Image forming system that moves print job between a plurality of image forming apparatuses and recording medium

An image forming system includes a portable terminal device and an image forming apparatus. The portable terminal device includes a job information acquisition circuit, an augmented reality circuit, and a job moving circuit. The job information acquisition circuit acquires job information indicative of the print job executed by the image forming apparatus. The augmented reality circuit causes a display device to display a composite image where a job information image based on the job information acquired by the job information acquisition circuit is combined on a location corresponding to the image forming apparatus on a captured image captured by an imaging device. The job moving circuit moves the print job between the plurality of image forming apparatuses corresponding to an operation input by an input device with respect to the job information image displayed on the display device by the augmented reality circuit.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon, and claims the benefit of priority from, corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-089896 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Apr. 25, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

An image forming system that combines a state of an image forming apparatus with a captured image on a location corresponding to the image forming apparatus is known.

SUMMARY

An image forming system according to one aspect of the disclosure includes a portable terminal device and an image forming apparatus. The portable terminal device includes an imaging device, a display device, and an input device. The image forming apparatus executes a print job. The portable terminal device includes a job information acquisition circuit, an augmented reality circuit, and a job moving circuit. The job information acquisition circuit acquires job information indicative of the print job executed by the image forming apparatus. The augmented reality circuit causes the display device to display a composite image where a job information image based on the job information acquired by the job information acquisition circuit is combined on a location corresponding to the image forming apparatus on a captured image captured by the imaging device. The job moving circuit moves the print job between the plurality of image forming apparatuses corresponding to an operation input by the input device with respect to the job information image displayed on the display device by the augmented reality circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes one embodiment of this disclosure using the drawings.

First, a configuration of an image forming system10according to the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1illustrates the image forming system10according to the embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the image forming system10includes a plurality of MFPs including a multifunction peripheral (MFP)20, a server40such as a personal computer (PC) that controls these plurality of MFPs, and a mobile device50such as a smart phone, a tablet, and a small PC. The plurality of MFPs, the server40, and the mobile device50of the image forming system10are communicatively connected together via a network11such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet. The mobile device50configures a portable terminal device of the disclosure.

Each configuration of the plurality of MFPs of the image forming system10is similar to the configuration of the MFP20. Therefore, a description will be given of the MFP20below as a representative of the plurality of MFPs of the image forming system10.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the MFP20includes an operation unit21, a display22, a scanner23, a printer24, a fax communication unit25, a communication unit26, a storage unit27, and a control unit28. The operation unit21is an input device such as a button where various kinds of operations are input by a user. The display22is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays various kinds of information. The scanner23is a reading device that reads an image from an original document. The printer24is a print device that prints on a recording medium such as a paper sheet. The fax communication unit25is a fax device that executes a fax communication via a communication line such as a dial-up line with an external facsimile device (not illustrated). The communication unit26is a communication device that communicates with external devices via the network11(seeFIG. 1). The storage unit27is a non-volatile storage device such as an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) or a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores various kinds of data. The control unit28controls the entire MFP20.

The storage unit27stores location information27a, job information27b, and a print queue27cof the MFP20. The job information27billustrates a print job executed by the MFP20. The print queue27cstores target print data for the print job in the order to be executed by the MFP20.

The control unit28includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). The ROM stores programs and various kinds of data. The RAM is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU can execute the programs stored in the ROM or the storage unit27.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the job information27bincludes the print job order to be executed by the MFP20, a user ID as user identification information, the number of printed sheets per copy on the print job, and the number of copies on the print job, for each print job.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the server40includes an operation unit41, a display42, a communication unit43, a storage unit44, and a control unit45. The operation unit41is an input device such as a computer mouse or a keyboard where various kinds of operations are input by a user. The display42is a display device such as an LCD that displays various kinds of information. The communication unit43is a communication device that communicates with external devices via the network11(SeeFIG. 1). The storage unit44is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD that stores various kinds of data. The control unit45controls the entire server40.

The storage unit44stores authentication information44ato authenticate the user, such as a combination of the user ID and a password. The storage unit44stores location information44bof the MFP and job information44cthat illustrates the print job executed by the MFP, for each MFP included in the image forming system10(SeeFIG. 1).

