Patent ID: 8199144

Claim:
An information processing apparatus configured to be in communication over a network with an image forming apparatus and to set print setting information for a print processing performed by the image forming apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising: a selecting unit configured to select, as a post-processing apparatus to perform post-processing for a printing product, one of a first post-processing apparatus that is not connected with a paper conveyance path of the image forming apparatus and is configured to be in communication with other apparatuses and a second post-processing apparatus that is connected with the paper conveyance path of the image forming apparatus and is configured to be in communication with other apparatuses; a display control unit configured to display a setting screen to set setting information on the post-processing to be performed for the printing product; a receiving unit configured to receive print instruction from a user; and a switching unit configured to switch transmitting processing by a type of the post-processing apparatus, wherein, in response to the first post-processing apparatus being selected by the selecting unit, the switching unit performs distributed transmitting processing for the image forming apparatus and the first post-processing apparatus in response to the print instruction such that, out of (i) print data generated based on the print setting information and (ii) post-processing data generated based on (a) the setting information set via the setting screen and (b) identification information of the print data, (i) the print data is transmitted over the network to the image forming apparatus and (ii) the post-processing data is transmitted over the network to the first post-processing apparatus, and wherein, in response to the second post-processing apparatus being selected by the selecting unit, the switching unit performs transmitting processing for the image forming apparatus in response to the print instruction such that both (i) the print data and (ii) the post-processing data are transmitted over the network to the image forming apparatus, wherein the first post-processing apparatus reads the post-processing data transmitted with the identification information in response to the identification information being input in the first post-processing apparatus.