Patent ID: 7246153

Claim:
An information management apparatus for transmitting data indicating information on a device to an external apparatus, comprising: a storage unit, adapted for storing data indicating information on the device, the stored data being not dependent on a machine kind of the device; an acquisition unit, adapted for acquiring the data from said storage unit when the data to be transmitted to the external apparatus is not dependent upon the machine kind of the device, and acquiring the data indicating information on the device from a storage unit in the device when the data to be transmitted to the external apparatus is dependent upon the machine kind of the device, wherein the data dependent upon the machine kind of the device changes in accordance with an attachment condition of option equipment at the device and indicates information on the option equipment which is attached at the device; and a transmission control unit, adapted for transmitting the data acquired by said acquisition unit to the external apparatus, wherein the data stored in said storage unit of said information management apparatus is not acquired from the device.