Patent ID: 8018608

Claim:
An image forming device, comprising: a unit being configured to receive a print command including print data and a desired number of prints of the print data; a unit to receive a plurality of threshold values each being a number selected among a plurality of numbers, set, and changeable by a user, and to receive a plurality of holding periods, each being a number selected among a plurality of numbers, set, and changeable by a user, each holding period corresponding to one of the plurality of threshold values; a unit storing the print data in a nonvolatile memory when the print command is received, and determining whether or not the desired number of prints is equal to or greater than each of the previously set threshold values; a unit printing the desired number of prints of the print data when the number of prints is less than a threshold value being the lowest of the plurality of threshold values, and then erases the print data stored in the memory after printing the desired number of prints is finished; a unit printing the desired number of prints of the print data when the desired number of prints is not less than the threshold value being the lowest of the plurality of threshold values, and then holding the print data without erasing in the memory for the corresponding holding period after printing the desired number of prints is finished; and a unit printing the print data held in the memory again in response to an operation by a user, the holding period for storing the print data being changed to be longer, as the one of the plurality of the threshold values is changed to be larger, the print data being held in the memory, if the desired number of prints to be printed is not less than the lowest of plurality of threshold value, the print data not being held in the memory when the number of prints to be printed is less than the lowest threshold value such that it is less possible that additional prints are needed.