has been described. In step S402, the paper size of the received fax data and the paper size of the designated printer are used in step S402. Make a comparison. If they are the same,

FAX received in step S403
The data is output to the specified printer as it is, and the processing ends. On the other hand, if the paper sizes are different in step S402, the processing method for the case where the paper does not fit is determined based on the screen shown in FIG.
4). If the setting is “magnify the received data according to the paper size”, the FA received in step S405
The X data is scaled to the paper size of the designated printer. Further, in step S406, the received FAX data scaled in step S405 is output by the designated printer. Further, in step S407, a window is displayed to notify the user that scaling has been performed and output, and the process ends.

If the output method is set to "output to a printer having an appropriate paper size" in step S404, the paper size is received from an available printer in step S408. FAX
Search for a printer that is the same as the data. As a result, if there is a printer having the same paper size as the paper size of the FAX data received in step S409, step S4
At step 10, the received fax data is output to the printer,
Further, the user is notified of the output printer (step S411), and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S409 that a printer having the same paper size as the FAX data cannot be detected, in step S412, the user is notified that there is no printer that can output, and the process ends.

In step S404, if the output method is set to "hold data on disk until appropriate paper is set", the FAX data received in S413 is held in the HDD. Further, in step S414, the user is informed that a sheet of an appropriate size is set because a sheet corresponding to the sheet size of the received FAX data is not set in the designated printer. Then, in step S415, it is determined whether an appropriate sheet is set. If the appropriate paper is set, the F received in S416
The AX data is loaded from the HDD, and output from the printer designated in step S403. Paper setting detection
For example, this can be performed using a paper size list obtained by inquiring the printer driver.

On the other hand, if the appropriate paper is not set in step S415, the apparatus enters a waiting state and holds the received FAX data on the disk until the paper size of the printer is changed to the appropriate paper size.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when FAX data received from a public line via a modem is output by a printer on a network, the received FAX data has a size corresponding to the paper size of the received FAX data. It is possible to easily print in an output method desired by the user.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment,
When FAX data received from a public line via a modem is output by a printer on a network, the user can easily print an output method suitable for the paper size of the received FAX data in a method desired by the user. And However, when a printer having a paper size is not found or when processing is suspended until an appropriate paper is set, an output may not be obtained.

The second embodiment is characterized in that priority is given to processing when the paper size of the received FAX data does not match the paper size of the designated printer, so that at least an output result can be obtained. I do.

In the following description, it is assumed that the configurations of the client machine and the server are the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for allowing a user to set how to process received FAX data in the output control device according to the second embodiment.

As is clear from the comparison with FIG.
Each control of 5c corresponds to the controls 3a to 3c in the first embodiment. The control 5d corresponds to the area 3d in FIG. 4, and is a method in which the processing selection method of the control of the processing options 3e to 3g in the first embodiment is given a priority and is selected as the control method. In, the methods with priorities from the top will be implemented in order. The controls 5f and 5g move the priority of the processing method selected in the control 5e up and down, and the priority can be changed by this operation.

Further, 5i, 5j provided in the region 5h
Are controls for setting a waiting time until an appropriate sheet is set. Control 5
i can be set in minutes and the control 5j can be set in seconds. If the designated printer does not have paper of an appropriate size and the time for saving data and waiting for paper setting exceeds this set value, the process is forcibly shifted to the next process.

For example, the printers 2h, 2i, 2j in FIG.
Are printers available on the network, 2h is A3 paper, 2i is A5 paper, and 2j is A3 paper. The designated printer at this time is 2i. It is also assumed that the paper size of the received FAX data is A4. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the priority order is “Wait until an appropriate paper is set” → “Output to a printer having an appropriate paper size” → “Resize to fit the paper size” And the waiting time is 10 seconds.

In this case, since the FAX reception data is A4 size and the designated printer 2i paper size is A5,
A message for changing the printer to A5 paper is issued to the user. If the user does not change the paper after 10 seconds from this notification, the next priority is checked for each paper size of the printer that can be used for outputting to a printer having an appropriate paper size. However, for the remaining two printers, 2h is A3 paper size and 2j is also A3 paper size.
Due to the paper size, there is no printer with the appropriate paper. For this reason, the processing is performed to change the magnification according to the paper size which is the last priority. In this case, the received data is A
Since 4i is 2i and Ai is A5 paper, the data which has been reduced by 70% is output to the 2i printer.

However, "magnify according to paper size"
Is selected, the output is always performed, and the subsequent priority processing is not performed.

<Processing Procedure> Next, the output control processing of the received FAX data in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, steps S601 to S601
Until 607, step S401 of FIG.
The description is omitted because it is the same as that up to S407. In particular, in the scaling process in steps S605 to S607, as described above, the output can always be performed.
There are no branches.

Next, step S608 is processing for searching for another printer when the paper size does not match. In step S609, it is determined whether there is a printer having an appropriate paper size.
At 0, output is made to a printer having the appropriate paper size. Further, the user is notified of the printer output in step S611, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if an appropriate paper size cannot be found in step S609, the next priority processing is determined in step S612. At this time, if the next priority is the scaling process, in step S605, the scaling process is performed, the output is performed, and the process ends. If the next priority is “Wait until a sheet is set” in step S612, the process proceeds to step S613.
Step S613 is a process at the time of selecting "Wait until a sheet is set", and holds the received FAX data on the disk. Next, in step S614, the user is notified that there is no appropriate paper.

