Patent ID: 9547463
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: G06F,H04L

Claim:
1. An image formation system including at least an image formation apparatus, a first external apparatus, and a second external apparatus, the image formation system comprising: a plurality of processors that execute control programs, such that one or more of the plurality of processors is configured to perform operations comprising: operation as a status information transmission instruction unit that sends a status information transmission instruction; sending status information indicating a state of the image formation apparatus in response to the sent status information transmission instruction; receiving the status information; operation as a determination unit that determines whether to permit a lock instruction to be sent based on the received status information, the lock instruction causing the image formation apparatus to shift to a locked state in which image formation instructed by only the first external apparatus is executable; operation as a lock instruction unit that sends the lock instruction when the determination unit permits; operation as a lock unit that causes the image formation apparatus to shift to the locked state in accordance with the sent lock instruction; operation as an unlock instruction unit that sends an unlock instruction to cancel the locked state; and operation as an unlock unit that causes the image formation apparatus to shift to an unlocked state in accordance with the sent unlock instruction, wherein the operation as the determination unit permits the lock instruction to be sent when determining that the image formation apparatus is not in the locked state on the basis of the status information.