Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and non-transitory computer readable medium

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer in a first image forming apparatus to execute a process for image formation, the first image forming apparatus being configured to perform a printing process by acquiring print information retained by a second image forming apparatus, the process comprising:

• performing the printing process in a situation where the print information is unavailable from the second image forming apparatus and where the print information is retained by a second virtual image forming apparatus that is a virtual apparatus corresponding to the second image forming apparatus, by acquiring the print information retained by the second virtual image forming apparatus,
• wherein the process further comprises:
• determining whether to first access the second image forming apparatus or the second virtual image forming apparatus in accordance with a predetermined criterion, the predetermined criterion being that an apparatus having a higher speed of communication is to be first accessed, and
• wherein the apparatus having a higher speed of communication
• is the second image forming apparatus during a time period in which frequency of use of the second image forming apparatus is less than a predetermined threshold, and
• is the second virtual image forming apparatus during a time period in which the frequency of use is equal to the predetermined threshold or more.

An image forming method of performing a printing process in a first image forming apparatus by acquiring print information retained by a second image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the first image forming apparatus, an instruction to perform the printing process on print data retained by the second image forming apparatus;
• transmitting, by the first image forming apparatus, a request to the second image forming apparatus to send the print data to the first image forming apparatus;
• upon determining that the second image forming apparatus is unavailable to send the print data in response to the request, transmitting, by the first image forming apparatus, a request to a virtual image forming apparatus to send the print data to the first image forming apparatus;
• and
• upon receiving the print data from the virtual image forming apparatus, performing, by the first image forming apparatus, the printing process on the print data received from the virtual image forming apparatus.