JP2001260495A - Electronic device, imaging apparatus, method for announcing program information, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To announce information about a program in a storage medium which can be attached/detached to/from an electronic device main body or an imaging apparatus main body plainly to users. SOLUTION: When an external storage medium B is attached to the electronic device main body A, the information about the program stored in the medium B is read by a program information reading means C, the kind of the program is distinguished from the read information by a program kind distinguishing means D, and the read information about the program is announced in a form differentiated by the kind of the information by a program information announcing means E.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device to which an external storage medium can be attached and detached, in particular, a page printer such as a laser printer or an LED printer, other printers, a digital copying machine, a copying function, a scanner function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a digital multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a personal computer, a word processor, and an OA apparatus including an information processing apparatus such as a workstation.

[0002] Further, a method for notifying a method of notifying information regarding a program stored in an external storage medium mounted on the electronic device, and a program for causing a computer incorporated in the electronic device to have a function for realizing the method are provided. The present invention also relates to a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as an electronic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus or an information processing apparatus as described above, a storage medium is built in its body, and an external storage medium is detachable. Some programs can be operated by both the program stored and the program stored in the attached external storage medium.

For example, various personal computers,
As a printer that can be used as an output device of a host device such as a word processor or a workstation, a page printer that can support multi-emulation is used. Such a printer stores a plurality of emulation programs in a storage medium such as a built-in memory or a hard disk, and selects the emulation programs according to the host device.
It operates according to the selected emulation program.

[0005] For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-166241.
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H10-264, there is a printer having a multi-emulation function in which a selected emulation mode is displayed using a multi-function display provided on an operation panel. But,
The number of emulation programs that can be installed in advance is limited due to restrictions on the storage capacity of the storage medium built into the printer body (restrictions on cost).

Therefore, floppy disks, optical disks,
Furthermore, smaller and simpler IC cards, SIMMs (single in-line memory modules) and DIMMs
A printer in which a necessary emulation program is stored in an external storage medium such as a (dual inline memory module) or the like, which is mounted on the printer body, the emulation program is selected and read out, and emulation operation is performed by the program. There is also.

Further, when expanding the functions of a printer that has already been commercialized, the program may not be able to be stored in the program storage area of the storage medium in the printer body depending on the scale of the function expansion, and the function expansion may not be possible.
Therefore, even if the program area in the printer body is insufficient, the storage medium that can be attached to and detached from the printer body,
By storing necessary programs and the types of the programs and other information, when the program in the printer body and the type of the program in the removable storage medium are the same, the program in the storage medium attached to the printer is stored. There is also a printer which can realize a function expansion by using a printer.

[0008]

However, in a conventional printer device, when an external storage medium storing a program is mounted on the printer main body, the printer main body does not matter what kind of program is in the storage medium. There is a problem that the program in the storage medium is processed as an emulation program.

[0009] Further, even if information about a program such as a program name is displayed so that a user can select and use a program in a mounted external storage medium, which program is an emulation program or an operator can select. There is a problem that it is not easy to determine whether the program is a simple program. Further, when the same type of program is also present in the printer main body, it is difficult to determine which program is the new version, and there is a risk that the old version program may be selected by mistake.

[0010] Such problems are not limited to printers, and various types of OA equipment, such as information processing apparatuses such as personal computers, as well as image forming apparatuses having printer functions such as the above-described digital copiers and digital multifunction peripherals. In the case of an electronic device, when an external storage medium is mounted and a program stored in the external storage medium can be used, the same problem may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and provides a user with easy-to-understand information about a program in a storage medium detachable from an electronic apparatus main body or an image forming apparatus main body. With the goal.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a storage medium is built in an electronic apparatus main body, and an external storage medium is detachable. A program stored in the built-in storage medium and a program mounted on the mounted external storage medium are provided. In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device operable by any of the stored programs is provided with the following means in the electronic device body.

