Print controller, image forming system, and image forming apparatus

An image forming system comprising

• a hardware processor,
• wherein
• the hardware processor includes:
• a first communication part connected to the hardware processor;
• rasterization processing time predictor that predicts a rasterization processing time required for rasterization processing for each page of input data;
• an output setting information extractor that extracts output setting information from print information about each page and transmits the output setting information to the hardware processor through the first communication part, the output setting information relating to productivity of the hardware processor;
• a warm-up start time calculator that calculates a warm-up start time at which the hardware processor starts warm-up processing, to set an end time of the warm-up processing by the hardware processor at an earlier time than an end time of the rasterization processing time, in accordance with productivity information about the hardware processor, the productivity information being calculated by the hardware processor from the output setting information, the productivity information being received from the hardware processor through the first communication part;
• a warm-up start notifier that notifies the hardware processor of a start of the warm-up processing through the first communication part, when a current time reaches the warm-up start time;
• a rasterization processor that transmits image data to the hardware processor through the first communication part, the image data being generated by performing the rasterization processing for each page;
• and
• a print start notifier that notifies the hardware processor of a print start, and
• the hardware processor includes:
• a second communication part connected to the hardware processor;
• a productivity information calculator that calculates the productivity information from the output setting information received from the hardware processor through the second communication part, and transmits the productivity information to the hardware processor through the second communication part;
• a warm-up processor that starts the warm-up processing in accordance with a notification of the start of the warm-up processing received from the hardware processor through the second communication part;
• and
• an image forming part that forms image at a time when a notification of the print start is transmitted from the hardware processor through the second communication part, after the warm-up processing is completed.

A hardware processor comprising:

• a rasterization processing time predictor that predicts a rasterization processing time required for rasterization processing for each page of input data;
• an output setting information extractor that extracts output setting information from print information about each page, the output setting information relating to productivity of the hardware processor;
• a warm-up start time calculator that calculates a warm-up start time at which warm-up processing is started, to set an end time of the warm-up processing at an earlier time than an end time of the rasterization processing time, in accordance with productivity information about the hardware processor, the productivity information being calculated from the output setting information;
• a warm-up start notifier that issues a notification of a start of the warm-up processing, when a current time reaches the warm-up start time;
• a warm-up processor that starts the warm-up processing in accordance with the notification of the start of the warm-up processing;
• a rasterization processor that performs the rasterization processing for each page;
• a print start notifier that issues a notification of a print start, alter the warm-up processing is completed;
• and
• an image forming part that forms an image on a paper sheet at a time when the notification of the print start is received.