Patent ID: 8705053

Claim:
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a connector to which a removable external storage device, having an application program recorded thereon, is attachable; a determination unit for determining whether the application program recorded on the removable external storage device is recognizable by said image processing apparatus based on information output from said removable external storage device attached to said connector; a display; an operation portion for accepting a user's operation input; and an emulation control unit for causing, when said determination unit determines that the application program recorded on the removable external storage device is not recognizable by said image processing apparatus because of a difference between an operating system to which said external storage device is adapted and an operating system of said image processing apparatus, said display and said operation portion to emulate a display function and an operation function of an external terminal device connected to said image processing apparatus via a network, in order to remotely operate said external terminal device that is capable of recognizing said application program recorded on the removable external storage device, said emulation control unit including a data input and output control unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from said external terminal device, and said data input and output control unit transferring information output from said removable external storage device to said external terminal device.