Printing control system with suspend modes and method thereof

A printing control system, comprising:

• a host interface configured to communicate with a host device, the host device submitting a print job;
• a user interface;
• a printing unit configured to execute a print job submitted by the host device, the printing unit operable according to print settings and image properties;
• and
• a controller configured to suspend operation at the printing unit including printing and image processing in response to a suspend request received at one of the host interface and user interface, to measure an elapsed time since a suspension of operation, and to transmit one of first and second commands upon determining that the elapsed time exceeds a given reference time,
• the first command causing the printing unit to automatically resume a suspended operation,
• the second command causing the host interface to send a notification of the suspension,
• wherein the print settings of the printing unit and image properties of a selected pending print job are modifiable using at least one of the host interface and user interface, while the printing and image processing are suspended,
• wherein the controller selectively suspends operation at the printing unit in a first suspend mode in which only printing is suspended, and
• wherein the controller selectively suspends operation at the printing unit in a second suspend mode in which both printing and image processing are suspended.