Patent ID: 6347203
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: G03G,H04N

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus having image forming means, to which a sheet processing unit having a sheet storage unit is capable of being connected, for printing an image on a recording medium, storage means for storing image data and a plurality of independent input means for inputting, from different paths, information relating to image data that is to be printed out, said apparatus comprising:storage control means for managing print requests, which have been input by respective ones of said input means, as respective ones of independent jobs, and storing image data, which is based upon the input information, in said storage means; priority setting means for setting the priority of a job on a per-input-means basis; and scheduling means for scheduling, by job, an output of image data, which has been stored in said storage means, to said image forming means based upon information which has been set by said priority setting means and status of use of the sheet processing unit of said image forming means, wherein said status of use of said sheet processing unit includes types of the sheet processing unit, and wherein said types of the sheet processing unit include a first type in which said sheet storage unit is capable of being moved up and down, and a second type in which said sheet storage unit is incapable of being moved up and down.