Patent ID: 6564245
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
An information processing apparatus in an information processing system connected to a plurality of terminals, said information processing apparatus comprising:a main memory storing a software program for implementing an inquiry process relating to an operation to be shared among a plurality of target terminals of the plurality of terminals connected to the information processing system; a central processing unit for executing the software program stored in said main memory; and a communication bus adapted to communicate information between said main memory, said central processing unit, each of the plurality of terminals of the information processing system, and a storage unit storing information relating to the inquiry process, wherein, when an instruction is received from a requestor terminal, of the plurality of terminals, relating to the operation to be shared among the plurality of target terminals, and the operation requires an inquiry process, said central processing unit obtains from the storage unit information for designating the plurality of target terminals, wherein said central processing unit causes each of the plurality of target terminals to perform the inquiry process, and, based on responses to the inquiry process received from the plurality of target terminals, said central processing unit determines whether the operation can be executed, and wherein the storage unit is accessible by the requestor terminal to change a condition for determining whether the operation can be executed.