US2003231343A1PendingUtilityA1

Image forming apparatus, program adding method, and a recording medium

47
Priority: May 8, 2002Filed: May 6, 2003Published: Dec 18, 2003
Est. expiryMay 8, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Ayako KobayashiHisanori Kawaura
H04N 1/00278H04N 1/00965G06F 9/445G06F 8/60G06F 21/57
47
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

An image forming apparatus include a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from. A status monitoring part monitors whether or not a recording medium is inserted or removed; a recording medium starting part starts the recording medium inserted into said slot into a state in which said recording medium is assessable; and a program starting part reads a program from said recording medium started into the accessible state, and starting said program.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is  
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus comprising a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring part monitoring whether or not a recording medium is inserted or removed;    a recording medium starting part starting the recording medium inserted into said slot into a state in. which said recording medium is assessable; and    a program starting part reading a program from said recording medium started into the accessible state,. and starting said program.    
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said status monitoring part has a state as to whether or not the recording medium is inserted into or removed from the slot notified of thereto, and notifies of the thus-obtained insertion/removal information to said program starting part.    
     
     
         3 . The image forming part as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said program starting part starts said recording medium starting part upon being notified of insertion of the recording medium into said slot.    
     
     
         4 . The image forming part as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said recording medium starting part starts the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state, and notifies said status monitoring part of the matter that the recording medium is thus started into the accessible state.    
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 upon being notified by said state monitoring part of the matter that the recording medium is thus started into the accessible state, said program starting part reads a program from said recording medium according to setting information recorded in said recording medium, and starts the thus-read program.    
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said program starting part reads out the program from said recording medium into a memory according to a starting instruction included in said setting information, and starts the thus-read program after making said program thus read out into the memory into an accessible state.    
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said program starting part performs authentication check on the setting information recorded in the recording medium, and reads out the setting information when the authentication check is passed.    
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said program starting part performs authentication check on the program read out from said. recording medium, and makes said program into an accessible state when the authentication check is passed, and starts the program thus made into the accessible state.    
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 upon an end of the processing performed on the recording medium inserted into the slot, said program starting part notifies of the end of the processing to the program started.    
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the recording medium can be inserted into and removed from the slot in a hot plugging manner.    
     
     
         11 . A program adding method for an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising the steps of: 
 an insertion detection step detecting an insertion of a recording medium into the slot;    a recording medium starting step starting the recording medium of which the insertion is detected into an accessible state; and    a program starting step reading a program from said recording medium started into the accessible state, and starting said program.    
     
     
         12 . The program)adding method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 when a notification that said recording medium enters the accessible state, said program starting step reads the program from said recording medium according to setting information recorded in said recording medium, and starts said program thus read.    
     
     
         13 . The program adding method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said program starting step reads out the program from said recording medium into a memory according to a starting instruction included in said setting information, and starts the thus-read program after making said program thus read out into the memory into an accessible state.    
     
     
         14 . The program adding method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said program starting step performs authentication check on the setting information recorded in the recording medium, and reads out the setting information when the authentication check is passed.    
     
     
         15 . The program adding method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said program starting step performs authentication check on the program read out from said recording medium, and makes said program into an accessible state when the authentication check is passed, and starts the program thus made into the accessible state.    
     
     
         16 . The program adding method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 upon an end of the processing performed on the recording medium inserted into the slot, said program starting step notifies of the end of the processing to the program once started.    
     
     
         17 . The program adding method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the recording medium can be inserted into and removed from the slot in a hot plugging manner.    
     
     
         18 . A recording medium which is inserted into a slot of an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process using a hardware resource, and the slot which the recording medium is inserted into and removed from, 
 said recording medium having at least one program and setting information recorded therein, being started into an accessible state upon being inserted into said slot, and said program being read according to the setting information and started by said image forming apparatus.    
     
     
         19 . The recording medium as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the recording medium can be inserted into and removed from the slot in a hot plugging manner.    
     
     
         20 . The recording medium as claimed in  claim 18 , having a header which indicates program information and the program compressed according to a predetermined manner recorded therein.  
     
     
         21 . The recording medium as claimed in claim  18 , having a first authentication check file used for an authentication check of the at least one program, and a second authentication check file used for an authentication check of the setting information recorded therein.  
     
