A communication path switching apparatus comprising: an application unit configured to execute a certain function of performing wireless communication with another communication apparatus; a data switching unit configured to forward data received by a network interface for causing the application unit to execute the certain function; a control unit configured to make setting for causing the data switching unit to forward the data; and a virtual device unit configured to forward the data, which is forwarded from the data switching unit , to the application unit based on the setting made by the control unit , wherein the data switching unit is configured to forward the data acquired from the network interface provided outside the apparatus through a communication interface unit in the apparatus, characterized in that the communication path switching apparatus, further comprises: a determining unit configured to determine whether the data is certain data used for authenticating the wireless communication with the other communication apparatus, wherein when the determining unit determines that the data is the certain data, the data switching unit is configured to forward the certain data to the virtual device unit , wherein the data forwarded by the virtual device unit causes the application unit to execute the certain function of performing wireless communication with the other communication apparatus, wherein the application unit , the data switching unit , the control unit , the virtual device unit and the determining unit are connected via a bus . an application unit configured to execute a certain function of performing wireless communication with another communication apparatus; a data switching unit configured to forward data received by a network interface for causing the application unit to execute the certain function; a control unit configured to make setting for causing the data switching unit to forward the data; and a virtual device unit configured to forward the data, which is forwarded from the data switching unit , to the application unit based on the setting made by the control unit , wherein the data switching unit is configured to forward the data acquired from the network interface provided outside the apparatus through a communication interface unit in the apparatus, characterized in that the communication path switching apparatus, further comprises: a determining unit configured to determine whether the data is certain data used for authenticating the wireless communication with the other communication apparatus, wherein when the determining unit determines that the data is the certain data, the data switching unit is configured to forward the certain data to the virtual device unit , wherein the data forwarded by the virtual device unit causes the application unit to execute the certain function of performing wireless communication with the other communication apparatus, wherein the application unit , the data switching unit , the control unit , the virtual device unit and the determining unit are connected via a bus . a determining unit configured to determine whether the data is certain data used for authenticating the wireless communication with the other communication apparatus, wherein when the determining unit determines that the data is the certain data, the data switching unit is configured to forward the certain data to the virtual device unit , wherein the data forwarded by the virtual device unit causes the application unit to execute the certain function of performing wireless communication with the other communication apparatus, wherein the application unit , the data switching unit , the control unit , the virtual device unit and the determining unit are connected via a bus . <EOS>