Patent Publication Number: US-2017359482-A1

Title: Processing system, information processing apparatus, and processing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-115372 filed Jun. 9, 2016. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a processing system, an information processing apparatus, and a processing apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a processing system including an acceptance unit, a first transmission unit, an obtaining unit, and a second transmission unit. The acceptance unit accepts an instruction for performing a process. The first transmission unit transmits the instruction to a processing apparatus. The obtaining unit obtains identification information for identifying a substitute apparatus that performs at least a portion of the process indicated by the transmitted instruction on behalf of the processing apparatus. The second transmission unit transmits the instruction accepted by the acceptance unit to the substitute apparatus by using the identification information in a case where the identification information has been obtained. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a processing system according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a terminal; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a processing apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a substitute apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example functional configuration of the processing system; and 
         FIG. 6  is a sequence chart illustrating an example operation in the processing system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     1. Exemplary Embodiment 
     1-1. Overall Configuration of Processing System 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a processing system  9  according to an exemplary embodiment. The processing system  9  includes a communication line  2  that constitutes a local area network (LAN), and a processing apparatus  3  and a substitute apparatus  4  that are connected to each other via the communication line  2 . 
     Plural processing apparatuses  3  and plural substitute apparatuses  4  may be provided. In  FIG. 1 , the substitute apparatuses  4  are a substitute apparatus  4 A, which is a copy machine, a substitute apparatus  4 B, which is a printer, and a substitute apparatus  4 C, which is a scanner, for example. The number and types of available functions may differ between the processing apparatus  3  and the substitute apparatuses  4 ; however, one or more of the substitute apparatuses  4  are able to perform at least some of the processes to be performed by the processing apparatus  3 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , the processing apparatus  3  is also connected to a public telephone line  6  and has a facsimile function of transmitting image data to other apparatuses via the public telephone line  6 . 
     The processing system  9  includes a terminal  1  that accepts an instruction given by a user for causing the processing apparatus  3  to perform a process. The terminal  1  is configured to make a connection with the processing apparatus  3  and with the substitute apparatuses  4  via a wireless access point  5  that is connected to the communication line  2 . The wireless access point  5  provides a function of connecting the terminal  1  with the communication line  2  in accordance with a scheme compliant with a wireless LAN standard, such as IEEE 802.11, for example. 
     One or more of the substitute apparatuses  4  may have a function of making a connection with the terminal  1  in accordance with a scheme compliant with a near field communication (NFC) standard, such as ISO/IEC 18092 (NFCIP-1), ISO/IEC 14443, ISO/IEC 15693, or IEEE 802.15, for example. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the substitute apparatus  4 A makes a connection with the terminal  1  in accordance with a scheme compliant with an NFC standard and exchanges identification information for identifying the substitute apparatus  4 A and other information on the LAN constituted by the communication line  2 , for example. 
     1-2. Configuration of Terminal 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of the terminal  1 . The terminal  1  is an example of an acceptance apparatus that accepts an instruction for causing the processing apparatus  3  to perform a process, and is an example of an information processing apparatus that performs information processing so as to cause an apparatus to perform the process indicated by the accepted instruction. The terminal  1  includes a controller  11 , a memory  12 , an operation unit  13 , a display  14 , and a communication unit  15 . 
     The controller  11  includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM) and controls each unit in the terminal  1  by the CPU loading and executing a computer program (hereinafter simply referred to as a program) stored in the ROM or in the memory  12 . 
     The operation unit  13  includes an operation device, such as operation buttons or a touch panel, for inputting various instructions, accepts an operation performed by a user, and supplies a signal corresponding to the details of the operation to the controller  11 . 
     The display  14  includes a liquid crystal display and displays various types of information as instructed by the controller  11 . On the liquid crystal display of the display  14 , the touch panel of the operation unit  13  may be stacked and disposed. In this case, the touch panel is formed of a transparent material so that the user is able to see an image displayed on the liquid crystal display of the display  14 . 