That is, program information reading means for reading information on a program stored in the external storage medium when the external storage medium is mounted, and program type determining means for determining the type of the program based on the information read thereby. And program information notifying means for notifying information on the program read by the program information reading means in a different manner depending on the type of the program determined by the program type determining means.

Further, the program information notifying means includes:
If there is a program of the same type in the external storage medium and the built-in storage medium, a means for comparing the versions of both programs and not reporting information on a program of a version older than the program of the built-in storage medium is provided. It is desirable to have.

Alternatively, when the same type of program is present in the external storage medium and the built-in storage medium, the program information notifying means compares the versions of both programs, and outputs a newer version than the program of the built-in storage medium. May be provided with a means for notifying only information on the program. The program information notifying means may include means for not displaying information on the program depending on the type of the program determined by the program type determining means.

The program information notifying means in these electronic devices may be a display means for displaying information on the program on a display section of an operation panel. Alternatively, when the electronic device has a printing function, the electronic device may be a printing unit that prints information related to the program on a sheet and discharges the information. Furthermore, it is also possible to display the information on a display unit other than the operation panel or to notify by sound.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a storage medium is built in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and an external storage medium is detachable. The program stored in the built-in storage medium and the external storage medium mounted thereon are attached. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image forming apparatus operable by any of the programs stored in the image forming apparatus is provided with the following units in the image forming apparatus main body.

That is, program information reading means for reading information on a program stored in the external storage medium when the external storage medium is mounted, and program type determination for determining the type of the program based on the information read by the program information reading means. Means, and program information notifying means for notifying information on the program read by the program information reading means in different modes depending on the type of the program determined by the program type determining means.

The program information notifying means may determine whether the program type determined by the program type determining means is an emulation program,
It may be a means for performing notification in a manner different from that in the case of another program. Alternatively, when the type of the program determined by the program type determination unit is a program other than the emulation program, the program information notification unit does not report information about the program or reports a function by the program. It may be.

The program information notifying means in these image forming apparatuses may be display means for displaying information on the program on a display section of an operation panel. Alternatively, since it has an image forming function, a printing unit that prints information related to the program on a sheet and discharges the information with the image forming function may be used.

When the type of the program determined by the program type determining means is a program other than the emulation program, the display means may include means for shaded display or reverse display of information on the program. When the type of the program determined by the program type determining unit is a program other than the emulation program,
It is preferable to have means for performing halftone printing or reverse printing of the information on the program.

According to the program information notification method of the present invention, when an external storage medium storing a program is mounted on an electronic device to which an external storage medium is detachable, the program is mounted by the program mounted on the electronic device. The information about the program stored in the external storage medium is read, the type of the program is determined based on the read information, and the information about the read program is notified in different modes depending on the type of the determined program.

In this program information notifying method, when the same type of program is present in the external storage medium and the storage medium built in the electronic device, the versions of both programs are compared, and the programs of the built-in storage medium are compared. Information about older versions of the program should not be reported. Alternatively, only information relating to a program of a newer version than the program of the built-in storage medium may be notified. Further, depending on the type of the program determined above, information about the program may not be displayed.

In these program information notifying methods, the information can be notified by displaying information on the program on a display unit provided on an operation panel of the electronic device. Alternatively, the information about the program can be notified by printing on a sheet by a printing unit of the electronic apparatus and discharging the sheet.

According to the present invention, when an external storage medium storing a program is mounted on a computer in which an external storage medium is built in a detachable electronic device, the program stored in the mounted external storage medium is stored. A program for realizing a function of reading information about the program, a function of determining the type of the program based on the read information, and a function of notifying the information about the read program in a different manner depending on the type of the determined program is recorded. A computer-readable recording medium is also provided.

According to the present invention, information on a program stored in an external storage medium mounted on an electronic device main body or an image forming apparatus main body is displayed or printed on paper in an appropriate form according to the type of the program. The user can be notified by performing such operations. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine a program or an extended function that can be selected by the user. Also, there is no possibility that an old version of the program is selected by mistake.

