Information processing apparatus and control method thereof, computer program and image forming system

An image forming system including an image forming apparatus to which a plurality of option units is mountable and an information processing apparatus that controls said image forming apparatus,

• said image forming apparatus comprising:
• first storage means that stores option unit configuration information indicating a mounting method of an option unit mounted to said image forming apparatus;
• and
• transmission means that transmits the option unit configuration information to said information processing apparatus based on a request from said information processing apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising:
• second storage means that stores rules for setting an availability of use of an option unit mountable to said image forming apparatus;
• and
• reception means that receives the option unit configuration information from said image forming apparatus,
• determination means that determines, based on a mounting method of option units indicated by the option unit configuration information received by said reception means and a rule stored in said storage means, the availability of use of an option unit mounted to said image forming apparatus, wherein
• the rules are for setting, based on a mounting order of a plurality of option units mountable to said image forming apparatus, the availability of use of the option unit, and
• the option unit configuration information further includes information indicating a mounting order of a plurality of option units mounted to said image forming apparatus.

A control method of an information processing apparatus that controls an image forming apparatus to which a plurality of option units is mountable, said control method comprising:

• an acquisition step for acquiring option unit configuration information that indicates a mounting method of an option unit mounted to said image forming apparatus;
• and
• a determination step for determining, based on a mounting method of option units indicated by the option unit configuration information acquired in said acquisition step and a rule for setting an availability of use of an option unit mountable to said image forming apparatus which is stored in a storage medium, the availability of use of an option unit mounted to said image forming apparatus, wherein
• the rules are for setting, based on a mounting order of a plurality of option units mountable to said image forming apparatus, the availability of use of the option unit, and
• the option unit configuration information further includes information indicating a mounting order of a plurality of option units mounted to said image forming apparatus.

A computer program, which is stored in a computer readable medium, that causes a computer to execute control of an information processing apparatus that controls an image forming apparatus to which a plurality of option units is mountable, said computer program causing the computer to execute:

• an acquisition step for acquiring option unit configuration information that indicates a mounting method of an option unit mounted to said image forming apparatus;
• and
• a determination step for determining, based on a mounting method of option units indicated by the option unit configuration information acquired in said acquisition step and a rule for setting an availability of use of an option unit mountable to said image forming apparatus which is stored in a storage medium, the availability of use of an option unit mounted to said image forming apparatus, wherein
• the rules are for setting, based on a mounting order of a plurality of option units mountable to said image forming apparatus, the availability of use of the option unit, and
• the option unit configuration information further includes information indicating a mounting order of a plurality of option units mounted to said image forming apparatus.