Image forming apparatus and communication method for transmission of data through relay

An image forming apparatus can include a communications circuit, a printer, and a controller. The communications circuit is configured to communicate with a networked image forming apparatus via a network. The printer is configured to form an image on a sheet. The controller includes a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to acquire sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to the controller; determine, via the network, a relay image forming apparatus, the relay image forming apparatus having an operating rate being relatively lower than an operating rate of multiple image forming apparatuses including the image forming apparatus and the networked image forming apparatus; and transmit, via the relay image forming apparatus, the sensor data to a predetermined recipient apparatus.