JP2009301580A - Image forming apparatus, program and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To selectively launch an external application when the external application is installed in an optional medium or area, and to provide a wide variety of functions. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus has service modules for performing system side processes related to image formation, wherein applications can be loaded to the image forming apparatus separately from the service modules, and the image forming apparatus has an application launch means for referring to launch selection information indicating at least one location storing the application, and launching the application from the at least one location according to the launch selection information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that provides a user service for image forming processing such as a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile and can activate an external application installed separately from an application provided in advance. It is.

  In recent years, there has been known an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) in which functions of apparatuses such as a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile machine, and a scanner are housed in one casing. This multifunction device is provided with a display unit, a printing unit, an imaging unit, and the like in one casing, and is provided with three types of software respectively corresponding to a printer, a copy machine, and a facsimile machine, and by switching these software, Are operated as a printer, a copy, a scanner, or a facsimile machine.

  In recent years, as such conventional multifunction peripherals, those equipped with a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) have been on the market. A hard disk device mounted on such a multifunction peripheral is used mainly for the purpose of storing image data, not as a storage area for application programs as in a PC (Personal Computer) due to its low reliability.

  For this reason, in a conventional multifunction device, firmware including an application program is provided by being incorporated into a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory when the multifunction device is produced. All application programs are started from the nonvolatile memory.

  By the way, in such a conventional multi-function machine, software corresponding to a printer, a copy, a scanner, and a facsimile apparatus is provided separately, so that development of each software requires a lot of time. For this reason, the applicant has hardware resources used in image forming processing such as a display unit, a printing unit, and an imaging unit, and has an application that performs processing specific to each user service such as a printer, copy, or facsimile. When a user service is provided by interposing between these applications and hardware resources, hardware resource management, execution control, and image formation processing that are commonly required by at least two of the applications are provided. Invented an image forming apparatus (multifunction machine) equipped with a platform comprising various control services.

  In such a new multi-function peripheral, an application that provides a service related to image forming processing and a control service that performs a process that is difficult to develop such as access to an OS or hardware resources are provided separately. After shipment, the user or a third party who is a third party can develop a new external application and install it in the multifunction device.

  Therefore, in addition to existing applications related to image forming processing such as copying, printers, scanners, and facsimiles that are installed at the time of shipment, these external applications are installed after shipment, and installed external applications. The need to start will arise.

  However, it is generally difficult to incorporate an external application into a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory later. For this reason, it is conceivable to use it as a storage area for an external application that has developed an IC card such as a flash card or a hard disk device.

  However, when a hard disk device or an IC card is used as a storage area for an external application in a new multifunction peripheral, it becomes necessary to start the external application from the hard disk device or the IC card. In such a new multi-function peripheral, an external application may be provided via a network. In such a case, it is necessary to start the external application.

  In addition, when various media and areas such as an IC card, a hard disk, and a network storage area can be used as the storage area of the external application in this way, due to the limitation of resources such as the memory capacity installed in the multifunction peripheral. In some cases, it is not possible to start all external applications stored in these media and areas. For this reason, there is a new problem that has not been a problem with conventional MFPs that do not assume that external applications will be installed after shipment, because it is not possible to add many external applications at the customer site after the MFP is shipped. Will arise.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to obtain an image forming apparatus capable of selectively starting an external application even when the external application is installed on an arbitrary medium or area.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an image having a service module that performs system-side processing relating to image formation processing and configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module. In the forming apparatus, referring to activation selection information indicating at least one storage medium storing the application, application activation means for activating the application from the at least one storage medium according to the activation selection information, and a setting screen for the activation selection information Is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, and information specified from the setting screen is stored in the storage device of the image forming apparatus as the activation selection information. Setting information including information indicating whether to start the application Irradiation and, if the information indicating that to start a predetermined application on the setting information is set, the image forming apparatus characterized by launching the predetermined application is provided.

  The present invention also includes at least one storage medium that stores an application in an image forming apparatus that includes a service module that performs system-side processing relating to image forming processing, and that can be loaded with an application separately from the service module. The application selection means for starting the application from the at least one storage medium according to the activation selection information, and a setting screen for the activation selection information is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, Means for storing information specified from a setting screen as the activation selection information in a storage device of the image forming apparatus, and the application activation unit indicates whether to activate the application for each application The setting information including It may be configured as an image forming apparatus characterized by starting the only application information is set to indicate that the start.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of selectively starting an external application and providing various functions even when the external application is installed on various media and apparatuses.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an external application activation unit of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment; FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the content of a starting setting file. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the content of an application description file. It is explanatory drawing which shows the setting content of starting selection data, extended function setting data, and external application presence / absence data. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of initialization processing by a multifunction peripheral initialization unit. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the starting process of the external application by an external application starting part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the initial setting screen. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multifunction machine according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of setting contents of extended function setting data in the multifunction machine according to the second embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an external application activation process performed by an external application activation unit in the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the content of an initial setting screen displayed on an operation panel in the multifunction machine according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an external application activation unit and a configuration connected to a network in a multifunction machine according to a third embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the content of the starting setting file stored in the computer on the internet. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of setting contents of activation selection data in the multifunction machine according to the third embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an external application activation process performed by an external application activation unit in the MFP according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the contents of an initial setting screen in a multifunction machine according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine according to a fourth embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment, after the MFP is shipped, a third party such as a customer or a third vendor develops an external application, and the developed external application is installed in the MFP hard disk device using an installer for the MFP. After installing the HDD and diagnosing the HDD, the external application installed by the external application activation unit can be activated from the HDD. In the present embodiment, an external application can be stored in an executable format on the IC card, and the IC card can be mounted on the IC card interface unit of the multifunction device 100 to start the external application from the IC card. It has become. Furthermore, in the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to switch between the activation of the external application installed in the HDD and the activation of the external application stored in the IC card.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction peripheral 100 includes a monochrome line printer (B & W LP) 101, a color line printer (Color LP) 102, a hard disk device (HDD) 103, a scanner, a facsimile, a memory, a network interface, and the like. The software group 110 includes a hardware resource 104, a platform 120, an application 130, a multifunction machine initialization unit 129, an HDD diagnosis unit 132, and an external application activation unit 131.

  The external application activation unit 131 activates the external application 117 installed in the HDD 103 when the diagnosis result of the HDD 103 is normal. Also, the external application activation unit 131 activates the external application 117 stored in a storage medium such as an IC card. Furthermore, the external application activation unit 131 can select activation of the external application 117 from the HDD 103 and activation from the IC card.

  The MFP initialization unit 129 is a process that is first activated on the general-purpose OS 121, and activates the control service and application 130 (excluding the external application 117) and the HDD diagnosis unit 132 and the external application activation unit 131. Is what you do.

  The HDD diagnosis unit 132 diagnoses a physical defect of the HDD 103 or the consistency of the file system generated in the HDD 103 and transmits the diagnosis result to the external application activation unit 131 using inter-process communication such as message transmission. It is.

