According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus is connected with a server. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and an input section configured to receive, from a user, a job start operation for a requested print job. The image forming apparatus also includes a communication interface that receives a print job from the server, and transmits a request for transmission of a print job. A storage section stores image data corresponding to each received print job. A processor determines whether the image data corresponding to the requested print job is already stored in the storage section when the job start operation was received. In a case that the image data corresponding to the requested print job is already stored in the storage section when the job start operation was received, image data corresponding to the requested print job is printed.

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with machines configured to operate in a first operation mode and in a second operation mode in which energy consumption is lower than the first operation mode via a network is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to obtain from the machines data sets including a use time information item generated when the machines are used; and generate time information used for transitioning from the first operation mode to the second operation mode by calculating differences between the use time information items of the data sets for each of the machines.

An image display operation device includes a function selecting portion to correlate with a plurality of functions so as to be executable, a display portion to display the function selecting portion, and a display control portion that causes the display portion to display the function selecting portion. The function selecting portion includes a first function selecting portion in which selectable function items are displayed, and a second function selecting portion in which other function items that are selectable in conjunction with functions included in the first function selecting portion are displayed. When one or more functions included in the first function selecting portion are selected, the display control portion changes function items to be displayed on the second function selecting portion, based on contents of the one or more functions selected on the first function selecting portion.

A charging processing system includes: a receiving unit configured to receive a request to execute a first function which a first device has, from a second device that does not have the first function; a function executing unit configured to execute the first function; and a charging processing unit configured to perform charging processing such that an amount of charge for execution of the first function is larger as there is a larger difference between a performance with regard to the first function and a performance of the second device or a performance with regard to a second function which has a lower performance than the first function and which the second device does not have.

An image forming apparatus includes a storage section that stores programs for carrying out processes, an updating data selection section that selects an updating data for at least one of programs from an updating data group, based on a program that is started or is startable, and an updating section that updates at least one arbitrary program stored in the storage section based on the selected updating data.

A storage information update method, an image forming apparatus, a system for managing the image forming apparatus, and a mobile device are provided. The method is performed by an image forming apparatus to which at least one identification number is assigned, a storage configured to store the identification number of the image forming apparatus, and a terminal device communicable with the storage. The method includes acquiring, by the terminal device, the at least one identification number of the image forming apparatus and transmitting, by the terminal device, the received at least one identification number to the storage.