The control unit45includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The ROM stores programs and various kinds of data. The RAM is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes the programs stored in the ROM or the storage unit44.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the mobile device50includes an operation unit51, a display52, an imaging unit53, a wireless communication unit54, a location detecting unit55, a direction detecting unit56, a storage unit57, and a control unit58. The operation unit51is an input device such as a button where various kinds of operations are input. The display52is a display device such as an LCD that displays various kinds of information. The imaging unit53is an imaging device. The wireless communication unit54is a communication device that communicates with external devices via the network11(SeeFIG. 1) by wireless communication. The location detecting unit55is a location detecting device such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that detects a current location of the mobile device50in a real space. The direction detecting unit56is a direction detecting device such as an acceleration sensor that detects a current direction of the mobile device50in a real space. The storage unit57is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD that stores programs and various kinds of data. The control unit58controls the entire mobile device50.

The operation unit51includes an input device that constitutes a touch panel with the display52.

The storage unit57stores an augmented reality (AR) program57athat the control unit58executes. The augmented reality program57amay be installed in the mobile device50at production stage of the mobile device50, may be installed additionally in the mobile device50from an external storage medium such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory, and may be installed additionally in the mobile device50from the network11.

The control unit58includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The ROM stores programs and various kinds of data. The RAM is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU can execute the programs stored in the ROM or the storage unit57.

The control unit58functions as a job information acquisition unit (referred to as a job information acquisition circuit)58a, an augmented reality unit (referred to as an augmented reality circuit)58b, and a job moving unit (referred to as a job moving circuit)58c. The job information acquisition unit58aacquires job information by executing the augmented reality program57astored in the storage unit57. The augmented reality unit58bcauses the display52to display a composite image where a job information image based on the job information acquired by the job information acquisition unit58ais combined on a location corresponding to the MFP with a captured image captured by the imaging unit53. The job moving unit58cmoves the print job between the plurality of MFPs, corresponding to the operation input by the operation unit51with respect to the job information image displayed on the display52by the augmented reality unit58b.

Next, operations of the image forming system10will be described.

First, operations of the MFP20when receiving print data will be described.

FIG. 6illustrates the operations of the MFP20when receiving the print data.

After the user transmits the print data from a computer (not illustrated) to the MFP20, the MFP20executes the operations illustrated in theFIG. 6.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the control unit28of the MFP20receives the transmitted print data and user authentication information transmitted being associated with this print data via the communication unit26(Step S101).

Next, the control unit28transmits the authentication information received at Step S101to the server40via the communication unit26so as to request a user authentication from the server40(Step S102).

Here, after the control unit45of the server40receives the authentication information transmitted from the MFP20via the communication unit43, the control unit45executes the user authentication based on the received authentication information. Specifically, when the received authentication information is included in the authentication information44aon the storage unit44, the control unit45determines that the user authentication has been succeeded, and when the received authentication information is not included, the control unit45determines that the user authentication has been failed. Then, the control unit45replies an authentication result to the MFP20via the communication unit43.

After the process at Step S102, the control unit28receives the authentication result transmitted from the server40via the communication unit26so as to determine whether or not the received result is an authentication success (Step S103).

If the control unit28determines that the authentication has not been succeeded, that is, the authentication has been failed at Step S103, the control unit28discards the print data received at Step S101(Step S104), and terminates the operations illustrated inFIG. 6.

If the control unit28determines that the authentication has been succeeded at Step S103, the control unit28stores the print data received at Step S101in the last of the print queue27c(Step S105), and updates the job information27bwith respect to the print data stored in the print queue27cat Step S105(Step S106).

Next, the control unit28transmits the location information27aand the job information27bto the server40via the communication unit26(Step S107), and terminates the operations illustrated inFIG. 6.

After the control unit45of the server40receives the location information and the job information transmitted from the MFP20at Step S107via the communication unit43, the control unit45stores the received location information and the received job information as the location information44band the job information44cof the MFP20in the storage unit44.

The MFP20may transmit the location information27ato the server40by operations different from the operations illustrated inFIG. 6. For example, the MFP20may transmit periodically the location information27ato the server40.

Next, the operations of the MFP20when executing the print job will be described.

