Patent ID: 8125664

Claim:
An image forming system, comprising: at least one information processing apparatus capable of transmitting print data including print setting information selected by a user related to image formation, a server receiving said print data from said information processing apparatus; and a plurality of image forming apparatuses capable of data communication with said server; wherein said server includes a data storage unit storing said print data received from said information processing apparatus, a setting information transmitting unit responsive to a list request from an image forming apparatus from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, for transmitting a list of said print data stored in said data storage unit and said user selected print setting information included in said print data to the image forming apparatus, and a print data transmitting unit responsive to a data request from said image forming apparatus, for transmitting a specific print data stored in said data storage unit to the image forming apparatus; and each said image forming apparatus includes a list requesting unit transmitting said list request to said server in accordance with a user operation, a compatibility calculating unit receiving said user selected print setting information of said print data from said server and calculating, based on predetermined device information, a compatibility for each item listed in said user selected print setting information indicating a projected degree of satisfaction with respect to each of said items listed in said user selected print setting information, a display unit displaying each item listed in said user selected print setting information of said print data received from said server and said compatibility corresponding to each item in said list of said print data, a data requesting unit transmitting said data request for specifying at least one item from said user selected items listed in said print setting information of said print data to said server, in accordance with a user operation, and a processing unit for performing an image forming process based on said print data from said server.