Image forming system

Abstract

To provide an image formation system that is easy to implement while ensuring user convenience. [Solution] Configurable information is transmitted from printer A, which is responsible for the virtual printer function, to PC200 (S24). The configurable information indicates a set of settings that can be handled by at least one of printers A to C on the communication network. PC200 prompts the user to input the settings to be used for image formation within the range of the set of settings indicated by the configurable information (S25). When the usage setting data indicating the input content is transmitted to printer A (S26), printer A selects a printer from printers A to C to perform image formation based on the usage setting data (S28). Image formation based on the usage setting data is performed on the selected printer (S29).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, through a terminal device communicatively connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, any one of these image forming apparatuses is caused to perform image forming in some cases. In this case, for example, after any one of the image forming apparatuses is selected based on a user input to the terminal device or the like, the image forming apparatus is caused to perform image forming with setting contents corresponding to the capability of the image forming apparatus. According to such a method, when causing image formation according to desired setting contents, a user needs to refer to the capability of each apparatus grasped in advance to select a compatible apparatus, or re-select an image forming apparatus until a compatible image forming apparatus is found.

[0003] In contrast, according to Patent Document 1, capability information of each of a plurality of printing apparatuses (corresponding to the image forming apparatuses of the present invention) is acquired by a cloud server, and the cloud server is caused to function as a virtual printer having the overall capabilities of the plurality of printing apparatuses. Then, a user selects the virtual printer from a terminal device such as a smartphone and performs print settings, thereby allowing any one of the plurality of printing apparatuses to perform image forming with desired setting contents without needing to grasp the capability of each printing apparatus or re-select the printing apparatus many times. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-47244 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] Connecting multiple image forming apparatuses simultaneously to a terminal device and utilizing them through the terminal device offers high convenience for users. In today's improved network environment, the demand for easily implementing such systems is increasing. However, the system described in Patent Document 1 requires a cloud server, making its implementation relatively difficult. This could potentially hinder user convenience.

[0006] The objective of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that is easy to implement while ensuring user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides an image forming system comprising a plurality of image forming devices, each of which can be selected as a first image forming device, and a terminal device that is communicatively connected to the plurality of image forming devices, wherein the terminal device performs an information reception process to receive configurable information from the first image forming device indicating a configurable set of settings consisting of a plurality of settings related to image forming, wherein each of the plurality of settings is compatible with at least one of the plurality of image forming devices; a data generation process to generate image data and generate usage setting data indicating the settings used for image forming related to the image data, based on the configurable information received by the reception process; and an image data transmission process to transmit the image data and the usage setting data generated by the data generation process to the first image forming device, wherein the first image forming device includes an image forming unit that performs image forming, and determines whether the first image forming device is compatible and which of the plurality of image forming devices, other than the first image forming device, is compatible with the setting set. The device comprises a storage unit that stores compatible device information for each item, and a first control unit, the first control unit performing an information transmission process that transmits the configurable information to the terminal device based on the compatible device information, an image data reception process that receives the usage setting data and the image data from the terminal device, a device selection process that selects one device from the plurality of image forming devices that is compatible with all of the setting items indicated by the usage setting data received by the image data reception process, and an image forming instruction process that, when the first image forming device is selected by the device selection process, causes the image forming unit to perform the image forming based on the usage setting data and the image data, and when the second image forming device is selected by the device selection process, sends an instruction to the second image forming device to perform the image forming based on the usage setting data and the image data, the second image forming device comprises an image forming unit that performs the image forming, and a second control unit that, when it receives the instruction from the first image forming process, causes the image forming unit to perform the image forming based on the usage setting data and the image data. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the terminal device, the settings used for image formation can be configured within the range of the set of settings indicated by the configurable information transmitted from the first image forming apparatus. The set of settings represents the settings that can be handled by at least one of the multiple image forming apparatuses, including the first image forming apparatus itself. Therefore, by selecting settings based on the set of settings, the user can select the desired settings from the entire range of settings that can be handled by the multiple image forming apparatuses, including the first image forming apparatus. Thus, it is highly convenient for the user. Furthermore, the apparatus responsible for providing the set of settings to the terminal device (the first image forming apparatus) is selected from the multiple image forming apparatuses themselves. Therefore, it does not require a dedicated server or other device to handle such a function. Thus, the barrier to implementation is relatively low. As a result, a system that is easy to implement while ensuring user convenience is realized. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer system relating to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the printer configuration. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the virtual printer determination process executed by the control unit. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows the series of processes performed by printer system 1 in Figure 1 when forming an image using a virtual printer. [Figure 6] This is an example of a GUI image displayed on the PC screen for inputting settings in step 1 of Figure 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] A printer system 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. As shown in Figure 1, the printer system 1 has a PC 200 and a plurality of printers 100. The PC 200 and the plurality of printers 100 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other through a communication network N. Hereinafter, the printers 100 will be referred to individually as printer A, printer B, and printer C. Printers A to C have different capabilities related to image formation. Capabilities related to image formation include the speed of image formation, the remaining amount of various consumables used in image formation, and whether they support various settings related to image formation. For example, the speed of image formation (pages / minute) is highest for printer A, second highest for printer B, and lowest for printer C. Printer A supports A3 printing, one of the settings, but neither printers B nor C support it. Also, printer B supports color printing, another setting, but neither printers A nor C support it.

