Patent ID: 8294916

Claim:
An apparatus which is connectable to a document processing apparatus, comprising: a storage unit configured to store policy information indicating a first setting for inhibiting processing of an electronic document by the document processing apparatus; a first setting changing unit configured to change the first setting for inhibiting the processing of the electronic document by the document processing apparatus to a second setting for permitting the processing of the electronic document by the document processing apparatus; a transmission unit configured to transmit, in response to a request for the policy information, the policy information indicating the second setting to a sender of the request; a reception unit configured to receive, from the document processing apparatus, information indicating that the electronic document has been processed by the document processing apparatus; and a second setting changing unit configured to change the second setting for permitting the processing of the electronic document to the first setting for inhibiting the processing of the electronic document in response to the reception unit receiving the information indicating that the electronic document has been processed by the document processing apparatus, wherein the document processing apparatus comprises a printing apparatus.