Patent ID: 6157465
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An information processing apparatus connected to one or more other information processing apparatuses, said information processing apparatus comprising:a receiver circuit adapted for receiving job information instructing said information processing apparatus to perform a job, the job information including data to be processed;an analysis circuit adapted for analyzing the job information to determine a type of the job and a content of the data to be processed;a decision circuit adapted for specifying a process to be performed in accordance with the type of the job provided by said analysis circuit;an execution circuit adapted for executing the process specified by said decision circuit;an identification circuit adapted for identifying states of said information processing apparatus and the one or more other information processing apparatuses;a determination circuit adapted for, in accordance with the content of the data provided by said analysis circuit, determining whether or not the process is to be performed for a current user of said information processing apparatus;a halting circuit adapted for halting performance of the process if said determination circuit determines that the process should not be performed;a selection circuit adapted for, in accordance with the states, selecting one apparatus to perform the process from among said information processing apparatus and the one or more other information processing apparatuses when said determination circuit determines that the process is to be performed; andan instruction circuit adapted for instructing the one apparatus selected by said selection circuit to perform the process when one of the one or more other information processing apparatuses is selected.