[0011] Each printer 100 (corresponding to the "first image forming apparatus" and the "second image forming apparatus" of the present invention) has an image forming unit 110 and a control unit 120, as shown in Figure 2.

[0012] The image forming unit 110 houses the printing paper for image formation. The image forming unit 110 performs an image forming operation to form a color image on the printing paper by adhering ink to the paper. Note that other coloring materials such as toner or ink ribbons may be used instead of ink.

[0013] The control unit 120 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 121, a storage unit 122 consisting of storage devices such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and other electronic devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The storage unit 122 stores program data and other information executed by the CPU 121 and the ASIC.

[0014] In particular, the printer 100 according to this embodiment is a virtual printer-compatible printer as described later. For this reason, program data for executing processing related to the virtual printer and information used for the functions of the virtual printer are stored in the storage unit 122. Of these, the information used for the functions of the virtual printer includes self-capability information 122P. Self-capability information 122P indicates the speed of image formation, whether it supports A3 printing, whether it supports color printing, etc. These correspond to multiple items related to various settings set by the user when forming an image. In other words, self-capability information 122P indicates whether the printer 100 supports each of the settings for multiple items related to image formation. Self-capability information 122P may also include information indicating the remaining amount of consumables such as ink and paper. In this case, self-capability information 122P is periodically updated to show the latest remaining amount of consumables. Other information stored in the storage unit 122 (other-user capability information 122Q and configurable information 122R) will be described later.

[0015] The hardware CPU 121 performs various processes independently or in cooperation with the ASIC, according to the program data and other software stored in the memory unit 122. Hereinafter, the performance of various processes by the CPU 121 may be described as the performance of various processes by the control unit 120.

[0016] One of the processes performed by the control unit 120 is an image forming process. The image forming process is a process for causing the image forming unit 110 to perform an image forming operation. In this image forming operation, the image forming unit 110 forms an image represented by image data from the PC 200 on a sheet in accordance with setting contents represented by usage setting data described later from the PC 200. Further, another one of the processes performed by the control unit 120 is a capability information notification process. The capability information notification process includes two processes. The first process is a process of requesting another printer 100 for self-capability information 122P of that printer 100. The second process is a process of, in response to a request from another printer 100, transmitting data representing the self-capability information 122P stored in the storage unit 122 to the requesting source printer 100.

[0017] The PC 200 (corresponding to the "terminal device" of the present invention) includes a user input unit 210, a display 220, and a control unit 230, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0018] The user input unit 210 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and receives various user inputs. The display 220 displays characters, images, and the like on a screen thereof. A GUI (Graphical User Interface) image displayed on the display 220 is operated by a user input through the user input unit 210. Then, input of information corresponding to the operation is received by the control unit 230.

[0019] The control unit 230 is configured of hardware including a CPU 231 and a storage unit 232, and software such as program data. The storage unit 232 is composed of a ROM, a RAM, a storage, and the like, and stores the program data and the like described above. The CPU 231, which is hardware, executes various processes in accordance with program data and the like, which are software stored in the storage unit 232. Hereinafter, there are cases where execution of various processes by the CPU 231 is described as execution of various processes by the control unit 230.

