Ink jet recording apparatus

An ink jet recording apparatus which is able to be operated by communication from a higher-level device, comprising:

• a printing head that ejects ink;
• a communication unit which is able to perform communicating with the higher-level device;
• a program storage unit that stores a program;
• and
• a printing control unit that controls the printing head,
• wherein the program storage unit includes a communication program storage area in which a program corresponding to a predetermined communication protocol is stored in advance, and
• the program storage unit includes an extension area in which a program corresponding to a communication protocol different from the predetermined communication protocol is installable,
• wherein the program installed in the extension area is a program having a function of converting, when a setting of a specification in which a setting is unable to be reflected in the ink jet recording apparatus is received from the higher-level device, the received setting to a format of a reflectable specification and reflecting a setting value in software of a main body side of the ink jet recording apparatus, and
• the program installed in the extension area and the program stored in advance become mutually executable.