JP2007144699A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To forecast printout time with high precision and thereby, make the reliability of the forecast time easily determinable. <P>SOLUTION: This imaging device comprises an output time forecast means which forecasts time required for printing out image data, an output time measuring means which measures time to be spent from the start of printing the image data to its completion, when the image data are actually printed, and a forecast time display means which displays the output time to be forecast by the output time forecast means in conjunction with the image data. The output time forecast means includes time which is measured by the output time measuring means as an actual result value in the output time forecast results, in case the image data has ever been printed out even only once. The output time display means displays the output time along with an identification means which identifies whether the output time calculated by the output time forecast means is the actual result value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including peripheral devices such as a printer and a digital multifunction peripheral, an image forming method, and a program for executing the image forming method.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus for POD (Print On Demand), there is an output time prediction technique as a technique for managing output of a print job. The conventional output time prediction technique calculates and predicts the print output time of a print job according to an output time prediction table managed for each output condition. Then, after the print output, the result of the output time is reflected in the output time prediction table and used for the next output time prediction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-277623

  However, in a configuration in which a print job in a PDL (Page Description Language) format is received from a host computer, in order to predict the output time of the print job, not only the conditions of the image forming process such as the print mode and the print media, It is also necessary to predict the processing until the PDL is interpreted and developed into an image, and the time cannot be accurately predicted as a whole.

  Therefore, in a configuration for printing a print job in the PDL format, there is no output time prediction function, or only a specific condition is treated as being effective.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of more accurately predicting the print output time and easily determining the reliability of the predicted time. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least print data supplied from a data processing apparatus, and interprets the print data and develops the image data. Means for storing the image data developed by the image development means as a job in a large-capacity storage device, and output time prediction for predicting the time required for print output of the job saved by the job storage means The output time measuring means for measuring the time from the start to the completion of printing when the job saved by the job saving means is actually printed, and the output time predicting means. A predicted time display means for displaying the output time in association with the storage job, and the output time prediction means However, when printed out, the time measured by the output time measuring means is included in the result of output time prediction as a result value, and the output time display means is the output time calculated by the output time prediction means. It is characterized by being displayed together with identification means for identifying whether it is a value or not.

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a management unit that manages a logical value of a print output time for each print condition, and the output time prediction unit manages the print condition of the stored job by the management unit. The estimated output time is calculated based on the logical value of the print output time that matches the print conditions as a result of comparison with the existing information. It is characterized by recalculating the time.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least image data, and includes an output time predicting unit that predicts a time required to print out image data, and when image data is actually printed. Output time measuring means for measuring time from when printing is started to completion, and predicted time display means for displaying the output time predicted by the output time predicting means in association with the image data, the output The time predicting means includes the time measured by the output time measuring means as an actual value in the result of output time prediction when the image data is printed out even once, and the output time displaying means includes the output time The output time calculated by the prediction means is displayed together with an identification means for identifying whether or not the output time is an actual value.

  The image forming apparatus includes a management unit that manages a logical value of a print output time for each print condition, and the output time prediction unit manages the print condition of the image data by the management unit. The estimated output time is calculated based on the logical value of the print output time that matches the print conditions as a result of comparison with the existing information, and if the print conditions of the stored image data are changed, the output is based on the changed print conditions. The prediction time is calculated again.

According to the present invention, in a configuration in which a print job in a PDL format is printed out from a host computer, the print output time is predicted based on the actual output value for an image-developed print job. It can be carried out.
Further, since the predicted print output time is displayed so that it can be identified whether it is the actual value, the reliability of the user predicted time can be easily determined.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Explanation of FIG. 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a multifunction apparatus having a copy function, a print function, a scan function, a FAX function, etc., which is a form of an image forming apparatus, and a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) 103 and 104. And a network (hereinafter referred to as “LAN”) 110. For example, between the PC 103 and the multifunction peripheral 101, print data is transmitted from the PC 103 to the multifunction peripheral 101 in order to print a document created on the PC 103, or the multifunction peripheral 101 to the PC 103 in order to notify the device status of the multifunction peripheral 101. Notification of device information is performed.

[Explanation of FIG. 2]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, a CPU 201 is a microprocessor that controls the entire image forming apparatus, and is operated by a real-time OS.

  The memory 202 is a work memory for the operation of the CPU 201 and can be accessed from the CPU 201 at high speed.

  The HDD 203 is a large-capacity hard disk that stores a plurality of application programs used for the operation of the CPU 201 and is under the management of the CPU 201 described above.