[0020] The PC 200 executes the following processing to cause the printer 100 to perform image formation. First, the PC 200 generates image data representing an image to be formed according to a user input received via the user input unit 210. Next, the PC 200 selects a printer to be used from among printers A to C according to a user input received via the user input unit 210. Next, the PC 200 sets setting contents to be used for image formation relating to the above image data according to the user input. The setting contents relate to details of image formation such as whether to use A3 size paper, whether to use color printing, and whether to use roll paper or cut sheet. Then, the PC 200 transmits the image data and data indicating the setting contents to the printer selected as described above.

[0021] According to the above processing, when causing the printer system 1 to perform image formation with desired setting contents, a user needs to perform the following operations. For example, the user refers to the respective capabilities of printers A to C that the user has grasped in advance, and selects a printer 100 that can support the desired setting contents. Alternatively, the user re-selects a printer 100 until reaching a printer 100 that can support the desired setting contents. Forcing the user to perform such operations may impair user convenience.

[0022] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the printer 100, that is, printers A to C are configured as virtual printer-compatible printers that can assume the function of a virtual printer. Then, a printer that is to assume the function of the virtual printer is selected from among printers A to C. Furthermore, in the PC 200, it is possible to select a virtual printer as the printer to be used for image formation. This ensures user convenience. Details thereof will be described below.

[0023] When printer 100, which is a virtual printer-compatible printer, is connected to the communication network N, the control unit 120 executes the virtual printer determination process shown in Figure 4. The virtual printer determination process is the process for determining the virtual printer. First, the control unit 120 determines whether or not another printer 100 exists on the communication network N (S1). If it is determined that no other printer 100 exists on the communication network N (S1, No), the control unit 120 terminates the series of processes. In other words, since no other printer 100 exists on the communication network N, there is no need to determine a virtual printer. Therefore, the series of processes terminates without determining a virtual printer.

[0024] If the control unit 120 determines that another printer 100 exists on the communication network N (S1, Yes), it obtains its own capability information 122P from the other printer 100 (S2). The self-capability information 122P is obtained through the self-capability information notification process. The self-capability information 122P related to the other printer 100 obtained in S2 is aggregated as other-party capability information 122Q and stored in the storage unit 122 (see Figure 2). In the other-party capability information 122Q, the capability information related to each printer 100 is associated with information indicating which printer 100 it relates to. As described above, each piece of self-capability information 122P indicates whether each printer 100 supports each of the settings related to image formation. Therefore, the other-party capability information 122Q indicates whether the other printer 100 can support each setting. Furthermore, the self-capability information 122P and the other-capability information 122Q, when combined, constitute information indicating which printer 100 is capable of handling each setting (corresponding to the "compatible device information" of the present invention).

[0025] Next, the control unit 120 determines whether it can determine the printer 100 with the fastest image formation speed from among the other printers 100 on the communication network N (S3). This determination is made based on the self-capability information 122P related to the other printers 100 acquired in S2. Specifically, it is determined whether there is one printer 100 among the other printers 100 whose image formation speed is faster than the image formation speed of all the other printers 100.

[0026] If the control unit 120 determines that it can determine the printer 100 with the fastest image formation speed (S3, Yes), it designates that printer 100 with the fastest image formation speed as the printer that will perform the virtual printer function (S4). Then, the control unit 120 terminates the series of processes. If the control unit 120 determines that it cannot determine the printer 100 with the fastest image formation speed (S3, No), it determines whether it can obtain the remaining ink levels of the other printers 100 (S5). This determination is made based on the information indicated by the self-capability information 122P obtained from the other printers 100 in S2.

[0027] If the control unit 120 determines that it can obtain the ink levels of other printers 100 (S5, Yes), it selects the printer 100 with the highest ink level as the printer responsible for the virtual printer function (S6). The control unit 120 then terminates the series of processes. If the control unit 120 determines that it cannot obtain the ink levels of other printers 100 (S5, No), it determines whether or not it can obtain the paper level (S7). This determination is made based on the information indicated by the self-capability information 122P obtained from other printers 100 in S2.

