Patent ID: 8085422

Claim:
A printing system including a printing apparatus for performing print processing based on print data, and one of a plurality of information processing apparatuses for generating the print data based on image data input thereto, and transmitting the print data to said printing apparatus, wherein said printing apparatus comprises: a storage unit configured to store identification information for identifying a plurality of printer drivers that operate in said plurality of information processing apparatuses and are capable of transmitting print data generated thereby to said printing apparatus; an identification information-transmitting unit configured to be operable when an operating apparatus that can communicate with said printing apparatus requests said printing apparatus to transmit the identification information, to transmit the identification information to said operating apparatus, so as to cause said operating apparatus to select one of the plurality of printer drivers; a selection information-receiving unit configured to receive selection information indicative of the printer driver selected by said operating apparatus in response to transmission of the identification information to said operating apparatus by said identification information-transmitting unit, and the image data, from said operating apparatus; a selection unit configured to select the printer driver for generating the print data based on the selection information received by said selection information-receiving unit; a transfer unit configured to transfer the image data received from said operating apparatus, to one of said plurality of information processing apparatuses provided with the printer driver selected by said selection unit; a print data-receiving unit configured to receive from one of said plurality of information processing apparatuses provided with the printer driver selected by said selection unit, print data generated by said information processing apparatus; and a printing unit configured to execute print processing based on the print data received by said print data-receiving unit, and wherein one of said plurality of information processing apparatuses provided with the printer driver selected by said selection unit comprises: a generation unit configured to generate print data based on the image data transferred by said transfer unit by causing the printer driver selected by said selection unit to operate; and a print data-transmitting unit configured to transmit the print data generated by said generation unit to said printing apparatus.