     
         22 . The recording medium as claimed in  claim 18 , comprising a memory card.  
     
     
         23 . An image forming apparatus comprising a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a recording medium starting part mounting the recording medium inserted into said slot onto a first mount point; and    a program starting part reading setting information from the thus-mounted recording medium, acquiring an absolute path according to a relative path written in the setting information and said first mount point, and also, mounting said absolute path onto a second mount point specified in the setting information.    
     
     
         24 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said recording medium starting part mounts the path onto the first mount point according to a path and the first mount point specified in a predetermined master file.    
     
     
         25 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said program starting part reads a setting file from the mounted recording medium, acquiring the absolute path by combining the relative path written in the setting file and the first mount point, and mounts said absolute path onto the second mount point also specified in the setting file.    
     
     
         26 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said program starting part reads a setting file from the mounted recording medium and mounts an absolute path specified in the setting file onto the second mount point also specified in the setting file.    
     
     
         27 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 upon a notification of insertion of the recording medium into the slot being given, said program starting part starts said recording medium starting part.    
     
     
         28 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the relative path and absolute path are those used for path direction in a file system used in the recording medium.    
     
     
         29 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said program starting part performs authentication check on the setting information recorded in the recording medium, and reads the setting information when the authentication check is passed.    
     
     
         30 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said program starting part performs authentication check on a mount target specified by the relative path, and mounts the mount target when the authentication check is passed.    
     
     
         31 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 upon a finish of processing concerning the recording medium inserted into the slot, said program starting part notifies a once started program of the finish of the processing.    
     
     
         32 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 insertion into and removal from the slot of the recording medium is allowed.    
     
     
         33 . An image forming apparatus comprising a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a recording medium starting part mounting the recording-medium inserted into said slot onto a first mount point; and    a program starting part reading setting information from the thus-mounted recording medium, acquiring an absolute mount point according to a directory and a relative mount point written in the setting information, and mounting an absolute path written in the setting file onto the absolute mount point.    
     
     
         34 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 said recording medium starting part mounts the path onto the mount point according to a path and a mount point specified in a predetermined master file.    
     
     
         35 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 said program starting part reads a setting file from the mounted recording medium, producing a directory specified in said setting file, and acquiring the absolute path by combining said directory and the relative path written in the setting file, and mounts the absolute path recorded in the setting file onto said absolute mount point.    
     
     
         36 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 said program starting part reads a setting file from the mounted recording medium and mounts an absolute path recorded in the setting file onto the absolute mount point specified in the setting file.    
     
     
         37 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 upon a notification of insertion of the recording medium into the slot being given, said program starting part starts said recording medium starting part.    
     
     
         38 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 the absolute path written in. the setting file is one used for path direction in a file system used in the recording medium.    
     
     
         39 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 said program starting part performs authentication check on the setting information recorded in the recording medium, and reads the setting information when the authentication check is passed.    
     
     
         40 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 said program starting part performs authentication check on a mount target specified by the absolute path, and mounts the mount target when the authentication check is passed.    
     
     
         41 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 upon a finish of processing concerning the recording medium inserted into the slot, said program starting part notifies a once started program of the finish of the processing.    
     
     
         42 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein: 
 insertion into and removal from the slot of the recording medium is allowed.    
     
     
         43 . A path direction method taken in an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a first mounting step of mounting the recording medium inserted into said slot onto a first mount point;    a mount point holding step of holding information of the first mount point;    an absolute path acquiring step of reading setting information from the thus-mounted recording medium, and acquiring an absolute path according to a relative path specified in the setting information and the held information of the first mount point; and    a second mounting step of mounting said absolute path onto a second mount point specified in the setting information.    
     
     
         44 . A path direction method taken in an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a first mount step of mounting the recording medium inserted into said slot onto a first mount point;    an absolute mount point acquiring step of reading setting information from the thus-mounted recording medium, and acquiring an absolute mount point according to a directory and a relative mount point specified in the setting information; and    a second mount step mounting an absolute path specified in the setting file onto the thus-acquired absolute mount point.    
     
     
         45 . An image forming apparatus comprising a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring part monitoring insertion/removal of a recording medium;    a recording medium starting part making the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state; and    a program starting part reading a program from said recording medium made into the accessible state, and starting said program, while stopping the program once read out from the recording medium and started, upon being notified of a removal of the recording medium from the slot by said status monitoring part.    
     
