Image forming apparatus, launching method of program in the apparatus, image forming system, and program and storage medium therefor

Abstract

An image forming apparatus which is connected to an external device via a communication unit includes a launching program identification unit which stores launching program information for specifying a program module to be executed upon launching from a plurality of program modules for realizing a plurality of functions, and a program management unit which executes a program module corresponding to the launching program information when the image forming apparatus is activated, on the basis of the launching program information stored in the launching program identification unit. License information containing the identification information and launching program information of the apparatus is acquired from a PC via the communication unit. The launching program information stored in the launching program identification unit is updated on the basis of the acquired license information, thereby changing the program module to be executed upon activating the apparatus.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:
 a server unit configured to provide an operation screen for designating license information of a program module to be sent to the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus, in response to an access from a web browser application of the information processing apparatus, wherein the license information of the program module is stored in the information processing apparatus and the license information designated on the operation screen displayed on the information processing apparatus is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus;   a license confirmation unit configured to confirm whether the license information of the program module transmitted from the information processing apparatus is valid; and   a program control unit configured to control operation of the program module,   wherein the program control unit executes the program module when a launch of the program module is instructed, after the license confirmation unit has confirmed that the license information of the program module is valid.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the license confirmation unit generates a license confirmation, wherein the license confirmation includes at least one of expiration date, the number of printable sheets and the number of sheets to be scanned. 
     
     
         18 . A control method of an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an operation screen for designating license information of a program module to be sent to the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus, in response to an access from a web browser application of the information processing apparatus, wherein the license information of the program module is stored in the information processing apparatus and the license information designated on the operation screen displayed on the information processing apparatus is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus;   confirming whether the license information of the program module transmitted from the information apparatus is valid; and   controlling operation of the program module in response to a confirmation in the confirming step,   wherein in the controlling step, the program module is executed when a launch of the program module is instructed, after the license confirmation unit has confirmed that the license information of the program module is valid.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising generating a license confirmation, wherein the license confirmation includes at least one of expiration date, a number of printable sheets and a number of sheets to be scanned. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program that, when executed by a computer capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus, causes the computer to perform a control method comprising the steps of:
 providing an operation screen for designating license information of a program module to be sent to computer from the information processing apparatus, in response to an access from a web browser application of the information processing apparatus, wherein the license information of the program module is stored in the information processing apparatus and the license information designated on the operation screen displayed on the information processing apparatus is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the computer;   confirming whether the license information of the program module transmitted from the information apparatus is valid; and   controlling operation of the program module in response to a confirmation in the confirming step,   wherein in the controlling step, the program module is executed when a launch of the program module is instructed, after the license confirmation unit has confirmed that the license information of the program module is valid.