Patent ID: 9069497
Filing Date: 2015-06-30
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. An information processing apparatus communicable via a network with an image forming device and a print server that generates print data based on a print request received from a user device via the network, wherein the print server is provided by a first vendor that releases a unique specification for executing data communication between the print server and the image forming device, comprising: a relay virtual printer unit that corresponds to the image forming device and instructs the corresponding image forming device to print out print data generated by the print server; and a functional relay virtual printer unit that has a function for realizing a specified print service not provided by the print server and for responding to a print request from the user device, wherein the relay virtual printer unit comprises: wherein the functional relay virtual printer unit comprises: wherein the functional relay virtual printer unit has a temporarily stored printing function that stores the print data acquired from the print server when a print request is made by the user device and instructs the image forming device to print the stored print data upon reception of a print instruction from the image forming device, wherein the print server generates a print job in response to a print request by the user device and notifies the print job to the functional relay virtual printer unit, wherein the functional relay virtual printer unit acquires the print data in response to the print job from the print server and transmits the acquired print data to the relay virtual printer unit corresponding to each of image forming devices upon reception of a print instruction from the image forming devices which execute a process for realizing the specified print service not provided by the print server, and wherein each of the relay virtual printer units, which has received the print data from the functional relay virtual printer unit, instructs the corresponding image forming device to print the print data.