Patent ID: 7324234
Filing Date: 2008-01-29
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image forming system comprising: an external device comprising: an operating section which allows a user to input a characteristic value and a print start time of print data to be printed by an image forming apparatus, the characteristic value being arbitrarily selected by a user; and a first interface which sends, as a print request, print data to which the characteristic value and print start time input by the operating unit are assigned to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus comprising: a memory which includes at least one first storage area provided for a print start time, said at least one storage area including at least one second storage area provided for a characteristic value; a second interface which receives a print request in which a print start time and a characteristic value are specified, from the external device; a first search section which searches for a first storage area in which a set time is the same as the print start time in the print request from the external device which is received by the second interface; a second search section which searches, when the first search section searches for the first storage area in which the set time is the same as the print start time in the print request, for a second storage area in which a set characteristic value is the same as the characteristic value in the print request; a first production section which produces a first storage area in which the print start time is to be set, when the first search section has not found a first storage area where the set time is the same as the print start time in the print request; a second production section which produces a second storage area in which the characteristic value in the print request is to be set, when the first production section has produced the first storage area, or when the second search section has not found a characteristic value which is the same as the characteristic value in the print request; a storing section which stores print data in the second storage area searched for by the second search section and the second storage area produced by the second production section; a timer which counts the current time; and an image forming section which performs an image forming process to the print data stored in the first storage area by setting a print start time that coincides with the current time counted by the timer, for each item of print data stored in each second storage area in the first storage area.