Patent ID: 8351058
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: G03G,G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A printing apparatus, comprising: an identification information storing section that stores identification information for other printing apparatus; a restriction information storing section that groups the identification information stored in the identification information storing section, and stores restriction information that gives a restriction for using a function provided by a printing apparatus belonging to the same group; an information sharing section that mutually shares the identification information stored in the identification information storing section and the restriction information stored in the restriction information storing section with printing apparatuses in the same group; an information controller that, upon update of the restriction information stored in the restriction information section, controls to send the restriction information to other printing apparatus in the same group, based on the identification information mutually shared by the information sharing section; a usage restriction section that restricts use of the function, based on the restriction information sent from the information controller to other printing apparatus, and a history information storing section that stores usage history information on the utilization of the function of the printing apparatus for each user and each group to which the user belongs, wherein the restriction information storing section stores the restriction information for each user and group, and stores restriction information for a plurality of periods of time for each user and group, the usage restriction section includes: the user is enabled to use the function within the restriction range calculated by the calculation section, wherein the margins of the other users are estimated based on past trends of the other users, respectively.