To provide an image forming system, a load balancing device and a load balancing method, for automatically deciding whether to balance a load in a plurality of image forming devices or not.
A print server device 1 connected with a plurality of printers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d receives print data and the number of printing the print data, and decides whether to distribute printing in a plurality of printers among the printers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d or not on the basis of operation states and/or capability of the printers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. Specifically, a print completion time for the printing by one printer and a print completion time for the printing by the plurality of printers are predicted, and it is decided that the printing is distributed in the plurality of printers when a time difference between both the predicted print completion times exceeds a prescribed time. When it is decided that the printing is distributed, the received print data are sent to each the printer, and the printing is instructed.
COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Hideno Kono
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