Image processing device and application operation control method

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store a plurality of user applications and a plurality of background applications related to image processing;
• a user interface configured to receive a user input;
• a processor configured to:
• control an image processing unit to execute image processing functions;
• control activation and deactivation of the plurality of user applications and the plurality of background applications;
• activate a first subset of the plurality of background applications in a first number equal to or less than an activation limit number and based on (a) attendance information identifying a plurality of potential users of the image processing apparatus present in a location associated with the image processing apparatus and (b) an overall execution history of the plurality of background applications for the plurality of potential users;
• receive user identification information for a current user of the image processing apparatus;
• activate a second subset of the plurality of background applications in a second number equal to or less than the activation limit number and based on a user specific execution history of the plurality of background applications associated with the user identification information, wherein activating the second subset includes at least one of (a) deactivating one or more of the plurality of background applications included in the first subset but not included in the second subset or (b) activating one or more of the plurality of background applications included in the second subset but not included in the first subset;
• and
• reactivate the first subset of the plurality of background applications based on the attendance information and the overall execution history.