Image forming system and image forming method

An image forming system, comprising:

• a server;
• and
• an image forming apparatus connected to the server via a network,
• the server including
• a first communication device that communicates with the image forming apparatus,
• a storage device,
• a first ROM that stores a first information processing program, and
• a first processor that executes the first information processing program,
• the image forming apparatus including
• a second communication device that communicates with the server,
• an image forming device that forms an image,
• a second ROM that stores a second information processing program, and
• a second processor, wherein
• the first processor of the server executes the first information processing program to
• acquire a plurality of divided images, and store the plurality of divided images in the storage device, the plurality of divided images being obtained by dividing an original image, all of the plurality of divided images being to be combined to be the original image,
• acquire a dividing-printing rule, and store the dividing-printing rule in the storage device, the dividing-printing rule being for determining which divided image of the plurality of divided images is printed at which position, information on a divided image to be printed and a printing position of the divided image to be printed being described in the dividing-printing rule for each time when printing the image to be printed,
• hold present time as time information, and
• select, based on the time information and the dividing-printing rule, the divided image to be printed from the plurality of divided images stored in the storage device, determine the printing position of the divided image to be printed, and provide information on the selected divided image and the determined printing position in response to a request from the image forming apparatus, and
• the second processor of the image forming apparatus executes the second information processing program to
• request information on the divided image and the printing position to be printed from the server, and acquire the information on the divided image and the printing position provided from the server, and
• control the image forming device to print the acquired divided image at the printing position.

An image forming method for an image forming system including a server and an image forming apparatus connected to each other via a network, the method comprising:

• by the server,
• acquiring a plurality of divided images, storing the plurality of divided images in a first storage device, and providing the plurality of divided images to the image forming apparatus, the plurality of divided images being obtained by dividing an original image, all of the plurality of divided images being to be combined to be the original image;
• acquiring a dividing-printing rule, storing the dividing-printing rule in the first storage device, and providing the dividing-printing rule to the image forming apparatus, the dividing-printing rule being for determining which divided image of the plurality of divided images is printed at which position, information on a divided image to be printed and a printing position of the divided image to be printed being described in the dividing-printing rule for each time when printing the image to be printed;
• and
• providing present time to the image forming apparatus as time information;
• and
• by the image forming apparatus,
• acquiring the plurality of divided images to be printed from the server, and storing the divided images in a second storage device;
• acquiring the dividing-printing rule from the server, and storing the dividing-printing rule in the second storage device;
• acquiring the time information from the server, and storing the time information in the second storage device;
• selecting, based on the time information and the dividing-printing rule, the divided image to be printed from the plurality of divided images stored in the second storage device, and determining the printing position of the divided image to be printed;
• and
• controlling the image forming device to print the selected divided image at the printing position.