Store and forward type of text processing unit

Abstract

A store and forward unit having an output print station with convenience copying capabilities has connections to diverse text signal sources and destinations. Such diverse sources and destinations may have established textual format and control characters not necessarily shared with other sources and destinations. The store and forward unit, upon receiving a set of text signals, examines the text control characters. Based upon such examination, the store and forward unit processes such text without changing the control characters provided that all destinations connected to such unit can use such control characters. If, on the other hand, the destinations cannot use such control character, the unit adds sufficient control characters for allowing the received text as modified by the additional characters to be transmitted without text processing analysis to any of the connected destinations. If desired, the control characters not usable or not recognized by a receiving destination can be deleted prior to transmission to such destination. Accordingly, when received text is to be retransmitted to a plurality of diverse destinations, the store and forward unit text processes the received text signals but once and supplies the text processed signals to the diverse destinations with only deletions of control characters.