Method of and apparatus for image formation, and computer product

Abstract

Common portions of applications are extracted as common system service. A platform is formed by the common system service and a general purpose OS. A printer application, a copy application, and various applications are mounted on the platform. As a result, each software (application) corresponding to a printer, a copier, a facsimile device, and so on can be developed efficiently and the productivity of the apparatus as a whole can be improved.

1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising at least one of a printing section or an imaging section, 
 wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be capable of being installed with a plurality of applications for implementing image formation processing, and the image forming apparatus is installed with an operating system and a program for controlling the image formation processing, the program is operable on the operating system and is capable of being accessed and commonly used by the plurality of applications,    wherein each of the plurality of applications is capable of being added or deleted respectively.    
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus obtains the applications via a network and being installed with the applications.  
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the program includes a module for controlling a network communication, wherein the apparatus obtains the applications via the network using the module.  
     
     
         4 . An image forming method operated with an image forming apparatus having at least one of a printing section or an imaging section, 
 wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be capable of being installed with a plurality of applications for implementing image processing operations, and each one of the plurality of applications is capable of being added or deleted respectively,    wherein the apparatus is operable on an operating system and a program, wherein the program is executed on the operating system for controlling the apparatus and accessed from the applications and is used commonly by the plurality of applications.    
     
     
         5 . The image forming method according to  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus obtains the applications via a network and being installed with the applications.  
     
     
         6 . The image forming method according to  claim 5 , wherein the program includes a module for controlling a network communication, wherein the apparatus obtains the applications via the network using the module.  
     
     
         7 . A computer readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations, the instructions includes a program installed in an image forming apparatus, the apparatus comprises at least one of a printing section or an imaging section, 
 wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be capable of being installed with a plurality of applications for implementing image processing operations, and each one of the plurality of applications is capable of being added or deleted respectively,    wherein the image forming apparatus is operable on an operating system and the program, wherein the program is executed on the operating system for controlling the apparatus and accessed from the applications and is used commonly by the plurality of applications.    
     
     
         8 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the medium has instructions stored therein for obtaining the applications via a network and is installed with the applications.  
     
     
         9 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the medium has a program stored therein including a module for controlling a network communication, wherein the image forming apparatus obtains the applications via the network using the module.