[0028] If the control unit 120 determines that it can obtain the remaining paper amount of another printer 100 (S7, Yes), it selects the printer 100 with the largest remaining paper amount as the virtual printer (S8). Then, the control unit 120 terminates the series of processes. If the control unit 120 determines that it cannot obtain the remaining paper amount of another printer 100 (S7, No), it selects the first printer 100 as the virtual printer (S9). In other words, the control unit 120 selects one of the printers 100 on the communication network N that was selected first as the virtual printer. Then, the control unit 120 terminates the series of processes.

[0029] Once the printer 100 responsible for the virtual printer function is determined by the virtual printer determination process shown in Figure 4, the PC 200 can select the virtual printer in addition to printers A to C when performing image formation. The following describes a series of processes performed by the printer system 1 when performing image formation using the virtual printer, with reference to Figure 5. The following description assumes, as an example, that printer A (corresponding to the "first image forming apparatus" of the present invention) is determined to be the printer responsible for the virtual printer function.

[0030] First, the control unit 230 of the PC200 generates image data according to user input via the user input unit 210 (S21). Next, the PC200 selects a virtual printer according to user input via the user input unit 210 (S22). Then, the PC200 requests configurable information 122R (see Figure 2) from printer A, which is responsible for the virtual printer function (S23). The configurable information 122R indicates which of the image formation settings the virtual printer can handle.

[0031] Accordingly, the control unit 120 of printer A transmits configurable information 122R to the PC 200 (S24; corresponding to the "information transmission process" of the present invention). The configurable information 122R is generated from the self-capability information 122P and other-capability information 122Q stored in the storage unit 122 of printer A. In printer A, which is responsible for the function of a virtual printer, the self-capability information 122P indicates which settings printer A itself corresponds to. The other-capability information 122Q indicates which settings printers B and C (corresponding to the "second image forming apparatus" of the present invention) each correspond to. The configurable information 122R is generated by combining the self-capability information 122P from printers B and C. As a result, the configurable information 122R becomes information indicating a set of settings consisting of combinations of settings that can be handled by at least one of printers A to C. In other words, each of the settings included in the set of settings indicated by the configurable information 122R is a setting that can be handled by at least one of printers A to C.

[0032] Table 1 below shows an example of what configurable information 122R indicates. Items 1 to 3 represent different items in the settings. For example, item 1 corresponds to A3 printing, item 2 to color printing, and item 3 to roll paper printing. According to configurable information 122R in Table 1, printer A can handle the settings of items 1 and 3, but not the setting of item 2. Printer B can handle the settings of items 2 and 3, but not the setting of item 1. Printer C can handle the settings of items 1 and 2, but not the setting of item 3. Thus, each of the settings of items 1 to 3 included in the setting set can be handled by at least one of printers A to C.

[0033] [Table 1]

[0034] Next, the control unit 230 of the PC200 prompts the user to input the settings via the user input unit 210 based on the configurable information 122R received from printer A (S25). The control unit 230 generates usage setting data indicating the settings entered by the user. The process by which the control unit 230 generates image data in S21 and the process by which it generates usage setting data in S25 correspond to the "data generation process" of the present invention.

[0035] Image G in Figure 6 is an example of a GUI image used in the S25 process. Specifically, image G has content corresponding to the configurable information 122R shown in Table 1. As described above, configurable information 122R represents a set of settings consisting of items 1 to 3. Accordingly, image G includes checkbox images g1 to g3 for inputting whether or not to use items 1 to 3 as settings.

[0036] In S25, it is preferable that the control unit 230 causes the display 220 to display the following predetermined information. The predetermined information is intended to make the user aware of combinations of settings that cannot be supported by any of the printers A to C. For example, according to Table 1, there is no printer 100 among printers A to C that can support all of items 1 to 3. Accordingly, in image G of Figure 6, it is preferable that if any two of the checkbox images g1 to g3 are checked, the remaining checkboxes become uncheckable. The uncheckable state is indicated, for example, by a grayed-out display. With such a display, the user can recognize that up to two of the settings for items 1 to 3 are usable, but it is not possible to use all of the settings for items 1 to 3.

