Patent ID: 8238664

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a character recognition unit configured to perform a character recognition process on a character region contained in an image; a receiving unit configured to receive an image containing a character region and processing results of a character recognition process performed on the character region from an external apparatus; a determination unit configured to determine, based on the received processing results, whether a character recognition process needs to be performed on the character region of the received image using said character recognition unit, wherein said determination unit determines that the character recognition process needs to be performed on the character region of the received image using said character recognition unit if information indicating a high likelihood of the processing results containing recognition errors is attached to the received processing results; a judging unit configured to judge whether a likelihood that recognition errors are contained in the processing results of the character recognition process performed by said character recognition unit is high; an erasing unit configured to erase the information indicating a high likelihood of the processing results containing recognition errors if it is judged by said judging unit that likelihood that recognition errors are contained in the processing results of the character recognition process performed by said character recognition unit is not high; and a control unit configured to make said character recognition unit perform a character recognition process on the character region of the received image if said determination unit determines that a character recognition process needs to be performed on the character region of the received image using said character recognition unit.