     The memory  12  is a bulk memory, such as a solid state drive, and stores the program loaded by the CPU of the controller  11 . The memory  12  further stores user interface (UI) information  121  and identification information  122 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     The program described above may be divided into an operating system (OS), which is a base program, and an application program (application), for example. In this case, the OS, which is a base program, directly controls operations performed by the controller  11 , the memory  12 , the operation unit  13 , the display  14 , and the communication unit  15  of the terminal  1 , and the application, which is an application program, is executed under the control of the OS and may cause each unit of the terminal  1  to perform operations via the OS. 
     The UI information  121  is, for example, information about an operation screen transmitted from the processing apparatus  3  via the communication line  2  and via the wireless access point  5  and is information that represents a UI for giving an instruction to the processing apparatus  3 . In the terminal  1 , the display  14  displays an operation screen for operating the processing apparatus  3  by using the UI information  121  stored in the memory  12 , and the operation unit  13  accepts an instruction given by the user for causing the processing apparatus  3  to perform a process. 
     The identification information  122  is, for example, information transmitted from one of the substitute apparatuses  4  via NFC and is information for identifying the substitute apparatus  4  on the LAN constituted by the communication line  2 . The terminal  1  identifies the substitute apparatus  4  by using the identification information  122 . 
     The communication unit  15  includes a LAN communication unit  151  and an NFC unit  152 . The LAN communication unit  151  is a communication circuit for making a connection with the communication line  2  via the wireless access point  5 . The NFC unit  152  is a communication circuit for making a connection with one of the substitute apparatuses  4  in accordance with a scheme compliant with an NFC standard. 
     1-3. Configuration of Processing Apparatus 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of the processing apparatus  3 . The processing apparatus  3  includes a controller  31 , a memory  32 , an image reader  33 , an image forming unit  34 , and a communication unit  35 . The controller  31  includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM and controls each unit in the processing apparatus  3  by the CPU loading and executing a program stored in the ROM or in the memory  32 . 
     The memory  32  is a bulk memory, such as a hard disk drive, and stores the program loaded by the CPU of the controller  31 . The memory  32  further stores UI information  321  and identification information  322 . The UI information  321  is original information about an operation screen that is transmitted to the terminal  1  for display, and is information that represents a UI used on the terminal  1  to give an instruction to the processing apparatus  3 . The identification information  322  is information about one of the substitute apparatuses  4  that is identified on the basis of identification information that the terminal  1  exchanges with the substitute apparatus  4 . 
     The communication unit  35  includes a LAN communication unit  351 , an NFC unit  352 , and an image communication unit  353 . The LAN communication unit  351  is a communication circuit for making a wired or wireless connection with the communication line  2 . The NFC unit  352  is a communication circuit for making a connection with the terminal  1  in accordance with a scheme compliant with an NFC standard. The image communication unit  353  is a communication circuit for making a connection with other apparatuses via the public telephone line  6  and for transmitting and receiving image data. Note that the processing apparatus  3  need not include the NFC unit  352 . 
     The image reader  33  is a unit that optically reads a document. The image reader  33  includes an image sensor, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor, and generates image data that represents a document. The image reader  33  may be a flat-bed-type image sensor that reads a document while moving its image sensor, a sheet-feed-type image sensor that reads a document while moving the document without changing the position of its image sensor, or an image reader of another type. 
     The image forming unit  34  is a unit that forms an image on the basis of image data. The image forming unit  34  forms an image on a sheet in accordance with an electrophotographic system or a thermal transfer system, for example. 
     1-4. Configuration of Substitute Apparatus 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of the substitute apparatus  4 . The substitute apparatus  4  includes a controller  41 , a memory  42 , an image reader  43 , an image forming unit  44 , and a communication unit  45 . The controller  41  includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM and controls each unit in the substitute apparatus  4  by the CPU loading and executing a program stored in the ROM or in the memory  42 . 
     The memory  42  is a bulk memory, such as a hard disk drive, and stores the program loaded by the CPU of the controller  41 . The memory  42  further stores identification information  422 . The identification information  422  is information for identifying the substitute apparatus  4  itself on the LAN constituted by the communication line  2  and is information that is transmitted to the terminal  1  via NFC. The identification information  422  includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address, for example. 