Alternatively, a program that does not need to be notified to the user may be stored in the external storage medium. In such a case, for example, an operation library used by the emulation or a part of the emulation program If the function is in a removable storage medium, the name of the operation library or the name of the function that does not make sense to the user will not be visible to the user even if it is displayed. Can be prevented.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an electronic device according to the present invention, and means not directly related to the present invention is omitted in the drawing. The electronic device main body A shown in FIG.
And a built-in storage medium (memory) such as a ROM and a hard disk, and an external storage medium B is removable.
It can operate by either a program stored in a built-in storage medium or a program stored in an attached external storage medium B.

A program information reading means C for reading information on a program stored in the external storage medium B when the external storage medium B is mounted on the electronic apparatus main body A, and information read by the program information reading means. A program type discriminating means D for discriminating the type of the program by a program information notifying means E for notifying information about the program read by the program information reading means C in different modes depending on the type of the program discriminated by the program type discriminating means D; Is provided.

Further, when there is a program of the same type in the external storage medium B and the built-in storage medium, the program information notifying means E compares the versions of both programs, and checks the version older than the program of the built-in storage medium. Information about the program can be prevented from being reported. Alternatively, the program information notification means E
When the same type of program is present in the external storage medium B and the built-in storage medium, the versions of both programs are compared, and only the information about the program of a newer version than the program of the built-in storage medium is notified. You may.

Further, the program information notifying means E
Depending on the type of the program determined by the program type determining means D, information about the program may not be displayed. The notification of the information on the program can be displayed on a display unit of an operation panel (not shown) or printed on paper and discharged.

FIG. 2 shows a page printer (hereinafter simply referred to as "printer") such as a laser printer as an image forming apparatus as a more specific example of an electronic apparatus embodying the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printer. The printer 1 includes a controller 2, a printer engine 3, and an operation panel 4, as shown in FIG. The controller 2 operates in accordance with the control mode set at that time and a control code from a host device (such as a personal computer) 5 as a host device.
This is a general term for a control unit that converts print data from the host device 5 into video data and outputs the video data to the printer engine 3.

The controller 2 includes a CPU 10 and an RA
M11, NV-RAM 12, program ROM 13, font ROM 14, host I / F (interface) 1
5. Engine I / F 16, panel I / F 17, and option I / F 18, and bus line 1 connecting these
9 and the like. The CPU 10 processes data (print data and control data) from the host device 5 according to a program stored in the program ROM 13, and reads program information reading means C in the electronic device main body A shown in FIG. While performing the same function as the type discriminating means D and the program information notifying means E,
It is a central processing unit that controls the controller 2 overall.

The RAM 11 is a work memory used when the CPU 10 performs processing, a buffer for managing and temporarily storing data from the host device 5 in page units, and converting the data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern. It is used as a bitmap memory for storing video data. The NV-RAM 12 is a non-volatile RAM for storing data to be retained even when the power is turned off.

The program ROM 13 stores programs and source programs for processing and managing data in the controller 2 and controlling peripheral modules.
A compiler program for converting into a program to be operated in the controller 2 and data of an include file are stored. The font ROM 14 stores various types of font data used for printing.

The host I / F 15 is an interface for receiving control signals and data from the host device 5 to the printer 1, transmitting a status signal from the printer 1 to the host device 5, and the like. Engine I / F16
Is an interface for transferring a control signal and a video signal from the controller 2 to the printer engine 3 and transmitting a status signal from the printer engine 3 to the controller 2.

The printer engine 3 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor in response to a video signal and a control signal from the controller 2, and transfers a toner image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image to a transfer paper from a paper supply unit. After fixing, an image is formed on the transfer paper and discharged. The operation panel 4 includes a display unit that indicates the status of the printer 1, a mode of the printer 1, a designation of the number of copies, a switch unit that switches fonts, and the like. Panel I /
F17 is an interface between the controller 2 and the operation panel 4.