Further, it is determined in step S615 whether a sheet has been set. If the paper is set, the received fax stored in the disk in step S616 is received.
The data is loaded, output in step S603, and the processing ends. If the sheet is not set in step S615, it is determined in step 613 whether the designated waiting time has elapsed. If the waiting time has not elapsed,
The setting of the sheet is checked again in step S615. On the other hand, if the waiting time has elapsed in step S617, the process of “waiting for sheet setting” has failed, and the process proceeds to step S618, where the next priority is “magnification processing”. Is determined. In the case of the scaling process, the process proceeds to step S605, where the scaling process is performed, the output is performed, and the process ends. On the other hand, step S618
If it is not “magnification processing” in step S608, step S608
Then, a search process for another printer is performed.

When the paper size of the received FAX data is different from the paper size of the designated printer,
In consideration of the fact that the "scaling process" can always be output, the following five patterns are conceivable. (1) “Resize processing” (2) “Other printer” → “Resize processing” (3) “Wait until paper is set” → “Resize processing” (4) “Other printer” → “Wait until paper is set” → “magnification processing” (5) “Wait until paper is set” → “other printer” → “magnification processing”

Therefore, in step S612 and step S618 in FIG. 7, it is impossible to alternately loop the processing of "other printers" and "wait for setting of paper".

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the fax received from the public line via the modem
In the process of outputting data to a printer that can be used on a network, received fax data is processed according to the priority order desired by the user so that the data can be always output without storing the data. Become.

[0062]

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which the output control device has a modem and receives FAX data by itself has been described. However, it is not always necessary that the modem is connected. It goes without saying that the effect of the present invention can be obtained even if the apparatus is configured to receive the received FAX data.

If the paper size of the designated printer is FAX
Regarding the processing method when it does not match the data,
The method is not limited to the above, and another method may be used.

In the above embodiment, the case where the output target is a printer has been described. However, the printer has a printer function such as a facsimile machine or a copier which can be connected to a computer network, and is connected as a shared device on the network. Any device that can be output can be used as an output target.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc.) comprising Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to one or more of the above-described flowcharts (shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7). become.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the paper size of the FAX data received from the public line is various, it is possible to sequentially execute the method desired by the user or the processing in which the priority is set. An output control device and an output control method that can easily and appropriately perform output suitable for paper can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a computer network to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing device capable of forming an output control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial configuration diagram of a network having a shared printer for describing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a process setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating output control according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process setting screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating output control according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An output control device for outputting facsimile data to an image forming apparatus connected to a network as a shared resource, comprising: a data size obtaining unit for obtaining an output size of the facsimile data; Output size obtaining means for obtaining a size that can be output by the device; and if the data size is not a size that can be output by the predetermined image forming device, (1) processing the FAX data; and (2) the predetermined image forming device. (3) An output control device comprising: control means for selecting any one of the outputs after the predetermined image forming device has enabled output and performing processing. 2. The control means according to claim 1, wherein said facsimile data is
2. The output control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scaling unit that enlarges or reduces the size of the image forming apparatus to a size that can be output. 3. An alternative device detecting unit, wherein the control unit detects an image forming apparatus other than the predetermined image forming apparatus capable of outputting the output size of the FAX data and sets the image forming apparatus as the alternative image forming apparatus. The output control device according to claim 1, comprising: 4. A setting detecting means for detecting that a recording material having a size equal to an output size of the facsimile data is set in the predetermined image forming apparatus; Finds a set of
2. The output control device according to claim 1, further comprising a data output unit that outputs the FAX data to the predetermined image forming apparatus. 5. The output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means makes said selection in accordance with a preset priority. 6. The output control device according to claim 1, further comprising a facsimile data receiving unit that receives the facsimile unit through a communication line. 7. An output control method for outputting facsimile data to an image forming apparatus connected to a network as a shared resource, comprising: a data size obtaining step of obtaining an output size of the facsimile data; An output size obtaining step of obtaining a size that can be output by the apparatus; and if the data size is not a size that can be output by the predetermined image forming apparatus, (1) processing the FAX data; and (2) the predetermined image forming apparatus. And (3) a control step of selecting any one of the outputs after the predetermined image forming apparatus has enabled output and performing processing. 8. The output control according to claim 7, wherein the control step includes a scaling step of enlarging or reducing the FAX data to a size that can be output by the predetermined image forming apparatus. Method. 9. The alternative device detecting step of detecting, among the image forming devices other than the predetermined image forming device, an image forming device capable of outputting the output size of the facsimile data, and setting the device as the alternative image forming device. 8. The output control method according to claim 7, comprising: 10. The setting step, wherein the control step detects that a recording material having a size equal to the output size of the FAX data is set in the predetermined image forming apparatus; And outputting the facsimile data to the predetermined image forming apparatus when a set of the facsimile is detected. 11. The output control method according to claim 7, wherein the control step performs the selection according to a preset priority. 12. The output control method according to claim 7, further comprising a FAX data receiving step of receiving the FAX step via a communication line. 13. A storage medium storing a program executable by the device, wherein the device executing the program is caused to function as the output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Storage medium. 14. A storage medium storing the method according to claim 7 as a program executable by an apparatus.