Network system and image processing apparatus for coordinated processing, control method thereof, and storage medium

An image processing apparatus and an image reading apparatus configured to communicate with each other, each having a specific image process function, the image processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory device configured to store first version information indicating a version of the specific image process function of the image reading apparatus and second version information indicating a version of the specific image process function of the image processing apparatus;
• and
• a CPU coupled to the memory device and programmed to provide:
• an accepting unit configured to accept a job to instruct image processing,
• a selecting unit configured to, in a case where the accepting unit accepts the job, compare the first version information and the second version information stored in the memory device and select an apparatus, on which the image processing is to be executed, from the image reading apparatus and the image processing apparatus, based on a result of the comparison,
• wherein the apparatus selected by the selecting unit has higher capability of executing the image processing instructed by the job, which is indicated by version information, than a capability of another apparatus that is not selected by the selecting unit in executing the image processing instructed by the job, and
• a controller configured to control the image reading apparatus or the image processing apparatus selected by the selecting unit to execute the image processing instructed by the job,
• wherein, in a case where the controller controls the image processing apparatus to execute the image processing instructed by the job, the image processing apparatus receives, from the image reading apparatus, image data generated by scanning in the image reading apparatus, and executes the image processing instructed by the job on the image data, using the specific image process function of the image processing apparatus.

A control method of an image processing apparatus for communicating with an image reading apparatus, each having a specific image process function, the control method comprising steps of:

• storing first version information indicating a version of the specific image process function of the image reading apparatus and second version information indicating a version of the specific image process function of the image processing apparatus;
• accepting a job to instruct image processing;
• comparing, in a case where the job is accepted, the stored first version information and the stored second version information;
• selecting an apparatus, on which the image processing is to be executed, from the image reading apparatus and the image processing apparatus, based on a result of the comparison,
• wherein the apparatus selected in the selecting step has a higher capability of executing the image processing instructed by the job, which is indicated by version information, than a capability of another apparatus that is not selected in the selecting step in executing the image processing instructed by the job;
• and
• controlling the image reading apparatus or the image processing apparatus, which is selected, to execute the image processing instructed by the job,
• wherein, in a case where the image processing apparatus is controlled to execute the image processing instructed by the job, the image processing apparatus receives, from the image reading apparatus, image data generated by scanning in the image reading apparatus, and executes the image processing instructed by the job on the image data, using the specific image process function of the image processing apparatus.