Image formation control method, image forming system, and image forming apparatus for controlling data transfer among a plurality of communication paths

An image forming system comprising:

• a controller that converts original image data into image formation image data;
• an image forming apparatus that includes a control unit and an image forming unit and forms an image on a sheet on a basis of the image formation image data;
• a plurality of communication paths through which plural pieces of data are capable of being transferred in parallel between the controller and the image forming apparatus;
• wherein the image forming system is configured to transmit control data and image data through the communication paths;
• and
• a measurement unit that repeatedly measures data transfer speed of each of the plurality of communication paths, wherein
• the control unit
• refers to the data transfer speed of each of the plurality of communication paths measured by the measurement unit
• compares a first data transfer speed of a first communication path of the plurality of communication paths measured by the measurement unit to a second data transfer speed of second communication path of the plurality of communication paths measured by the measurement unit,
• determines which of the first data transfer speed and the second data transfer speed is faster, and
• assigns a data transfer to one of the first communication path and the second communication path based upon the determination.

An image forming apparatus capable of being connected to an image forming system, the image forming system including

• a controller that converts original image data into image formation image data,
• an image forming apparatus that includes a control unit and an image forming unit and forms an image on a sheet on a basis of the image formation image data,
• a plurality of communication paths through which plural pieces of data are capable of being transferred in parallel between the controller and the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming system is configured to transmit control data and image data through the communication paths;
• and
• a measurement unit that repeatedly measures data transfer speed of each of the plurality of communication paths, wherein
• the control unit refers to the data transfer speed of each of the plurality of communication paths measured by the measurement unit compares a first data transfer speed of a first communication path of the plurality of communication paths measured by the measurement unit to a second data transfer speed of second communication path of the plurality of communication paths measured by the measurement unit,
• determines which of the first data transfer speed and the second data transfer speed is faster, and
• assigns a data transfer to one of the first communication path and the second communication path based upon the determination.

An image forming system comprising:

• a first controller comprising
• a communication unit configured to transmit and receive data to and from an external device, and
• a converting unit configured to convert original image data received by the communication unit into image formation image data;
• an image forming apparatus comprising
• a scanner configured to read a document image and generate read image data, and
• an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on the image formation image data;
• a plurality of communication paths each having a function of transmitting the image formation image data from the first controller to the image forming apparatus or a function of transmitting the read image data from the image forming apparatus to the first controller, wherein the image forming system is configured to also transmit control data through the communication paths;
• a measurement unit configured to detect a state of the communication paths;
• a second controller configured to
• receive information regarding the state of the communication paths,
• compare a first state of a first communication path of the communications paths to a second state of a second communication path of the communication paths,
• assign the image formation image data and the read image data to the communication paths based on the comparison of the first state and the second state of the communication paths detected by the measurement unit, and
• employ communication between the first controller and the image forming apparatus.