     The communication unit  45  includes a LAN communication unit  451 , an NFC unit  452 , and an image communication unit  453 . The LAN communication unit  451  is a communication circuit for making a wired or wireless connection with the communication line  2 . The NFC unit  452  is a communication circuit for making a connection with the terminal  1  in accordance with a scheme compliant with an NFC standard. The image communication unit  453  is a communication circuit for making a connection with other apparatuses via the public telephone line  6  and for transmitting and receiving image data. Note that the substitute apparatus  4  need not include the NFC unit  452 . 
     The image reader  43  is a unit that optically reads a document. The image reader  43  includes an image sensor, such as a CCD image sensor, and generates image data that represents a document. The image reader  43  may be a flat-bed-type image sensor that reads a document while moving its image sensor, a sheet-feed-type image sensor that reads a document while moving the document without changing the position of its image sensor, or an image reader of another type. 
     The image forming unit  44  is a unit that forms an image on the basis of image data. The image forming unit  44  forms an image on a sheet in accordance with an electrophotographic system or a thermal transfer system, for example. 
     Note that the substitute apparatus  4  performs at least a portion of a process indicated by an instruction given by a user on behalf of the processing apparatus  3  by using the image reader  43 , the image forming unit  44 , and the image communication unit  453 ; however, the substitute apparatus  4  may have a different configuration or need not include one or more of the image reader  43 , the image forming unit  44 , and the image communication unit  453 . 
     For example, the substitute apparatus  4  illustrated in  FIG. 4  is the substitute apparatus  4 C described above and includes the image reader  43 ; however, the substitute apparatus  4  illustrated in  FIG. 4  does not include the image forming unit  44  and the image communication unit  453  outlined by a broken line in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, the substitute apparatus  4 C has a function of optically reading a document and generating image data that represents the document but does not have a function of forming an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data in accordance with an electrophotographic system, for example. Further, the substitute apparatus  4 C does not have a function of transmitting the generated image data to another apparatus via the public telephone line  6 . 
     1-5. Functional Configuration of Processing System 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example functional configuration of the processing system  9 . The terminal  1  functions as a request unit  111 , a reception unit  112 , an acceptance unit  113 , an exchange unit  114 , and a first transmission unit  115  in accordance with control by the controller  11 . 
     The processing apparatus  3  functions as a response unit  311 , an obtaining unit  312 , a second transmission unit  313 , and a performing unit  314  in accordance with control by the controller  31 . 
     The substitute apparatus  4  functions as an exchange unit  411  and a substitute processing unit  412  in accordance with control by the controller  41 . 
     Note that, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the processing system  9  is a system that includes the terminal  1  including the acceptance unit  113  (acceptance unit) and the first transmission unit  115  (first transmission unit), and the processing apparatus  3  including the obtaining unit  312  (obtaining unit) and the second transmission unit  313  (second transmission unit). 
     The request unit  111  makes a request for the UI information  321  that represents an operation screen to the processing apparatus  3 . The response unit  311  reads the UI information  321  from the memory  32 , encodes the UI information  321 , and transmits the encoded UI information  321  to the terminal  1  that has made the request. The reception unit  112  receives the encoded UI information  321 , generates the UI information  121 , which is a duplicate of the UI information  321 , and stores the UI information  121  in the memory  12  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The acceptance unit  113  generates an operation screen on the basis of the UI information  121  stored in the memory  12 , displays the operation screen on the display  14  (see  FIG. 2 ), and accepts an instruction given by a user for performing a process from the operation unit  13  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The exchange unit  114  of the terminal  1  and the exchange unit  411  of the substitute apparatus  4  establish an NFC channel. The exchange unit  114  receives the identification information  422  of the substitute apparatus  4  on the LAN constituted by the communication line  2 . The exchange unit  114  stores the identification information  122 , which is a duplicate of the identification information  422 , in the memory  12  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Note that the exchange unit  114  may transmit identification information (not illustrated) for identifying the terminal  1  on the LAN constituted by the communication line  2  to the substitute apparatus  4 . That is, the exchange unit  114  and the exchange unit  411  may exchange the identification information of the terminal  1  and that of the substitute apparatus  4  with each other. 