FIG. 7illustrates the operations of the MFP20when executing the print job.

The MFP20executes the operations illustrated inFIG. 7when the print data is stored in the print queue27c.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, the control unit28of the MFP20prints by the printer24based on the beginning print data stored in the print queue27cso as to execute the first print job illustrated on the job information27b(Step S111).

Next, the control unit28deletes the print data printed at Step S111from the print queue27c(Step S112), and updates the job information27bin order to reflect that the print data has been deleted from the print queue27cat Step S112(Step S113).

Next, the control unit28transmits the job information27bto the server40via the communication unit26(Step S114).

Accordingly, after the control unit45of the server40receives the job information transmitted from the MFP20at Step S114via the communication unit43, the control unit45stores the received job information as the job information44cof the MFP20in the storage unit44.

After the process at Step S114, the control unit28of the MFP20determines whether or not the print data is stored in the print queue27c(Step S115).

If the control unit28determines that the print data is stored in the print queue27cat Step S115, the control unit28executes the process of Step S111.

If the control unit28determines that the print data is not stored in the print queue27cat Step S115, the control unit28terminates the operations illustrated inFIG. 7.

The MFP20may transmit only changed contents of the job information27bto the server40without transmitting all the job information27bto the server40at the operations illustrated inFIG. 6and the operations illustrated inFIG. 7. In this case, the server40can update the job information44cof the MFP20based on the changed contents transmitted from the MFP20.

Next, the operations of the mobile device50when acquiring the location information and the job information of the MFP will be described.

FIG. 8illustrates the operations of the mobile device50when acquiring the location information and the job information of the MFP.

The user of the mobile device50can instruct the mobile device50via the operation unit51to execute the augmented reality program57a. After starting the execution of the augmented reality program57a, the mobile device50executes the operations illustrated inFIG. 8.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, the job information acquisition unit58aof the mobile device50displays a screen that promotes the user to input the authentication information on the display52(Step S131), and determines whether or not the authentication information has been input via the operation unit51until the job information acquisition unit58adetermines that the authentication information has been input via the operation unit51(Step S132).

If the job information acquisition unit58adetermines that the authentication information has been input at Step S132, the job information acquisition unit58atransmits the authentication information input via the operation unit51to the server40via the wireless communication unit54so as to request the user authentication from the server40(Step S133).

Here, after the control unit45of the server40receives the authentication information transmitted from the mobile device50via the communication unit43, the control unit45executes the above-described user authentication based on the received authentication information. Then, the control unit45replies the authentication result to the mobile device50via the communication unit43. If the authentication has been succeeded, the control unit45causes an authentication target user to be logged in until the authentication target user logs out.

After the process at Step S133, the job information acquisition unit58areceives the authentication result transmitted from the server40via the wireless communication unit54so as to determine whether or not the received result is the authentication success (Step S134).

If the job information acquisition unit58adetermines that the authentication has not been succeeded, that is, the authentication has been failed at Step S134, the job information acquisition unit58aexecutes the process of Step S131.

If the job information acquisition unit58adetermines that the authentication has been succeeded at Step S134, the job information acquisition unit58arequests the location information and the job information of the MFP, which is present within a captured range of the imaging unit53, from the server40via the wireless communication unit54, based on a location of the mobile device50detected by the location detecting unit55and a captured direction of the imaging unit53based on a direction detected by the direction detecting unit56(Step S135).

Accordingly, the control unit45of the server40replies the location information44band the job information44cof the MFP requested at Step S135to the mobile device50via the communication unit43.

Then, after the job information acquisition unit58areceives the location information and the job information of the MFP transmitted from the server40via the wireless communication unit54(Step S136), if the job information acquisition unit58adetermines that a specific period has passed at Step S137, the job information acquisition unit58aexecutes the process of Step S135.

The mobile device50, in the above, requests the location information and the job information of the MFP, which is present within a captured range of the imaging unit53, from the server40. However, the mobile device50may request the location information and the job information of the MFP, which is present within a specific range from the location of the mobile device50not limited to the captured range, from the server40, and may request the location information and the job information of every MFP that the server40controls from the server40.

Next, the operations of the mobile device50when ensuring an augmented reality will be described.

