Appeal No. 2003-1867
Application No. 09/151,321
BACKGROUND
The invention is directed to a system for selecting a network-connected image
forming apparatus (e.g., a printer), in which a present job is registered in the apparatus,
based on the apparatus already storing another job having the specific mode (e.g., a
mode requiring a particular paper supply) with respect to the present job. Claim 1 is
reproduced below.
1. A device for selecting a network-connected image forming apparatus from
a plurality of network-connected image forming apparatuses, where each of at
least two of the plurality of image forming apparatuses has a specific mode, the
device comprising:
a controller for selecting one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses
connected with the network,
wherein when an input job has a specific mode, said controller selects an
image forming apparatus which has a specific mode and which stores a prior job
having the specific mode of the input job at the time the selection is made, and
said controller for registering the input job in the selected image forming
apparatus.
The examiner relies on the following evidence:
Hower, Jr. et al. (Hower) 5,467,434 Nov. 14, 1995
Maniwa et al. (Maniwa) 5,768,483 Jun. 16, 1998
(filed Sep. 24, 1996)
Shibusawa et al. (Shibusawa) 6,088,120 Jul. 11, 2000
(filed Mar. 26, 1997)
Appellant’s admitted prior art (the APA).
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