Image forming apparatus, controlling device and non-transitory computer readable medium for providing an available storage space

A controlling device comprising:

• an image data obtaining unit that obtains image data generated by an image reading unit that reads an image on a document at a predetermined image reading speed and generates the image data;
• a memory that includes a first area temporarily storing the image data obtained by the image data obtaining unit and a second area storing the image data having been read from the first area and subjected to processing, the memory temporarily storing the image data;
• a sending unit that sends the image data subjected to the processing stored in the memory to an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material;
• a reducing unit that, in a case where an amount of the image data stored in the second area exceeds a predetermined amount, reduces an amount of the image data generated per unit time by the image reading unit;
• an allocation unit that, in a case where the amount of the image data stored in the second area exceeds the predetermined amount, allocates a partial area contained in the first area to the second area
• wherein,
• in the case where the amount of the image data stored in the second area exceeds the predetermined amount due to suspension of an image forming process by the image forming unit, the reducing unit reduces the amount of the image data generated per unit time by the image reading unit, and
• in a case where the amount of the image data stored in the second area exceeds the predetermined amount due to suspension of an image forming process by the image forming unit, the allocation unit allocates the partial area to the second area,
• wherein the controlling device further comprises:
• a reallocation unit that, in a case where an amount of the image data stored in the partial area allocated to the second area becomes less than a predetermined amount due to restart of the image forming process that has been suspended, reallocates the partial area to the first area, which is an original area;
• and
• a resetting unit that, in the case where an amount of the image data stored in the partial area allocated to the second area becomes less than the redetermined amount due to restart of the image forming process that has been suspended, resets the amount reduced by the reducing unit at an original amount.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a process for forming an image, the process comprising:

• reading an image on a document at a predetermined image reading speed and generating image data;
• controlling to temporarily store the generated image data in a first area on a memory and to store the image data having been read from the first area and subjected to processing in a second area on the memory;
• forming an image on a recording material based on the image data stored in the memory, which has been subjected to the processing;
• in a case where an amount of the image data stored in the second area exceeds a predetermined amount clue to suspension of an image forming process by the step of forming the image, reducing an amount of the image data generated per unit time;
• in a case where the amount of the image data stored in the second area exceeds the predetermined amount due to the suspension of the image forming process, allocating a partial area contained in the first area to the second area;
• in the case where an amount of the image data stored in the partial area allocated to the second area becomes less than a predetermined amount, reallocating the partial area to the first area, which is an original area;
• and
• in a case where an amount of the image data stored in the partial area allocated to the second area becomes less than the predetermined amount, resetting the amount reduced by the reducing step at an original amount.