Patent ID: 7590360

Claim:
An image forming apparatus network system comprising a selecting apparatus connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses over a network, wherein the selecting apparatus includes: an image data volume determining unit configured to determine a volume of image data; a remaining toner information acquiring unit configured to acquire an amount of remaining toner from each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; and a controlling unit, configured to determine an amount of required toner consumption from the volume of image data, configured to compare the amount of required toner consumption to the amount of remaining toner in the plurality of image forming apparatuses, configured to select a selected image forming apparatus from the plurality of image forming apparatuses that includes an amount of remaining toner larger than the amount of required toner consumption, and configured to send a command to form an image at the selected image forming apparatus; and wherein each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses includes a toner detecting unit configured to detect the amount of remaining toner; and a notifying unit configured to notify the selecting apparatus of the amount of remaining toner detected by the toner detecting unit.