  The platform 120 interprets a processing request from the application 130 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and a system resource that manages one or a plurality of hardware resources and arbitrates the acquisition request from the control service. A manager (SRM) 123 and a general-purpose OS 121 are included.

  The control service is formed of a plurality of service modules, and includes an SCS (system control service) 122, an ECS (engine control service) 124, an MCS (memory control service) 125, an OCS (operation panel control service) 126, and an FCS. (Fax Control Service) 127 and NCS (Network Control Service) 128. The platform 120 has an application program interface (API) that can receive a processing request from the application 130 by a predefined function.

  The general-purpose OS 121 is a general-purpose operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes the software of the platform 120 and the application 130 in parallel as processes.

  The process of the SRM 123 performs system control and resource management together with the SCS 122. The SRM123 process uses hardware resources such as engines such as a scanner unit and printer unit, memory, HDD file, and host I / O (Centro I / F, network I / F, IEEE 1394 I / F, RS232C I / F, etc.). Arbitration is performed according to the request from the upper layer to be used, and execution control is performed.

  Specifically, the SRM 123 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request), and if it is available, the requested hardware resource is used. Tell the upper layer that it is possible. In addition, the SRM 123 performs use scheduling of hardware resources in response to a request from an upper layer, and directly executes request contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation, memory allocation, file generation, etc. by a printer engine). .

  The process of the SCS 122 performs application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display, resource management, interrupt application control, and the like.

  The process of the ECS 124 controls the engine of the hardware resource 104 including a monochrome line printer (B & W LP) 101, a color line printer (Color LP) 102, a scanner, a facsimile, and the like.

  The MCS 125 process acquires and releases an image memory, uses a hard disk device (HDD), compresses and decompresses image data, and the like.

  The process of FCS 127 includes facsimile transmission / reception using PSTN / ISDN network from each application layer of the system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception. Provides an API to do.

  The NCS 128 process is a process for providing a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O. Data received from the network side according to each protocol is distributed to each application, and data from the application. Mediation when sending to the network side. Specifically, it has server daemons such as ftpd, httpd, lpd, snmpd, telnetd, and smtpd and client functions of the same protocol.

  The process of the OCS 126 controls an operation panel (operation panel) serving as information transmission means between the operator (user) and the main body control. The OCS 126 acquires a key press from the operation panel as a key event, sends a key event function corresponding to the acquired key to the SCS 122, and displays various screens on the operation panel in response to a request from the application 130 or the control service. A drawing function for drawing output, a function for controlling the operation panel, and the like are composed of pre-registered OCS library portions. The OCS library is mounted by being linked to each module of the application 130 and the control service. The OCS 126 may be configured to operate as a process, or the OCS 126 may be configured as an OCS library.

  The application 130 includes a printer application 111 that is a printer application having a page description language (PDL), PCL, and postscript (PS), a copy application 112 that is a copy application, and a fax application 113 that is a facsimile application. A scanner application 114 as a scanner application, a network file application 115 as a network file application, and a process inspection application 116 as a process inspection application.

  Each process of the application 130 and each process of the control service realize user services related to image forming processing such as copying, printers, scanners, and facsimiles while performing inter-process communication by calling functions, sending return values thereof, and sending and receiving messages. is doing.

  As described above, the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of applications 130 and a plurality of control services, all of which operate as processes. In each of these processes, one or a plurality of threads are generated and parallel execution is performed in units of threads. The control service provides a common service to the application 130. For this reason, a large number of these processes perform a parallel operation and a parallel operation of threads to perform inter-process communication with each other. User services related to image forming processing such as copying, printers, scanners, and facsimiles are provided.

  Also, in the multifunction device 100, a third party such as a customer of the multifunction device 100 or a third vendor can develop and install the external application 117 in the application layer above the control service layer. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the external application 117 is installed.

  In the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment, a plurality of application 130 processes and a plurality of control service processes are operating. However, the application 130 and the control service process have a single configuration. Is also possible. Each application 130 can be added or deleted for each application.

  The installer 118 installs an external application 117 developed by a third party in the HDD 103. In the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment, the external application 117 is stored in a storage medium of an IC card such as a flash card, the external application 117 is installed in the HDD 103 by the installer 118, and the external application starting unit 131 is connected to the external from the HDD 103. The application 117 is activated to operate on the application layer. On the other hand, an application 130 provided at the time of shipment of the MFP 100, such as a printer application 111, a copy application 112, a fax application 113, a scanner application 114, a net file application 115, and a process inspection application 116, each control service, an HDD diagnosis unit 132, and The external application activation unit 131 is incorporated in the flash memory at the time of shipment, and is activated by the multifunction device initialization unit 129 when the multifunction device 100 is activated (when the power is turned on).

  Next, the configuration of the external application activation unit 131 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a functional configuration of the external application activation unit 131 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the external application activation unit 131 includes an initialization unit 201, an option analysis unit 202, an HDD diagnosis result communication unit 203, a flash memory management unit 204, an activation setting processing unit 205, an application description, The processing unit 206, a license determination unit 207, and an application activation unit 208 are configured.

  The HDD 103 also includes one or more external applications 117, a startup setting file 221 in which data specifying the external application 117 to be started from the HDD 103 is set, and an application description file 222 in which various information of the external application 117 is set. Is stored.

  The IC card 240 also includes one or a plurality of external applications 117, a start setting file 221 in which data specifying the external application 117 to be started is set, and an application description file 222 in which various information of the external application 117 is set. Is stored. The IC card 240 is a nonvolatile storage medium such as a flash card, for example, and data is input / output by the IC card interface unit 230. An SD (Secure Digital) card can also be used as the IC card 240. In the present embodiment, the startup setting file 221 and the application description file 222 are both stored in the storage medium in which the target external application 117 is stored, but the storage medium in which the external application 117 is stored May be configured to be stored in a different storage medium, for example, a flash memory 210 or a storage medium in a server connected via a network.

  The flash memory 210 stores activation selection data 211, extended function setting data 213, external application presence / absence data 214, and a configuration file 212. Details of each data and file will be described later. In the present embodiment, each of these data and files is stored in the flash memory 210. However, as long as it is a non-volatile memory, it may be stored in another storage medium.

  The initialization unit 201 performs initialization processing of the external application activation unit 131. The option analysis unit 202 analyzes an option parameter of a command specified when the external application activation unit 131 is activated from the MFP initialization unit 129.

  The HDD diagnosis result communication unit 203 waits for the completion of the diagnosis of the HDD 103 performed by the HDD diagnosis unit 132, and receives the diagnosis result through interprocess communication such as a message. The HDD diagnosis result communication unit 203 determines the state of the HDD 103 based on the received diagnosis result.

