Patent ID: 7573595

Claim:
An information management system in which a file server that holds file information, a stock management server that manages a stock of an image-printed medium on which an image based on the file information has been printed, and a printing apparatus can communicate, wherein said stock management server comprises: a storage unit adapted to store stock information indicating an amount of the stock of the image-printed medium on which the image based on the file information has been printed, and identification information of the file information, and a first reply unit adapted to reply, according to an inquiry of stock information corresponding to the identification information indicated by said printing apparatus, the stock information corresponding to the indicated identification information to said printing apparatus, wherein said file server comprises: a second reply unit adapted to reply, according to an acquisition request of a file information list issued from said printing apparatus, the file information list to said printing apparatus, and a third reply unit adapted to reply, according to an acquisition request of the file information issued from said printing apparatus,, the file information to said printing apparatus, wherein said printing apparatus comprises: a display control unit adapted to cause a display unit to display a first screen for displaying the file information list acquired from said file server and enabling a user to select at least one file information from the file information list, and an acquisition unit adapted to acquire the stock information corresponding to the selected file information from said stock management server by sending the identification information corresponding to the selected file information to said stock management server, wherein said display control unit further causes the display unit to display a second screen on which the stock information acquired from said stock management server, a first designating key to designate a first amount to be delivered, a second designating key to designate a second amount to be printed, and an execution key are simultaneously displayed, and wherein, when the execution key is operated in a state in which both the first amount and the second amount have been designated, said printing apparatus performs both an operation of requesting said stock management server to deliver the image-printed medium in a quantity corresponding to the designated first amount and an operation of printing the file information acquired from said file server in a quantity corresponding to the designated second amount.