Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image processing method for efficiently performing image processing of image forming apparatus in time divisional manner

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a time division determination unit configured to determine and switch which of divided work items to execute based on execution time in a condition where at least one first task to be processed at a specific pace and at least one second task to be processed at best effort are respectively divided into smaller work items;
• a task execution unit configured to execute the work item switched by the time division determination unit in a time division manner;
• and
• an image forming unit that forms an image based on output data generated from the work item of the first task processed by the task executing unit;
• wherein
• the time division determination unit selects the second task in an interval between the execution of the work items of the first task;
• the first task is a normal printing process,
• the second task is a printing cost estimation process,
• the interval between the executions is between the printing of pages;
• and
• the time division determination unit switches to execution of the work item of the first task at a timing in which printing of a page of the pages is not delayed after the work item of the second task is executed.

An image processing method executed by an image processing apparatus that performs image processing related to image formation of an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• determining and switching which of divided work items to execute based on execution time in a condition where at least one first task to be processed at a specific pace and at least one second task to be processed at best effort are respectively divided into smaller work items;
• and
• executing the switched work item in time division;
• and
• selecting the second task in an interval between the execution of the work items of the first task;
• wherein
• the first task is a normal printing process,
• the second task is a printing cost estimation process,
• the interval between the executions is between the printing of pages;
• and
• the method comprises switching to execution of the work item of the first task at a timing in which printing of a page of the pages is not delayed after the work item of the second task is executed.