An image reproducing apparatus comprises suspending means that suspend a prescribed operation regarding image reproduction, releasing means that release the image reproducing apparatus from the suspended state, a job accepting unit that accepts multiple types of image-reproduction-related jobs in parallel, a determination unit, and a control unit. The component publishes, to the first topic, a first message comprising a first outcome associated with the unit of work. A control signal, by which the power supply unit is switched over between normal mode and standby mode, is coupled to the control input of this switching stage.