Patent ID: 7573592

Claim:
An image processing apparatus connected to an external processing apparatus having a host function comprising: a printing unit having a print controller and configured to execute a PC printing based on an instruction from the external processing apparatus and a local printing based on an instruction from the image processing apparatus; a first interface unit configured to connect to the external processing apparatus, said first interface unit having a client function; a second interface unit, compliant with a communication standard identical to a communication standard of said first interface unit, connected to said printing unit, said second interface unit having the host function in communication with said printing unit; a first memory unit configured to store management information managed by the image processing apparatus: a second memory unit, which is managed by the print controller in the printing unit, configured to store status information of the printing unit; and a control unit configured to control a transfer of at least one of the status information and the management information, without processing the status information and the management information, between said first interface unit and said second interface unit, wherein, upon starting the local printing, said control unit transfers the management information stored in said first memory unit to said second memory unit via the second interface unit and, when status information of said printing unit is requested by the external processing apparatus via the first interface during execution of the local printing, receives the requested status information of said printing unit and the management information, which are stored in said second memory unit from the print controller via the second interface unit and transfers the received status information and management information to the external processing apparatus via the first interface unit.