Patent ID: 7973958

Claim:
An image forming apparatus for forming images by outputting a plurality of image data in an order corresponding to an input order of a plurality of input data, the image forming apparatus comprising: a data receiving part for receiving the input data; a priority determining part for determining priority of outputting the input data; a PDL process part having a plurality of PDL interpretation parts including at least first and second PDL interpretation parts for performing a PDL process on the input data; and a PDL control part for controlling each of the plural PDL interpretation parts; wherein when a subsequent input data is determined to have a priority higher than that of a prior input data in a case where the first PDL interpretation part is performing a first PDL process on the prior input data, the PDL control part is configured to stop the first PDL process and cause the second PDL interpretation part to perform a second PDL process on the subsequent input data, wherein the number of PDL interpretation parts included in the PDL process part corresponds to the number of priorities that can be determined by the priority determination part.