Image forming apparatus for printing image data generated by reading document, method for controlling the same, and storage medium storing computer program for executing the method

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a reader configured to read an image on a document and generate image data;

a first memory configured to store image data for at least one page generated by the reader reading the image on the document;

a second memory configured to store image data obtained by compressing the image data stored in the first memory;

a printer configured to print an image; and

at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute:

reserving, in the first memory, an area for storing image data of one page generated by the reader reading the image on the document;

storing, in the area reserved in the first memory, image data generated by the reader reading the image on the document;

storing, in the second memory, image data obtained by compressing the image data stored in the area;

releasing the reserved area after completion of storing, in the second memory, the image data stored in the reserved area;

determining whether or not the reserved area for storing the image data of the one page to be printed by the printer has been released; and

causing the printer to perform printing based on the image data of the one page stored in the reserved area in a case where the reserved area for storing the image data of the one page to be used for printing has not been released, and causing the printer to perform printing based on the image data of the one page stored in the second memory in a case where the reserved area for storing the image data of the one page to be used for printing has been released.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein before image data for a single page generated by the reader reading the document is stored in the first memory, the printer prints an image, using the image data stored in the first memory.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute:

compressing the image data stored in the first memory, and storing the compressed image data in the first memory again; and

releasing the area for storing the image data that has not been compressed yet, after completing storing the compressed image data in the first memory, and

storing, in the first memory, new image data to be generated by the reader reading the document after releasing the reserved area.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a speed of storing image data of a document read by the reader in the first memory is faster than a speed of reading print target image data from the first memory.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, while the image data stored in the second memory is being decompressed and stored in the first memory, the reader newly reads a document.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute:

outputting a command to release the area reserved for storing the image date generated by the reader reading the document; and

receiving the output command; and

determining that the area in the first memory is released based on to the output command being received.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute:

outputting a command to release the area reserved for storing the image date generated by the reader reading the document;

receiving the output command; and

determining that the area in the first memory is released based on to output of the command.

8. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first memory stores image data compressed at a first compression ratio, and

wherein the second memory stores image data compressed at a compression ratio higher than the first compression ratio.

9. A method for controlling an image reading apparatus including a reader configured to read an image on a document, a first memory configured to store image data for at least one page generated by the reader reading the document, a second memory configured to store image data obtained by compressing the image data stored in the first memory, and a printer configured to print an image, the method comprising:

reading an image on a document by the reader;

reserving, in the first memory, an area for storing image data of one page to be generated by the reader reading the image on the document;

storing, in the reserved area, image data generated by the reader reading the document;

storing, in the second memory, image data obtained by compressing the image data of one page stored in the first memory;

releasing the area reserved in the first memory according to completion of storing, in the second memory, the compressed image data of one page;

determining whether or not the area reserved in the first memory for storing the image data of the one page to be printed by the printer has been released; and

printing an image based on the image data stored in the reserved area in the first memory in a case where the reserved area has not been released, and causing the printer to printing an image based on the image data stored in the second memory in a case where the reserved area has been released.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling an image reading apparatus including a reader configured to read an image on a document, a first memory configured to store image data for at least one page generated by the reader reading the document, the second memory configured to store image data obtained by compressing the image data stored in the first memory, and a printer configured to print an image, the program comprising:

a code to cause a reader to read an image on a document;

a code to reserve, in the first memory, an area for storing image data of one page to be generated by the reader reading the image on the document;

a code to store, in the reserved area, image data generated by causing the reader to read the document;

a code to store, in the second memory, image data obtained by compressing the image data of the one page stored in the first memory;

a code to release the area reserved in the first memory after completion of storing, in the second memory, the compressed image data of one page;

a code to determine whether or not the reserved area has been released; and

a code to cause the printer to print an image based on the image data of one page stored in the reserved area in a case where the reserved area for storing the image data to be printed has not been released, and cause the printer to print an image based on image data stored in the second memory in a case where the reserved area for storing the image data to be printed has been released.

11. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first memory releases the area used for storing the image data of one page after the second memory stores the image data compressed completely, and the first storage device stores new image data.

12. The printing apparatus according claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute:

in a case where the reserved area for storing the image data of the one page to be printed by the printer has not been released, set an address of the area of the first memory as an address to be used for reading the image to be printed by the printer.