FIG. 9illustrates the operations of the mobile device50when ensuring the augmented reality.

After starting the execution of the augmented reality program57a, the mobile device50executes the operations illustrated inFIG. 9.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the augmented reality unit58bof the mobile device50starts displaying the captured image captured by the imaging unit53on the display52(Step S141).

Next, the augmented reality unit58bdetermines whether or not the MFP is included in the captured image captured by the imaging unit53, based on a location of the mobile device50detected by the location detecting unit55, a captured direction of the imaging unit53based on a direction detected by the direction detecting unit56, and the location information of the MFP acquired at S136(Step S142).

If the augmented reality unit58bdetermines that the MFP is included in the captured image at Step S142, the augmented reality unit58bdetermines whether or not the print job is included in the job information of the MFP included in the captured image based on the job information acquired at Step S136(Step S143).

If the augmented reality unit58bdetermines that the print job is included at Step S143, the augmented reality unit58bdetermines whether or not the print job associated with a user ID of the logged-in user (hereinafter referred to as a “login user job”) is included in the job information of the MFP included in the captured image (Step S144).

If the augmented reality unit58bdetermines that the login user job is included at Step S144, the augmented reality unit58bdetermines whether or not an execution time of the print job to be executed by the MFP prior to the login user job (hereinafter referred to as a “preceding job”) is equal to or more than a specific period, for example, two minutes, in the job information of the MFP included in the captured image (Step S145).

Here, the augmented reality unit58bcan calculate the execution time of the print job by dividing the total number of printed sheets, which multiplies the number of printed sheets per copy on the print job by the number of copies on the print job, by the printing speed of the MFP.

For example, if the MFP included in the captured image is the MFP20, the most recent job information received at Step S136is identical to the job information27billustrated inFIG. 3for the MFP20, and the user ID of the logged-in user is USER001, the login user job is the fifth print job. Then, the total number of printed sheets of the first print job is 10 pages×1 copy=10 pages. Similarly, the total numbers of printed sheets of the second, third, and fourth print job are 200, 5, and 200 respectively. Accordingly, the total number of printed sheets of the preceding job of the login user job is 415. Here, when the printing speed of the MFP20is 20 ppm (pages per minute), the execution time of the preceding job of the login user job is 415 pages÷20 ppm=20.75 minutes.

The printing speed of the MFP may be controlled for each MFP by the server40and transmitted to the mobile device50from the server40, and may be controlled for each MFP by the mobile device50.

If the augmented reality unit58bdetermines that the execution time is equal to or more than the specific period at Step S145, the augmented reality unit58b, for example, as illustrated inFIG. 10, generates a job information image60with enlarged login user job compared with the other print jobs (Step S146).

On the job information image60illustrated inFIG. 10, fields61to65each illustrate a print job. The fields61to65illustrate that the lower arranged field is the earlier print job in the order executed by the MFP. The fields61to65include the number of printed sheets per copy on the print job and the number of copies on the print job. The print jobs illustrated in the fields61to64are not the login user job. The print job illustrated in the field65is a login user job. The field65is larger than any of the fields61to64, and the background color of the field65is different from any of the background colors of the fields61to64. The field65includes a character string “Your JOB” indicative of the login user job. On the other hand, the fields61to64do not include information indicative of the print job of any user.

If the augmented reality unit58bdetermines that the login user job is not included at Step S144, or determines that the execution time is less than the specific period at Step S145, the augmented reality unit58b, for example, as illustrated inFIGS. 11A and 11B, generates a job information image with all print jobs in aligned-size (Step S147).

FIG. 11Aillustrates an exemplary job information image70when not including the login user job. On the job information image70, fields71to74each illustrate a print job. The field71to74illustrate that the lower arranged field is the earlier print job in the order executed by the MFP. The field71to74include the number of printed sheets per copy on the print job and the number of copies on the print job. The print jobs illustrated in the fields71to74are not the login user job. The fields71to74do not include information indicative of the print job of any user.

