Patent ID: 8233937

Claim:
An information processing apparatus comprising: a first communication unit for performing non-contact communication with a first or second external apparatus through a first communication path; a second communication unit for performing communication with the first or second external apparatus through a second communication path different from the first communication path; a communication control unit for controlling the second communication unit to start communication with the second external apparatus through the second communication path, based on a communication request for starting communication through the second communication path, the communication request transmitted by the second external apparatus and received by the first communication unit; and a connection state management unit for managing connection state information to be held in response to reception of the communication request by the first communication unit, the connection state information indicating a state of communication with the first external apparatus through the second communication path at the reception of the communication request, wherein the communication control unit controls the second communication unit to start, through the second communication path, communication with the first external apparatus specified by the connection state information when communication with the second external apparatus through the second communication path is terminated.