     
         46 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein: 
 said program starting part determines, upon being notified of a removal of the recording medium from the slot by said status monitoring part, whether or not the removal of the recording medium is treated as an abnormal event according to predetermined information.    
     
     
         47 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein: 
 said program starting part determines that the removal of the recording medium is treated as an abnormal event when the predetermined information does not include license information.    
     
     
         48 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein: 
 after reading a program and stating the same, said program starting part acquires a module information file of said program comprising at least one of module identification information, module version information and license information, and holds the same together with information of a number of the slot into which said recording medium is inserted.    
     
     
         49 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein: 
 said program starting part does not determine that the removal of the recording medium is treated as an abnormal event when the predetermined information includes license information.    
     
     
         50 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein: 
 upon determining the removal as an abnormal event, said program starting part displays this matter on an operation panel.    
     
     
         51 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein: 
 upon determining the removal as an abnormal event, said program starting part makes said image forming apparatus into a nonusable state.    
     
     
         52 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein: 
 upon being notified of insertion/removal of the recording medium into/from said slot notified, said status monitoring part notifies said program starting part of the insertion/removal information.    
     
     
         53 . An image forming apparatus comprising a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring part monitoring insertion/removal of a recording medium;    a recording medium starting part making the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state;    a program read out from said recording medium and started, which upon being notified of a removal of said recording medium from the slot, terminates interprocess communications with another process, and then, stops itself; and    a program starting part reading said program from said recording medium made into the accessible state, and starting said program, which, upon being notified of a removal of said recording medium from the slot, starts said recording medium starting part and cancels the once-made accessible state of said recording medium.    
     
     
         54 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein: 
 after all the program once started from the recording medium is stopped, said program starting part starts said recording medium starting part and cancels the once-made accessible state of said recording medium removed from the slot.    
     
     
         55 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein: 
 said status monitoring part is notified of insertion/removal of the recording medium into/from said slot, and notifies said program starting part and the program once started from said recording medium of the insertion/removal.    
     
     
         56 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein: 
 insertion into and removal of the recording medium in a hot plugging manner is allowed.    
     
     
         57 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein: 
 insertion into and removal of the recording medium in a hot plugging manner is allowed.    
     
     
         58 . A program stopping method taken in an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring step of monitoring insertion/removal of a recording medium;    a recording medium stopping step of canceling a once-made accessible state of the recording medium removed from the slot; and    a program stopping step of stopping a program once read out from the recording medium and started, upon being notified of a removal of said recording medium from the slot.    
     
     
         59 . The program stopping method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein: 
 said program starting step determines, upon being notified of a removal of the recording medium from the slot, whether or not the removal of the recording medium is treated as an abnormal event according to predetermined information.    
     
     
         60 . The program stopping method as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein: 
 said program stopping step determines that the removal of the recording medium is treated as an abnormal event when the predetermined information does not include license information.    
     
     
         61 . The program stopping method as claimed in  claim 60 , further comprising a module information file holding step of, when a program is read out from said recording medium and started, acquiring a module information file of said program comprising at least one of module identification information, module version information and license information, and holding the same together with information of a number of the slot into which said recording medium has been inserted.  
     
     
         62 . The program stopping method as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein: 
 said program stopping step does not determine that the removal of the recording medium is treated as an abnormal event when the predetermined information includes license information.    
     
     
         63 . The program stopping method as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein: 
 upon determining the removal as an abnormal event, said program stopping step displays this matter on an operation panel.    
     
     
         64 . The program stopping method as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein: 
 upon determining the removal as an abnormal event, said program stopping part makes the entirety of said image forming apparatus into a nonusable state.    
     
     
         65 . A program stopping method taken in an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring step of monitoring insertion/removal of a. recording medium into/from said slot;    a recording medium stopping step of, upon being notified of a removal of said recording medium from the slot, terminating inter-process communications with another process, stopping a program once read out from said recording medium and started; and    a recording medium stopping step of canceling a once-made accessible state of said recording medium removed from the slot.    
     
     
         66 . The program stopping method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein: 
 a hot plugging of said recording medium is allowed.    
     