The option I / F 18 is an interface between the option memory 6 that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the printer 1 and the controller 2. The option memory 6 is an external storage medium that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the printer 1, and is, for example, an IC card, a SIMM (single inline memory module), or a DIMM (dual line memory module).

In the printer 1 shown in FIG. 2, a front cover 21 is provided on the front of the printer body 20 so as to be openable and closable.
An operation panel 4 having a display unit 41 formed of a liquid crystal display and a switch unit 42 including a plurality of switches is provided on an upper surface thereof. A paper feed tray 22 that can be pulled out to the near side is provided at a lower portion of the printer main body 20, and a paper discharge tray 23 is provided at an upper portion thereof.
And a power switch 24, and a slot 61 for inserting a DIMM and a slot 62 for inserting an IC card are provided as option memories (external storage media) 6 in a concave portion 60 on the side surface.

Next, an outline of data processing in the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The data transmitted from the host device 5 through the host I / F 15 is analyzed by the CPU 10 of the controller 2 in accordance with a data analysis program on the program ROM 13, and print data and print control data (SP, CR, LF, HT, VT, …
Etc.) and others. The print data and print control data are temporarily stored in a reception buffer on the RAM 11. The received data once stored is stored in the program RO
An emulation section based on an emulation program, which is one of the control programs on M13, takes out one by one and performs its processing.

For example, if the extracted data is a character code, an intermediate code including a print position, a print size, a character code, font information and the like is created and stored in an intermediate buffer provided on the RAM 11. If the extracted data is vector data, the emulation unit determines the type of each vector (circle, straight line, curve, etc.) and the coordinates of the vector,
By converting vector attributes (line width, type of connection shape between lines (such as miter connection or round connection), designation of dotted line and solid line, etc.) into a data format that can be input to the drawing library, input The vector data received by the emulation unit is drawn into a bitmap by the drawing library.

If the command is a control code, an escape sequence, or the like, a predetermined process is performed on the command. For example, if the number of print copies is specified, it is set so that the specified number of print copies are output (setting of internal control information). If the print position is specified, the position of the next character code is set. When the font is changed, or when the font is changed, the font information of the next character code is changed to the specified font.

In this way, when the print command from the host device 5 is processed, or when the processed data exceeds one page, the intermediate code stored in the intermediate buffer is then transferred to the video data according to the control program. Is performed. When the conversion is completed, the controller 2 sends the printer engine 3 through the engine I / F 16.
A print start command is issued to the printer engine 3, and the video data is transferred to the printer engine 3 in synchronization with the print start command to execute image formation (printing) on transfer paper.

Hereinafter, the function according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
6 to FIG. 6 and explanatory diagrams of FIG. 7 to FIG. In the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 6, each step is abbreviated as “S”. An emulation program or another program is stored in an option memory 6 which is an external storage medium used in the present invention, and the type, version and function information of the program stored in the option memory are stored in a header portion. Let it be.

FIG. 7 shows the DIM that is the option memory 6.
5 shows an example of a format of a header section of M. In this example, No. No. 1 has “R98” in the header. In the header of “No. 3 header contains "RPD
L ”is stored. "R98" and "RPD
“L” is a program name of emulation, and “simple G” means a simple graphic program corresponding to a QR (quick response) code. In addition, each program name of the programs stored in the option memory may be sequentially stored in one header.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the controller 2 (mainly the CPU 10) of the printer 1 shown in FIG. Here, the “display module” is a function of a dedicated program for displaying information of the option memory on the display unit 41 (FIG. 2) of the operation panel 4 using a liquid crystal display.
3 etc. are stored in an internal memory.

When the process according to the flowchart of FIG. 4 is started, it is first determined in step 1 whether or not an optional memory is mounted. If it is not mounted, the process ends without doing anything. If it is, the contents of the option memory are read in step 2 and it is checked in step 3 whether a program is stored in the option memory. If the program is not stored, the process ends without doing anything. If the program has been stored, go to step 4.

