A multifunction machine/server system capable of dealing with electronic
documents at a higher efficiency and being actualized at low costs, is
disclosed. The multifunction machine executes, when given a request for a
second kind of process, the requested second kind of process without
linkage with the server, and, when given a request for a first kind of
process, requests the server to execute the first kind of process. The
server incorporates a function of executing the first kind of processes
that a plurality of multifunction machines request the server to execute.
The multifunction machine/server system is constructed of the thus
structured server and the plurality of thus structured multifunction
machines.