Dynamic network device reconfiguration

A method performed in an information processing apparatus which includes a network interface for connection to a network, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of function modules and is constructed to communicate over the network interface with a plurality of multifunction network devices on the network, wherein each multifunction network device has function modules which include a function module for controlling a scanning capability and a function module for controlling a printing capability of the multifunction network device, as well as hardware resources used by the function modules to perform the scanning and printing capabilities, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a reconfiguration event from at least one of the plurality of multifunction network devices, wherein the reconfiguration event is triggered by an increase or a decrease in demand for hardware resources of said one multifunction network device, and wherein the reconfiguration event indicates deletion of the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability or indicates retrieval of the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability;
• first sending a deletion command over the network to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event, wherein the deletion command instructs deletion of the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability, in case that the reconfiguration event detected by the detecting step is the event indicating a need to delete the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability in said one multifunction network device in response to the increase of demand for the hardware resources, wherein said one multifunction network device operates itself without a scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without a printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability;
• and
• second sending a requested function module stored in the storage unit over the network to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event, wherein the requested function module is the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability, in case that the reconfiguration event detected by the detecting step is the event indicating a request for the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability or the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability in response to the decrease of demand for the hardware resources, followed by an execution of the retrieved function module by said one multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources,
• wherein prior to execution of the retrieved function module, said one multifunction network device confirms whether the retrieved function module is or is not authenticated;
• and
• wherein said one multifunction network device operates itself with a scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with a printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.

A method for controlling a multifunction network device, wherein the multifunction network device includes a network interface for communication on the network, said multifunction network device further having function modules for controlling scanning and printing capabilities of said multifunction network device, wherein said function modules include a function module for controlling the scanning capability and a function module for controlling the printing capability, and said multifunction network device further having a plurality of hardware resources including a storage memory for storing a plurality of function modules which includes the function module for controlling the scanning capability and the function module for controlling the printing capability, a program memory to be used by the function modules, and a processor for executing the function modules, said method comprising the steps of:

• executing the plurality of function modules by the multifunction network device using the hardware resources so as to control the scanning and printing capabilities;
• determining whether the hardware resources need to be reallocated based on a status of use of the hardware resources by the plurality of function modules;
• first reconfiguring by deleting the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability from said multifunction network device and sending the deleted function module via the network interface over the network so as to secure the hardware resources in said multifunction network device, wherein the deleted function module is sent over the network to an information processing apparatus on the network, responsive to a case when the determining step determines that the hardware resources need to be reallocated, wherein said multifunction network device operates itself without a scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without a printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability;
• and
• second reconfiguring said multifunction network device by retrieving the deleted function module for the scanning capability or the deleted function module for the printing capability from the information processing apparatus over the network via the network interface in response to a status of use of the hardware resources after the first reconfiguring step, and executing the retrieved function module by said multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources,
• wherein prior to execution of the retrieved function module, said multifunction network device confirms whether the retrieved function module is or is not authenticated, and
• wherein said multifunction network device operates itself with a scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with a printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• a network interface for connection to a network for communicating over the network with a plurality of multifunction network devices, wherein each multifunction network device has function modules for controlling scanning and printing capabilities of the multifunction network device as well as hardware resources used by the function modules to perform the scanning and printing capabilities, wherein said function modules include a function module for controlling the scanning capability and a function module for controlling the printing capability;
• a storage unit for storing a plurality of function modules;
• a detector which detects a reconfiguration event from at least one of the plurality of multifunction network devices based on a status of use of hardware resources in said one multifunction network device, wherein the reconfiguration event is triggered by an increase or a decrease in demand for hardware resources of said one multifunction network device;
• means for sending a deletion command over the network via the network interface for instructing the deletion of the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event, in case that the detected reconfiguration event is the event indicating a need to delete the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability in said one multifunction network device in response to the increase of demand for the hardware resources, wherein said one multifunction network device operates itself without a scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without a printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability;
• and
• means for sending a requested function module stored in the storage unit over the network via the network interface to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event, in case that the detected reconfiguration event is the event indicating a request for retrieval of the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability in response to the decrease of demand for the hardware resources, followed by execution of the retrieved function module by said one multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources,
• wherein prior to execution of the retrieved function module, said one multifunction network device confirms whether the retrieved function module is or is not authenticated, and
• wherein said one multifunction network device operates itself with a scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with a printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.

