Information processing apparatus and information processing system

An information processing system comprising:

• a plurality of information processing apparatuses,
• wherein each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses includes
• a memory that stores authentication information for performing user authentication,
• a computer processor that performs a method comprising:
• when authentication information of a user is not stored in the memory, requesting the authentication information of the user from a different information processing apparatus,
• performing the user authentication by using the authentication information stored in the memory or the authentication information obtained from the different information processing apparatus in response to the request, and
• determining whether the information processing apparatus or the different information processing apparatus is to store the authentication information in accordance with a usage history about the user's uses of the information processing apparatus and the different information processing apparatus,
• wherein, when the authentication information is not stored in the information processing apparatus, if it is determined that the information processing apparatus is to store the authentication information, the memory stores the authentication information obtained in response to the request.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory that stores authentication information for performing user authentication;
• a computer processor that performs a method comprising:
• when authentication information of a user is not stored in the memory, requesting the authentication information of the user from a different information processing apparatus;
• performing the user authentication by using the authentication information stored in the memory or the authentication information obtained from the different information processing apparatus in response to the request;
• and
• determining whether the information processing apparatus or the different information processing apparatus is to store the authentication information,
• wherein, when the authentication information is not stored in the information processing apparatus, if it is determined that the information processing apparatus is to store the authentication information, the memory stores the authentication information obtained in response to the request,
• wherein the memory stores the authentication information of the user and a usage history about the user's uses of the information processing apparatus and the different information processing apparatus, and
• wherein when the information processing apparatus does not store the authentication information, if it is determined that the information processing apparatus is to store the authentication information, the memory stores the authentication information and the usage history.