  The high-speed CPU bus 204 is a bus that connects between the CPU 201, the memory 202, the HDD 203, and each functional unit described later. Data processed by the CPU 201 is transferred to each functional unit, and data is transferred between the functional units at high speed. Or (DMA transfer). Generally, a VL bus or a PCI bus is used. However, this standard is not particularly limited, and any high-speed bus can be used.

  The RIP 205 is a functional unit that receives an image forming command input from an external interface connected to a computer, which will be described later, and converts it into a bitmap image according to the contents of the received image forming command. The image formation command is input from the high-speed CPU bus 204 and outputs an image to a high-speed image bus 209 described later. Examples of the RIP include Postscript, PCL, LIPS, and CaPSL.

  The image processing unit 206 is a functional unit that performs filtering processing on an image image such as smoothing processing or edge processing on an image image input from the high-speed image bus 209 in accordance with a processing command instructed by the CPU 201. In addition, the image processing unit 206 has a character recognition (OCR) function for an image input from the high-speed image bus 209 and an image separation function for separating the character part and the image part.

  The compression / decompression unit 207 compresses the image image input from the high-speed image bus 209 by an image compression method such as MH, MR, MMR, or JPEG, and applies the high-speed CPU bus 204 or the high-speed image bus 209 again. The compressed data is sent out, or vice versa, the compressed data input from these two buses is decompressed according to the method compressed by this functional unit, and sent to the high-speed image bus 209. It is.

  The bus bridge 208 is a bus bridge controller having an interface function between the high-speed CPU bus 204 and a low-speed CPU bus 210 described later, and absorbs a difference in processing speed between the buses. Through this bus bridge 208, the CPU 201 operating at high speed can access a functional unit operating at low speed connected to the low-speed CPU bus 210.

  The low-speed CPU bus 210 has a bus configuration with a slower transfer speed than the high-speed CPU bus 204, and is a bus to which a functional unit having a relatively slow processing capability is connected. In general, an ISA bus or the like is used.

  The modem 217 is a functional unit that interposes the public line 218 and the low-speed CPU bus 210. The modem 217 receives digital data sent from the low-speed CPU bus 210 and modulates it into a data format that can be output to the public line. It has a function of converting modulated data sent from the line into digital data that can be processed in the image forming apparatus.

  The LAN interface 219 is a functional unit for connecting to the LAN 220 and is used for receiving a control command from the computer via the LAN 220 and returning the status of the image forming apparatus to the computer.

  The USB interface 221 is a functional unit for connecting the image forming apparatus and the host computer 222 and is used for receiving a control command from the host computer 222 and returning the status of the image forming apparatus to the host computer 222. Is done.

  The panel interface 215 exchanges various control signals with the operation unit 216 in the image forming apparatus. The panel interface 215 transmits a signal of an input switch such as a key arranged in the operation unit 216 to the CPU 201, or the RIP 205, the image processing unit 206, This is a unit that performs resolution conversion for displaying the image data created by the compression / decompression unit 207 on the liquid crystal display unit in the operation unit 216.

  A high-speed image bus 209 is a bus for mutually connecting an image input / output bus in various image generation units (RIP 205, image processing unit 206, compression / decompression unit 207), a scanner interface 211, and a printer interface 213 described later. . This bus control is not under the control of the CPU 201 but is controlled by a bus controller (not shown), and performs data transfer under the control of the bus controller.

  The scanner unit 212 is a visible image reading device provided with an automatic document feeder, and reads a set document image with an RGB three-line CCD color sensor or a one-line monochrome CCD line sensor. The document image data read by the scanner unit 212 is transferred to the high-speed image bus 209 by the scanner interface unit 211.

  In the scanner interface unit 211, the image data read by the scanner unit 212 is binarized optimally according to the processing contents in the subsequent process, and serial-parallel conversion in accordance with the data width of the high-speed image bus 209 is performed. It has a function of performing or converting the read RGB color data (luminance color data) into CMYBk data (density color data).

  The printer unit 214 prints image data received from a printer interface unit 213 described later as visible image data on a recording sheet. The printer unit 214 includes a bubble jet (registered trademark) printer that prints on a recording sheet using a bubble jet (registered trademark) method, and forms an image on a photosensitive drum using a laser beam, and images the recording sheet. There is a laser beam printer using the electrophotographic technology to be formed. The laser beam printer includes a single color printer and a color laser beam printer using CMYBk.

  The printer interface unit 213 transfers image data sent from the high-speed image bus 209 to the printer unit 214, and converts the bus width of the high-speed image bus 209 into a bus width that matches the gradation of the printer to be output. A bus width converting function, and a function for absorbing the difference between the printing speed of the printer and the transfer speed of the image data on the high-speed image bus 209.