  The flash memory management unit 204 reads and writes data and file settings stored in the flash memory 210. Specifically, the flash memory management unit 204 reads the activation selection data 211 and determines a medium on which the external application 117 is activated. In addition, the flash memory management unit 204 reads the extended function setting data 213 and determines whether the extended function can be used by the external application 117. Further, the flash memory management unit 204 writes the external application presence / absence data 214.

  The activation setting processing unit 205 reads the activation setting file 221 stored in the HDD 103 and the IC card 240 and performs analysis processing thereof. In addition, the activation setting processing unit 205 checks whether or not a program name is set in the activation setting file 221 and determines whether or not the external application 117 is installed. The application description processing unit 206 reads the application description file 222 stored in the HDD 103 and performs an analysis process thereof. The license determination unit 207 determines the validity of the license key set in the application description file 222.

  The application activation unit 208 activates the external application 117 stored in the HDD 103 and the IC card 240. At this time, the external application 117 is started by issuing an execution command set in the application description file 222.

  Next, the contents of the startup setting file 221 stored in the HDD 103 and the IC card 240 will be described. The startup setting file 221 describes a list of program names of the external applications 117 installed in the HDD 103. Each time the external application 117 is installed in the HDD 103 by the installer 118, the program name of each external application 117 is as follows. Added in format.

"Program name: External application program file name"
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the activation setting file 221. In the program file name of the external application 117, the program file name in the file system generated in the HDD 103 is described as shown in the example of FIG. 3 (xxx.xxx.sample, yy.yy.test, etc.). This program name needs to be unique within one multifunction device 100.

  Next, the contents of the application description file 222 stored in the HDD 103 and the IC card 240 will be described. The application description file 222 exists for each external application 117 and describes the attribute information of the program of the external application 117. The application description file 222 is stored in the storage medium for installation together with the external application 117, and is stored in the HDD 103 together with the external application 117 when the HDD 103 of the external application 117 is installed. Accordingly, when a plurality of external applications 117 are stored in the HDD 103, a plurality of application description files 222 exist corresponding to each external application 117.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the application description file 222. As shown in FIG. 4, the application description file 222 includes items of program name, display name, version, vendor name, execution command, installation media number, total number of installed media, total number of installed installation media, installation date and time, and license key. Is set.

  Here, the program name, display name, version, vendor name, and execution command items are set by the developer of the external application 117 when the external application 117 is stored in the storage medium for installation. The program name indicates the program name of the external application 117, and after installation, this program name becomes the program name of the activation setting file 221.

  The display name is a display name of the external application 117, and is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel when the external application 117 is installed by the installer 118 and when the external application 117 is started by the external application starting unit 131.

  The version is a character string indicating version information of the external application 117 and is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel when the external application 117 is installed by the installer 118 and when the external application 117 is started by the external application starting unit 131. .

  The vendor name is a character string representing the name of the vendor who developed the external application 117, and is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel when the external application 117 is installed by the installer 118 and when the external application 117 is started by the external application starting unit 131. Is.

  The execution command is a command for executing the external application 117 specified by a relative path. Command line options can also be specified if necessary. The external application activation unit 131 executes the command set here.

  The installation media number indicates the number of the medium when the external application 117 is divided into a plurality of installation storage media. If there is only one storage medium, 0 is designated. The installation media number is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel when the installer 118 installs the external application 117.

  The total number of installation media is designated when the external application 117 is divided into a plurality of installation storage media. If there is only one storage medium, 0 is designated.

  The total number of installed installation media specifies the total number of installed installation media.

  The installation date / time indicates the date / time of installation. It is displayed on the user interface of the installer 118.

  The license key specifies a license key for the external application 117. The character string input by the user at the time of installation is saved.

  In the above example, the startup setting file and the application description file are stored in the HDD 103 when the external application is installed in the HDD 103. However, each of the startup setting file and the application description file is an arbitrary method different from the above. Thus, it can be stored in the HDD 103, the IC card 240, or other places.

  Next, each data and file stored in the flash memory 210 will be described. The configuration file 212 is a program in which a program to be started in an existing application 130 such as the control service and the printer application 111 and the copy application 112 is set, and is combined when the MFP 100 is turned on. Referenced by the machine initialization unit 129.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the setting contents of the activation selection data 211, the extended function setting data 213, and the external application presence / absence data 214. The activation selection data 211 is set with a storage destination (storage medium) of the external application 117 to be activated, that is, a medium from which the external application 117 is activated. As shown in FIG. 5, “HDD” or “IC card” can be set in the activation selection data 211, and a plurality of selections can be made. That is, both “HDD” and “IC card” can be set. The activation selection data 211 is set on an initial setting screen displayed on the operation panel 910 and is referred to by the external application activation unit 131.

  When “HDD” is set in the startup selection data 211, only the external application 117 stored in the HDD 103 is started, and when “IC card” is set in the startup selection data 211, the IC Only the external application 117 stored in the card 240 is activated. When both “HDD and IC card” are set in the activation selection data 211, the external application 117 stored in the HDD 103 and the IC card 240 is activated.

  The extended function setting data 213 sets whether to use an extended function by the external application 117, that is, whether to start the external application 117. As shown in FIG. 5, “startup” or “not start” is set in the extended function setting data 213. The extended function setting data 213 is set by an initial setting screen displayed on the operation panel 910 and is referred to from the external application activation unit 131. When “startup” is set in the extended function setting data 213, the startup process of the external application 117 is performed, and when “not start” is set, the startup process of the external application 117 is not performed. .

  The external application presence / absence data 214 is information indicating whether or not the external application 117 is installed in the HDD 103 or the IC card 240, is set by the external application activation unit 131, and is referred to by the SCS 122. When “exist” is set in the external application presence / absence data 214, the extended function setting item is displayed on the initial setting screen by the SCS 122, and when “none” is set, the initial setting screen is expanded. Function setting items are not displayed.

  Next, an initialization process of the multifunction device 100, which is a premise for starting the external application 117, in the multifunction device 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of initialization processing by the multifunction peripheral initialization unit 129. When the multifunction device 100 is powered on, the ROM monitor (not shown) first initializes hardware resources and diagnoses the controller board, and then starts the general-purpose OS 121. Then, the ROM monitor activates the MFP initialization unit 129 on the general-purpose OS 121. The MFP initialization unit 129 is a process that is first activated on the general-purpose OS 121.

  The activated MFP initialization unit 129 reads the configuration file 212 from the flash memory 210, and starts the control service from the contents set in the configuration file 212 (step S601). Next, in accordance with the setting contents of the configuration file 212, existing applications such as the printer application 111, the copy application 112, the scanner application 114, the fax application 113, the net file application 115, and the process inspection application 116 are activated. (Step S602). Then, the HDD diagnosis unit 132 is activated to execute the diagnosis process of the HDD 103 (step S603). As a result, diagnostic processing such as physical defect inspection and file system inspection of the HDD 103 is started. Next, the external application activation unit 131 is activated (step S604).

