Patent ID: 8345296

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: an apparatus main unit control software storage unit configured to store new apparatus main unit control software used to control a main unit of the image processing apparatus on a non-volatile storage device; a combination appropriateness determination unit configured to determine whether a combination of the new apparatus main unit control software and post-processing apparatus control software that currently operates on a post-processing apparatus is appropriate based on version information about the post-processing apparatus control software used to control the post-processing apparatus, which is operable in combination with the new apparatus main unit control software, and version information about the post-processing apparatus control software that currently operates on the post-processing apparatus; a determination result storage unit configured to store a result of the determination by the combination appropriateness determination unit on a non-volatile storage device; an activation unit configured to activate the apparatus main unit control software according to the determination result stored on the non-volatile storage device after receiving an activation request; a first post-activation combination appropriateness determination unit configured to determine whether a combination of the new apparatus main unit control software and the post-processing apparatus control software that currently operates on the post-processing apparatus is appropriate after the existing apparatus main unit control software is activated by the activation unit; a determination result changing unit configured, if it is determined by the first post-activation combination appropriateness determination unit that the combination of the new apparatus main unit control software and the post-processing apparatus control software that currently operates on the post-processing apparatus is appropriate, to change the determination result stored on the non-volatile storage device to a determination result that indicates that the combination is appropriate; and a screen display unit configured to display a screen that prompts the user to restart the apparatus main unit control software.