Standard data format of printing data

A data format of printing data stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for printing the printing data using an image forming apparatus including a printer engine, a storage medium, a printer operating system (OS) and an interpreter, the data format comprising:

• page data information containing bitmap data of the printing data;
• and
• page header information used to transmit the printing data to the printer OS,
• wherein the printing data is in a fixed data format and is maintained the same as the printing data is transmitted from a printer driver to the printer OS, from the printer OS to the interpreter, from the interpreter back to the printer OS, from the printer OS to the printer engine and/or the storage medium, and
• wherein the page header information includes a state variable indicating contents of a work, which the image forming apparatus is performing for the printing data, and indicating information on where the printing data is being transmitted inside the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus for printing or storing printing data, comprising:

• a printer operating system (OS) arranged to receive printing data from a host, via a printer driver;
• an interpreter arranged to analyze and decode the printing data received, via the printer OS;
• a printer engine arranged to print decoded printing data, via the printer OS;
• and
• a storage medium arranged to store the printing data, via the printer OS;
• wherein the printing data is in a fixed data format standardized by setting a data format including page data information which contains bitmap data of the printing data, and page header information used to transmit the printing data to the printer OS,
• wherein the fixed data format of the printing data is maintained the same as the printing data is transmitted from a printer driver to the printer OS, from the printer OS to the interpreter, from the interpreter back to the printer OS, from the printer OS to the printer engine and/or the storage medium, and
• wherein the page header information includes a state variable indicating contents of a work, which the image forming apparatus is performing for the printing data, and indicating information on where the printing data is being transmitted inside the image forming apparatus.

An image forming method for printing or storing printing data in an image forming apparatus including a printer engine, a storage medium, a printer operating system (OS) and an interpreter, the method comprising:

• formatting printing data in a fixed data format comprising page data information that contains bitmap data of the printing data and a band data header, and page header information used to transmit the printing data to the printer OS;
• and
• maintaining the fixed data format of the printing data the same as the printing data is transmitted from a printer driver to the printer OS, from the printer OS to the interpreter, from the interpreter back to the printer OS, from the printer OS to the printer engine and/or the storage medium,
• wherein the page header information includes a state variable indicating contents of a work, which the image forming apparatus is performing for the printing data, and indicating information on where the printing data is being transmitted inside the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus for printing or storing printing data, the apparatus comprising:

• a printer operating system (OS) arranged to receive the printing data via a printer driver;
• an interpreter arranged to analyze and decode the printing data received via the printer OS;
• a printer engine arranged to print decoded printing data;
• and
• a storage medium arranged to store the printing data;
• wherein the printing data is in a fixed data format standardized by setting a data format comprising page data information, which contains bitmap data of the printing data, and page header information used to transmit the printing data to the printer OS,
• wherein the fixed data format of the printing data is maintained the same as the printing data is transmitted from a printer driver to the printer OS, from the printer OS to the interpreter, from the interpreter back to the printer OS, and from the printer OS to the printer engine and/or the storage medium, and
• wherein the page header information includes a state variable indicating contents of a work, which the image forming apparatus is performing for the printing data, and indicating information on where the printing data is being transmitted inside the image forming apparatus.