Patent ID: 8514430

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a first network interface configured to connect to a first network in which communication is performed based on a general protocol with one or more clients; a second network interface configured to connect to a second network in which communication is performed based on a local protocol between the image processing apparatus and an external apparatus a control unit configured to communicate with the external apparatus via the second network interface based on the local protocol to perform cooperative image processing in cooperation with the external apparatus; a scanner unit configured to scan an original and obtain image data of the original; and a first printer configured to print the image data, wherein the external apparatus includes a second printer configured to print the image data and a storage unit configured to store therein the image data, the local protocol defines a data structure such that a command to be executed by the external apparatus is settable in the data structure, and the control unit executes at least one of: copy processing to print the image data by using the first printer, and generates a data frame in which the command, which indicates printing of the image data by using the second printer, is set and sends the data frame to the external apparatus via the second network interface to perform cooperative copy processing that is the cooperative image processing in cooperation with the external apparatus; print processing to print the image data by using the first printer, and generates a data frame in which the command, which indicates printing of the image data by using the second printer, is set and sends the data frame to the external apparatus via the second network interface to perform cooperative print processing that is the cooperative image processing in cooperation with the external apparatus; and scan processing to obtain the image data by scanning the original with the scanner, and generates a data frame in which the command, which indicates storing of the image data into the storage unit, is set and sends the data frame to the external apparatus via the second network interface to perform cooperative store processing that is the cooperative image processing in cooperation with the external apparatus.