# US 11,122,185 B2 · Information processing system, image forming system, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,185 B2 - Document ID: US11122185B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/111,221 - Filed: 2018-08-24 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-31 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp. - Applicants: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp. - Inventors: Yosuke Kinoshita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122185B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/4433: {to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function} - G06F 3/1205: {resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets} - G06F 3/1222: {Increasing security of the print job} - G06F 3/1238: {Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs} - G06F 3/1261: {by using alternate printing} - G06F 3/1275: {Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing} - G06F 3/1285: {Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server} - G06F 3/1288: {in client-server-printer device configuration} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An information processing system includes an acquisition unit and a replacement unit. The acquisition unit acquires first level information indicating a level of a function of a first apparatus and second level information indicating a level of the function of a second apparatus. The replacement unit replaces the function of the second apparatus with the function of the first apparatus, in a case where the level indicated by the first level information acquired by the acquisition unit is higher than the level indicated by the second level information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information processing system comprising a processor configured to: acquire first level information indicating a level of a function of a first apparatus; second level information indicating a level of the function of a second apparatus, and a use frequency of the function of the second apparatus; and replace the function of the second apparatus with the function of the first apparatus in response to determining that the level indicated by the first level information is higher than the level indicated by the second level information and the use frequency is higher than a predetermined value, wherein in a case where the number of at least one of first apparatuses or second apparatuses is plural, the processor specifies the first apparatus or the second apparatus having a highest level of the function, and replaces the function of each of the other apparatuses with the function of the specified first apparatus or second apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the level indicated by the first level information is higher than the level indicated by the second level information, the use frequency is higher than the predetermined value, and the use frequency is increasing, the processor replaces the function of the second apparatus with the function of the first apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the function of the first apparatus after replacing the function becomes unusable, the processor returns the replaced function of the second apparatus to the function of the second apparatus and replaces the function of the first apparatus with the function of the second apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the case where the function of the first apparatus becomes unusable is a case where the first apparatus is under maintenance or a case where the first apparatus fails. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the first apparatus further includes a display that displays a message indicating that the function of the second apparatus is replaced with the function of the first apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor further acquires a use frequency of the function of the specified first apparatus or second apparatus, and wherein in a case where the use frequency is higher than a predetermined value, the processor distributes the use of the function of the specified first apparatus or second apparatus to the other apparatuses having the function within a predetermined level lower than the highest level. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the function of the first apparatus after replacing the function becomes unusable, the processor returns the replaced function of the second apparatus to the function of the second apparatus and replaces the function of the first apparatus with the function of the second apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the case where the function of the first apparatus becomes unusable is a case where the first apparatus is under maintenance or a case where the first apparatus fails. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first apparatus further includes a display that displays a message indicating that the function of the second apparatus is replaced with the function of the first apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein the second apparatus further includes another display that displays the message. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is a new apparatus which is newly connected to the network, wherein the second apparatus is an existing apparatus which is already connected to the network, and wherein the new apparatus includes the processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is a new apparatus which is newly connected to the network, wherein the second apparatus is an existing apparatus which is already connected to the network, and wherein the existing apparatus includes the processor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a server apparatus connected to the network, wherein the first apparatus is a new apparatus which is newly connected to the network, wherein the second apparatus is an existing apparatus which is already connected to the network, and wherein the server apparatus includes the processor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to function as: the processor of the information processing system according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 An image forming system comprising a processor configured to: acquire first level information indicating a level of a function of a first image forming apparatus, second level information indicating a level of the function of a second image forming apparatus, and a use frequency of the function of the second apparatus; and replace the function of the second image forming apparatus with the function of the first image forming apparatus in response to determining that the level indicated by the first level information is higher than the level indicated by the second level information and the use frequency is higher than a predetermined value, wherein in a case where the number of at least one of first apparatuses or second apparatuses is plural, the processor specifies the first apparatus or the second apparatus having a highest level of the function, and replaces the function of each of the other apparatuses with the function of the specified first apparatus or second apparatus.