摘要 |
Managing printer and copier server units connected to a network by enabling the user of a personal computer connected to the network to know print costs depending on the environmental load. Server units provide document print and copy services to each network connected client unit, typically personal computers. The server units can operate in any of several operational states, including for example, a standby state, a sleep state and a run state. Upon receiving a service request from the client unit, a management unit estimates the change in operational state for each connected server unit, assigns a priority to the various server units based on the estimated operational state changes, and provides the information for selection by the user requesting the print or copy service.
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