Patent ID: 7409169

Claim:
An image forming apparatus that forms images based on image data received from an external device, the apparatus comprising: a first storing section that holds a first value indicative of an upper limit of accumulated amount of a consumable consumed in forming images; a second storing section that holds a second value smaller than the first value; an image forming section that forms the image based on the image data; a totalizing section that holds a third value indicative of the accumulated amount of the consumable consumed in forming the images, wherein when an image is formed, said totalizing section detects an amount of the consumable required in forming the image and then adds the detected amount of consumable to the third value to update the third value; and a notification section that outputs a fourth value indicative of a remaining amount of the consumable available before the third value reaches the first value, the fourth value being outputted when the third value exceeds the second value.