  Next, the activation process of the external application 117 by the external application activation unit 131 activated by the multifunction peripheral initialization unit 129 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an external application 117 activation process performed by the external application activation unit 131.

  The external application activation unit 131 first reads the extended function setting data 213 from the flash memory 210, and in order to determine whether or not to use the extended function by the external application 117, “startup” is set in the extended function setting data 213. It is checked whether or not (step S701). When “no activation” is set in the extended function setting data 213 (step S701: No), the external application 117 is not activated and ends.

  On the other hand, when “startup” is set in the extended function setting data 213 (step S701: Yes), the start selection data 211 is read from the flash memory 210, and a medium on which the external application 117 is started is determined. Therefore, the setting content of the activation selection data 211 is checked (step S702). If the setting of the activation selection data 211 includes the HDD, that is, “HDD” or “HDD and IC card” (step S702: including the HDD), the HDD 103 is included as the activation medium. 132 is in a state of waiting for notification of the diagnosis result by 132.

  When the diagnosis result is received from the HDD diagnosis unit 132 (step S703), it is determined whether or not the diagnosis result is abnormal (step S704). If the diagnosis result is abnormal (step S704: No), an error message or the like is output to the display unit of the operation panel 910, and the external application 117 is not activated.

  On the other hand, if the diagnosis result is normal (step S704: Yes), the storage medium in which the startup setting file 221 is set in the startup selection data 211 is used to determine whether or not the external application 117 is installed. (Step S705).

  That is, when the external application 117 is activated from the HDD 103 with the setting of the activation selection data 211, it is checked whether the activation setting file 221 exists in the HDD 103, and the external application 117 is retrieved from the IC card 240 with the setting of the activation selection data 211. When starting up, it is checked whether or not the startup setting file 221 exists in the IC card 240. Further, when the external application 117 is activated from both the HDD 103 and the IC card 240 by setting the activation selection data 211, it is checked whether or not the activation setting file 221 exists in both media.

  If the activation setting file 221 does not exist (step S705: No), it is determined that the external application 117 is not installed on the medium, and “none” is set in the external application presence / absence data 214 of the flash memory 210. (Step S712).

  On the other hand, if the activation setting file 221 exists (step S705: Yes), it is further checked whether or not the setting of the program name of the external application 117 is described in the activation setting file 221 (step S706). If the setting of the program name of the external application 117 is not described in the activation setting file 221 (step S706: No), it is determined that the external application 117 is not installed on the medium, and the presence / absence of the external application in the flash memory 210 is determined. “None” is set in the data 214 (step S712).

  On the other hand, when the setting of the program name of the external application 117 is described in the activation setting file 221 (step S706: Yes), it is determined that the external application 117 is installed, and the external application presence / absence data in the flash memory 210 is determined. “Yes” is set in 214 (step S707).

  Next, the external application activation unit 131 reads the application description file 222 of the external application 117 from the storage destination medium set by the activation selection data 211 (step S708). Then, the validity of the license key is determined, for example, whether the license key set in the application description file 222 has expired or is abnormal (step S709). At this time, if it is determined that the license key is invalid, the external application 117 is not activated, and an error message to that effect is output to the display unit of the operation panel 910.

  If the license key is valid, the external application activation unit 131 activates the external application 117 from the storage destination medium set in the activation selection data 211 (step S710). Then, the processes from step S708 to S710 are repeated for all the external applications 117 set in the activation setting file 221 (step S711). As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, all external applications 117 installed on the designated medium are activated and executed in the application layer.

  In the above procedure, instead of setting the external application presence / absence data 214 by the external application activation unit 131, the external application presence / absence data 214 may be recorded in a predetermined place when the external application is recorded on a medium or the like. .

  Here, the contents of the extended function setting data and the activation selection data can be set from the operation panel 910 of the multifunction peripheral 100 using the initial setting screen.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the initial setting screen. The initial setting screen is displayed on the operation panel 910 by calling the drawing function of the function library of the OCS 126 by the SCS 122. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the SCS 122 refers to the external application presence / absence data 214 in the flash memory 210 and is set in the activation selection data 211 when the external application presence / absence data 214 is set to “present”. When the external application 117 is installed in the medium, the item “Start Extended Function” is displayed on the administrator setting screen of the initial setting screen shown in FIG. In this “Extended Function Activation” item, “Yes” and “No” can be selected. When “Yes” is selected, “Startup” is set in the extended function setting data 213 by the SCS 122 and “No” is selected. Is selected, “not activated” is set in the extended function setting data 213 by the SCS 122.

  Further, in the administrator setting screen of the initial setting screen shown in FIG. 8, an item of “start selection” for setting the start selection data 211 is displayed. In this “activation selection” item, “HDD”, “IC card”, “HDD and IC card” can be selected, and the contents selected by the SCS 122 are set in the activation selection data 211.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, this multifunction machine includes a CPU 902, SDRAM 903, SRAM 908, flash memory (flash ROM) 210, IC card interface unit 230, HDD 103, and the like connected to the ASIC 901, an operation panel 910, a fax machine A control unit (FCU) 920, a USB 930, an IEEE1394 940, and a printer 950 are included. The operation panel 910 is directly connected to the ASIC 901, and the FCU 920, USB 930, IEEE1394 940, and printer 950 are connected to the ASIC 901 via the PCI bus.

  As described above, the flash memory 210 stores the activation selection data 211, the extended function setting data 213, the external application presence / absence data 214, and the configuration file 212. Further, the flash memory 210 stores programs of existing applications 130 such as the general-purpose OS 121, the control service and printer application 111, and the copy application 112.

  The IC card interface unit 230 is an interface for inserting the IC card 240 and exchanging data with the IC card 240. The IC card 240 can be used as a storage medium for installation. In this case, the developed external application 117 is stored in the IC card 240, and the external application 117 is installed from the IC card 240 to the HDD 103 by the installer 118. Will be. In addition, an external application can be started directly from the IC card 240.

  As described above, in the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment, the external application activation unit 131 selects either or both of the HDD 103 and the IC card 240 as the activation destination, and the external application stored in the selected activation destination. Since 117 is activated, the external application 117 can be easily activated, and various functions provided by the external application 117 can be realized in the multifunction peripheral 100.

  Further, in the multifunction machine 100 according to the first embodiment, a medium in which the necessary external application 117 is stored can be selected from the HDD 103 or the IC card 240 and activated, and the multifunction machine having limited resources such as memory capacity. In 100, necessary functions by the external application 117 can be realized without any trouble.

  In the above-described embodiment, the external application activation unit as a program is provided in the multifunction peripheral. However, the external application activation unit is stored in, for example, an IC card and installed in the multifunction peripheral from the IC card, or You may start from an IC card. Alternatively, the external application activation unit may be stored in a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and installed from the computer to the multifunction peripheral, or the external application activation unit may be activated from the computer. The same applies to other embodiments.