     
         67 . The program stopping method as claimed in  claim 65 , wherein: 
 a hot plugging of said recording medium is allowed.    
     
     
         68 . An image forming apparatus comprising a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring part monitoring insertion/removal of a recording medium;    a recording medium starting part making the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state; and    an application part reading a setting file and data from said recording medium made into the accessible state, and processing the data according to the description of the setting file.    
     
     
         69 . An image forming apparatus comprising a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring part monitoring insertion/removal of a recording medium;    a recording medium starting part making the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state; and    an application part reading at least a unit of data from said recording medium made into the accessible state, producing a list of the thus-read data, displaying the data list on an operation panel for an operator to select data therefrom, and processing the data thus selected by the operator.    
     
     
         70 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein: 
 said status monitoring part is notified of insertion/removal of the recording medium into/from the slot, and notifies said application part of the insertion/removal.    
     
     
         71 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 69 , wherein: 
 said status monitoring part is notified of insertion/removal of the recording medium into/from the slot, and notifies said application part of the insertion/removal.    
     
     
         72 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 70 , wherein: 
 said application part starts said recording medium starting part when being notified of an insertion of the recording medium into the slot from said status monitoring part.    
     
     
         73 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein: 
 said application part starts said recording medium starting part when being notified of an insertion of the recording medium into the slot from said status monitoring part    
     
     
         74 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein: 
 said recording medium starting part starts the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state, and notifies said status monitoring part that said recording medium is made into the accessible state.    
     
     
         75 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein: 
 said recording medium starting part starts the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state, and notifies said status monitoring part that said recording medium is made into the accessible state.    
     
     
         76 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein: 
 said application part is notified by said status monitoring part that said recording medium is made into the accessible state.    
     
     
         77 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 75 , wherein: 
 said application part is notified by said. status monitoring part that said recording medium is made into the accessible state.    
     
     
         78 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein: 
 said application part processes the data read out from the recording medium according to processing instructions contained in the setting file.    
     
     
         79 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein: 
 said application part reads image data from the recording medium as the data to be processed.    
     
     
         80 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein: 
 said application part selects data according to a description contained in the setting file, and processes the thus-selected data.    
     
     
         81 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 69 , wherein: 
 said application part displays the data list on the operation panel, which list includes a configuration via which an operator can select data from said at least one unit of data.    
     
     
         82 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 81 , wherein: 
 said application part processes the data selected by the operation via said configuration included in said data list.    
     
     
         83 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein: 
 a hot plugging of the recording medium is allowed.    
     
     
         84 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 69 , wherein: 
 a hot plugging of the recording medium is allowed.    
     
     
         85 . A data processing method taken in an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring step of monitoring insertion/removal of a recording medium;    a recording medium starting step of making the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state; and    a data processing step of reading a setting file and data from said recording medium made into the accessible state, and processing the data according to the description of the setting file.    
     
     
         86 . A data processing method taken in an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring step of monitoring insertion/removal of a recording medium;    a recording medium starting step of making the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state;    a data list display step of reading at least a unit of data from said recording medium made into the accessible state, produces a list of the thus-read data, and displaying the data list on an operation panel for an operator to select data therefrom; and    a data processing step of processing the data thus selected by the operator.    
     
     
         87 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 85 , wherein: 
 said data processing step processes the data read out from the recording medium according to processing instructions contained in the setting file.    
     
     
         88 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 86 , wherein: 
 said data processing step displays the data list on the operation panel, which list includes a configuration via which an operator can select data from said at least one unit of data.    
     
     
         89 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 88 , wherein: 
 said data processing step processes the data selected by the operation via said configuration included in said data list.    
     
     
         90 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 86;  wherein: 
 said data list display step reads image data from said recording medium as said at least a unit of data.  
 
     
     
         91 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 85 , wherein: 
 said data processing step selects data according to a description of the setting file, and processes the thus-selected data.    
     
     
         92 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 85 , wherein: 
 a hot plugging of the recording medium is allowed.    
     
     
         93 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 86 , wherein: 
 a hot plugging of the recording medium is allowed.    
     