FIG. 11Billustrates an exemplary job information image80when the execution time of the preceding job of the login user job is less than the specific period. On the job information image80, fields81to83each illustrate a print job. The fields81to83illustrate that the lower arranged field is the earlier print job in the order executed by the MFP. The fields81to83include the number of printed sheets per copy on the print job and the number of copies on the print job. The print jobs illustrated in the fields81and83are not the login user job. The print job illustrated in the field82is a login user job. The background color of the field82is different from the background colors of any of the fields81and83. The field82includes a character string “Your JOB” indicative of the login user job. On the other hand, the fields81and83do not include information indicative of the print job of any user. The size of the field82is, unlike the size of the field65of the job information image60illustrated inFIG. 10, identical to the sizes of the fields81and83. That is, the job information image80is, unlike the job information image60, aborted to illustrate the login user job larger than the other print jobs.

After the augmented reality unit58bgenerates the job information image at Step S146or Step S147, the augmented reality unit58bcombines the job information image generated at Step S146or Step S147with the captured image (Step S148). Here, the augmented reality unit58bcombines the job information image generated at Step S146or Step S147on the location corresponding to the MFP targeted for this job information image. Accordingly, on the display52, for example, as illustrated inFIG. 12, the composite image generated at Step S148is displayed.

If the augmented reality unit58bdetermines that the print job is not included at Step S143, the augmented reality unit58bcombines an image indicative of waiting with the captured image (Step S149). Here, the augmented reality unit58bcombines the image indicative of waiting on the location corresponding to the MFP targeted for this image. Accordingly, on the display52, for exemplary, as illustrated inFIG. 13, the composite image generated at Step S149is displayed.

If the augmented reality unit58bdetermines that the MFP is not included in the captured image at Step S142, or after the process of Step S148or Step S149has been executed, determines that the specific period has passed at S150, the augmented reality unit58bexecutes the process of Step S142.

Next, the operations of the mobile device50when moving the print job between the plurality of MFPs will be described.

FIG. 14illustrates the operations of the mobile device50when moving the print job between the plurality of MFPs.

As illustrated inFIG. 14, the job moving unit58cof the mobile device50, with respect to the job information image displayed on the display52, determines whether or not a print-job extracting operation has been input on the operation unit51until the job moving unit58cdetermines that the print-job extracting operation has been input on the operation unit51(Step S161).

For example, the user can input the print-job extracting operation on the operation unit51as illustrated inFIGS. 15A and 15B. That is, when the composite image illustrated inFIG. 12is displayed on the display52, after the user touches a region corresponding to any field of the job information image on the display52, which is a touch panel, as illustrated inFIG. 15A, the user can extract the field from the job information image by swiping as illustrated inFIG. 15B.

If the job moving unit58cdetermines that the print-job extracting operation has been input on the operation unit51at Step S161, the job moving unit58crequests the print-job extraction corresponding to the operation input by the operation unit51from the server40via the wireless communication unit54(Step S162).

After the control unit45of the server40receives the request from the mobile device50at Step S162via the communication unit43, the control unit45updates the job information44cof the target MFP corresponding to the request from the mobile device50, and requests the print-job extraction requested from the mobile device50from the target MFP via the communication unit43. Accordingly, the control unit of the target MFP updates the print queue and the job information of the control unit itself corresponding to the request from the server40. The control unit of the target MFP holds the print data extracted from the print queue of the control unit itself in a region other than the print queue on the storage unit of the control unit itself.

After the process at Step S162, the job moving unit58c, with respect to the job information image displayed on the display52, determines whether or not a print-job inserting operation has been input on the operation unit51until the job moving unit58cdetermines that the print-job inserting operation has been input on the operation unit51(Step S163).

For example, the user can input the print-job inserting operation on the operation unit51as illustrated inFIGS. 16, 17A and 17B. That is, the user firstly causes the display52to display the composite image illustrated inFIG. 16in a state where the field is extracted from the job information image as illustrated inFIG. 15B, by changing the location and the direction in a real space of the mobile device50so that the MFP targeted for the composite image illustrated inFIG. 13is displayed on the display52. And, when the composite image illustrated inFIG. 16is displayed on the display52, after the user touches the region corresponding to the field, which has been extracted from the job information image, on the display52, which is a touch panel, as illustrated inFIG. 17A, the user can insert the field into a new job information image by swiping as illustrated inFIG. 17B.

