Server reservation method, reservation control apparatus and program storage medium

A reservation control apparatus for controlling reservations for the use of a processing server that carries out predetermined processing in order for a user terminal apparatus to use the functions of said processing server by accessing said processing server via a network, said reservation control apparatus comprising:

• receiving means for receiving reservation request information including a desired service time to use said processing server supplied from said user terminal apparatus via the network;
• permission notifying means for sending, when the reservation for the use of said processing server during said desired service time included in said reservation request information is accepted, permission notification information to notify that the reservation is accepted, to said user terminal apparatus via the network;
• reconfirmation information receiving means for receiving the reconfirmation information for said accepted reservation sent from said user terminal apparatus via the network;
• reservation confirming means for confirming said reservation when said reconfirmation information is received by a predetermined time before said desired service time, and for canceling said reservation when said reconfirmation information is not received by a predetermined time before said desired service time;
• and
• storing means for storing communication/connection information used for said user terminal apparatus to connect and communicate with said processing server sent from said reservation control apparatus when said reservation is confirmed.

A program storage medium storing computer program instruction that cause a reservation control apparatus to implement a method of controlling reservations for the use of a processing server that carries out predetermined processing in order for a user terminal apparatus to use the functions of said processing server by accessing said processing server via a network, said method comprising:

• receiving reservation request information including a desired service time to use said processing server supplied from said user terminal apparatus via the network;
• sending, when the reservation for the use of said processing server during said desired service time included in said reservation request information is accepted, permission notification information to notify that the reservation is accepted, to said user terminal apparatus via the network;
• receiving the reconfirmation information for said accepted reservation sent from said user terminal apparatus via the network;
• confirming said reservation when said reconfirmation information is received by a predetermined time before said desired service time, and of canceling said reservation when said reconfirmation information is not received by a predetermined time before said desired service time;
• storing communication/connection information used for said user terminal apparatus to connect and communicate with said processing server sent from said reservation control apparatus when said reservation is confirmed.