Patent ID: 8953184
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A processing apparatus, comprising: a provision unit that is connected to a communication unit used to communicate with a plurality of actual apparatuses which perform previously determined processes requiring a license and a manipulation unit which is used to manipulate the actual apparatuses, that forms virtual image processing functions which control operations of the actual apparatuses based on manipulation of the manipulation unit, and that provides services using the virtual image processing functions, wherein the provision unit is stored on a server that is communicable with the actual apparatuses over a network so that the provision unit is separate from the actual apparatuses; and a control unit on the server that, when an operation execution instruction of the actual apparatuses is given using the manipulation unit via the communication unit, allows the processes requiring a license to be executed but limits the processes which exceed an amount of licenses indicating a previously contracted number of actual apparatuses which may be executed at a same time, throughputs of the previously contracted number of actual apparatuses which may be executed at the same time, or a previously contracted number of virtual image processing functions which may be executed at the same time, and that controls the provision unit such that the services are provided based on the operation execution instruction.