In step 4, the type of the first program in the option memory and other necessary information are read. Next, at step 5, it is checked whether the type of the program is emulation. And
If it is emulation, the process proceeds to step 6 to create display information for emulation to be passed to a display module for displaying a program in the option memory.
If it is not an emulation, the process proceeds to step 7 to create display information suitable for the type of program to be passed to the display module for displaying the program in the option memory.

Thereafter, in any case, in step 8, it is checked whether or not the next program exists in the option memory. If there is, the process returns to step 4 to check the type of the next program in the option memory and other necessary information. read. Thereafter, the steps 5 to 8 are repeated until there is no program to be read. If it is determined in step 8 that there is no next program, the process proceeds to step 9 where the display information created so far is passed to the display module, After the program name and the like are displayed on the display section 41 of the operation panel 4 shown in FIG. 2, the processing is terminated. The display contents can be displayed by sequentially switching a plurality of programs by operating a switch of the switch unit 42 of the operation panel 4.

In the creation of the display information to be passed to the display module in steps 4 to 7, the read information is arranged and the display information is created so that the user can know which program is of which type. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, for each program, the type of the option memory in which the program is stored and the header No. , The type of the program, the program name, and special notes are organized and temporarily stored in the internal RAM.

For example, two emulation programs and one library program are stored in the DIMM mounted as the option memory 6, and one emulation program is stored in the IC card mounted as the option memory 6. In this case, the display information arranged as shown in (1) to (5) in FIG. 10 is created and temporarily stored in the internal memory (RAM 11 or the like). In FIG. 10,, and are display information for emulation, and are display information for simple graphics of another program, in this example, a library.
The special message "QR code is available" is created.

The display module receives the display information, creates bitmap data for display, and operates the operation panel 4.
The information related to the program stored in the attached option memory 6 is displayed in a different manner depending on the type of the program as shown in FIG.

FIG. 8A shows a display example when the type of the program is emulation, and the type of the option memory is "D" based on the display information shown in FIG.
IMM ", storage No. Is normally displayed as "1", the type of program is "EML: meaning of emulation", and the program name is displayed as "R98" to indicate that this program can be selected.

FIGS. 8B and 8C show different display examples when the type of program is a library. In FIG. 8B, the same as in the case of emulation based on the display information shown in FIG. In the format, the type of the option memory is “DIMM” and the storage No. Is displayed as "2", the program type is "LIB: library meaning", and the program name is "Simple G", but the program name is displayed in reverse video or shaded, and selection by the user is unnecessary (the user can use it as it is). ). (C) shows the message “Q” of the special information of the display information shown in FIG.
R code is available. "

Alternatively, a printing module is provided in place of the display module, and information on the program stored in the installed optional memory is printed in a different manner depending on the type of the program as shown in FIG. The video data is created, and the engine I /
The notification can also be made by transferring the data from F16 to the printer engine 3 and printing and discharging the paper (transfer paper) as a summary sheet.

By creating display information suitable for the type of program in step 7 of FIG. 4, for example, if the type of program is a drawing library with a newly expanded function, the name of this library and the expanded function Can be displayed so as to be able to display a comment indicating that the information is displayed on the operation panel 4 or printed on a sheet to notify the user.

The display module or the print module receives and registers such display information, so that the user can operate the switch unit 42 of the operation panel 4 (FIG. 2).
, The display or the printing according to the type of the program as described above may be executed only when the display or the printing of the information on the program in the option memory is instructed.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the operation of FIG.
5 is a flowchart of a process executed between step 4 and step 5 in FIG. In this case, after reading information such as the type of the program in the option memory in step 4 in FIG. 4, it is checked in step 11 whether the program is the same type as the program stored in the printer body. Here, the same type of program means, for example, the same emulation in the case of emulation, and treats the emulation as a different type if the emulation is of a different model.

If it is not the same type of program, the process returns to step 5 in FIG. 4 without doing anything, and the display information corresponding to the type of the program is created as in the case described above. On the other hand, if the programs are of the same type, step 1
In step 2, the version of the same type of program is read from the printer main body and the option memory. Then, in step 13, the two versions are compared, and it is determined that display information is created so as to display a new version of the program. However, since the purpose is to report information about the program in the option memory, if the option memory program is an older version, no display information is created, and only if the option memory program is a newer version. The creation of the display information is stored.

