Image Forming System and Method of Controlling Image Forming Apparatus
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorMitsuaki Kouno
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trial mode in which the number of trials is limited can be set for a network printer function and a network scanner function of an image forming apparatus. Then, the use of one of the network printer function and network scanner function of the image forming apparatus for which the trial mode has been set is permitted in accordance with a use request from a user.
Claims17
An image forming system apparatus having a plurality of functions, comprising:
- a network interface connected to at least one computer via a communication network;
- a setting section which sets a trial mode in which at least either the number of trials or the number of days for the trials is limited, for one of said plurality of functions in response to an operation of either a control panel of the image forming apparatus or the computer;
- a request section which requests a purchase of the function for which the trial mode has been set by the communication network;
- and
- a permitting section which permits the use of the function for which the trial mode has been set, in accordance with the purchase request of the request section, and prohibits the use of the function for which the trial mode has been set upon completion of trial mode in a case where the request has not requested the purchase function.
A method of controlling a composite image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and including a network interface connected to at least one computer via a communication network, the method comprising:
- setting a trial mode in which at least either a number of trials or a number of days for the trials is limited, for one of said plurality of functions in response to an operation of either a control panel of the image forming apparatus or the computer.
- requesting a purchase of the function for which the trial mode has been set by the communication network;
- permitting the use of the function for which the trial mode has been set, in accordance with the purchase request, and prohibiting the use of the function for which the trial mode has been set upon completion of trial mode in a case where there is no purchase request.
An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions, comprising:
- a network interface connected to at least one computer via a communication network;
- setting means for setting a trial mode in which at least either a number of trials or a number of days for the trials is limited, for one of said plurality of functions in response to an operation of either a control panel of the image forming apparatus of the computer;
- requesting means for requesting a purchase of the function for which the trial mode has been set by the communication network;
- permitting means for the use of the function for which the trial mode has been set, in accordance with the purchase request of the requesting means, and prohibiting the use of the function for which the trial mode has been set upon completion of trial mode in a case where the requesting means has not requested the purchase of the function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.