(Embodiment 2)
The MFP 100 according to the first embodiment starts the external application 117 installed (saved) on the selected storage medium by selecting the HDD 103, the IC card 240, or both on the initial setting screen. However, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment further selects and activates the necessary external application 117 from the installed (saved) external applications 117.

  The functional configuration, the hardware configuration, and the configuration of the external application activation unit 131 according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the multifunction device 100 according to the first embodiment.

  In the MFP 100 of the present embodiment, the setting contents of the extended function setting data 213 stored in the flash memory 210 and the activation process by the external application activation unit 131 are different from those of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of setting contents of the extended function setting data 213 in the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the extended function setting data 213 is installed in addition to the setting of whether or not to use the extended function by the external application 117 (whether or not the external application 117 is activated) as in the first embodiment. For each external application 117 that has been set, whether to activate or not activate each external application 117 is set. The necessity of activation for each external application 117 is set by the initial setting screen displayed on the operation panel 910 only when the extended function is set to “activate”, and is referenced from the external application activation unit 131. . When “start” is set for each external application 117 in the extended function setting data 213, the start process of the external application 117 is performed, and when “not start” is set, the external application 117 No startup process is performed.

  Next, activation processing of the external application 117 by the external application activation unit 131 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the external application 117 activation process by the external application activation unit 131.

  Regarding the processing from the determination of whether or not to use the extended function by the external application 117 (step S1101) to the determination of the validity of the license key (step S1109), the external application activation process of the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment ( This is the same as steps S701 to S709 in FIG.

  If the license key is valid, the external application activation unit 131 activates the external application 117 from the storage destination medium set in the activation selection data 211 (step S1110). Then, the processes from step S1108 to S1110 are repeated only for the external application 117 that is set to “activated” in the extended function setting data 213 (step S1111). As a result, of the installed external applications 117, all the external applications 117 that are set to “activated” in the extended function setting data 213 are activated and executed in the application layer. Accordingly, when both “HDD” and “IC card” are set in the activation selection data 211, the extended function setting data 213 is selected from all the external applications 117 stored in the HDD 103 and the IC card 240. The external application 117 set in is selected and activated.

  Here, the data indicating whether or not the external application 117 can be activated in the extended function setting data 213 can be set from the operation panel 910 of the multifunction peripheral 100 using the initial setting screen. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the content of an initial setting screen displayed on the operation panel 910 in the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment. In the initial setting screen, an item “External application activation” is displayed together with items “Activation of extended function” and “Activation selection” on the administrator setting screen of the initial setting screen shown in FIG. In this “external application activation” item, “Yes” and “No” can be selected. When “Yes” is selected, “Startup” is set in the extended function setting data 213 by the SCS 122 and “No” is set. When selected, the SCS 122 sets “not activated” in the extended function setting data 213. The processing for setting other items is the same as the initial setting screen in the multi-function device 100 of the first embodiment.

  In the setting screen shown in FIG. 12, for example, when the HDD is selected by activation selection, the application stored in the HDD is displayed in the item “External application activation”.

  As described above, in the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment, the external application activation unit 131 refers to the extended function setting data and selects and activates only the external application 117 for which “activation” is set. Even when a large number of external applications 117 are installed, only necessary extended functions can be executed, and resources such as the memory capacity of the multifunction peripheral 100 can be saved and the processing efficiency can be improved.

(Embodiment 3)
The MFP 100 according to the first and second embodiments starts the external application 117 from the HDD 103 and the IC card 240. However, the MFP 100 according to the third embodiment is further connected to a network. The external application 117 stored in the computer can be activated. In addition, the activation destination of the external application 117 can be selected among the HDD 103, the IC card 240, and the network.

  In the present embodiment, the external application starting unit starts the external application from the computer on the network by downloading the external application from the computer, temporarily storing it, and starting the application. It also includes the case of starting up afterwards.

  The functional configuration and hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the third embodiment are the same as those of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first and second embodiments. The MFP 100 according to the third embodiment is different from the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment in the configuration of the external application activation unit, the activation process of the external application 117, and the content of the activation selection data stored in the flash memory 210.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the external application activation unit 1331 and a configuration connected to a network in the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, the external application activation unit 1331 includes an initialization unit 201, an option analysis unit 202, an HDD diagnosis result communication unit 203, a flash memory management unit 204, an activation setting processing unit 205, an application description, The processing unit 206, the license determination unit 207, the application activation unit 208, and the communication unit 1332 are configured.

  Similarly to the MFP 100 of the first embodiment, the HDD 103 and the IC card 240 each have a startup setting file in which data specifying one or a plurality of external applications 117 and the external applications 117 to be started from the respective media is set. 221 and an application description file 222 in which various types of information of the external application 117 are set are stored.

  The flash memory 210 stores activation selection data 1351, extended function setting data 213, external application presence / absence data 214, and a configuration file 212.

  The multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment is connected to a network such as the Internet 1310, and a computer 1320 and a computer 1340 are connected to the Internet 1310.

  The computer 1320 stores a startup setting file 1321, one or more external applications 117, and an application description file 1322 corresponding to the external application 117 in a storage area such as a hard disk device. On the other hand, the computer 1340 stores an activation setting file 1341.

  The communication unit 1332 of the external application activation unit 1331 receives the activation setting files 1321 and 1341 and the application description file 1322 from the computer 1320 or the computer 1340 according to the http protocol or the ftp protocol, and receives the external application 117 via the Internet 1310. Is what you do.

  Next, the contents of the startup setting file 1321 stored in the computer 1320 on the Internet 1310 and the startup setting file 1341 stored in the computer 1340 will be described. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the startup setting file 1321 stored in the computer 1320 on the Internet 1310 or the startup setting file 1341 stored in the computer 1340.

  The startup setting files 1321 and 1341 stored in the computers 1320 and 1340 on the Internet 1310 are basically the same as the HDD 103 of the multifunction peripheral 100 and the startup setting file 221 of the IC card 240. Describes a list of program names. However, the startup setting files 1321 and 1341 are described in the http format as shown in FIG. 14 when accessed from the multi-function peripheral 100 using the http protocol. If the activation setting files 1321 and 1341 exist in the area accessed by the ftp protocol, they are described in the same format as the activation setting file 221 of the HDD 103 and the IC card 240.

  The program name is described including the URL of the application storage area of the computer 1320. This program name is a unique name in one computer.

  In the present embodiment, the startup setting file on the Internet 1310 is located on the same site as the computer 1320 having the application storage area of the external application 117 like the startup setting file 1321, and is externally connected like the startup setting file 1341. The application 117 may be configured to exist in a computer 1340 at a different site from the computer 1320 having the application storage area. In the latter case, the program name of the activation setting file 1341 needs to be described so as to specify the URL of the computer 1320 that has the application storage area of the external application 117. In addition, a startup setting file for starting an external application via a network may be stored in the multi-function device 100.

