Patent ID: 7130066

Claim:
An image processing apparatus that performs an image processing service provided by a first operating instruction about image processing and a second operating instruction about image processing for a different image processing apparatus, comprising: registration means for registering registration information for a user who is authorized to use said image processing apparatus; input means for entering user information and the first operating instruction for said image processing apparatus, wherein the first operating instruction is an instruction for performing a scanning operation, and the second operating instruction is an instruction for performing a printing operation; first authentication means for employing the registration information registered by said registration means and the user information entered by said input means to determine whether the first operating instruction for scanning is authorized for the user; transmission means for, based on results obtained by said first authentication means, transmitting to the different image processing apparatus the second operating instruction and the user information entered by said input means; second authentication means for obtaining from the different image processing apparatus results of an authentication process, performed for the user information received from said transmission means, to determine whether the second operating instruction for printing is authorized for the user on the different image processing apparatus; and determination means for employing the results obtained by said second authentication means to determine whether the user is to be permitted to use said image processing apparatus in conjunction with the different image processing apparatus to perform the first and second operating instructions of the image processing service, wherein when (a) said first authentication means determines that the first operating instruction for scanning is authorized for the user, and (b) said determination means determines that the user is permitted to use the second operating instruction for printing, the first operating instruction for scanning is performed by said image processing apparatus and the second operating instruction for printing is performed by the different image processing apparatus after the first operating instruction is performed.