User invisible, printer line connected telecommunications link

Abstract

A personal computer (A) generates print data which is conveyed from its printer output port (16) along a printer cable (18) to an associated printer (B). A remote telecommunications unit (C) is connected with the printer cable to receive the print data at an input port (20), pass the data from a printer output port (22) to the printer, and pass print data from a telecommunications port (52) to a telephone communications line (54). The print data is intercepted and a copy is stored in a disk memory (40). A dial-up means (42) dials the phone number of a central processing computer modem (60) to establish a telecommunications link. Thereafter, a telecommunications controller (48) conveys the print data from the disk memory to the modem (60). A form identification means (62, 62') identifies to which of a plurality of preselected forms each page of print data corresponds. From the generated form identification, a corresponding map (66, 66') is selected. A data reader (68) uses the selected map in order to read the data from each form or page in the same order and format that a central data processor (70) previously received the data. Alternately, the disk memory (40) may be removed from the remote processing unit, mailed to the central processor, and the data from the form can be processed directly without intervening telephone lines.