Thereafter, in steps 5 to 7 in FIG. 4, display information in a different form is created according to the type of the program as in the case described above. However, step 1 in FIG.
The display information is not created for the program determined not to create the display information in step 3. The above processing is performed for all programs in the option memory.

Then, the display information created in step 9 of FIG. 4 is passed to the display module, and information on the program in the option memory is displayed on the display section of the operation panel 4 in a manner corresponding to the type of the program. . Alternatively, it is printed on a sheet and notified. However, a program of the same type as a program existing in the printer body is reported only when the program in the option memory is a newer version, and is not reported when the program in the option memory is an older version. .
By doing so, the displayed menus are prevented from increasing unnecessarily, and only the new version of the program can be always selected, so that the operability is improved.

FIG. 6 also shows a part of the operation of FIG.
7 is a flowchart of a process executed in place of steps 5 to 7 in FIG. In this case, after reading information such as the type of the program in the option memory in step 4 of FIG. 4, it is checked in step 21 whether or not the program is of the type to be displayed. Returns to step 8 in FIG. 4 without generating display information.

If the program is of the type to be displayed, the process proceeds to step 22 to create display information so as to display the program, and then returns to step 8 in FIG. The creation of the display information in step 22 is the same as in steps 5 to 7 in FIG. The above processing is performed for all programs in the option memory.

Then, the display information created in step 9 in FIG. 4 is transferred to the display module, and information on the program in the option memory is displayed on the display section of the operation panel 4 in a manner corresponding to the type of the program. . Alternatively, the notification is made by printing on paper. However, information relating to the program determined to be not the type of program to be displayed in step 21 of FIG. 6 is not displayed or printed. By doing so, a program that makes no sense to the user in the option memory is meaningless and is not displayed or printed, so that the displayed or printed content can be easily understood.

Although the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printer has been described above, the present invention is not limited to a printer, but can be similarly applied to various image forming apparatuses including a digital copying machine and a digital multifunction peripheral. Furthermore, a storage medium is built in the main body, and an external storage medium is detachable, and all of the programs that can be operated by either the program stored in the built-in storage medium or the program stored in the attached external storage medium are used. Of electronic equipment. In addition, a floppy disk or an optical disk can be used as the external storage medium (optional memory).

Further, the present invention relates to a method for storing an external storage medium in which a program is stored in a computer having an external storage medium built in a detachable electronic device, such as a personal computer. A function of reading information on a program stored in a medium, a function of determining the type of a program based on the read information, and a function of notifying the information on the read program in a different manner depending on the type of the determined program are realized. Also provided are various computer-readable recording media recording a program for causing the program to execute.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, information on a program stored in an external storage medium mounted on an electronic device or the like is notified in different modes depending on the type of the program. This makes it easy to determine whether the program can be selected by the user, prevents erroneous operations, and improves operability. Also, it is possible to prevent a program of an older version than the program installed in the main body from being displayed and to select it by mistake. Further, by not displaying a program that is meaningless to the user in the external storage medium, it is easy to understand the content of the notification by display or printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic functional configuration of an electronic device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an external appearance of a printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the present invention by a controller of the printer shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of partially changing the same.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation of partially changing the operation of the flowchart of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of storing a program name in a header section of an option memory.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of information regarding a program in an option memory according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of display information according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display information created in the format shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Electronic device body B: External storage medium C: Program information reading means D: Program type discriminating means E: Program information notification means 1: Printer 2: Controller 3: Printer engine 4: Operation panel 5: Host device 6: Optional memory 10: CPU 11: RAM 41: Display 42: Switch

Claims (20)

