Apparatus and method for estimating a total time to print a print job

摘要

An apparatus for developing and displaying a representation (Fig.10) of a total estimated time to print a job. The apparatus includes a user interface (114), with a display screen, for selectively programming the job with plural print related attributes, wherein selected ones of the print related attributes affecting a time required to print the job. The apparatus further includes a memory (164) for storing the image data and the print related attributes as well as a processor (22) for generating an estimated time to print value for each of the plural electronic pages based on the selected attributes programmed during said programming which affect the time required to print the job, the estimated time to print generating being performed prior to printing the job. In operation (Figs 7,8), the processor sums the values generated with the estimated time to print generating for obtaining a total estimated time to print, wherein the representation of the total estimated time to print is displayed on the display screen. The method for carrying out the time estimation and display is also disclosed.