IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO COMMUNICATE WITH NETWORK AND CAPABLE OF MANAGING NUMBER OF PRINT PAGES

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main body memory, and a controller. A second upper limit information stored in the main body memory indicates an upper limit of a printable page number that the image forming apparatus is allowed to print in a state where the image forming apparatus is in an off-line state. A printed page number information stored in the main body memory indicates a printed page number printed in the off-line state. The controller is configured to: increment the printed page number information by one in a case where the one sheet of paper is printed on one side printing; and increment the printed page number information by two in a case where the one sheet is printed on double-sided printing. The controller is configured to determine whether the printed page number information is greater than or equal to the second upper limit page number.

Description

Claims

1. A method comprising: allowing, by a printer, printing one or more sheet according to a print job within an upper limit of a printable page number that the printer is allowed to print in an off-line state in which the printer is not connected to a network, andallowing, by the printer, printing a double-sided printing when there is one printable page remaining up to the upper limit, in a case where a printed page number printed by the printer in the off-line state is greater than or equal to the upper limit.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: inhibiting printing in the off-line state after printing the double-sided printing.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: resetting the printed page number to zero in a case where the printer shifts from the off-line state to an on-line state in which the printer is connected to the network.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: incrementing the printed page number by one in a case where the printer prints one side printing, andincrement the printed page number by two in a case where the printer prints double-sided printing.

5. A method comprising: allowing, by a printer, printing one or more sheet according to a print job within an upper limit of a printable page number that is defined in accordance with contents of a contract set in the printer, andallowing, by the printer, printing a double-sided printing when there is one printable page remaining up to the upper limit, in a case where a printed page number printed by the printer in the contract set is greater than or equal to the upper limit.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: inhibiting printing in the contract set after printing the double-sided printing.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: incrementing the printed page number by one in a case where the printer prints one side printing, andincrement the printed page number by two in a case where the printer prints double-sided printing.