[0037] Next, the control unit 230 of PC200 sends the image data generated in S21 and the usage setting data generated in S25 to printer A (S26; corresponding to the "image data transmission process" of the present invention). The control unit 120 of printer A receives the image data and usage setting data from PC200 (S27; corresponding to the "image data reception process" of the present invention). Next, the control unit 120 selects one printer 100 from printers A to C that can handle all the settings indicated by the usage setting data received in S27 (S28; corresponding to the "device selection process" of the present invention). For example, based on Table 1 above, if the usage setting data indicates the use of both items 1 and 2, the control unit 120 selects printer C based on the contents stored in the storage unit 122.

[0038] Here, if two or more printers can be selected as printers 100 capable of supporting all the settings indicated in the usage settings data, the following rules (1) and (2) apply. Note that if two or more printers can be selected, this corresponds, for example, to the case where the usage settings data indicates that only one of items 1 to 3 will be used, based on Table 1.

[0039] (1) If printer A is compatible, printer A will be selected regardless of whether printer B or C is compatible or not. (2) If printer A is not compatible, but printers B and C are compatible, one of them will be selected according to the capabilities of the printers.

[0040] Regarding (1) above, for example, based on Table 1, printer A will be selected if the usage setting data indicates that item 2 will not be used. Regarding (2) above, either printer B or C will be selected based on at least one of the following: image formation speed, ink level, and paper level. The image formation speed, ink level, and paper level are based on the other-party capability information 122Q stored in the storage unit 122. For example, if based on image formation speed (pages / minute), printer B will be selected if printer B is faster than printer C. Also, if based on ink and paper levels, printer C will be selected if the remaining amount in printer C is greater than the remaining amount in printer B. Furthermore, a printer may be selected based on the result of a comprehensive evaluation of these judgment factors. For example, printer 100, which has the highest total evaluation score based on the image formation speed, ink level, and paper level, may be selected.

[0041] Next, among printers A to C, the image forming process is executed in the printer 100 selected in S28 (S29; corresponding to the "image forming instruction process" of the present invention). If the printer 100 selected in S28 is printer A, the control unit 120 of printer A executes the image forming process based on the image data and usage setting data from PC 200. If the printer 100 selected in S28 is printer B or C, the control unit 120 of printer A transmits the image data and usage setting data from PC 200 to printer B or C. The control unit 120 of printer A then instructs printer B or C to execute the image forming process based on this data. The control unit 120 of printer B or C, having received the instruction from printer A, executes the image forming process based on that instruction.

[0042] According to the printer system 1 of this embodiment described above, configurable information 122R is transmitted from the printer 100 (for example, printer A) that performs the virtual printer function to the PC 200. Then, the PC 200 can set the settings to be used for image formation within the range of the set of settings indicated by the configurable information 122R. The set of settings consists of settings that can be supported by at least one of the printers 100 on the communication network N, including the printer 100 that performs the virtual printer function (for example, printers A to C). Therefore, by selecting settings based on the set of settings, the user can select the desired settings from the entire range of settings that can be supported by the printers 100 on the communication network N, including the printer 100 that performs the virtual printer function. Thus, it is highly convenient for the user. Furthermore, the printer 100 that performs the virtual printer function is selected from the printers 100 on the communication network N themselves. Therefore, it does not require a dedicated server or other device to perform such a function. Thus, the barrier to introduction is relatively low. As a result, a system that is easy to introduce while ensuring user convenience is realized.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the printer 100 that performs the virtual printer function is capable of handling the settings indicated by the usage setting data, it is selected as the printer 100 to perform image formation, regardless of whether the other printers 100 are also capable of handling the settings. Therefore, compared to the case where any other printer 100 is selected, image formation is performed more quickly in the printer 100 that performs the virtual printer function.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the printer 100, which is responsible for the virtual printer function, acquires other-party capability information 122Q based on its own capability information 122P acquired from other printers 100. In this way, other-party capability information 122Q is appropriately acquired from capability information obtained from other printers 100.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if multiple printers 100 other than the printer 100 that performs the virtual printer function are capable of handling the settings indicated by the usage setting data, the printer 100 with higher capabilities, such as image formation speed, is selected based on the other-user capability information 122Q. In this way, the printer 100 used for image formation is appropriately selected from multiple printers 100 according to their capabilities, such as image formation speed.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the printer 100 that performs the function of a virtual printer is appropriately selected from among the printers 100 connected to the communication network N, according to their capabilities such as the speed of image formation.

