Back to results
US 2004/0165204 A1Published application
Image forming apparatus
AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorAkihiko Fujiwara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming apparatus receives, from a server connected to a network, a notification that a module operating units composing the apparatus can be added. The apparatus requests distribution of a program including the module to the server. Further, when a function of the module can be realized from information of the module stored in each hierarchy composing the program of the apparatus acquired each predetermined period and information of main and option devices, the server transmits program distributing information including the module. The device stores the module in an area of a predetermined hierarchy on the basis of the program distributing information.
Claims9
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a module section which stores a program for realizing functions of respective units composing the image forming apparatus so as to be divided into modules corresponding to each predetermined hierarchy;
- a device information managing section which stores information relating to the modules stored in the module section and information relating to the units;
- a connecting section which connects a program including modules which operate the units connected to a network, so as to be able to be received from an exterior;
- an informing section which, when notifying information is received from the connecting section, informs contents of the notifying information;
- an operating section which receives an operation of transmitting, to a program distributing source, distribution requesting information requesting distribution of the modules;
- and
- an information analyzing section which, when program distributing information including the modules is received from the exterior via the connecting section, analyzes to which hierarchy of the module section a module included in the program distributing information is stored, and stores the module on the basis of the analyzed results,
- wherein the connecting section transmits, operation requesting information requesting an operation of whether distribution of a module operating the unit is necessary or not to the respective image forming apparatuses, and information of a device which is necessary for realizing a function of the module, and receives notifying information having described therein contents that an operation of requesting distribution of the module configured to be able to realize the function is to be carried out.
5 more elements
A program distributing method of a program distributing source, comprising:
- acquiring information relating to respective units composing image forming apparatuses and information relating to modules in which programs for realizing functions of the respective units are stored each predetermined hierarchy, via a network and each predetermined period and for each image forming apparatus connected to the network;
- receiving a module operating the unit, operation requesting information requesting an operation of whether distribution of the module is necessary or not to the respective image forming apparatus, and information of a device which is necessary for realizing a function of the module;
- determining whether or not each image forming apparatus is configured to be able to realize the function of the module;
- transmitting notifying information describing contents that an operation of requesting distribution of the module to the image forming apparatus configured to be able to realize the module function by the determination is to be carried out;
- receiving distribution requesting information requesting distribution of the module from the image forming apparatus to which the notifying information has been transmitted;
- and
- preparing program distributing information including the module operating the unit, and transmitting it to the image forming apparatus to which the distribution has been requested.
4 more elements
A program distributing method of a program distributing source, comprising:
- acquiring information relating to respective units composing image forming apparatuses and information relating to modules in which programs for realizing functions of the respective units are stored per predetermined hierarchy, at each predetermined period and for each image forming apparatus connected to the network;
- receiving a module operating the unit, operation requesting information requesting an operation of whether distribution of the module is necessary or not to the respective image forming apparatus, and information of a device which is necessary for realizing a function of the module;
- receiving inquiry information inquiring whether or not the module operating the unit is newly registered at the program distributing source, via the network from the image forming apparatus;
- determining whether or not each image forming apparatus having received the inquiry information is configured to be able to realize the function of the module;
- when it is determined that the image forming apparatus is configured to realize the module function by the determination, transmitting, to the image forming apparatus, notifying information having described therein the contents that an operation of requesting distribution of the module to the image forming apparatus is to be carried out;
- receiving distribution requesting information requesting distribution of the module from the image forming apparatus to which the notifying information has been transmitted;
- and
- preparing program distributing information including the module operating the unit, and transmitting it to the image forming apparatus at which the distribution has been requested.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.