Data processing system, information processing apparatus, data processing method, and computer program

An information processing apparatus which is a constituent of a data processing system comprising a plurality of peripheral information processing apparatuses which can communicate with each other, said information processing apparatus comprising:

• means for generating a resources finding query in which requested function information based on a user requested function is stored and for transmitting the resources finding query to a peripheral information processing apparatus which is a constituent of said plurality of information processing apparatuses;
• means for receiving a resources finding query from one of the peripheral information processing apparatuses, determining whether or not a function based on a requested function information stored in the received resources finding query can be provided, and generating a response to be transmitted, in which the determination result is stored as status information;
• means for selecting a peripheral information processing apparatus for which the user requested function is to be used on the basis of the transmission of a response to the transmitted resources finding query and for issuing a resources using query to the selected peripheral information processing apparatus;
• and
• means for performing a process of setting the provision of a function corresponding to said requested function information on the basis of the reception of said resources using query from the one of the information processing apparatuses.

A data processing method for use with a data processing system comprising a plurality of information processing apparatuses which can communicate with each other, said data processing method comprising the steps of:

• issuing, from one main information processing apparatus, a resources finding query in which requested function information based on a user request is stored;
• determining whether or not the functions based on the requested function information stored in the received resources finding query can be provided in the peripheral information processing apparatus receiving said resources finding query and transmitting a response, in which the determination result is stored as status information, to said main information processing apparatus;
• selecting a peripheral information processing apparatus for which the function is to be used on the basis of the transmission of the response received by said main information processing apparatus from said peripheral information processing apparatus and issuing a resources using query to the selected peripheral information processing apparatus;
• and
• providing the function corresponding to said requested function in the peripheral information processing apparatus receiving the resources using query.

A computer program for executing information processing in an information processing apparatus which is a constituent of a data processing system comprising a plurality of information processing apparatuses which can communicate with each other, said program comprising:

• a step of generating a resources finding query in which requested function information based on a user request is stored and transmitting the resources finding query to a peripheral information processing apparatus which is a constituent of said plurality of information processing apparatuses;
• a step of receiving a resources finding query, determining whether or not the function based on the requested function information stored in the received resources finding query can be provided, and generating a response to be transmitted, in which the determination result is stored as status information;
• a step of selecting a peripheral information processing apparatus for which the function is to be used on the basis of the transmission of the response for the resources finding query and issuing a resources using query to the selected peripheral information processing apparatus;
• and
• a step of performing a process of setting the provision of the function corresponding to said requested function on the basis of the reception of said resources using query.