[Claims] An electronic device main body has a built-in storage medium, an external storage medium is detachable, and a program stored in the built-in storage medium and a program stored in the mounted external storage medium are stored. An electronic device operable in any of the above manners, wherein, when the external storage medium is mounted on the electronic device main body, program information reading means for reading information on a program stored in the storage medium; Program type discriminating means for discriminating the type of a program based on information; and program information notifying means for notifying information about the program read by the program information reading means in different modes depending on the type of the program discriminated by the program type discriminating means. An electronic device characterized by being provided. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the program information notifying unit compares versions of both programs when the same type of program is present in the external storage medium and the built-in storage medium. An electronic apparatus comprising means for preventing information about a program of a version older than the program in the built-in storage medium from being reported. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the program information notifying unit compares versions of both programs when the same type of program is present in the external storage medium and the built-in storage medium. An electronic device comprising means for notifying only information on a program of a version newer than the program in the built-in storage medium. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the program information notifying unit does not display information on the program depending on the type of the program determined by the program type determining unit. An electronic device comprising means. 5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the program information notifying unit is a display unit that displays information related to the program on a display unit of an operation panel. 6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the program information notifying unit is a printing unit that prints information related to the program on a sheet and discharges the information. 7. A program stored in a built-in storage medium and a program stored in the mounted external storage medium, wherein a storage medium is built in the image forming apparatus main body and an external storage medium is detachable. An image forming apparatus operable by any of the above, wherein when the external storage medium is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, program information reading means for reading information about a program stored in the storage medium; Program type determining means for determining the type of the program based on the information read by the program information, and information on the program read by the program information reading means,
An image forming apparatus comprising: program information notifying means for notifying in a different manner according to a type of a program determined by the program type determining means. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
The program information notifying means is means for performing notification in a different manner depending on whether the type of the program determined by the program type determining means is an emulation program or not. Image forming apparatus. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
The program information notification means, when the type of the program determined by the program type determination means is a program other than the emulation program,
An image forming apparatus which does not notify information on the program or notifies a function by the program. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the program information notifying unit is a display unit that displays information regarding the program on a display unit of an operation panel. 11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the program information notifying unit is a printing unit that prints information related to the program on a sheet and discharges the information. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, when the type of the program determined by the program type determining unit is a program other than the emulation program, the display unit displays information on the program. An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for hanging display or reverse display. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the type of the program determined by the program type determining unit is a program other than an emulation program, the printing unit transmits information on the program to a network. An image forming apparatus comprising means for hanging printing or reverse printing. 14. When an external storage medium storing a program is mounted on an electronic device to which an external storage medium is detachable, the program is stored in the mounted external storage medium by a program mounted on the electronic device. A program information notification method for reading information about a program being read, determining the type of the program based on the read information, and notifying the read information about the program in a different manner depending on the type of the determined program. 15. The program information notification method according to claim 14, wherein when the same type of program is present in the external storage medium and a storage medium built in the electronic device, the versions of both programs are compared. A program information notifying method, which does not notify information about a program of an older version than a program of a built-in storage medium. 16. The program information notifying method according to claim 14, wherein when the same type of program is present in the external storage medium and a storage medium built in the electronic device, the versions of both programs are compared. A program information notifying method, which notifies only information on a program of a newer version than a program of a built-in storage medium. 17. The program information notifying method according to claim 14, wherein information related to the determined program is not displayed depending on the type of the determined program. Notification method. 18. The program information notifying method according to claim 14, wherein the information about the program is notified by displaying it on a display unit provided on an operation panel of the electronic device. Characteristic program information notification method. 19. The program information notifying method according to claim 14, wherein the information on the program is notified by printing it on a sheet by a printing unit of the electronic device and discharging the sheet. Program information notification method. 20. When an external storage medium storing a program is mounted on a computer in which the external storage medium is built in a detachable electronic device, information on the program stored in the mounted external storage medium is transmitted. A computer-readable recording of a program for realizing a reading function, a function of determining a type of a program based on the read information, and a function of notifying information on the read program in a different manner depending on the type of the determined program. Recording medium.