| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize efficient network printing environment by effectively utilizing a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network. SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus broadcasts a seeking command on a network (S403). The seeking for checking whether or not there is other image forming apparatus that can structure a virtual image forming device on an identical network together with the above image forming apparatus is executed. When the answer to the seeking is provided, the apparatus issues a command for requesting printing performance information transmission to the image forming apparatus that provides the answer in order to ask the printing performance (S404, S406). When printing performance information is received, the information is stored in an external device printing performance information memory section (S500). Summing operation of the printing performances is executed based on the collected printing performance information of each image forming apparatus, then the virtual image forming apparatus is structured (S409). After that, assuming that the virtual image forming apparatus executes the printing, the printing operation is executed in response to a request from a printing information terminal.
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