An information processing apparatus is connected to output devices and includes a receiver, a selector, an output destination determiner, and an output data distributor. The receiver is configured to receive a request for outputting output data. The selector is configured to refer to correspondence information in which a condition that determines output device as an output destination of the output data and a validity period indicating a period during which the condition is available are associated for each of the output devices, and to select the condition whose validity period includes an output time point at which the output request is received, of the output data. The output destination determiner is configured to determine the output device as the output destination of the output data based on the selected condition and the output data. The output data distributor is configured to distribute the output data to the determined output device.

An information processing apparatus executes a printer driver that requests an image processing apparatus to perform image processing on data. The information processing apparatus includes a processor, in communication with a memory, executing a process including executing, by a plurality of process executors, predetermined processes corresponding to extended functions added to the printer driver, according to a request from the printer driver; storing process information relating to the predetermined processes that are respectively executed by the plurality of process executors; determining an execution order of the predetermined processes that are respectively executed by the plurality of process executors in the printer driver, based on the stored process information; and requesting the plurality of process executors to execute, on the data, the predetermined processes in the determined execution order, according to an instruction from the printer driver.

An information distribution system includes a reception unit to receive first data from an application; plug-ins respectively corresponding to types of the devices; a determination unit to determine, for each of one or more devices specified by one or more pieces of selected address specification information, whether the first data relates to the first data which is a conversion source of one or more pieces of second data having been transmitted; and a distribution unit to transmit, to the devices using the plug-ins, the one or more pieces of second data each obtained by conversion into a data format specified by the data format information a and information for identifying whether the first data which is a conversion source of the one or more pieces of second data relates to the first data which is the conversion source of the one or more pieces of second data having been transmitted.

An information processing apparatus to which plural image forming apparatuses having different functions are connected and which transfers a print job transmitted from a terminal apparatus of a user to the image forming apparatus usable by the user, includes a generation unit that generates a model group of the image forming apparatus usable by the user, for each user.

A method for routing object data that defines a 3-dimensional (3D) object to a 3D printer includes receiving the object data at a server and determining, by the server, object attributes associated with the object defined by the object data. The server searches a database that stores 3D printer attributes for one or more 3D printers capable of printing objects that possess the determined object attributes. If one or more capable printers are identified, the server communicates a list that identifies the one or more capable printers to a user.

An image processing apparatus including a transmission function for transmitting an image sets whether to permit use of a destination not previously registered. The image processing apparatus also receives, from an external apparatus, data including at least a destination field. The image processing apparatus sets the transmission destination based on destination information included in the destination field of the received data upon a condition that a setting is set permitting use of a previously un-registered destination and does not set the transmission destination based on the destination information included in the destination field of the received data upon a condition that a setting is set prohibiting use of a previously un-registered destination.

An apparatus, system, and method of controlling transmission of an image, each of which: displays, on a display, an image to a plurality of users, the plurality of users sharing a use of the shared terminal; obtains, from a first privately-owned terminal owned by a first user of the plurality of users, first terminal identification information for identifying the first privately-owned terminal; transmits an authentication request for authenticating the first privately-owned terminal to a terminal management server, the authentication request including the first terminal identification information of the first privately-owned terminal; receives an authentication result of authenticating the first privately-owned terminal from the terminal management server; and when the authentication result indicates that the first privately-owned terminal is a legitimate terminal, and transmits a print request for printing data relating to the image being displayed to a printer through a network.

An information processing apparatus includes a user interface unit configured to receive a function execution request for processes, the function execution request containing designations of an input function and an output function; a search and linkage unit configured to acquire pieces of specifications information indicating functions of an input device and an output device from the respective devices, and generate, based on the pieces of specifications information, a linkage flow indicating an execution sequence and a combination of an input device and an output device which respectively have an input function and an output function designated in the function execution request, the devices executing the functions, respectively, in linkage with each other; and a flow executing unit configured to send process requests to the input device and the output device designated in the linkage flow, respectively.

An information processing apparatus includes a user interface unit configured to receive a function execution request for processes, the function execution request containing designations of an input function and an output function; a search and linkage unit configured to acquire pieces of specifications information indicating functions of an input device and an output device from the respective devices, and generate, based on the pieces of specifications information, a linkage flow indicating an execution sequence and a combination of an input device and an output device which respectively have an input function and an output function designated in the function execution request, the devices executing the functions, respectively, in linkage with each other; and a flow executing unit configured to send process requests to the input device and the output device designated in the linkage flow, respectively.

A method for routing object data that defines a 3-dimensional (3D) object to a 3D printer includes receiving the object data at a server and determining, by the server, object attributes associated with the object defined by the object data. The server searches a database that stores 3D printer attributes for one or more 3D printers capable of printing objects that possess the determined object attributes. If one or more capable printers are identified, the server communicates a list that identifies the one or more capable printers to a user.