  Next, the activation selection data 1351 used in the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the setting content of the activation selection data 1351. The activation selection data 1351 indicates the storage destination (storage medium, application storage area) of the external application 117. As shown in FIG. 15, “HDD”, “IC card”, “http”, or “ftp” can be set in the activation selection data 1351, and a plurality of items can be set from these. . The activation selection data 1351 is set on the initial setting screen displayed on the operation panel 910 and is referred to by the external application activation unit 131.

  When “HDD” is set in the activation selection data 1351, only the external application 117 stored in the HDD 103 is activated, and when “IC card” is set in the activation selection data 211, the IC Only the external application 117 stored in the card 240 is activated.

  If “http” or “ftp” is set in the activation selection data 1351, the external application 117 stored in the application storage area on the Internet 1310 is received and activated. At this time, when “http” is set, the application storage area on the Internet 1310 is accessed using the http protocol, and when “http” is set, the application storage area on the Internet 1310 is accessed using the ftp protocol.

  In the activation selection data 1351, an activation setting file address (URL) is set for both access using the http protocol and access using the http protocol. This activation setting file address is also set on the initial setting screen displayed on the operation panel 910 and is referred to by the external application activation unit 131.

  That is, the external application activation unit 131 first refers to the URL of the activation setting file address set in the activation selection data 1351. With reference to the activation setting file 1321 or 1341 on the Internet 1310 designated by the URL, the external application 117 is received from the application storage area of the URL specified in the activation setting file 1321 or 1341 and activated.

  Further, the extended function setting data 213 can have a data structure similar to that of the first embodiment. Further, as in the second embodiment, the extension function setting data is set to “start” or “not start” for each external application 117, and “start” is set to the extension function setting data 213 by the external application 117. It is also possible to configure to select and start only the external application 117 that is present.

  Next, the activation process of the external application 117 by the external application activation unit 1331 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the external application 117 activation process performed by the external application activation unit 1331.

  First, the external application activation unit 1331 reads the extended function setting data 213 from the flash memory 210, and “start” is set in the extended function setting data 213 to determine whether or not to use the extended function by the external application 117. It is checked whether or not (step S1601). If “no activation” is set in the extended function setting data 213 (step S1601: No), the external application 117 is not activated and ends.

  On the other hand, if “startup” is set in the extended function setting data 213 (step S1601: Yes), then the start selection data 1351 is read from the flash memory 210, and a medium on which the external application 117 is started is determined. Therefore, the setting content of the activation selection data 1351 is checked (step S1602). If the setting of the activation selection data 1351 includes the HDD (step S1602: Yes), the HDD diagnosis unit 132 waits for a diagnosis result notification.

  When the diagnosis result is received from the HDD diagnosis unit 132 (step S1603), it is determined whether or not the diagnosis result is abnormal (step S1604). If the diagnosis result is abnormal (step S1604: No), an error message or the like is output to the display unit of the operation panel 910, and the external application 117 is not activated.

  On the other hand, if the diagnosis result is normal (step S1604: Yes), “http” or “ftp” is set in the activation selection data 1351 to determine whether to activate the external application 117 on the Internet 1310. It is checked whether or not (step S1605). If “http” or “ftp” is set, the URL specified by the activation setting file address of the activation selection data 1351 is accessed (step S1606). Here, when “http” is set in the activation selection data 1351, the URL is accessed by the http protocol, and when “ftp” is set in the activation selection data 1351, the URL is accessed by the http protocol.

  Then, in order to determine whether or not the external application 117 exists, the external application activation unit 1331 checks whether or not an activation setting file exists on the medium specified by the activation selection data (step S1607). If the activation selection setting is “HDD” or “IC card”, it is checked whether or not the activation setting file 221 exists on the medium. If the activation selection setting is “http” or “ftp”, it is checked whether the activation setting file 1321 or 1341 exists in the URL accessed in step S1606.

  If the activation setting file does not exist (step S1607: No), it is determined that the external application 117 is not installed in the activation selection destination, and “none” is set in the external application presence / absence data 214 of the flash memory 210. (Step S1614).

  On the other hand, when the activation setting file exists (step S1607: Yes), it is further checked whether the setting of the program name of the external application 117 is described in the activation setting file (step S1608). When the program name of the external application 117 is not described in the activation setting file (step S1608: No), it is determined that the external application 117 is not installed at the activation selection destination, and the external application presence / absence data in the flash memory 210 is determined. “None” is set in 214 (step S1614).

  On the other hand, when the setting of the program name of the external application 117 is described in the activation setting file (step S1608: Yes), it is determined that the external application 117 is installed at the activation selection destination, and the external memory 117 “Present” is set in the application presence / absence data 214 (step S1609).

  Next, the external application activation unit 1331 reads the application description file 222 of the external application 117 from the activation selection destination medium or application storage area set in the activation selection data 1351 (step S1610). Then, the validity of the license key is determined, such as whether the license key set in the application description file 222 has expired or is abnormal (step S1611). At this time, if it is determined that the license key is invalid, the external application 117 is not activated, and an error message to that effect is output to the display unit of the operation panel 910.

  If the license key is valid, the external application activation unit 131 activates the external application 117 from the storage destination medium set by the activation selection data (step S1612).

  At this time, if the activation selection of the activation selection data 1351 is set to http or ftp, the external application 117 is temporarily transferred to the multifunction peripheral 100 from the application storage area specified together with the URL in the activation setting file 1321 or 1341. Download and activate the downloaded external application 117.

  Then, the processes from step S1610 to S1612 are repeated for all the external applications 117 set in the activation setting file 221 (step S1613).

  In addition, when the external application 117 in the application storage area on the Internet 1310 is started, since the communication efficiency is poor if a plurality of external applications 117 are downloaded each time, the start is performed when the URL of the application storage area is first accessed. It is preferable to download the external application 117 set in the setting file 1321 or 1341 to the multi-function device 100 in a batch.

  Through the above processing, as shown in FIG. 2, all the external applications 117 installed in the designated activation selection destination are activated and executed in the application layer.

  Here, even in the multifunction device 100 of the present embodiment, the contents of the activation selection data 1351 can be set from the operation panel 910 of the multifunction device 100. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the initial setting screen. As in the first embodiment, the initial setting screen is displayed on the operation panel 910 by calling the drawing function of the function library of the OCS 126 by the SCS 122. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17, the SCS 122 refers to the external application presence / absence data 214 in the flash memory 210, and when the external application presence / absence data 214 is set to “present”, that is, set in the activation selection data. When the external application 117 is installed in the startup selection destination, the items of “Start extension function”, “Start selection” and “Start setting file address” on the administrator setting screen of the initial setting screen shown in FIG. Is displayed. The item “Extended Function Activation” is the same as that on the initial setting screen of the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment.

