Patent ID: 7382483

Claim:
An image forming apparatus coupled to an information processing apparatus via a communication line, the image forming apparatus comprising: a status detection section, detecting a status of the image forming apparatus; a notification information storage section, storing notification information that should be to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus, the notification information being information associated with the image forming apparatus and being supplied to a user of the image information processing apparatus; an information response section, generating apparatus information when the image forming apparatus receives an inquiry from the information processing apparatus, the apparatus information including the status and the notification information; wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a status storage section that stores the detected status, a terminal identification for the information processing apparatus and a notification flag that indicates whether the notification information has been sent to the information processing apparatus; wherein if the notification flag indicates that the notification information has been sent to the information processing apparatus, said information response section generates the apparatus information that includes only the status and sends the apparatus information to the information processing apparatus.