  The operation unit 216 includes a liquid crystal display unit, a touch panel input device disposed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit, and a plurality of hard keys. An input signal corresponding to a touch panel input device or hard key input is transmitted to the CPU 201 via the panel interface 215, and the liquid crystal display unit displays image data sent from the panel interface 215. The liquid crystal display unit displays function display, image data, and the like in the operation of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of FIG. 3]
FIG. 3 is a print output time table per page managed for each print condition in the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, as the parameters of the printing conditions, the “paper type” used for changing the setting of the image forming process, which is the type of the recording medium, “paper size” indicating the size of the paper, printing on only one side, There are “single / double-sided” indicating duplex printing, “color mode” indicating color printing or monochrome printing, and the like.

  For each combination of parameters, a theoretical value of “print output time per page” is managed, and an example thereof is shown in the figure.

  In predicting the print output time, a condition that matches the print condition of each page of the print job is searched from the print output time table, and the value of “print output time per page” of the searched condition is used.

[Explanation of FIG. 4]
FIG. 4 is a downtime table managed for each printing condition between previous and next pages in the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, as the parameters of the printing conditions, the “paper type” used for changing the setting of the image forming process, which is the type of the recording medium, “paper size” indicating the size of the paper, printing on only one side, There are “single / double-sided” indicating duplex printing, “color mode” indicating color printing or monochrome printing, and the like.

  Two print conditions with “⇒” between them indicate switching between the print condition of the previous page and the print condition of the next page. In the example of the figure, “color = monochrome” indicates a condition that the “color mode” of the previous page is “color” and the “color” mode of the next page is “monochrome”.

  For each combination of parameters, theoretical values of “down time” (time required to change the image forming process setting due to switching of printing conditions) generated by switching of printing conditions are managed, and examples are shown in the figure. ing.

  In the prediction of the print output time, when there is a change in the print conditions of the pages that make up the print job, the condition that matches the print conditions of the pages before and after the change occurs is searched from the downtime table. The condition's "downtime" value is used.

[Explanation of FIG. 5]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for job output time prediction performed by the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, when the job output time prediction process is started, first, in step S101, the page attributes of the target job are analyzed, and for each page constituting the target job, the parameters of the printing conditions described in FIGS. Confirm that the settings are as follows. Also, the job output time T1 is initialized.

  Here, the target of the job for which the output time is predicted is a job stored in a large-capacity storage device such as the HDD 203 in a format in which a PDL-format job is developed.

  In step S102, the print output time of each page is determined according to the print output time table of FIG. 3 based on the analysis result of step S101, and is added to the job output time T1.

  In step S103, the time from when the process is instructed to the engine to start the engine process until the process is actually started is related to the job output time T1.

  In step S104, it is determined whether there is a page with different page attributes (printing condition parameters as shown in FIG. 4) in the target job based on the analysis of S101.

  If there is no page having a different page attribute in the target job in step S104, the process proceeds to step S106. If there is, a downtime table described in FIG. And is added to the job output time T1.

  In step S <b> 106, it is determined whether there is a possibility of satisfying a condition that process setting adjustment (for example, various adjustments such as density adjustment and registration adjustment) performed by the engine periodically occurs during printing of the target job.

  If it is determined in step S106 that there is no possibility of satisfying the condition that the process setting adjustment periodically performed by the engine is generated during printing of the target job, the process is terminated, and if it is determined that there is a possibility In step S107, the process setting adjustment time expected to occur (the generation condition and the processing time are defined for each adjustment type) is added to the job output time T1, and the process ends.

  The value of T1 at the end of the process becomes the result of the job output time predicted by this process.

[Explanation of FIG. 6]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of job output time measurement performed by the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, when the job output time measurement process is started, first, in step S201, it is determined whether or not the designated job is instructed to be printed out. The process of step S201 is repeated until the designated job is instructed to print out. When the output is instructed, the process proceeds to step S202, and a timer is started to measure the output time of the job. Also, the job output time T2 is initialized.

  Next, in step S203, it is determined whether print output of the designated job has been completed. Step S203 is repeated until the specified job has been printed and output is completed. When output is completed, the process proceeds to step S204, the timer that has been activated is stopped, the elapsed time of the timer is added to the job output time T2, and the process ends. To do.

  The value of T2 at the end of processing is the result of the job output time measured by this processing.

[Explanation of FIG. 7]
FIG. 7 is a print output prediction time table managed for each job in the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, parameters indicating the contents of the job include “job name”, “number of pages” constituting the job, “number of copies” for the job, “staple” indicating whether or not stapling is performed in units of copies, and the number of copies. There is “binding” for whether or not to perform bookbinding processing in units, and for each stored job stored in a large-capacity storage device such as the HDD 203 in an image-developed format, the setting values are displayed in this table. It is managed.

