Patent ID: 9009295
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for managing a plurality of server units connected via a network to a management unit, wherein the plurality of server units are image forming apparatuses, the method comprising: detecting, at the management unit, a client unit sending a service request for a first server unit, the first server unit being one of the plurality of server units connected to said network configured to operate in any of a plurality of operational states, said client device having an associated display unit; calculating an estimated change in an operational state of said first server unit that would occur due to execution of the service corresponding to the service request by the first server unit, wherein the change in the operational state is a change in a resource amount due to an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus; assigning, by the management unit, a first priority to the first server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state of the first server unit; calculating an estimated change in an operational state of a second server unit among said plurality of server units connected to the network that would occur due to execution of the service corresponding to the service request by the second server unit; assigning, by a management unit, a second priority to the second server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state of the second server unit; storing in a storage unit an indication of the first priority and a first identifier of said first server unit, and an indication of the second priority and a second identifier of said second server unit; and sending to the client unit, by the management unit, a list comprising the first identifier and the first priority of the first server unit, and the second identifier and a second priority of a second server unit of the plurality of server units, said list being in a format displayable on the display unit; wherein said first priority and said second priority are respectively based on operational state changes of the first server unit and the second server unit as calculated by the management unit; and wherein for the assigning of the first and second priorities, a higher priority is associated with a smaller increase in the power consumption and a lower priority is associated with a larger increase in the power consumption.