Patent ID: 8498004

Claim:
A first image processing apparatus comprising: a registering unit configured to register a second image processing apparatus that operates cooperatively with the first image processing apparatus via a network; an acquiring unit configured to acquire function information indicating functions provided by a third image processing apparatus; a comparing unit configured to compare function information indicating functions provided by the second image processing apparatus with the function information acquired by the acquiring unit; a control unit configured to cause the registering unit to register, in response to the third image processing apparatus including at least one new function compared with the functions provided by the second image processing apparatus, information about the third image processing apparatus, and not to register, in response to the third image processing apparatus not including any new function compared with the functions provided by the second image processing apparatus, information about the third image processing apparatus; and a deleting unit configured to delete the registration of the second image processing apparatus in response to the third image processing apparatus including at least one new function compared with the functions provided by the second image processing apparatus.