Patent ID: 7319543
Filing Date: 2008-01-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An image forming system comprising: a PDL job receiving unit for receiving a PDL job generated by use of a page description language and having print direct information; a print image forming unit for forming a print image by interpreting the PDL job; a storage unit for storing the print images; a hybrid print demand receiving unit for receiving a hybrid print demand for demanding a hybrid print of a plurality of print images in said storage unit; a print direction determining unit for unifying print directions of the plurality of print images demanded by the hybrid print demand and thus determining the print direction; an image converting unit for converting the print images into print images having the same print direction; and a transmitting unit for transmitting the print images and the post-converted print images formed by said image converting unit to a printer engine, wherein the image forming system further comprises a control unit for, when judging that said PDL job receiving unit receives the PDL job, forming the print image from the PDL job by use of said print image forming unit, storing the print image in said storage unit, and when judging that said hybrid print demand receiving unit receives the hybrid print demand, making said print direction determining unit determine the same print direction by use of the plurality of print images specified by the hybrid print demand in said storage unit, converting the print images that are not coincident with the same print direction among the plurality of print images into print images having the same print direction by use of said image converting unit, and sending the print images that are coincident with the same print direction and the post-converted print images to said printer engine in a sequence based on the hybrid print demand, and wherein said print direction determining unit totals page counts on a print-direction basis by use of the plurality of print images demanded by the hybrid print demand, and determines the same print direction by taking the print direction exhibiting a larger total page count.