  Furthermore, if there is no output record for each saved job, the “output time prediction value” is managed, and if there is an output record, the “output count” and “output time record” are displayed in this table. It is managed.

  The “predicted output time value” is a value obtained based on the flowchart described in FIG. 5, and the “actual value of output time” is a value obtained based on the flowchart described in FIG.

[Explanation of FIG. 8]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for operating a job stored in the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, 301 logically divides a large-capacity storage device such as the HDD 203 in the image forming apparatus, displays a list of jobs stored in a partial area defined as “user box”, It is a screen for a user to perform various operations on a job. An area 302 displays a list of stored jobs stored in the “user box”.

  In the job list 302, the contents of the table described in FIG. 7 are displayed for each stored job, and “date / time” (not shown) is also displayed in FIG. Then, “printing time” is displayed as either “output time predicted value” or “output time actual value” in the table described in FIG. 7. “Predicted value” is displayed, and when there is an output record, “output time record value” is displayed, and “*” mark is further displayed on the right side.

  In addition, 303 is a button for canceling a state where a specific job is selected in the saved job list, 304 is a button for displaying detailed information of the job selected in the saved job list in another UI, and 305 is a saved job. A button for instructing deletion of the job selected in the list, 306 is a button for displaying an image of each page of the job selected in the stored job list, and 307 is a button for instructing print output of the job selected in the stored job list. 308, a button for instructing reading of an original document to be added as a saved job, 309, a button for instructing transmission to a destination that designates the job selected in the saved job list, and 310, a button selected in the saved job list. Move jobs to other user boxes or duplicate jobs Button for instructing that, 310 is a button for closing the 301 screen.

[Explanation of FIG. 9]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for referring to or changing a job printing condition stored in the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, 401 is a screen that is displayed when the button 304 described in FIG. 8 is pressed. Regarding the target job (the corresponding job that was selected in the job list 302 when the button 304 was pressed). This is a screen for referring to or changing the printing conditions.

  Reference numeral 402 denotes a job reception number when the target job is stored in the “user box”. Reference numeral 403 denotes a reception time when the target job is stored in the “user box”. Reference numeral 404 denotes a job name of the target job. Reference numeral 405 denotes the number of pages constituting the target job. Reference numeral 406 denotes a setting for the number of copies of the target job. Reference numeral 407 denotes a setting of the media size of the page constituting the target job. Reference numeral 408 denotes setting of the media type of a page constituting the target job. Reference numeral 409 denotes a setting of the resolution of a page constituting the target job. Reference numeral 410 denotes a setting for whether or not to perform stapling for each copy when printing the target job. Reference numeral 411 denotes a setting for whether or not to perform bookbinding processing in units of copies when printing the target job. Reference numeral 412 denotes a print time value based on the output time prediction result in the case of the print conditions as described above.

  On the other hand, reference numerals 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, and 419 are buttons for changing the set values of 404, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, and 411, respectively, of the printing conditions. Reference numeral 420 denotes a button for closing the screen 401 and returning to the screen 301 in FIG.

  When the setting values corresponding to the respective printing conditions are changed by the buttons 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, the setting of the printing conditions in the prediction time table described in FIG. The value is also changed in conjunction. Therefore, when the setting value corresponding to the printing condition is changed by the buttons 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, and 419, the value of the printing time 412 is changed to a value according to the changed contents of the printing condition.

[Explanation of FIG. 10]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for referring to or changing the printing conditions of a job stored in the image forming apparatus, as in FIG. 9.

  In the figure, the difference from FIG. 9 is that the setting of the number of copies 506 is changed from “1” which is a value of 406 to “10”, and the staple setting of 510 is a value of 410. The point is that there is a change from “None” to “Yes”. These are the results of the change operation performed by the “change” buttons 414 and 418 on the screen 401 in FIG.

  Accordingly, in FIG. 10, the printing time of 512 is changed from “10 minutes” that is the value of 412 to “120 minutes”.

  As described above, when the print condition is changed as shown in FIGS. 9 to 10, the print output time is re-estimated accordingly, and the print time value is changed and displayed based on the result.

  For example, if a trial print is performed once for a predetermined stored job and the print result is different from the desired result, the print condition may be changed. Since the predicted time value is also updated, the user need not be aware of the change in the printing conditions and predict the output time.