     The first transmission unit  115  transmits an instruction accepted by the acceptance unit  113  to the processing apparatus  3 . At this time, the first transmission unit  115  transmits the identification information  122  stored in the memory  12  after reception by the exchange unit  114  to the processing apparatus  3  together with the instruction described above. Note that the terminal  1  and the substitute apparatus  4  need not have an established NFC channel at the time point when the first transmission unit  115  transmits the identification information  122  to the processing apparatus  3 . 
     The obtaining unit  312  of the processing apparatus  3  obtains an instruction given by a user for performing a process. The obtaining unit  312  obtains the identification information  322  for identifying the substitute apparatus  4  that is to perform at least a portion of the process indicated by the instruction on behalf of the processing apparatus  3  together with the instruction. Specifically, the obtaining unit  312  generates the identification information  322 , which is a duplicate of the identification information  122  transmitted from the terminal  1  together with the instruction, and stores the identification information  322  in the memory  32 . 
     In a case where the identification information  322  has been obtained, the second transmission unit  313  transmits an instruction accepted by the acceptance unit  113  to the substitute apparatus  4  by using the identification information  322 . 
     In response to an instruction transmitted from the processing apparatus  3 , the substitute processing unit  412  performs a portion of a process indicated by the instruction, the portion of the process being able to be performed by the substitute apparatus  4 , on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . When the portion of the process is completed, the substitute processing unit  412  sends a notification of completion to the processing apparatus  3 . 
     For example, the substitute processing unit  412  controls the image reader  43  (see  FIG. 4 ) to read an image of a document in accordance with an instruction transmitted from the processing apparatus  3  and to generate image data that represents the document. Thereafter, the substitute processing unit  412  transmits the generated image data to the processing apparatus  3  to thereby notify the processing apparatus  3  of completion of image reading performed on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . 
     When the processing apparatus  3  is notified by the substitute apparatus  4  of completion of the portion of the process performed by the substitute apparatus  4  on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 , the performing unit  314  of the processing apparatus  3  performs the remaining portion of the process indicated by the instruction described above, the remaining portion of the process not having been performed by the substitute apparatus  4 . For example, when the processing apparatus  3  receives image data together with the notification described above, the performing unit  314  transmits image data to another apparatus on the basis of the received image data via the public telephone line  6 . 
     1-6. Operation in Processing System 
       FIG. 6  is a sequence chart illustrating an example operation in the processing system  9 . The terminal  1  makes a request for the UI information  321  that represents an operation screen to the processing apparatus  3  (step S 101 ), and the processing apparatus  3  makes a response to the request (step S 102 ). The terminal  1  exchanges identification information with one of the substitute apparatuses  4  (step S 103 ). In this example, the terminal  1  exchanges identification information with the substitute apparatus  4 A. 
     The terminal  1  displays an operation screen on the display  14  on the basis of the UI information  121 , which is a duplicate of the UI information  321  obtained from the processing apparatus  3  (step S 104 ). The terminal  1  accepts an instruction given by a user on the operation screen by operating the operation unit  13  (step S 105 ). 
     This instruction may include plural process steps in a case of facsimile transmission, for example, namely, a first process step of reading an image of a document and generating image data and a second process step of transmitting the generated image data to another apparatus via the public telephone line  6 . 
     The instruction also includes set values specifically set by the user of the terminal  1  for the process described above. Specifically, the set values include the resolution and gradation for reading, selection of color or monochrome, the size of the document and an area for reading, and the telephone number of the transmission destination, for example. The instruction further includes the identification information  122 , which is a duplicate of the identification information  422  obtained from the substitute apparatus  4  in step S 103 . 
     When the terminal  1  accepts the instruction, the terminal  1  transmits the instruction to the processing apparatus  3  and requests the processing apparatus  3  to perform a process indicated by the instruction (step S 106 ). Then, the processing apparatus  3  extracts from the instruction the identification information  122  that corresponds to the identification information  422  of the substitute apparatus  4 , and requests the substitute apparatus  4  identified on the basis of the identification information  122  to perform a portion of the process on behalf of the processing apparatus  3  (step S 107 ). Specifically, the processing apparatus  3  requests the substitute apparatus  4 A to perform the first process step described above on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . 
