Image forming apparatus and communication method for transmission of data through relay

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a communications circuit configured to communicate with a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network;
• a printer configured to form an image on a sheet;
• and
• a sensor;
• a controller comprising a processor and a memory, the controller configured to:
• receive sensor data from the sensor;
• select, as a relay image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus from the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on identifying an image forming apparatus having relatively fewer user terminals connected thereto than at least one image forming apparatus of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• and
• transmit, via the relay image forming apparatus via the network, the sensor data to a predetermined recipient apparatus.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a communications circuit configured to communicate with a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network;
• a printer configured to form an image on a sheet;
• and
• a sensor;
• a controller comprising a processor and a memory, the controller configured to:
• receive sensor data from the sensor;
• select, as a relay image forming apparatus, a first image forming apparatus from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the first image forming apparatus having an operating rate that is lower than an operating rate of at least one image forming apparatus of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
• and
• transmit, via the relay image forming apparatus via the network, the sensor data to a predetermined recipient apparatus,
• wherein the network includes a first router and a second router, the first router in communication with the communications circuit and a first plurality of user terminals, the second router is in communication with a second plurality of user terminals and a second image forming apparatus of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.