Patent ID: 8391731

Claim:
An apparatus that uses a first consumable item and a second consumable item, whose type is different from that of the first consumable item, the apparatus comprising: a consumption status detecting unit configured to detect both a first consumption status of the first consumable item and a second consumption status of the second consumable item; a first consumption status output unit configured to enable both of the first consumption status and the second consumption status to be output to a first destination; a second consumption status output unit configured to enable both of the first consumption status and the second consumption status to be output to a second destination; and a setting unit configured to set at least one of the first consumption status output unit and the second consumption status output unit to output (1) the first consumption status, (2) the second consumption status, (3) both of the first consumption status and the second consumption status, or (4) neither of the first consumption status and the second consumption status.