An information processing apparatus includes a controller. The controller changes, in accordance with an order in which images related to devices that have been identified are linked to each other, an order of priority in which one or plural cooperative functions that use functions of the devices are displayed.

Electronic equipment is provided where a user can use easily data stored in plurality of electronic equipments while simplifying a system configuration and processing. Electronic equipment is provided having a document box as a document data storage area and connected to a network, the electronic equipment including a capacity inquiring part inquiring about an empty capacity of a document box of the other image forming devices connected via the network based on a document data storage request from a user, an external storage processing part transmitting document data corresponding to the storage request to the other image forming devices for storage when an empty capacity exists, and a data management part managing data stored in the document box of the other image forming devices as data stored in the document box of the own image forming device accessible from the user.

A monitoring apparatus determines a monitoring mode of a network device which is not registered in a central management apparatus based on capability information of the relevant network device and registers the relevant network device in the central management apparatus. When monitoring information is not yet transmitted from a network device of which a monitoring function is enabled to the central management apparatus or invalid, the central management apparatus is requested to start communication with the relevant network device. Based on a result of the communication, a registration state, communication information, and device information of the relevant network device managed by the monitoring apparatus are updated.

Provided herein is a user authentication method in a monitoring system that communicates with electronic equipment and monitors the electronic equipment. The monitoring system performs processes including: demanding a user to perform predetermined authentication operation that gives rise to a change in running status of the electronic equipment; acquiring, from the electronic equipment, running information that indicates the running status of the electronic equipment, the running status having changed due to the authentication operation; detecting, on a basis of the running information, that the authentication operation has been performed in response to the demand; and permitting, upon detection, the user to access the running information acquired from the electronic equipment.

An information processing device includes: an identification information acquiring unit that acquires, from a mobile terminal having acquired, from a machine, first machine identification information for identifying the machine, mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal and the first machine identification information; a job information acquiring unit that acquires, on a basis of the mobile terminal identification information, job information including at least job identification information for identifying a job being executed in another machine according to an instruction from the mobile terminal; an executability determining unit that determines, on a basis of used function information indicating a function to be used in the job, and first capacity information indicating a function executable by the machine, whether the machine can execute the job; and a job control unit that causes, when the job can be executed, the job to be distributed to and executed by the machine.

An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition section that acquires information from a communication device, and a switching section that switches an apparatus to process the information acquired from the communication device, between the information processing apparatus and another information processing apparatus, in accordance with a state of the information processing apparatus and a state of the communication device.

A technique for switching information shown on a portable communication terminal depending on a distance from an information processing apparatus is disclosed. Processing for determining information to be shown, by a portable communication terminal used by a serviceperson who does maintenance works for an information processing apparatus, includes determining whether or not the terminal is located at a distance equal to or shorter than a prescribed distance from the information processing apparatus, reading article information from a flash memory by the terminal when the portable communication terminal is not located at the distance equal to or shorter than the prescribed distance from the information processing apparatus, reading procedural information from the flash memory when the terminal is located at the distance equal to or shorter than the prescribed distance from the information processing apparatus, and reading a check item from the flash memory after a procedure ends.

An image reading apparatus includes a first communication device provided communicatively with a first information processing apparatus, a second communication device provided communicatively with a second information processing apparatus, and a processor to receive a setting for a transmission destination of an input image, prohibit transmission of the input image via the second communication device when the first information processing apparatus that can communicate via the first communication device is set as the transmission destination of the input image, determine whether the first communication device is in a state physically communicable with a network. The processor permits transmission of the input image via the second communication device when the first information processing apparatus is set as the transmission destination of the input image and it is determined that the first communication device is not in a state physically communicable with the network.

An image reading apparatus includes a first communication device provided communicatively with a first information processing apparatus, a second communication device provided communicatively with a second information processing apparatus, and a processor to receive a setting for a transmission destination of an input image, prohibit transmission of the input image via the second communication device when the first information processing apparatus that can communicate via the first communication device is set as the transmission destination of the input image, determine whether the first communication device is in a state physically communicable with a network. The processor permits transmission of the input image via the second communication device when the first information processing apparatus is set as the transmission destination of the input image and it is determined that the first communication device is not in a state physically communicable with the network.

An approach is provided for forecasting and reporting availability of multi-functional peripheral (MFP) devices. Availability data of MFP devices may be determined from historical usage data of the MFP devices, pending print job data of the MFP devices, current print job data of the MFP devices, operational data of the MFP devices, and/or a combination thereof. The availability data may be displayed on client computing devices to assists users to intelligently request print jobs.