Abstract: An engine control unit receives a print reservation command for plural pages prior to a print request command from a printer control unit. When the engine control unit received the print reservation command for the plural pages, it is judged whether or not a sheet feed operation of recording sheets can be performed. When it is judged that the recording sheets can be fed, the recording sheets are fed and transported to a predetermined position on a transportation path with a minimum constant interval corresponding to the sheet size by sheet feed rollers or transportation rollers, then printing operation is performed according to the print request command.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus comprising input means for inputting print data from the exterior, ID setting means for setting an ID for each page of the print data inputted by the input means, print condition designation means for designating the print condition, corresponding to the ID set by the ID setting means, print reservation means for reserving a print operation by storing the ID and the print condition in a print reservation memory, control means for causing the reserved print operation to be executed according to the content of the print reservation memory, and reservation cancellation means adapted, upon receiving an instruction to cancel a print reservation, to erase the corresponding ID and print condition from the print reservation memory, if a sheet corresponding to the designated ID in the print reservation memory is in a stand-by state for sheet feeding.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus comprising input means for inputting print data from the exterior, ID setting means for setting an ID for each page of the print data inputted by the input means, print condition designation means for designating the print condition, corresponding to the ID set by the ID setting means, print reservation means for reserving a print operation by storing the ID and the print condition in a print reservation memory, control means for causing the reserved print operation to be executed according to the content of the print reservation memory, and reservation cancellation means adapted, upon receiving an instruction to cancel a print reservation, to erase the corresponding ID and print condition from the print reservation memory, if a sheet corresponding to the designated ID in the print reservation memory is in a stand-by state for sheet feeding.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method which allow a service engineer to accurately analyze the situation of a printer and specify a failure when he or she arrives at the place where the printer is installed. A computer predicts a failure from the status information of a printer, and transmits a test pattern corresponding to the failure to the printer via a controller. The computer then outputs an indication of print out. The service engineer can accurately analyze the failure because the test pattern has already been printed out upon occurrence of the failure.