  In addition, the item of “activation selection” corresponds to the activation selection of the activation selection data 1351, and “HDD”, “IC card”, “http”, “ftp”, and combinations of these can be selected. The contents selected by the SCS 122 are set in the activation selection data 1351.

  In the item “startup setting file address”, an address where the start setting files 1321 and 1341 exist is specified. For such designation, two patterns are designated when the http protocol is used and when the ftp protocol is used. The contents set in these items are also set in the activation selection data 1351 by the SCS 122.

  As described above, in the MFP 100 according to the third embodiment, the external application activation unit 1331 selects one or a plurality of application storage areas on the Internet 1310 storing the external application 117, the HDD 103, and the IC card 240 as activation destinations. Since the external application 117 is activated, the external application 117 can be easily activated even when the external application 117 exists on the Internet 1310, and various functions can be realized in the multifunction peripheral 100.

  In the third embodiment, the external application 117 is stored only in the computer 1320. However, the present invention can also be applied when the external application 117 is stored in a plurality of areas on the Internet 1310. is there. In this case, URLs of a plurality of activation setting files are set in the activation selection data 1351, or URLs of application storage areas are set in the activation setting file.

  In the MFP 100 according to the third embodiment, when the external application 117 stored in the application storage area on the Internet 1310 is activated, the external application 117 is downloaded and activated every time it is activated. When the corresponding external application 117 in the application storage area is accessed, the external application 117 is downloaded and installed in the multifunction peripheral 100, and the external application 117 is activated from the installed HDD 103 in the second and subsequent activations. You may comprise so that it may do.

(Embodiment 4)
In the first to third embodiments, the external application activation unit 131 is provided in the multifunction peripheral 100 as shown in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the function of the external application activation unit 131 is provided in a VAS (Virtual Application Service).

  FIG. 18 shows a functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 in this case. As shown in the figure, the VAS 140 is provided between the application and the control service. The VAS 140 is a software module that operates as a server process for an application and as a client process for each control service, and absorbs a version difference between an API used by the application and an API provided by the control service. And a function of hiding a specific function of the control service from the application.

  The VAS 140 has the function of the external application activation unit 131, and the VAS 140 refers to the activation setting file and the like, and activates the external application in the same manner as the external application activation unit 131 described so far. Furthermore, the VAS 140 also has a startup control function for temporarily starting an application, acquiring information (such as resources to be used) about the application from the application, and determining whether the application can be executed by the multifunction device 100. . The provisional activation means that the VAS 140 and the application perform inter-process communication, and the VAS 140 activates the application only for acquiring information related to the application. The application is created so that such provisional activation can be performed, and is provisionally activated when the provisional activation is designated by the parameter from the VAS 140.

  In the above first to third embodiments, the start destination and which external application are instructed from the initial setting screen displayed by the function of the SCS 122, and start selection information and extended function setting data are created. However, the VAS 140 may display a selection screen and create activation selection information and extended function setting data.

  The VAS itself is activated by, for example, the MFP initialization unit 129. It is also possible to store the VAS 140 itself in a medium external to the multifunction peripheral (IC card, server connected via a network, etc.) and start the VAS 140 from there.

  Hereinafter, the configurations disclosed in this specification are listed as examples.

(Item 1) In an image forming apparatus having a service module for performing processing on the system side relating to image forming processing and configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module,
An image forming apparatus comprising an application activation unit that refers to activation selection information indicating at least one location where an application is stored, and activates the application from the at least one location according to the activation selection information.

  According to this configuration, even when an external application is stored in various places, it is possible to select and start a medium storing a required external application. In other words, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of selectively starting up an application and providing various functions.

  (Second Item) The at least one place is one or more of a hard disk device, a storage medium detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The image forming apparatus described in the item.

  (Item 3) The image according to Item 1, further comprising means for displaying a setting screen for the activation selection information on a display unit of the image forming apparatus, and storing information designated from the setting screen as the activation selection information. Forming equipment.

  According to this configuration, the user can select a desired location among the locations where the applications to be activated are stored, and various functions can be flexibly realized in the image forming apparatus.

  (Item 4) The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the application activation unit activates the application by referring to information on the application.

  The information related to the application is, for example, application name and address information stored in a medium in which the application is stored. Thereby, the target application can be started reliably.

  (Item 5) The image forming apparatus according to Item 4, wherein the information is address information of an application.

  (Sixth Item) The application activation unit determines whether or not an application is installed at the location based on the presence or absence of information about the application, and activates the application when it is determined that the application is installed. 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 3 to 3.

  According to this configuration, an installed application can be automatically grasped and started, and an external application can be easily started.

  The storage destination of the information is not particularly limited, and the information can be stored in the same medium as the storage medium of the application or in a medium unrelated to the storage medium of the external application.

  (Section 7) The application activation unit refers to setting information including information indicating whether or not to activate a predetermined application, and information indicating that the predetermined application is activated is set in the setting information. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined application is activated in the case.

  The predetermined application is, for example, an external application. According to the present invention, even when a predetermined application exists, when the extended function by the application is not used, only the function after shipment is used without executing the extended function. It is possible to save money and improve processing efficiency.

  (Section 8) For each application, the application activation unit refers to setting information including information indicating whether to activate the application, and an application in which information indicating activation is set in the setting information 7. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein only the first unit is activated.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to execute only necessary functions even when a large number of applications are installed, saving resources of the image forming apparatus and improving processing efficiency.

  (Item 9) The image according to item 7 or 8, further comprising means for displaying a setting screen for the setting information on a display unit of the image forming apparatus and storing information specified from the setting screen as the setting information. Forming equipment.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to specify activation of a desired application for the user.

  (Item 10) The image forming apparatus further includes a virtual application service that operates as a client process for the service module and operates as a server process for the application, and the virtual application service includes the application activation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

  According to this configuration, the virtual application service can activate various applications according to the activation selection information.

  (Section 11) The image forming apparatus receives an application from a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network by using an http protocol or an ftp protocol, and the application activation unit activates the received application. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 2.

  According to this configuration, since the application on the network is received by the general protocol such as the http protocol or the ftp protocol, it is possible to reduce the programming effort.

(Section 12) An image forming apparatus having a service module that performs system-side processing relating to image forming processing and configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module.
A program that functions as an application activation unit that refers to activation selection information indicating at least one location where an application is stored and activates the application from the at least one location according to the activation selection information.

  (Section 13) The twelfth location is one or more of a hard disk device, a storage medium detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The program described in the section.

  (Item 14) The image forming apparatus further functions as means for displaying a setting screen for the activation selection information on a display unit of the image forming apparatus and storing information specified from the setting screen as the activation selection information. Item 13. The program according to item 12.

  (Item 15) The program according to any one of Items 12 to 14, wherein the application activation unit activates the application by referring to information on the application.

  (Item 16) The program according to item 15, wherein the information is application address information.