If the job moving unit58cdetermines that the print-job inserting operation has been input on the operation unit51at Step S163, the job moving unit58crequests the print-job insertion corresponding to the operation input by the operation unit51from the server40via the wireless communication unit54(Step S164), and executes the process of Step S161.

If the control unit45of the server40receives the request from the mobile device50at Step S164via the communication unit43, the control unit45updates the job information44cof the target MFP corresponding to the request from the mobile device50, and requests the print-job insertion requested from the mobile device50from the target MFP and the MFP that has extracted the print job via the communication unit43. Accordingly, the MFP that has extracted the print job transmits the print data, which has been extracted from the print queue of the MFP that has extracted the print job itself, to the target MFP. The control unit of the target MFP updates the job information of the control unit itself corresponding to the request from the server40, and inserts the print data transmitted from the MFP that has extracted the print job, into the print queue of the control unit itself.

In the above, while after extracting the field from the job information image, the location and the direction in a real space of the mobile device50are changed, when the print job source MFP and the destination MFP are included in one composite image, the location and the direction in a real space of the mobile device50need not be changed.

As described above, since the image forming system10moves the print job between the plurality of MFPs corresponding to the operation input by the operation unit51with respect to the job information image displayed on the display52by combining on the location corresponding to the MFP on the captured image captured by the imaging unit53, the image forming system10can move easily the print job between the plurality of MFPs.

Since the image forming system10includes the order that the print jobs will be executed by the MFP in the composite image, the image forming system10can causes easily the user to determine whether or not the print job is moved to the other MFP.

Since the image forming system10displays the login user job larger than the other print jobs on the job information image, which causes the display52to display (Step S146and Step S148), the image forming system10can facilitate a moving operation of the login user job.

Especially, since the image forming system10displays the login user job larger than the other print jobs on the job information image displayed on the display52, which is a touch panel, the image forming system10can facilitate a touch on the login user job on the touch pane, and can facilitate the moving operation of the login user job.

Since the image forming system10can execute the moving operation of the login user job on the display52, which is a touch panel, the image forming system10can also facilitate the moving operation of the print job with respect to an MFP not including a touch panel.

The image forming system10, even when the display52is not a touch panel, can execute a moving operation with respect to the print job displayed on the display52.

Since only when the amount of the preceding job of the login user job is equal to or more than a specific amount (YES at Step S145), the image forming system10displays the login user job larger than the other print jobs, if the time until when the login user job is executed by the MFP is long, the image forming system10can cause the user to determine easily to move the login user job to the other MFP.

Especially, since when the login user job is executed by the MFP after equal to or more than the specific period has passed, the image forming system10displays the login user job larger than the other print jobs, if the time until when the login user job is executed by the MFP is long, the image forming system10can cause the user to determine easily to move the login user job to the other MFP.

On the image forming system10, as the amount of the preceding job of the login user job, an amount other than the execution time of the print job may be adopted. For example, on the image forming system10, the total number of printed sheets of the preceding job of the login user job or the number of the jobs of the preceding job of the login user job may be adopted as the amount of the preceding job of the login user job.

The image forming system10may display the login user job larger than the other print jobs regardless of whether or not the amount of the preceding job of the login user job is equal to or more than the specific amount. The user, if the print job of the user itself is displayed larger than the other print jobs can execute easily the moving operation of the print job, for example, so that the print job of the user itself is printed as a priority.

While on the image forming system10, the job information image displayed on the mobile device50is generated by the mobile device50itself, the job information image displayed on the mobile device50may be generated by the server40.

While on the image forming system10, in this embodiment, as an augmented reality method, a location-based AR based on location information is adopted, a vision-based AR based on an image processing may be adopted.

On the image forming system10, at least a part of the functions of the server40may be ensured by at least one of the plurality of MFPs. When all the functions of the server40are ensured by at least one of the plurality of MFPs, the image forming system10may not include the server40. For example, on the image forming system10, each MFP and the mobile device50may execute information exchange directly.

While the image forming system10, in this embodiment, includes an MFP as an image forming apparatus of this disclosure, the image forming system10may include an image forming apparatus other than the MFP such as a printer-only machine as an image forming apparatus of this disclosure.