Image Data Processing Apparatus

Abstract

An image data processing apparatus includes an execution device, a use determination device, an identification device, an execution determination device, and a control device. The execution device executes a predetermined data processing of image data. The use determination device determines at least one used amount in at least one specified portion which is used when the data processing is executed. The identification device identifies an attribute of the image data, The execution determination device determines whether or not to execute the data processing of the image data based on the attribute of the image data identified by the identification device and the at least one used amount determined by the use determination device. The control device makes the execution device execute the data processing of the image data when it is determined by the execution determination device to execute the data processing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a multifunction apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of a printer unit of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an image forming process in the present embodiment;

FIG. 5 an explanatory view showing a relationship between attributes of image data and thresholds of a loaded ratio;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a loaded ratio prediction process in the present embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a sheet discharge prohibition process in the present embodiment.

Claims

1. An image data processing apparatus, comprising: an execution device that executes a predetermined data processing of image data;a use determination device that determines at least one used amount in at least one specified portion which is used when the data processing is executed;an identification device that identifies an attribute of the image data;an execution determination device that determines whether or not to execute the data processing of the image data based on the attribute of the image data identified by the identification device and the at least one used amount determined by the use determination device; anda control device that makes the execution device execute the data processing of the image data when it is determined by the execution determination device to execute the data processing.

2. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification device identifies a type of an external apparatus into which the image data is inputted as the attribute of the image data.

3. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification device identifies a function to execute the data processing of the image data as the attribute of the image data.

4. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution determination device determines not to execute the data processing of the image data by the execution device when the at least one used amount is equal to or larger than a specified value predetermined corresponding to the attribute of the image data identified by the identification device.

5. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection device that detects an actual used amount in the at least one specified portion,wherein the use determination device determines the actual used amount detected by the detection device as the at least one used amount.

6. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a prediction device that predicts a predicted used amount in the at least one specified portion when the data processing of the image data is executed,wherein the use determination device determines the predicted used amount predicted by the prediction device as the at least one used amount.

7. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one used amount includes a plurality of used amounts,wherein the image data processing apparatus includes a prediction device that predicts a predicted used amount in the at least one specified portion when the data processing of the image data is executed, andwherein the use determination device determines the actual used amount detected by the detection device and the predicted used amount predicted by the prediction device as the plurality of used amounts.

8. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reception device that receives the image data from an external source.

9. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a prohibition device that prohibits reception of image data, having an identical attribute with the attribute of the image data, by the reception device when it is determined by the execution determination device not to execute the data processing.

10. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a cancellation device that cancels prohibition by the prohibition device when the at least one used amount becomes smaller than the specified value.

11. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification device that notifies that it has been determined by the execution determination device not to execute the data processing by the execution device.

12. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution device executes, as the data processing, a processing of forming an image on a recording medium based on the image data and discharging the recording medium on which the image has been formed, andwherein the use determination device determines a loaded amount of the recording medium to be discharged by the execution device as the used amount.

13. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution device executes a processing of storing the image data in a storage portion,wherein the use determination device determines a data amount of the image data stored in the storage portion by the execution device as the at least one used amount in the at least one specified portion.

14. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of execution devices.

15. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of functions, including a facsimile function, are provided as the function to execute the data processing of the image data as the function to execute the data processing of the image data, andwherein the identification device identifies the function as the attribute of the image data.

16. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the execution determination device determines not to execute the data processing of the image data by the execution device when the at least one used amount is equal to or larger than a specified value predetermined corresponding to the attribute of the image data identified by the identification device.

17. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a specified value corresponding to the facsimile function is predetermined to be larger than specified values corresponding to other functions.