Image forming apparatus, controlling method, and control program

Abstract

An image forming apparatus in which programs for controlling processes that are provided by the image forming apparatus are installed. The image forming apparatus includes means for managing the use amount of each program by use of a counter, means for recognizing the counter which corresponds to the identification information of the program and can manage the use amount of the program, means for correlating the program with the counter recognized by the recognizing means to manage the counter, means which can set an upper limit on the use amount of each program for the use amount managing means, and means for controlling the process by the image forming apparatus based on the upper limit of the use amount set by the setting means for each of the types of the programs.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . An image forming apparatus which is controlled by an operating system and capable of implementing at least one application program controlling at least one function provided by the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:
 a counter managing a use amount of each application program;   means for managing the use amount of the application program managed by the counter, by using a predetermined counter control application program interface provided in a layer same as an interpreter, the interpreter operating on the operating system; and   means for identifying a counter capable of being related to an application program to be installed,   wherein the use amount managing means relates the application program to a new counter by producing the new counter, if the identifying means is not able to identify the counter capable of being related to the application program.   
   
   
       18 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the use amount managing means resets the counter identified by the identifying means. 
   
   
       19 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the use amount managing means manages the use amount of the application program in accordance with an execution number of the application program. 
   
   
       20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the use amount managing means manages the use amount of the application program based on time for using of the application program. 
   
   
       21 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the use amount managing means manages the use amount of the application program based on a number of a predetermined operation instructed by the application. 
   
   
       22 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the use amount managing means manages the use amount of the application program by combination of the functions provided by the image forming apparatus and the application program controlling the functions provided by the image forming apparatus. 
   
   
       23 . An image forming apparatus which is controlled by an operating system and capable of implementing at least one application program controlling at least one function provided by the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:
 a counter managing a use amount of each application program; and   means for managing the use amount of the application program managed by the counter, by using a predetermined counter control application program interface provided in a layer same as an interpreter, the interpreter operating on the operating system;   wherein the use amount managing means manages the counter by a table which relates an identifier corresponding to the application program to an identifier corresponding to the counter.