Patent ID: 7102777

Claim:
An image process apparatus comprising: an image information input/output function, that makes it possible to selectively access a predetermined image processing service via a network; a communication section for communicating, via the network, with a plurality of service providers that provide image processing service information; a compression/decompression control section for controlling compression/decompression of image information; an encryption control section for controlling encryption/decryption image information; a service information database for storing the image processing service information provided by the plurality of service providers; and a control section for controlling a selection of whether to register the image processing service information acquired via the network in the service information database, or to temporarily utilize the image processing service information without registration, when registering the image processing service information in the service information database, and controlling storage in the service information database of communication information comprising at least one of a compression/decompression scheme used in the compression/decompression control section, an encryption/decryption scheme used in the encryption control section, or operational information.