Patent ID: 7321694

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a reading unit which reads image information on an original; a first compression unit which compresses the image information read by the reading unit into compressed image information; a first encoding unit which encodes the compressed image information; an interface unit which acquires printing information in a page description language from exterior; a generating unit which generates printing image information on the basis of the printing information; a second compression unit which compresses the printing image information into compressed printing image information; a second encoding unit which encodes the compressed printing image information; a decoding unit which decodes the encoded compressed image information and the encoded compressed printing image information, and which outputs the compressed image information and the compressed printing image information; an expansion unit which expands the compressed image information and the compressed printing image information decoded by the decoding unit; and a forming unit which forms an image onto a recording medium on the basis of the image information and the printing image information expanded by the expansion unit.