  Reference numeral 501 denotes a screen displayed when the button 304 described with reference to FIG. 8 is pressed. The print condition for the target job (the corresponding job selected in the job list 302 when the button 304 is pressed) is displayed. This is a screen for referring to or changing the URL.

  Reference numeral 502 denotes a job reception number when the target job is stored in the “user box”. Reference numeral 503 denotes a reception time when the target job is stored in the “user box”. Reference numeral 504 denotes the job name of the target job. Reference numeral 505 denotes the number of pages constituting the target job. Reference numeral 506 denotes a setting for the number of copies of the target job. Reference numeral 507 denotes a setting of the media size of the page constituting the target job. Reference numeral 508 denotes a media type setting of pages constituting the target job. Reference numeral 509 denotes a resolution setting of pages constituting the target job. Reference numeral 510 denotes a setting for whether to perform stapling for each copy when printing the target job. Reference numeral 511 denotes a setting for whether or not to perform bookbinding processing in units of copies when printing the target job. Reference numeral 512 denotes a print time value based on the output time prediction result in the case of the print conditions as described above.

  On the other hand, reference numerals 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, and 519 are buttons for changing the set values of 504, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, and 511, respectively, of the printing conditions. Reference numeral 520 denotes a button for closing the screen 501 and returning to the screen 301 in FIG.

  When the setting values corresponding to the respective printing conditions are changed using the buttons 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, and 519, the setting of the printing conditions in the prediction time table described in FIG. The value is also changed in conjunction. Accordingly, when the setting value corresponding to the printing condition is changed using the buttons 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, and 519, the value of the printing time 512 is changed to a value according to the changed contents of the printing condition.

  In the first embodiment, the target of the job for which the output time is predicted is a job stored in a large-capacity storage device such as the HDD 203 in a format in which a PDL format job is developed. It may be a stored job. In addition, a stored job in a PDL format that has not been image-deployed may be used, and in this case, since an estimated value of processing time until image development is not included, operation based on that assumption become.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole system configuration | structure which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a print output time table per page managed for each printing condition in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a downtime table managed for each printing condition between previous and next pages in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a job output time prediction process performed by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a job output time measurement processing procedure performed by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a predicted print output time table managed for each job in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for operating a job stored in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for referring to or changing a print condition of a job stored in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for referring to or changing a print condition of a job stored in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 MFP 103, 104 PC
110 LAN
201 CPU
202 Memory 203 HDD
204 High-speed CPU bus 205 RIP
206 Image processing unit 207 Compression / decompression unit 208 Bus bridge 209 High-speed image bus 210 Low-speed CPU bus 211 Scanner interface 212 Scanner unit 213 Printer interface 214 Printer unit 215 Panel interface 216 Operation unit 217 Modem 218 Public line 219 LAN interface 220 LAN
221 USB interface 222 Host computer

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least print data supplied from a data processing apparatus,
Image development means for interpreting the print data and developing it into image data;
Job storage means for storing the image data developed by the image development means as a job in a large-capacity storage device;
Output time predicting means for predicting the time required for print output of the job stored by the job storing means;
An output time measuring means for measuring the time from the start of printing to completion when printing of the job saved by the job saving means is actually performed;
An estimated time display means for displaying the output time predicted by the output time prediction means in association with the stored job;
The output time prediction means includes the time measured by the output time measurement means as an actual value in the result of the output time prediction when the stored job is printed even once, and the output time display means An image forming apparatus characterized by displaying together with an identification means for identifying whether or not the output time calculated by the output time prediction means is an actual value.   The image forming apparatus includes a management unit that manages a logical value of a print output time for each print condition, and the output time prediction unit compares the print condition of the stored job with information managed by the management unit. As a result, the estimated output time is calculated based on the logical value of the print output time that matches the print condition.If the print condition of the stored job is changed, the estimated output time is calculated based on the changed print condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is corrected. An image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least image data,
Output time predicting means for predicting the time required to print out image data;
An output time measuring means for measuring the time from the start of printing to completion when printing of image data is actually performed;
A predicted time display means for displaying the output time predicted by the output time prediction means in association with the image data;
The output time predicting means includes the time measured by the output time measuring means as an actual value in the result of the output time prediction when the image data is printed once, and the output time displaying means An image forming apparatus characterized by displaying together with an identification means for identifying whether or not the output time calculated by the output time prediction means is an actual value.   The image forming apparatus includes a management unit that manages a logical value of a print output time for each print condition, and the output time prediction unit compares the print condition of the image data with information managed by the management unit. As a result, the predicted output time is calculated based on the logical value of the print output time that matches the print condition, and when the print condition of the stored image data is changed, the predicted output time is calculated based on the changed print condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is re-executed.