US Patent 7701600 Image processing apparatus and computer product

An image processing apparatus includes an information processor that is controlled by a general-purpose operating system, and an image processor. The information processor performs a function in a category different from an image processing function performed in the image processor. As a result, a general purpose application program can be used as software for making effective use of the image processing function. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate development of the software to allow the image processing apparatus to perform the function in a category different from the image processing function performed in the image processor, in addition to the image processing function as a basic function.