     The substitute apparatus  4  performs the requested first process step on behalf of the processing apparatus  3  (step S 108 ), and sends a notification of completion to the processing apparatus  3  upon completion of the first process step (step S 109 ). This notification includes image data generated in the first process step. When the processing apparatus  3  receives the notification, the processing apparatus  3  performs the second process step described above (step S 110 ). 
     For example, the processing apparatus  3  establishes a communication channel with another apparatus via the public telephone line  6  by using the telephone number included in the instruction and transmits the image data generated by the substitute apparatus  4 A to the other apparatus. Consequently, facsimile transmission to the other apparatus is completed. 
     In the operation performed in the processing system  9  described above, an instruction given by a user for causing the processing apparatus  3  to perform a process is transmitted to the substitute apparatus  4  to thereby cause the substitute apparatus  4  to perform the process on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . Accordingly, in a case where the user has given an instruction to the processing apparatus  3 , the user need not give again the instruction to the substitute apparatus  4 . 
     2. Modifications 
     Although the exemplary embodiment has been described above, the exemplary embodiment may be modified as follows. Further, modifications described below may be combined. 
     2-1. First Modification 
     In the processing system  9  according to the exemplary embodiment described above, the terminal  1  includes the acceptance unit and the first transmission unit, and the processing apparatus  3  includes the obtaining unit and the second transmission unit. A configuration including these units is not limited to the configuration having this combination. For example, the terminal  1  may include the obtaining unit and the second transmission unit in addition to the acceptance unit and the first transmission unit. 
     In this case, the processing apparatus  3  may determine whether an obtained instruction satisfies a predetermined condition and, if it is determined that the condition is satisfied, may send a notification of the determination to the terminal  1 . When the terminal  1  receives the notification from the processing apparatus  3 , the terminal  1  may obtain identification information for identifying the substitute apparatus  4  that is to perform at least a portion of a process indicated by the instruction on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . Thereafter, the terminal  1  may transmit the instruction to the substitute apparatus  4  by using the obtained identification information. 
     Note that, the predetermined condition is a condition that, for example, the processing apparatus  3  is unable to start performing a process indicated by a user instruction within a predetermined time period. 
     The terminal  1  may include the obtaining unit and a controller in addition to the acceptance unit and the first transmission unit. That is, in a case where the terminal  1  has obtained identification information for identifying the substitute apparatus  4  that is to perform at least a portion of a process indicated by an instruction on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 , the terminal  1  may perform control to give the instruction to the substitute apparatus  4  by using the identification information. Alternatively, control may be performed so as to transmit the instruction and the identification information to the processing apparatus  3 , for example. In this case, the processing apparatus  3  that receives the instruction and the identification information may identify the substitute apparatus  4  and forward the instruction to the substitute apparatus  4 . 
     Instead of the control described above, control may be performed so as to transmit identification information of the terminal  1 , such as the IP address of the terminal  1  to the substitute apparatus  4 , accept access from the substitute apparatus  4 , and allow the substitute apparatus  4  to download the content of the instruction. Alternatively, control may be performed so as to store the content of the instruction on a server apparatus connected to the communication line  2 , inform the substitute apparatus  4  of the access destination of the server apparatus, and allow the substitute apparatus  4  to download the content of the instruction. 
     2-2. Second Modification 
     In the exemplary embodiment described above, the process indicated by the user instruction accepted by the terminal  1  includes the first process step and the second process step (plural process steps); however, the process may include a single process step. In this case, the substitute apparatus  4  needs to perform the single process step included in the process on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . 
     2-3. Third Modification 
     Even in a case where a process indicated by a user instruction includes plural process steps, the substitute apparatus  4  may perform all of the process steps on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . 
