Image processing system, image processing method, and image processing apparatus

1. An image processing system comprising:

a plurality of image forming apparatuses; and

at least one server apparatus, the image forming apparatuses and the server apparatus being mutually connected via a network, the server apparatus being configured to manage load statuses of the plurality of image forming apparatuses,

each of the image forming apparatuses including a processor configured to

upon determining that information processing is not to be performed by the image forming apparatus to which the processor belongs based on a load status of the image forming apparatus to which the processor belongs, determine whether or not the other image forming apparatuses include an alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on load statuses of other image forming apparatuses of the plurality of image forming apparatuses acquired from the server apparatus, and

when the other image forming apparatuses include the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing, request the alternative image forming apparatus to perform the information processing, but when the other image forming apparatuses do not include the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing, request the server apparatus to perform the information processing.

2. The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor determines whether or not the other image forming apparatuses include the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on load statuses and information processing capabilities of the other image forming apparatuses acquired from the server apparatus.

3. The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor determines the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on at least any one of a number of jobs waiting, a size of a job waiting to be processed, and an operation status of each of the other image forming apparatuses.

4. The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor issues a request requesting to perform the information processing on a per-workflow-data basis, where workflow data contains one or a plurality of information processing activities.

5. The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor issues a request requesting to perform the information processing on a per-information-processing-activity basis, where workflow data contains one or a plurality of information processing activities.

6. The image processing system according to claim 5 , wherein

after completion of one information processing activity, the processor issues a request requesting to perform a next information processing activity.

7. An image processing method for an image processing system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and at least one server apparatus, the image forming apparatuses and the server apparatus being mutually connected via a network, the image processing method comprising:

determining, by a processor of an image forming apparatus of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, upon determining that information processing is not to be performed by the image forming apparatus to which the processor belongs based on a load status of the image forming apparatus to which the processor belongs, whether or not other image forming apparatuses of the plurality of image forming apparatuses include an alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on load statuses of the other image forming apparatuses acquired from the server apparatus; and

requesting, by a processor of the image forming apparatus, when the other image forming apparatuses include the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing, the alternative image forming apparatus to perform the information processing, but when the other image forming apparatuses do not include the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing, requesting the server apparatus to perform the information processing.

8. The image processing method according to claim 7 , wherein

the determining determines whether or not the other image forming apparatuses include the alternative mage forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on load statuses and information processing capabilities of the other image forming apparatuses acquired from the server apparatus.

9. The image processing method according to claim 7 , wherein

the determining determines the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on at least any one of a number of jobs waiting, a size of a job waiting to be processed, and an operation status of each of the other image forming apparatuses.

10. The image processing method according to claim 7 , wherein

the requesting issues a request requesting to perform the information processing on a per-workflow-data basis, where workflow data contains one or a plurality of information processing activities.

11. The image processing method according to claim 7 , wherein

the requesting issues a request requesting to perform the information processing on a per-information-processing-activity basis, where workflow data contains one or a plurality of information processing activities.

12. The image processing method according to claim 11 , wherein

after completion of one information processing activity, the requesting issues a request requesting to perform a next information processing activity.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising

a processor configured to,

upon determining that information processing is not to be performed by the image forming apparatus based on a load status of the image forming apparatus, determine whether or not other image forming apparatuses on a network include an alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on load statues of the other image forming apparatuses acquired from a server apparatus via the network; and

when the other image forming apparatuses include the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing, request the alternative image forming apparatus to perform the information processing, but when the other image forming apparatuses do not include the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing, request the server apparatus to perform the information processing.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the processor determines whether or not the other image forming apparatuses include the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on load statuses and information processing capabilities of the other image forming apparatuses acquired from the server apparatus.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the processor determines the alternative image forming apparatus capable of performing the information processing based on at least any one of a number of jobs waiting, a size of a job waiting to be processed, and an operation status of each of the other image forming apparatuses.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the processor issues a request requesting to perform the information processing on a per-workflow-data basis, where workflow data contains one or a plurality of information processing activities.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the processor issues a request requesting to perform the information processing on a per-information-processing activity basis, where workflow data contains one or a plurality of information processing activities.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein

after completion of one information processing activity, the processor issues a request requesting to perform a next information processing activity.