Patent ID: 7283258

Claim:
A print system comprising: a terminal that generates image data; at least one printer that performs print operations for forming an image on a recording medium using an ink based on print data; and a printer controller that is connected between the terminal and the printer and converts the image data into the print data; wherein the printer controller comprises: predicting means for predicting a required ink amount indicating an amount of ink required for the printer to perform the print operations based on the print data; a memory that stores required ink amount data indicating the required ink amount; and transmitting means for transmitting a request signal to the printer, the request signal requesting the printer to transmit remaining ink amount data indicating a remaining ink amount which indicates an amount of ink remaining in the printer; the printer comprises: managing means for managing the remaining ink amount data; and transmitting means for transmitting the ink amount data in response to the request signal; and at least one of the terminal and the printer controller comprises: receiving means for receiving the remaining ink amount data from the transmitting means of the printer; retrieving means for retrieving the required ink amount data stored in the memory; determination means for determining based on the remaining ink amount data and the required ink amount data, whether or not the remaining ink amount is sufficient to complete the print operations, based on the print data, before the print operations are started; notifying means for notifying a user of a determination result determined by the determination means, the notifying means notifying the user before the print operations are started and data-transmitting means for transmitting the print data to the printer only if the determining means has determined that the remaining ink amount is sufficient to complete the print operations based on the print data wherein the printer performs the print operations based on the print data transmitted from the data-transmitting means.