Apparatus and method of controlling an image forming apparatus based on the print speed of print jobs

1. An image forming system, comprising:

a drawing data processor to encode image data to be printed to generate code data and code information regarding encoding processing or the code data, for each one of a plurality of print jobs;

a memory to store, for each one of the plurality of print jobs, the code information to which job identification is assigned;

a print controller to:

calculate, for each one of the plurality of print jobs, a predicted decode time that is predicted to be required for decoding the code data into decoded data using the code information;

determine, for each one of the plurality of print jobs, a print speed level at which the decoded data is to be printed using the predicted decode time; and

re-arrange an order of the plurality of print jobs stored in the memory by the print speed level to generate a print job sequence table in the memory, the print job sequence table specifying an order of processing the plurality of print jobs and the print speed level for each one of the plurality of print jobs; and

a print engine to process the plurality of jobs in the order specified by the print job sequence table to form an image of the decoded data with the print speed level specified by the print job sequence table, wherein:

the print job sequence table stores, for each one of the plurality of print jobs, the job identification information and the print speed level in the order determined by the print speed level;

the print controller requests the drawing data processor to send the code data in the order determined by the print speed level using the job identification information stored in the print job sequence table;

the memory stores correspondence information indicating the correspondence between a range of predicted decode time and a print speed level that is recommended for printing decode data;

the print controller is further configured to determine the print speed level using the correspondence information, and to generate a table in the memory to store the determined print speed level in association with the job identification for each one of the plurality of print jobs;

the print controller stores a predetermined number of print jobs in the table as a first set of print jobs, sorts the first set of print jobs, and enters the sorted first set of print jobs into the print job sequence table;

when the print controller determines that controlling processing of the sorted first set of print jobs stored in the print job sequence table is completed, the print controller sorts a second set of print jobs having the predetermined numbers stored in the table, and updates the print job sequence table with the sorted second set of print jobs;

the print controller sorts the first set of print jobs in the table in a selected one of preceding order and descending order of the print speed level; and

the print controller sorts the second set of print jobs in the unselected one of preceding order and descending order of the print speed level.

2. The image forming system of claim 1 , wherein:

the code information includes a code time required for encoding the image data to generate the code data, and

the print controller is configured to set the predicted decode time to be equal to the code time included in the code information.

3. The image forming system of claim 2 , wherein:

the print engine forms the image of the decoded data on continuous roll paper.

4. The image forming system of claim 3 , wherein:

the print engine forms the image of the decoded data using ink-jet method.

5. A method of controlling an image forming system, the method comprising:

encoding image data to be printed to generate code data and code information regarding encoding processing or the code data;

assigning job identification to the code information, for each one of a plurality of print fobs;

storing, in a memory, the code information to which the job identification is assigned for each one of the plurality of print jobs;

calculating, for each one of the plurality of print jobs, a predicted decode time that is predicted to be required for decoding the code data into decoded data using the code information;

determining, for each one of the plurality of print jobs, a print speed level at which the decoded data is to be printed using the predicted decode time;

re-arranging an order of the plurality of print jobs stored in the memory by the print speed level to generate a print job sequence table in the memory, the print job sequence table specifying an order of processing the plurality of print jobs and the print speed level for each one of the plurality of print jobs; and

processing the plurality of jobs in the order specified by the print job sequence table to form an image of the decoded data with the print speed level specified by the print job sequence table, the method further including

storing, in the print job sequence table, the job identification information and the print speed level in the order determined by the print speed level for each one of the plurality of print jobs;

sending the code data in the order determined by the print speed level using the job identification information stored in the print job sequence table;

storing, in the memory, correspondence information indicating the correspondence between a range of predicted decode time and a print speed level that is recommended for printing decode data;

determining the print speed level using the correspondence information;

generating a table in the memory to store the determined print speed level in association with the job identification for each one of the plurality of print jobs;

storing a predetermined number of print jobs in the table as a first set of print jobs;

sorting the first set of print jobs;

entering the sorted first set of print jobs into the print job sequence table,

when controlling processing of the sorted first set of print jobs stored in the print job sequence table is determined to be completed, performing the steps of:

sorting a second set of print jobs having the predetermined numbers stored in the table; and

updating the print job sequence table with the sorted second set of print jobs;

sorting the first set of print jobs in the table in a selected one of preceding order and descending order of the print speed level; and

sorting the second set of print jobs in the unselected one of preceding order and descending order of the print speed level.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

setting the predicted decode time to be equal to a code time included in the code information, the code time indicating a time required for encoding the image data to generate the code data.

7. A non-transitory recording medium storing a plurality of instructions which cause, when executed by a processor, the processor to perform a method of controlling an image forming system, the method comprising:

encoding image data to be printed to generate code data and code information regarding encoding processing or the code data;

assigning job identification to the code information, for each one of a plurality of print jobs;

storing, in a memory, the code information to which the job identification is assigned for each one of the plurality of print jobs;

calculating, for each one of the plurality of print jobs, a predicted decode time that is predicted to be required for decoding the code data into decoded data using the code information;

determining, for each one of the plurality of print jobs, a print speed level at which the decoded data is to be printed using the predicted decode time;

re-arranging an order of the plurality of print jobs stored in the memory by the print speed level to generate a print job sequence table in the memory, the print job sequence table specifying an order of processing the plurality of print jobs and the print speed level for each one of the plurality of print jobs; and

processing the plurality of jobs in the order specified by the print job sequence table to form an image of the decoded data with the print speed level specified by the print job sequence table, the method further including

storing, in the print job sequence table, the job identification information and the print speed level in the order determined by the print speed level for each one of the plurality of print jobs;

sending the code data in the order determined by the print speed level using the job identification information stored in the print job sequence table;

storing, in the memory, correspondence information indicating the correspondence between a range of predicted decode time and a print speed level that is recommended for printing decode data;

determining the print speed level using the correspondence information;

generating a table in the memory to store the determined print speed level in association with the job identification for each one of the plurality of print jobs;

storing a predetermined number of print jobs in the table as a first set of print jobs;

sorting the first set of print jobs;

entering the sorted first set of print jobs into the print job sequence table;

when controlling processing of the sorted first set of print jobs stored in the print job sequence table is determined to be completed, performing the steps of:

sorting a second set of print jobs having the predetermined numbers stored in the table; and

updating the print job sequence table with the sorted second set of print jobs;

sorting the first set of print jobs in the table in a selected one of preceding order and descending order of the print speed level; and

sorting the second set of print jobs in the unselected one of preceding order and descending order of the print speed level.