Patent ID: 8161213

Claim:
An apparatus connectable with an external device, comprising: a data communication unit configured to perform data communication with the external device; a data storing unit configured to store therein data received from the external device and/or data to be sent to the external device via the data communication unit; a first device information output unit configured to send first device information for making the external device recognize the apparatus as a storage, to the external device via the data communication unit; a second device information output unit configured to send second device information for making the external device recognize the apparatus as a printer, to the external device via the data communication unit; a contact point configured to selectively connect the data communication unit with one of the first device information output unit and the second device information output unit such that when the contact point connects the data communication unit with the first device information output unit, the first device information output unit is permitted to send the first device information to the external device via the data communication unit, and the second device information output unit is not permitted to send the second device information to the external device via the data communication unit, and when the contact point connects the data communication unit with the second device information output unit, the first device information output unit is not permitted to send the first device information to the external device via the data communication unit, and the second device information output unit is permitted to send the second device information to the external device via the data communication unit; a status checking unit configured to check a remaining capacity of the data storing unit when the data communication unit receives a status signal for inquiring as to a status of the printer that is transmitted by the external device in response to the second device information; and an error signal output unit configured to send an error signal representing a status “out of paper” to the external device via the data communication unit when the status checking unit judges that the remaining capacity of the data storing unit is insufficient, wherein, when the data communication unit receives print data for the printer that is transmitted by the external device in cases where the second device information is sent by the second device information output unit, the data storing unit stores the print data in a state readable externally via the data communication unit.