     
         94 . An image forming apparatus comprising a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 a status monitoring part monitoring insertion/removal of a recording medium;    a recording medium starting part starting the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state;    a program starting part reading a program-starting setting file and a program from said recording medium made into the accessible state, and starting said program according to a description of said program-starting setting file; and    an application part reading an application-setting file and data from said recording medium started, and processing the data according to a description of said application setting file.    
     
     
         95 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 94 , wherein: 
 said status monitoring part is notified of insertion/removal of the recording medium into/from the slot, and notifies said program starting part of the insertion/removal.    
     
     
         96 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 95 , wherein: 
 said program starting part starts said recording medium starting part upon being notified of insertion of the recording medium into said slot by said status monitoring part.    
     
     
         97 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 96 , wherein: 
 said recording medium starting part starts the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state, and notifies said status monitoring part of the matter that the recording medium is thus started into the accessible state.    
     
     
         98 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 97 , wherein: 
 said program starting part is notified by said state monitoring part of the matter that the recording medium is thus started into the accessible state.    
     
     
         99 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 94 , wherein: 
 said application part processes data read out from said recording medium according to setting instructions and processing instructions contained in said application setting file.    
     
     
         100 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 94 , wherein: 
 said application part reads out image data from said recording medium as the data to be processed.    
     
     
         101 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 100 , wherein: 
 said application part comprises a printer application program, and performs processing for printing out image data read out from said recording medium according to paper. setting instructions, color. setting instructions, and printing instructions contained in the printer-application setting file.    
     
     
         102 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 94 , wherein: 
 said application part comprises a scanner application program, and performs processing for scanning image data and storing the same according to color setting instructions, and scanning instructions contained in the scanner-application setting file.    
     
     
         103 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 100 , wherein: 
 said application part comprises a facsimile application program, and performs processing for transmitting via facsimile image data read out from said recording medium according to paper setting instructions, color setting instructions, transmission destination setting instructions and facsimile instructions contained in the facsimile-application setting file.    
     
     
         104 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 100 , wherein: 
 said application part comprises a mail application program, and performs processing for transmitting via electronic mail image data read out from said recording medium according to color setting instructions, mail destination setting instructions and mail instructions contained in the mail-application setting file.    
     
     
         105 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 94 , wherein: 
 the program-starting setting file and application setting file are recorded in said recording medium for each program.    
     
     
         106 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 94 , wherein: 
 a hot plugging of the recording medium is allowed    
     
     
         107 . A data processing method taken in an image forming apparatus which comprises a program for performing a process concerning image formation by using a hardware resource, and a slot which a recording medium is inserted into and removed from, comprising: 
 an insertion detecting step detecting an insertion of a recording medium into said slot;    a recording medium starting step starting the recording medium inserted into the slot into an accessible state;    a program starting step of reading a program-starting setting file and a program from said recording medium made into the accessible state, and starting said program according to a description of said program-starting setting file; and    a data processing step of reading an application-setting file and data from said recording medium started, and processing the data according to a description of said application setting file.    
     
     
         108 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 107 , wherein: 
 said data processing step processes data read out from said recording medium according to setting instructions and processing instructions contained in said application setting file.    
     
     
         109 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 107 , wherein: 
 said data processing step reads out image data from said recording medium as the data to be processed.    
     
     
         110 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 109 , wherein: 
 said data processing step performs processing for printing out image data read out from said recording medium according to paper setting instructions, color setting instructions, and printing instructions contained in the printer-application setting file.    
     
     
         111 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 107 , wherein: 
 said data processing step performs processing for scanning. image data and storing the same according to color setting instructions, and scanning instructions contained in the scanner-application setting file.    
     
     
         112 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 109 , wherein: 
 said data processing step performs processing for transmitting via facsimile image data read out from said recording medium according to paper setting instructions, color setting instructions, transmission destination setting instructions and facsimile instructions contained in the facsimile-application setting file.    
     
     
         113 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 109 , wherein: 
 said data processing step performs processing for transmitting via electronic mail image data read out from said recording medium according to color setting instructions, mail destination setting instructions and mail instructions contained in the mail-application setting file.    
     
     
         114 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 107 , wherein: 
 the program-starting setting file and application setting file are recorded in said recording medium for each program.    
     
     
         115 . The data processing method as claimed in  claim 107 , wherein: 
 a hot plugging of the recording medium is allowed

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