Fecha de publicación: 04/02/2004 Fuente: WIPO "apis" An image forming apparatus is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes an application for performing processes on image forming, and a system service for performing processes of a system side on the basis of a request by using an API from the application. The image forming apparatus further includes: a part for obtaining version information of APIs used by the application for the system service, and version information of APIs of the system service; and a part for comparing, API by API, versions of the APIs used by the application with versions of the APIs of the system service.