Abstract: A request for the transmission of operation data is transmitted by a remote controller to an object apparatus to be manipulated. When following the request it is found that the operation data can not be accepted, the request for the transmission of operation data is transmitted to a server. The operation data received from the object apparatus or the server are employed to update and save the operation data held by the remote controller, with an operating screen corresponding to the communication status being displayed, so that input manipulation can be performed in accordance with the procedures corresponding to the condition.

Abstract: A client generates a request in accordance with an operation initiated by a user, and transmits the request to a server for a local apparatus or to another apparatus. The server interprets the received request, adds a job to a database, and generates and transmits operation screen information to the client. Then, a daemon monitors the database, and detects and performs an executable job. Furthermore, when the local apparatus is designated to display a job list, to select a job therefrom and to print it, the local apparatus processes the job. When another apparatus is designated to process a job, the job is transmitted to that apparatus. When the transmission source of the received job matches a transmission source that has been registered, the execution process is inhibited. The time for executing a selected job is designated and, so that the selected job will be executed at that time, is stored with the job.

Abstract: A computer analyzes a printing instruction received from the user, and recognizes situations, e.g., properties and status, of available printers. When analysis of the printing instruction results in that a process instructed from the user is, for example, to print a colored document and an apparatus instructed to execute the process is a monochromatic printer, and recognition of the situations results in that an available color printer exists, the computer determines that the instructed printing process of the colored document should be instructed to not the monochromatic printer having been instructed, but the color printer, and then issues to the user an inquiry as to whether to print the document using the color printer.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a moving unit enclosing a display for displaying information, a base portion having an expandable supporting device for rotatably supporting the moving unit, and a supporting position control unit for controlling the supporting device at an arbitrary position. The supporting device is expanded or contracted synchronously with the rotation of the moving unit. A control unit for controlling the expansion and contraction of the supporting device is also provided. The control unit is a cam, a motor, or a gear.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a fan sensor for detecting a failure of a fan for cooling an inside of the apparatus and for outputting a cooling fan failure signal, a counter for starting time counting when the cooling fan failure signal is output and for outputting a time-out signal when counting to a predetermined value, and a power supply unit for supplying a power to the information processing apparatus and for stopping the power supply responding to the time-out signal, so as to prevent electronic components from being damaged by heat. If a cooling fan failure signal is output, the apparatus notifies a user of the fan failure and of a stop warning and performs a software protective operation during time counting with the counter.

Abstract: A printer that is instructed to perform a printing job analyzes the job and determines a process to be executed, and identifies the performances of the printer and other printers and their states. Based on the results of the analysis and on the states of the printers, the printer decides whether it should not perform a process or whether the process should be performed by another printer. It also decides whether a process is unnecessary or is not permitted for a user, and halts the performance of such a process. When it determines that a process should be performed by another printer, it transfers the job to that printer.