     2-4. Fourth Modification 
     In the exemplary embodiment described above, the substitute apparatus  4 A identified on the basis of identification information obtained by the processing apparatus  3  together with an instruction is caused to perform a first process step included in a process indicated by the instruction; however, one of the substitute apparatuses  4  other than the substitute apparatus  4 A may be caused to perform the first process step. In a case where the processing apparatus  3  or the substitute apparatus  4 A determines that the substitute apparatus  4 A is unable to perform at least a portion of the process described above on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 , for example, the processing apparatus  3  may newly obtain identification information for identifying one of the substitute apparatuses  4  (second apparatus) different from the substitute apparatus  4 A (first apparatus). In this case, the second transmission unit, such as the second transmission unit  313 , may transmit the instruction to the substitute apparatus  4  (second apparatus) by using the newly obtained identification information. 
     Specifically, in a case where the image reader  43  of the substitute apparatus  4 A, which is a copy machine and with which the terminal  1  has exchanged identification information, is occupied by another user, for example, the substitute apparatus  4 A is unable to perform within a predetermined time period the first process step of reading a document of the user that has given the instruction. In this case, the processing apparatus  3  obtains information about the use of the substitute apparatus  4 A and determines whether the substitute apparatus  4 A is able to perform the first process step. If the processing apparatus  3  determines that the substitute apparatus  4 A is unable to perform the first process step, the processing apparatus  3  makes a request for identification information of one of the substitute apparatuses  4  different from the substitute apparatus  4 A to the terminal  1 . 
     When the terminal  1  receives the request, the terminal  1  attempts to exchange identification information with one of the substitute apparatuses  4  other than the substitute apparatus  4 A. When the terminal  1  mutually exchanges identification information with the substitute apparatus  4 C, which is a scanner, for example, the terminal  1  transmits the identification information for identifying the substitute apparatus  4 C to the processing apparatus  3 . 
     When the processing apparatus  3  newly obtains the identification information for identifying the substitute apparatus  4 C from the terminal  1 , the processing apparatus  3  transmits the instruction to the substitute apparatus  4 C by using the newly obtained identification information. Accordingly, the first process step is performed by the substitute apparatus  4 C on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 , and image data generated by the substitute apparatus  4 C is transmitted to the processing apparatus  3  and is thereafter transmitted to another apparatus via the public telephone line  6 . Consequently, facsimile transmission to the other apparatus is completed. 
     2-5. Fifth Modification 
     In the fourth modification, the user instruction is transmitted to the substitute apparatus  4 C by using the newly obtained identification information, and the first process step in the process indicated by the instruction is performed by the substitute apparatus  4 C on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . In a case where it is determined after the user instruction has been transmitted to the substitute apparatus  4 C that the substitute apparatus  4 A identified on the basis of identification information initially obtained by the obtaining unit, such as the obtaining unit  312 , is able to perform the first process step, the substitute apparatus  4 A may perform the first process step on behalf of the processing apparatus  3 . 
     In this case, the processing apparatus  3  may notify the terminal  1  of the fact that the substitute apparatus  4 A becomes available for performing the first process step, for example. Here, the controller  31  of the processing apparatus  3  functions as a notification unit  315  (see  FIG. 5 ) (notification unit) that, in a case where it is determined after the second transmission unit  313  (second transmission unit) has transmitted the user instruction to the substitute apparatus  4 C (second apparatus) that the substitute apparatus  4 A (first apparatus) is able to perform the process, sends a notification for notifying the user of the fact that the substitute apparatus  4 A is able to perform the process. When the terminal  1  receives the notification, the terminal  1  may display the content of the notification on the display  14  for the user. 
     2-6. Sixth Modification 
     The program executed by the controller  11  of the terminal  1  may be provided in a state where the program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium, namely, a magnetic recording medium, such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk, an optical recording medium, such as an optical disc, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. It is possible to download the program via a communication line, such as the Internet. As the controller that is illustrated as the controller  11  described above, various devices other than a CPU may be used. For example, a dedicated processor is used. 
     2-7. Seventh Modification 
     The program for executing the above-described functions may be implemented by using the OS, which is a base program, or may be implemented by using a combination of the OS and an application, which is an application program. 
     2-8. Eighth Modification 
     In the exemplary embodiment described above, the terminal  1  accepts an instruction given by a user for causing the processing apparatus  3  to perform a process. However, the instruction is not limited to an instruction given by a user and may be an instruction that is considered to be given by a user in a case where a default setting is used and no instruction is explicitly given by a user. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.