Patent ID: 7312884

Claim:
An image reading apparatus, connected to a plurality of external printing apparatuses via a network, said image reading apparatus comprising: generation means for reading an image and generating an image signal; selection means for selecting one from the plurality external printing apparatuses; determination means for determining whether user management information is needed or not by asking the selected external printing apparatus whether input of the user management information by a user is needed or not; input control means for controlling the input of the user management information so as to be inputted, when the result of the determination indicates affirmative, and so as not to be inputted when the result of the determination indicates negative; output means for outputting the inputted user management information to the selected external printing apparatus; reception means for receiving, from the selected external printing apparatus, availability information indicating whether or not the using of the selected external printing apparatus is allowed, wherein the availability information is determined based on the output of the user management information; and transmission control means for controlling transmission such that the generated image signal is transmitted to the selected external printing apparatus, when the availability information indicates affirmative.