An image forming apparatus capable of exchanging various types of information with at least one image forming apparatus includes a nonvolatile storage unit capable of higher-speed access processing than a hard disk drive of the image forming apparatus and capable of storing amount-of-use information regarding an amount of use of the image forming apparatus by each user, and a management unit configured to manage usage of the image forming apparatus by a user, by using the amount-of-use information stored in the storage unit. On a predetermined condition, the management unit shifts specific amount-of-use information to a shift destination device that is another image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus, the specific amount-of-use information being amount-of-use information about a specific user out of a plurality of pieces of amount-of-use information about each of a plurality of users stored in the storage unit.

A communication device includes a processor and a memory storing wireless information used for establishing wireless connection with a specific access point and instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to: search a first-type master station device for a first-type wireless network identified by a first predetermined character string; and search a second-type master station device for a second-type wireless network identified by a second predetermined character string in a case different from a case where the number of first-type target device found as a search result for the first-type master station device is one. The instructions, when executed, further causing the communication device to establish wireless connection with a second-type target device that is the second-type master station and join the second-type wireless network; and transmit the wireless information to the second-type target device by using the second-type wireless network.

A communication apparatus may perform: constructing a first wireless network to which the communication apparatus and an external apparatus belong and an access point does not belong; receiving, from the external apparatus by using the constructed first wireless network, a wireless setting used in a second wireless network, the second wireless network being a network to which the communication apparatus, the external apparatus, and the access point are to belong; establishing a wireless connection with the access point by using the received wireless setting; obtaining a first IP address of the communication apparatus in the second wireless network; sending the obtained first IP address to the external apparatus by using the first wireless network after the wireless connection with the access point has been established; and receiving a signal from the external apparatus via the access point by using the second wireless network.

An information processing apparatus includes a switching unit and a controller. The information processing apparatus performs a data sending and receiving operation with an external apparatus via a data line which is compliant with a predetermined standard. The switching unit switches the information processing apparatus to a host device or a non-host device in accordance with a state of the information processing apparatus. The controller controls a data sending and receiving operation performed with the external apparatus. The controller controls a data sending and receiving operation for a host device when the information processing apparatus is switched to the host device. The controller controls a data sending and receiving operation for a non-host device when the information processing apparatus is switched to the non-host device.

A communication apparatus may determine whether specific apparatus identification information for identifying a specific external apparatus is stored in a memory in a case where the specific apparatus identification information is received via a second interface from the specific external apparatus, shift an operating state of the communication apparatus from a non-parent station state to a parent station state in a case where it is determined that the specific apparatus identification information is stored in the memory, receive a wireless connection request from the specific external apparatus via a first interface after the operating state has been shifted from the non-parent station state to the parent station state, and form the wireless network in which the communication apparatus operates as the parent station and the specific external apparatus operates as a child station, in a case where the wireless connection request is received from the specific external apparatus.

An image processing system comprises a master image processing apparatus provided with an image forming section for processing an image and a slave image processing apparatus provided with an image forming section for forming an image. The master image processing apparatus comprises a first user information storage section which stores user information, an acquisition section, a first user information update section which updates the user information stored in the first user information storage section according to the user information acquired by the acquisition section and a sending section which sends the user information acquired by the acquisition section to the slave image processing apparatus. A second user information storage section of the slave image processing apparatus stores the user information. A second user information update section updates the user information stored in the second user information storage section according to the user information received by a receiving section.

Provided is an image processing apparatus to form an image on a sheet of paper, including a main body and a submodule detachably disposed on the main body. The main body includes an asynchronous serial bus and a master control unit. The submodule includes a slave control unit. An interactive asynchronous serial communication is performed between the master control unit and slave control unit. The master control unit includes a detection timing changing unit. The detection timing changing unit changes a scheduled timing to detect a second signal. The slave control unit includes a transmission signal changing unit. The transmission signal changing unit changes a state of the second signal from a first state detectable by the master control unit at a first timing to a second state detectable by the master control unit at a second timing.

An image forming system includes multiple image forming apparatuses and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal establishes communication connection in a remote operation mode with a parent apparatus (one of the image forming apparatuses), the remote operation mode being a mode in which the mobile terminal operates as a remote operation apparatus of the parent apparatus. The mobile terminal displays an operation screen received from the parent apparatus, accepts a user operation provided through the operation screen, and transmits first setting information based on the user operation to the parent apparatus. The parent apparatus receives the first setting information from the mobile terminal and determines a setting target child apparatus. The parent apparatus transmits second setting information based on the first setting information to the setting target child apparatus, and the setting target child apparatus sets setting content based on the second setting information received from the parent apparatus.

A communication apparatus may determine whether specific apparatus identification information for identifying a specific external apparatus is stored in a memory in a case where the specific apparatus identification information is received via a second interface from the specific external apparatus, shift an operating state of the communication apparatus from a non-parent station state to a parent station state in a case where it is determined that the specific apparatus identification information is stored in the memory, receive a wireless connection request from the specific external apparatus via a first interface after the operating state has been shifted from the non-parent station state to the parent station state, and form the wireless network in which the communication apparatus operates as the parent station and the specific external apparatus operates as a child station, in a case where the wireless connection request is received from the specific external apparatus.

Methods and devices for providing notifications for camera resource availability may include receiving requests from a plurality of applications for control of a camera resource. The methods and devices may include providing control of the camera resource to a selected application from the plurality of applications when another application does not have control of the camera resource. The methods and devices may include sending a control notification to one or more applications, including at least one of the plurality of applications indicating that the selected application has control of the camera resource. The methods and devices may include sending an availability notification to the one or more applications, including the at least one of the plurality of applications indicating that the selected application has released the control of the camera resource.