An information processing system, comprising:
- a network, said network including a plurality of communication lines, a plurality of information processing apparatuses are connected to said network by a bridge operable to interconnect at least two of said communication lines, each of said plurality of information processing apparatuses having a node identifier, the node identifier of each information apparatus connected to the communication line is updated when a reset of communication line occurs;
- a first information processing apparatus connected to said network operable to perform a specified function related to audio/video signal processing for which a reservation for use has been made by an information processing apparatus connected to said network, said first information processing apparatus including a storage unit operable to store (i) identification information globally unique to said information processing apparatus which makes said reservation and (ii) a priority value of said reservation, wherein said first information processing apparatus rejects commands, other than a reservation request command, issued by information processing apparatuses other than said information processing apparatus which makes said reservation;
- a second information processing apparatus connected to said network and including a control unit operable to control said specified function of said first information processing apparatus, and a command transmitting unit operable to transmit said reservation request command with (i) identification information globally unique to said second information processing apparatus and (ii) a first priority value of reservation, to said first information processing apparatus, when said second information processing apparatus makes a reservation for use of said specified function of said first information processing apparatus;
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- a third information processing apparatus connected to said network and including a control unit operable to control said specified function of said first information processing apparatus, a readout unit operable to read out from said storage unit of said first information processing apparatus (i) said identification information globally unique to said second information processing apparatus and (ii) said first priority value of reservation set by said second information processing apparatus, a decision unit operable to verity whether a reservation for use of said specified function of said first information processing apparatus by said third information processing apparatus is possible based on said information read out, and a command transmitting unit operable to transmit said reservation request command with (i) identification information globally unique to said third information processing apparatus and (ii) a second priority value of reservation, to said first information processing apparatus, if it is verified that said reservation for use is possible.