Abstract: Described is a system for managing a printing service incorporating: a network-connected printer disposed on a local area network, a cloud-based printing service managing a printing queue holding at least one print job, a service provider smart device and a network-connected appliance device disposed on the local area network and communicatively coupled with the network-connected printer, the network-connected appliance device being configured to determine a status of the network-connected printer, connect to the cloud-based printing service and communicate the determined status of the network-connected printer to the cloud-based printing service. The service provider smart device is configured to generate a graphical user interface on the display and receive, using the generated graphical user interface, a printing service information from a service provider and to communicate the received printing service information to the cloud-based printing service.

Abstract: A relay apparatus includes: a first transmission unit that transmits first information specifying the relay apparatus to the management apparatus through a network, in response to the relay apparatus being connected to the network; a collection unit that collects management information regarding a management target device, from the management target device connected to the network, in which the collection unit does not collect the management information from the management target device until an activation instruction is received from the management apparatus, and starts to collect the management information from the management target device only after the activation instruction is received from the management apparatus; and a second transmission unit that transmits the collected management information to the management apparatus.

Abstract: A relay apparatus includes: a first transmission unit that transmits first information specifying the relay apparatus to the management apparatus through a network, in response to the relay apparatus being connected to the network; a collection unit that collects management information regarding a management target device, from the management target device connected to the network, in which the collection unit does not collect the management information from the management target device until an activation instruction is received from the management apparatus, and starts to collect the management information from the management target device only after the activation instruction is received from the management apparatus; and a second transmission unit that transmits the collected management information to the management apparatus.