Patent ID: 7728996

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: an input unit configured to input an image; a network control unit configured to perform connection to an external network; an output unit configured to output the image to the external network; and a control unit configured to perform connection to an authentication unit connected to the external network using the network control unit and to request the authentication unit for an authentication process, wherein, for each of a plurality of functions that are selectable by a user, the control unit stores in advance information from the user as to whether or not inputting authentication setting information is required before inputting another setting information, when the selected function requests the output unit to output the image to the external network and the information stored by the control unit for the selected function is that inputting the authentication setting information is required before inputting the other setting information, the control unit requires the user to input the authentication setting information before inputting the other setting information, and when the selected function requests the output unit to output the image to the external network and the information stored by the control unit for the selected function is that inputting the authentication setting information is not required before inputting the other setting information, the control unit presents to the user options including (i) inputting authentication setting information before inputting another setting information and (ii) inputting the authentication setting information after inputting said another setting information.