Abstract: A printing apparatus generates print data with a priority given to a processing speed over a quality of images, even without explicit instructions, when printing images which do not require a high quality. The printing apparatus includes a priority decision unit for deciding whether to prioritize a speed of processing the image data or a quality of the images at the time of printing, based on print content description data including information on layout instructions for printing the images. The printing apparatus also includes a print data generation unit for generating print data including the images, based on the print content description data, the decision made by the priority decision unit, and the image data, and a print unit for printing the print data generated by the print data generation unit.

Abstract: The present invention has an objective to provide a printing apparatus capable of updating firmware. The printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus connected to an external device that can instruct printing of image data, said printing apparatus includes: an obtainment unit which obtains at least one of image data and firmware data, the firmware data being required for updating firmware; a judgment unit which judges whether to update firmware or to print image data; and an execution unit which updates the firmware using the firmware data obtained by said obtainment unit, in the case where said judgment unit judges that the firmware should be updated, and which prints the image data obtained by said obtainment unit, in the case where said judgment unit judges that the image data should be printed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and toner-consumption-estimation method that can accurately estimate the amount of consumed toner regardless of the type of image. A printing-pixel-counting unit counts from input image data the number of printing pixels. Also, an edge-counting unit similarly counts from the input image data the number of edges being boundaries between the printing pixels and blank pixels. A consumption-estimation unit then calculates the amount of consumed toner based on the counted number of printing pixels and the number of edges.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus for generating print data with a priority given to a processing speed over a quality of images, even without explicit instructions, when printing images which do not require a high quality. The printing apparatus is composed of the following: a priority decision unit 203 for deciding which to prioritize, a speed of processing the image data or a quality of the images at the time of printing, based on print content description data including information on layout instructions for printing the images; a print data generation unit 204 for generating print data including the images, based on the following: the print content description data, the decision made by the priority decision unit 203, and the image data; and a print unit 205 for printing the print data generated by the print data generation unit 204.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and toner-consumption-estimation method that can accurately estimate the amount of consumed toner regardless of the type of image. A printing-pixel-counting unit counts from input image data the number of printing pixels. Also, an edge-counting unit similarly counts from the input image data the number of edges being boundaries between the printing pixels and blank pixels. A consumption-estimation unit then calculates the amount of consumed toner based on the counted number of printing pixels and the number of edges.