An image forming apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect an original, a nonvolatile storage that includes a semiconductor area, a setting unit configured to execute a setting for dividing the semiconductor area into a plurality of areas, and a controller configured to execute Trim processing on the divided areas in response to passing of a predetermined time period while the image forming apparatus is in a standby state. The controller is configured to stop the Trim processing based on a detection of the original detected by the sensor while the Trim processing is executed.

An information processing apparatus includes a nonvolatile semiconductor storage configured to store image data and a processor configured to generate a command to be executed by the semiconductor storage. The information processing apparatus further includes a volatile memory configured to store the command generated by the processor in one queue of a plurality of queues that includes at least a first queue and a second queue. The semiconductor storage confirms the presence of a command stored in the first queue before confirming the presence of a command stored in the second queue. A command to be stored in the first queue is a first type of command related to image data.

An example printing method can involve a memory buffer of a printing system containing image data, and the method can include (i) issuing, by an initiator of the printing system, a single read-then-clear memory command; (ii) receiving, by a memory controller of the printing system, the single read-then-clear memory command; and (iii) in response to receiving the single read-then-clear memory command, the memory controller both (a) reading the image data from the memory buffer of the printing system and (b) after reading the image data, clearing the image data from the memory buffer of the printing system.

Provided is an image processing apparatus that utilizes the storage capacity of a ring buffer. A ring buffer is set in the storage unit. A page area setting unit allocates a maximum size page area in page units of the job in the ring buffer set in the storage unit. A band storing unit stores band data while compressing the band data in the page area allocated by the page area setting unit. An image processing unit performs image processing of the band data stored by the band storing unit. Then, the page area setting unit determines whether or not the page has high possibility to be reused, and when the page has high possibility to be reused, the page area setting unit allocates the page area at the head of the ring buffer.

Provided is an image processing apparatus that efficiently uses the ring buffer. A ring buffer is set in the storage unit. A page area setting unit allocates a maximum size page area in the page unit of the job in the ring buffer. A band storing unit stores band data while compressing the band data in the page area allocated by the page area setting unit. An image processing unit performs image processing on the band data. A temporary deletion unit sets the page area including the band data into a temporary deletion state in which overwriting is possible at a specific timing. Here, when the band data of the page is needed again and the temporarily deleted page area is not overwritten, the page area setting unit reuses the page area.

In a printing apparatus, a controller is configured to: receive compressed image data; store the compressed image data into a memory; individually identify partial compressed data in the stored compressed image data, the partial compressed data corresponding to separate images; store the partial compressed data into the memory or store information identifying each of the partial compressed data, into the memory; a first creating processing for decompressing one of the partial compressed data and creating print data based on partial decompressed data obtained by decompressing the one partial compressed data; and a first output processing for outputting the created print data. The controller repeats the first creating processing and the first output processing a number of times corresponding to the number of the partial compressed data. The printing apparatus performs printing based on the print data output in the first output processing.

An image forming apparatus which prevents a user from being confused when print data comprised of a plurality of sections is printed by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is able to perform test printing of print data for which a plurality of copies are to be printed. Whether or not a plurality of sections are included in selected print data is determined, and when it is determined that a plurality of sections are included in the selected print data, execution of the test printing is restricted.

Each of a first image processing unit and a second image processing unit is configured to generate print data to be used by a printing unit based on image data generated by a controller. The controller comprises a transmission control unit configured to select, based on a sheet size which is a print setting corresponding to a print job as a condition, one of first transmission control of controlling a transmission unit to alternately transmit band data included in first image data and band data included in second image data and second transmission control of controlling the transmission unit so that the band data included in the second image data will be transmitted after the band data included in the first image data has been transmitted.

Strips of a page are processed according to a rendering technique, compressed, and stored in a memory buffer until a low memory condition of the buffer occurs. When the low memory condition occurs, the strips that are already stored in the buffer are decompressed, processed according to a memory utilization reduction technique, compressed, and stored in the memory buffer. Strips that are not yet already stored in the buffer when the low memory condition occurs are processed according to the rendering technique and then according to the memory utilization reduction technique before being compressed and stored in the memory buffer.

An example printing method can involve a memory buffer of a printing system containing image data, and the method can include (i) issuing, by an initiator of the printing system, a single read-then-clear memory command; (ii) receiving, by a memory controller of the printing system, the single read-then-clear memory command; and (iii) in response to receiving the single read-then-clear memory command, the memory controller both (a) reading the image data from the memory buffer of the printing system and (b) after reading the image data, clearing the image data from the memory buffer of the printing system.