[0047] <Variation> Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the above description of embodiments, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

[0048] For example, in the above embodiment, printer A, which performs the function of a virtual printer, receives its own capability information 122P from other printers 100, printers B and C, through capability information notification processing. As a result, the storage unit 122 of printer A stores its own capability information P and the other's capability information Q. Alternatively, the capability information of printers A to C may be stored from the beginning in the respective storage units of printers A to C.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a preferred configuration is provided in which a predetermined display is made to allow the user to recognize combinations of settings that cannot be supported by any of printers A to C. This prevents the input of a set of settings that cannot be supported by any of printers A to C into the PC 200. Instead of such a predetermined display, the following configuration may be adopted. That is, a configuration may be adopted in which a set of settings can be freely input into the PC 200, and after the input set of settings is sent to printer A, printer A determines whether or not printers A to C can support that set of settings. This determination may be made based on the self-capability information 122P and other-capability information 122Q stored in the storage unit 122 of printer A.

[0050] In addition, although the embodiments described above have described the application of the present invention to a printer system 1 having a printer, the invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may also be applied to other image forming apparatuses, such as image forming systems having a copier, fax machine, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1. Printer System 100 Printers (Printers A-C) 110 Image forming unit 120 Control Unit 200 PC 230 Control Unit

Claims

1. An image forming system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses, each of which can be selected as a first image forming apparatus, and a terminal device that is communicatively connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses, The aforementioned terminal device is Information reception processing that receives configurable information from the first image forming apparatus, which indicates a set of settings consisting of multiple settings related to image formation, wherein each of the multiple settings is compatible with at least one of the multiple image forming apparatuses. A data generation process that generates image data and generates usage setting data indicating the settings used for image formation related to the image data, based on the configurable information received by the receiving process, The image data transmission process is performed to transmit the image data and the usage setting data generated by the data generation process to the first image forming apparatus. The first image forming apparatus is An image forming unit that performs image formation, A storage unit that stores compatible device information for each of the setting contents of the setting contents set, indicating whether the first image forming apparatus is compatible and which of the multiple image forming apparatuses other than the first image forming apparatus (the second image forming apparatus) is compatible. It comprises a first control unit, The first control unit is, Information transmission process that transmits the configurable information to the terminal device based on the compatible device information, Image data reception processing that receives the usage setting data and the image data from the terminal device, A device selection process in which one device is selected from the plurality of image forming apparatuses that is capable of handling all of the setting contents indicated by the usage setting data received by the image data reception process, If the first image forming apparatus is selected by the apparatus selection process, the image forming unit is instructed to perform the image forming based on the usage setting data and the image data; if the second image forming apparatus is selected by the apparatus selection process, an image forming instruction process is performed which sends an instruction to the second image forming apparatus to perform the image forming based on the usage setting data and the image data. The second image forming apparatus is The image forming unit that performs the aforementioned image formation, An image forming system characterized by comprising: a second control unit that, upon receiving the instruction from the first image forming process, causes the image forming unit to perform the image forming based on the usage setting data and the image data.

2. The aforementioned device selection process is, The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that, if there are multiple devices that can correspond to the settings indicated by the usage setting data received by the image data reception process, and the first image forming apparatus is included among them, the process is to select the first image forming apparatus.

3. The first image forming apparatus can acquire capability information indicating the image forming capabilities of the second image forming apparatus from each of the second image forming apparatuses. The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first image forming apparatus acquires the compatible apparatus information based on the capability information.

4. The aforementioned device selection process is, The image forming system according to claim 3, characterized in that, if the devices capable of corresponding to the setting content indicated by the usage setting data received by the image data reception process consist of a plurality of second image forming devices, the process is to select one of the plurality of second image forming devices based on the capability information.

5. The image forming system according to claim 4, characterized in that the capability information used in the process of selecting one of the plurality of second image forming apparatuses is information indicating at least one of the speed of image forming, the amount of coloring agent used in image forming, and the amount of medium used in image forming.

6. The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first image forming apparatus is selected from the plurality of image forming apparatuses by a process performed by any of the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on at least one of the speed of image forming, the remaining amount of coloring agent used in image forming, and the remaining amount of medium used in image forming.

Images