Patent ID: 7899902
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a distributed system in which a plurality of user terminals and printers are dispersed, comprising the steps of: storing user information indicating current statuses of users of respective ones of the plurality of user terminals, status of a user including at least information regarding the user's location, including the user's presence at or absence from the user's terminal, and printer information indicating current statuses of the printers, wherein the status of the printer includes at least relation information regarding whether or not the printer is available; updating the user information and the printer information as the statuses are changing; and for each of the users of respective ones of the plurality of user terminals, displaying current statuses of users of others of the user terminals and the current statuses of the printers on a single display screen of each of the plurality of user terminals, based on the stored and updated user information and printer information, wherein the current statuses of the printers are displayed in a display layout similar to a display layout in which the current statuses of users of the others of the user terminals are displayed, wherein, in said displaying step, the current status of the printer as a device available for an another user selected by a user, is displayed on a common display screen of a user terminal used by the user, and wherein the relation information includes restriction information restricting use of a printer for a user, the restriction information including at least one of availability information indicating whether the printer is available or unavailable for that user, and limit information indicating an upper limit of at least one resource that can be used by the printer for that user.