This invention relates to a method of setting anti-forgery information
addition level while taking an apparatus individual difference into
consideration. The method is employed by a data processing system
including: an image processing apparatus 100 for processing an image; and
a maintenance apparatus 120, connected with the image processing
apparatus through a network 110, for setting a processing function of the
image processing apparatus 100. The maintenance apparatus 120 determines
an anti-forgery information addition level depending on an individual
difference of apparatuses, such as an exhaustion level of the image
processing apparatus 100. The addition level determined by the
maintenance apparatus 120 is transmitted to the image processing
apparatus 100. The image processing apparatus 100 adds anti-forgery
information to an inputted image at the addition level transmitted by the
maintenance apparatus 120.