Image formation control method, image forming apparatus using the same and storage medium to which the same is applied

• Main Authors: Takamine, Kouichi, Murata, Kazuyuki
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.08.2004

The present invention relates to a technique used for a digital copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or the like, and for outputting image data and text data offline automatically and efficiently by recording image data and text data together with predetermined information relating to the management and processing thereof onto a removable and portable storage medium. An image formation and control method and apparatus enabling a user to print data to be printed reliably up to the limited reproduction number permitted to the user even if troubles at the time of printing occur when the number of reproductions of the data to be printed is limited, is presented. With reference to the printing management information added to the data to be printed, when the number of reproductions of the data to be printed is limited, the mode is changed from the performance priority mode for normally reproducing data to be printed into the safety priority mode capable of carrying out the required reproduction more reliably than in the performance priority mode, the number of printing of the data to be printed is managed as a printing history, and the printing of the data to be printed is controlled based on the number of reproductions of the data to be printed and the managed printing history.