Patent ID: 8730506

Claim:
An image forming apparatus configured to communicate with an external apparatus via a network, the image forming apparatus comprising: a reception unit configured to receive print data; a transfer unit configured to transfer the received print data to the external apparatus; an ending time reception unit configured to request information indicating an ending time at which processing of the print data executed by the external apparatus is estimated to be completed to the external apparatus and to receive the information from the external apparatus in response to the request; a control unit configured to compare the ending time indicated by the information received by the ending time reception unit with a predetermined threshold value, and to, when the ending time is greater than the threshold value, shift the image forming apparatus to a power-saving state and then return the image forming apparatus from the power-saving state to a normal state after the ending time has elapsed; a processed data reception unit configured to request processed data to the external apparatus after the ending time has elapsed and to receive the processed data returned from the external apparatus in response to the request, wherein the processed data is data on which the processing of the print data is executed by the external apparatus; and a printing unit configured to print the processed data.