Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Hiroshi Hiraki

Masanori Itoh

Mototsugu Emori

Kengo Yamamoto

Takuma Katori

Hiroki Kohmura

A client terminal transmits a call request for using a MFP to a call control server. The call control server carries out authentication processing about a user and the MFP in response to the call request. If the authentication processing result is correct, the call control server transfers the call request to the printing service management server. The call request is transferred from the printing service management server to a printing service providing server and then transferred to the MFP via the call control server. Thus, a session of the client terminal and the MFP is established. The printing service providing server carries out processing for providing a predetermined printing service based on the call request from the client terminal.

Printing service providing method and printing service providing system

A method of providing a service for sharing a printing environment using multiple service providing apparatuses connected via a network is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) a first service providing apparatus managing service data including data on the hierarchical relationship between the first service providing apparatus and second and third service providing apparatuses connected thereto; and (b) the first service providing apparatus transferring information and/or data on printing reservation to the second service providing apparatus in response to a request from the third service providing apparatus.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Hiroshi Hiraki