Information processing device assignment method, information processing system and management server

An information processing system including a plurality of information processing devices, a management server for managing the information processing devices, and a plurality of terminals, which are connected to each other via a network,

• wherein
• the management server comprises:
• a first storage unit for storing state information of assignment of the information processing devices to the terminals;
• a second storage unit for storing condition information of assignment of the information processing devices to users of the terminals;
• an assignment request reception unit for receiving an information processing device assignment request from one of the terminals via the network;
• an information processing device determination unit for determining an information processing device to be assigned to the terminal of assignment request origin on the basis of state information of assignment of the information processing devices to the terminals stored in the first storage unit and condition information of assignment of the information processing devices to users of the terminals stored in the second storage unit in response to the received assignment request;
• a destination information transmission unit for transmitting destination information of the information processing device determined by the information processing device determination unit to the terminal of assignment request origin via the network;
• and
• an assignment state update unit for updating a state of assignment of the information processing device to a terminal stored in the first storage unit from an unassigned state to a state indicating assignment to the terminal of assignment request origin, and
• each of the terminals comprises:
• an assignment request transmission unit for transmitting the information processing device assignment request to the management server via the network;
• a destination information reception unit for receiving destination information of the information processing device assigned to the terminal from the management server via the network;
• and
• a communication unit for communicating with the information processing device having the destination information by using the destination information received by the destination information reception unit, and
• each of the information processing devices comprises a communication unit for communicating with the terminal to which the destination information of the information processing device has been transmitted from the management server via the network.

A management server connected to a plurality of information processing devices and terminals via a network, the management server comprising:

• a first storage unit for storing state information of assignment of the information processing devices to the terminals;
• a second storage unit for storing condition information of assignment of the information processing devices to the terminals;
• and
• a control unit responsive to reception of an information processing device assignment request from one of the terminals via the network, for determining an information processing device to be assigned to the terminal of assignment request origin on the basis of state information of assignment of the information processing devices to the terminals stored in the first storage unit and condition information of assignment of the information processing devices to users of the terminals stored in the second storage unit in response to the received assignment request, transmitting destination information of the determined information processing device to the terminal of assignment request origin via the network, and updating a state of assignment of the information processing device to a terminal stored in the first storage unit from an unassigned state to a state indicating assignment to the terminal of assignment request origin.