Image processing apparatus accepting specific printing function, image processing method, image forming apparatus, and storage medium

An image processing method comprising the steps of:

• PDL processing for executing analysis processing by using a plurality of PDL processing units that execute analysis processing corresponding to a type of PDL data;
• operating for accepting a user's instruction to implement a specific printing function;
• controlling execution of printing processing based on the user's instruction accepted by the operating step, wherein
• the controlling step starts, in accordance with the acceptance of the user's instruction by the operating step, reserving work memory to be used for the analysis processing by a PDL processing unit, among the plurality of PDL processing units, which corresponds to PDL data included in a print job associated with the user's instruction;
• determining in a support PDL determination unit whether PDL data that supports the user's instruction accepted by the operation unit is processable by one PDL processing unit;
• in a case where the support PDL determination unit determines the PDL to be processable, determining whether PDL data that supports the user's instruction accepted by the operation unit differs from PDL data that is processable by an active PDL processing unit;
• and
• in a case where a difference is determined, activating the one PDL processing unit determined by the support PDL determination unit in a manner of releasing the work memory used by the active PDL processing unit, then reserving the work memory to be used by the one PDL processing unit determined by the support PDL determination unit, and using the work memory that has been reserved.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as an image processing apparatus,

• where the image processing apparatus comprises:
• a plurality of PDL processing units configured to execute analysis processing corresponding to a type of PDL data;
• an operation unit configured to accept a user's instruction for implementing a specific printing function;
• and
• a control unit configured to control execution of printing processing based on the user's instruction accepted by the operation unit, wherein
• the control unit starts, in accordance with the acceptance of the user's instruction by the operation unit, reserving work memory to be used for the analysis processing by a PDL processing unit, among the plurality of PDL processing units, which corresponds to PDL data included in a print job associated with the user's instruction,
• a support PDL determination unit configured to determine whether PDL data that supports the user's instruction accepted by the operation unit is processable by one PDL processing unit;
• in a case where the support PDL determination unit determines the PDL data to be processable, a comparison unit configured to determine whether PDL data that supports the user's instruction accepted by the operation unit differs from PDL data that is processable by an active PDL processing unit;
• and
• in a case where a difference is determined by the comparison unit, a switching unit configured to activate the one PDL processing unit determined by the support PDL determination unit in a manner of releasing the work memory used by the active PDL processing unit, then reserving the work memory to be used by the one PDL processing unit determined by the support PDL determination unit, and using the work memory that has been reserved.