Patent ID: 8705084

Claim:
An image processing system including a first image processing apparatus and a plurality of other image processing apparatuses which are connected with each other via a network, the image processing system comprising: a sharing unit included in at least the plurality of other image processing apparatuses and configured to share an application stored in the first image processing apparatus by storing the application in each of the plurality of other image processing apparatus, the first image processing apparatus storing license information not stored in the plurality of the other image processing apparatuses; a determination unit configured to determine an image processing apparatus to activate the shared application, from among the plurality of other image processing apparatuses when a failure occurs in the first image processing apparatus; an alternative operation unit configured to perform an operation replacing a function of the first image processing apparatus which requires a license by activating the shared application of the image processing apparatus determined by the determination unit to avoid violating any license agreement; and a recovery notifying unit configured to notify the plurality of other image processing apparatuses of a notice of recovery which represents recovery of the first image processing apparatus when the failure is recovered in the first image processing apparatus, wherein the alternative operation by the alternative operation unit is stopped based on the notice of recovery notified by the recovery notification unit.