Image forming system including interconnected and priority allocated image forming devices

An image forming system comprising:

• a first image forming device which an operator uses to set various conditions, said first image forming device defining image output means;
• a plurality of second image forming devices each defining a separate image output means, and each being connected to said first image forming device through communication means;
• and
• at least one post processing device associated respectively with the image output means of said first image forming device and/or at least one of said plurality of second image forming devices and connected to said first image forming device by said communication means;
• wherein:
• said first image forming device includes control means (i) for searching said plurality of second image forming devices and the post processing device as may be associated therewith, (ii) for allocating an output capacity to each of said plurality of second image forming devices having a post processing device associated therewith such that the image output means of each of said plurality of second image forming devices is set to be equal to the output capacity of the associated post processing device, (iii) for selecting all of said image forming devices capable of, or having an allocated capability of, outputting in accordance with previously set conditions for outputting, (iv) for prioritizing among said selected image forming devices according to a predetermined criteria, (v) for allocating an outputting job to at least one of said selected image forming devices such that said outputting job will be performed most efficiently and/or conveniently by those of said selected image forming devices having the highest available priorities, and (vi) transferring image data to said at least one of the plurality of second image forming devices having the outputting job allocated to it so as to cause said at least one of the plurality of second image forming devices to perform the allocated outputting job.