Patent ID: 7593123
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
1. A printing system comprising: at least one information processing apparatus; and a plurality of printing apparatuses, wherein the at least one information processing apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit print job data via a network to at least one of the plurality of punting apparatuses, and wherein each one of the plurality of printing apparatuses comprises: a receiver configured to receive device information of the plurality of printing apparatuses via the network; an image forming device configured to form an image based on print job data received from the information processing apparatus; a transmitter configured to transmit device information of the printing apparatus itself via the network to the plurality of printing apparatuses; wherein each one of the plurality of printing apparatuses is configured to automatically specify at least one of the plurality of printing apparatuses other than itself as at least one constituent of a group into which that printing apparatus itself belongs, based on the device information received by the receiver from the plurality of printing apparatuses and device information of that printing apparatus itself.