Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image processing method for effectively utilizing storage capacity of ring buffer

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to be set with a ring buffer;

a page area setting unit configured to allocate a maximum-sized page area for each page of a job in the ring buffer set in the storage unit;

a band storing unit configured to store band data while compressing in the page area allocated by the page area setting unit; and

an image processing unit configured to perform image processing of the band data stored by the band storing unit; wherein

the page area setting unit determines whether or not the page has high possibility to be reused, and when having the high possibility to be reused, allocates the page area at a head of the ring buffer.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the page area setting unit determines that the high possibility to be reused when a copy printing is set for the job.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the page area setting unit waits until being released when the head of the ring buffer is in use although being determined that the possibility to be reused is high.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the page area setting unit releases the page area from a first page when the maximum size page area is not possible to be allocated in the ring buffer.

5. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to be set with a ring buffer;

a page area setting unit configured to allocate a maximum-sized page area for each page of a job in the ring buffer set in the storage unit;

a band storing unit configured to store band data while compressing in the page area allocated by the page area setting unit;

an image processing unit configured to perform image processing of the band data stored by the band storing unit; and

an image forming unit configured to form an image of the band data performed image processing by the image processing unit; wherein

the page area setting unit determines whether or not the page has high possibility to be reused, and when having the high possibility to be reused, allocates the page area at a head of the ring buffer.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the page area setting unit determines that the high possibility to be reused when a copy printing is set for the job.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the page area setting unit waits until being released when the head of the ring buffer is in use although being determined that the possibility to be reused is high.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the page area setting unit releases the page area from a first page when the maximum size page area is not possible to be allocated in the ring buffer.

9. An image processing method being executed by an image processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

setting a ring buffer;

allocating a maximum-sized page area for each page of a job in the ring buffer that is set;

determining whether or not the page has high possibility to be reused, and when having the high possibility to be reused, allocating the page area at the head of the ring buffer;

storing band data while compressing in the page area that is allocated; and

performing image processing of the band data that is stored.

10. The image processing method according to claim 9 , wherein

determining that the high possibility to be reused when a copy printing is set for the job.

11. The image processing method according to claim 9 , wherein

waiting until being released when the head of the ring buffer is in use although being determined that the possibility to be reused is high.

12. The image processing method according to claim 9 , wherein

releasing the page area from a first page when the maximum size page area is not possible to be allocated in the ring buffer.