  (Seventeenth Item) The application starting unit determines whether or not an application is installed at the location based on the presence or absence of information about the application, and starts the application when it is determined that the application is installed. 15. The program according to any one of items 14 to 14.

  (Section 18) The application activation unit refers to setting information including information indicating whether or not to activate a predetermined application, and information indicating that the predetermined application is activated is set in the setting information. The program according to any one of items 12 to 17, which activates the predetermined application.

  (Section 19) For each application, the application activation unit refers to setting information including information indicating whether to activate the application, and an application in which information indicating activation is set in the setting information Item 18. The program according to any one of Items 12 to 17, which activates only the program.

  (Section 20) An eighteenth aspect further causes the image forming apparatus to function as means for displaying a setting screen for the setting information on a display unit of the image forming apparatus and storing information specified from the setting screen as the setting information. Item 20. or program according to item 19.

  (Item 21) The program according to item 13, wherein the application activation unit receives an application from a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network using the http protocol or the ftp protocol, and activates the received application.

  According to the program of the external application activation unit, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus with a function that can selectively activate the external application.

  (Claim 22) A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to any one of Items 12 to 21.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 MFP 101 Monochrome line printer 102 Color line printer 103 Hard disk drive (HDD)
104 Hardware resources 110 Software group 111 Printer application 112 Copy application 113 Fax application 114 Scanner application 115 Net file application 116 Process inspection application 117 External application 118 Installer 120 Platform 121 General-purpose OS
122 SCS
123 SRM
124 ECS
125 MCS
126 OCS
127 FCS
128 NCS
129 MFP initialization unit 130 Application 131 External application activation unit 132 HDD diagnosis unit 140 VAS
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 Initialization part 202 Option analysis part 203 HDD diagnostic result communication part 204 Flash memory management part 205 Start setting process part 206 Application description process part 207 License judgment part 208 Application start part 210 Flash memory 211 Start selection data 212 Configuration file 213 Extension Function setting data 214 External application presence / absence data 221, 1321, 1341 Startup setting file 222 Application description file 230 IC card interface unit 240 IC card 900 controller board 901 ASIC
902 CPU
903 SDRAM (RAM)
908 SRAM
910 Operation Panel 930 USB
940 IEEE 1394
950 Printer 1310 Internet 1320 Computer (application storage area)
1331 External application activation unit 1332 Communication unit 1340 Computer 1351 Activation selection data

JP 2002-297403 A

Claims (18)

In an image forming apparatus having a service module that performs processing on the system side relating to image forming processing and configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module,
Application activation means for referring to activation selection information indicating at least one storage medium storing the application, and for activating the application from the at least one storage medium according to the activation selection information;
Means for displaying a setting screen of the activation selection information on a display unit of the image forming apparatus, and storing information specified from the setting screen in the storage device of the image forming apparatus as the activation selection information,
The application activation unit refers to setting information including information indicating whether or not to activate a predetermined application, and when the information indicating that the predetermined application is activated is set in the setting information, the predetermined application An image forming apparatus characterized by starting up an application. In an image forming apparatus having a service module that performs processing on the system side relating to image forming processing and configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module,
Application activation means for referring to activation selection information indicating at least one storage medium storing the application, and for activating the application from the at least one storage medium according to the activation selection information;
Means for displaying a setting screen of the activation selection information on a display unit of the image forming apparatus, and storing information specified from the setting screen in the storage device of the image forming apparatus as the activation selection information,
The application activation means refers to setting information including information indicating whether or not to start the application for each application, and starts only an application for which information indicating activation is set in the setting information. An image forming apparatus.   The at least one storage medium is one or more of a hard disk device, a storage medium detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application activation unit activates the application by referring to information related to the application.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information is application address information.   3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit configured to display a setting screen for the setting information on a display unit of the image forming apparatus, and store information designated from the setting screen as the setting information in a storage device of the image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus further includes a virtual application service that operates as a client process for the service module and operates as a server process for the application, and the virtual application service includes the application activation unit. 7. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 6 to 6.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus receives an application from a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network by using an http protocol or an ftp protocol, and the application activation unit activates the received application. Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus having a service module for performing processing on the system side relating to image forming processing and configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module,
An application activation unit that refers to activation selection information indicating at least one storage medium storing an application, and activates the application from the at least one storage medium according to the activation selection information;
A program that causes the setting screen for the activation selection information to be displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, and that functions as means for storing information specified from the setting screen as the activation selection information in the storage device of the image forming apparatus. There,
The application activation unit refers to setting information including information indicating whether or not to activate a predetermined application, and when the information indicating that the predetermined application is activated is set in the setting information, the predetermined application A program characterized by starting an application. An image forming apparatus having a service module for performing processing on the system side relating to image forming processing and configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module,
An application activation unit that refers to activation selection information indicating at least one storage medium storing an application, and activates the application from the at least one storage medium according to the activation selection information;
A program that causes the setting screen for the activation selection information to be displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, and that functions as means for storing information specified from the setting screen as the activation selection information in the storage device of the image forming apparatus. There,
The application activation means refers to setting information including information indicating whether or not to start the application for each application, and starts only an application for which information indicating activation is set in the setting information. A program characterized by   11. The at least one storage medium is one or more of a hard disk device, a storage medium that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, and a computer that is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The listed program.   The program according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the application activation unit activates the application by referring to information on the application.   The program according to claim 12, wherein the information is application address information.   The image forming apparatus further functions as means for displaying a setting screen for the setting information on a display unit of the image forming apparatus, and storing information specified from the setting screen as the setting information in the storage device of the image forming apparatus. The program according to claim 9 or 10.   The program according to claim 11, wherein the application activation unit receives an application from a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network using the http protocol or the ftp protocol, and activates the received application.   A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to any one of claims 9 to 15. A method executed by an image forming apparatus that includes a service module that performs processing on the system side relating to image forming processing, and that is configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module,
A setting screen for setting activation selection information indicating at least one storage medium storing an application is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, and the image formation is performed using information specified from the setting screen as the activation selection information. Storing in a storage device of the device;
An application activation step of referring to the activation selection information stored in the storage device and activating an application from the at least one storage medium according to the activation selection information,
In the application activation step, the image forming apparatus refers to setting information including information indicating whether or not to activate a predetermined application, and information indicating that the predetermined application is activated is set in the setting information. A method comprising activating the predetermined application when the application is present. A method executed by an image forming apparatus that includes a service module that performs processing on the system side relating to image forming processing, and that is configured to be able to mount an application separately from the service module,
A setting screen for setting activation selection information indicating at least one storage medium storing an application is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, and the image formation is performed using information specified from the setting screen as the activation selection information. Storing in a storage device of the device;
An application activation step of referring to the activation selection information stored in the storage device and activating an application from the at least one storage medium according to the activation selection information,
In the application activation step, the image forming apparatus refers to setting information including information indicating whether or not to activate the application for each application, and information indicating activation is set in the setting information. A method characterized by starting only an application.

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