Output device, output system, and output method

An output system comprising:

• a communication terminal comprising first circuitry;
• an output device communicably connected with the post-processing apparatus, the output device comprising second circuitry configured to output an output product having an image, the image being formed based on image data received from the communication terminal;
• and
• a post-processing apparatus to execute post-processing on the output product,
• the first circuitry of the communication terminal being configured to execute a printer driver to:
• receive an output condition of the output product via a screen;
• determine a processing setting pattern corresponding to an operation to be performed by the post-processing apparatus according to the output condition;
• and
• transmit the processing setting pattern, the output condition, and the image data to be output to the output device, and
• the second circuitry of the output device being configured to:
• receive the processing setting pattern, the output condition, and the image data of the image to be formed on the output product;
• and
• control output of the image data using the post-processing apparatus based on the processing setting pattern and the output condition, wherein
• the output device further includes a memory that stores an amount of operation of the post-processing apparatus in association with the output condition, and
• the first circuitry is configured to execute the printer driver to:
• estimate the amount of operation of the post-processing apparatus in a case in which the output condition indicates to reduce the amount of operation of the post-processing apparatus, using the amount of operation of the post-processing apparatus associated with the output condition indicating not to reduce the amount of operation;
• and
• display the amount of operation of the post-processing apparatus acquired from the memory and an estimated amount of operation of the post-processing apparatus.

An output method performed by a communication terminal that executes a printer driver, the method comprising:

• receiving an output condition of an output product via a screen;
• determining a processing setting pattern corresponding to an operation to be performed on the output product by a post-processing apparatus according to the output condition;
• transmitting, to an output device, the processing setting pattern, the output condition, and image data of an image to be formed on the output product;
• and
• in a case in which the output condition indicates to reduce an amount of operation of the post-processing apparatus from a home position, determining the processing setting pattern to be a print setting pattern in which the amount of operation of the post-processing apparatus is reduced as compared with a case in which the output condition indicates not to reduce the amount of operation.