An apparatus for controlling a multifunction network device, wherein the multifunction network device includes a network interface for communication on the network, said multifunction network device further having function modules for controlling scanning and printing capabilities of said multifunction network device, wherein said function modules include a function module for controlling the scanning capability and a function module for controlling the printing capability, and said multifunction network device further having a plurality of hardware resources including a storage memory for storing a plurality of function modules which includes the function module for controlling the scanning capability and the function module for controlling the printing capability, a program memory to be used by the function modules, and a processor for executing the function modules using the hardware resources so as to control the scanning and printing capabilities, said apparatus comprising:

• means for determining whether the hardware resources need to be reallocated based on a status of use of the hardware resources by the plurality of function modules;
• means for deleting the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability, and for sending the deleted function module over the network via the network interface so as to secure the hardware resources in said multifunction network device, wherein the deleted function module is sent over the network to an information processing apparatus on the network, responsive to a case when the means for determining determines that the hardware resources need to be reallocated, wherein said multifunction network device operates itself without a scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without a printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability;
• means for reconfiguring the multifunction network device by retrieving the deleted function module for the scanning capability or the deleted function module for the printing capability from the information processing apparatus over the network via the network interface in response to a status of use of the hardware resources, and for executing the retrieved function module by said multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources;
• and
• a processor constructed to implement functionality of said means for determining, said means for deleting, and said means for reconfiguring;
• wherein prior to execution of the retrieved function module, said multifunction network device confirms whether the retrieved function module is or is not authenticated, and
• wherein said multifunction network device operates itself with a scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with a printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.

A computer-readable memory medium having computer-executable process steps stored thereon for controlling an information processing apparatus which includes a network interface for connection to a network, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of function modules and is constructed to communicate over the network interface with a plurality of multifunction network devices on the network, wherein each multifunction network device has function modules which include a function module for controlling a scanning capability and a function module for controlling a printing capability of the multifunction network device, as well as hardware resources used by the function modules to perform the scanning and printing capabilities, wherein said process steps comprise:

• a detecting step to detect a reconfiguration event from at least one of the plurality of multifunction network devices, wherein the reconfiguration event is triggered by an increase or a decrease in demand for hardware resources of said one multifunction network device, and wherein the reconfiguration event indicates deletion of the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability or indicates retrieval of the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability;
• a first sending step to send a deletion command over the network to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event, wherein the deletion command instructs deletion of the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability, in case that the reconfiguration event detected by the detecting step is the event indicating a need to delete the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability in said one multifunction network device in response to the increase of demand for the hardware resources, wherein said one multifunction network device operates itself without a scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without a printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability;
• and
• a second sending step to send a requested function module stored in the storage unit over the network to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event, wherein the requested function module is the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability, in case that the reconfiguration event detected by the detecting step is the event indicating a request for the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability or the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability in response to the decrease of demand for the hardware resources, followed by an execution of the retrieved function module by said one multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources,
• wherein prior to execution of the retrieved function module, said one multifunction network device confirms whether the retrieved function module is or is not authenticated, and
• wherein said one multifunction network device operates itself with a scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with a printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.

A computer-readable memory medium having computer-executable process steps stored thereon for controlling a multifunction network device, wherein the multifunction network device includes a network interface for communication on the network, and wherein the multifunction network device has function modules for controlling scanning and printing capabilities of said multifunction network device, wherein said function modules include a function module for controlling the scanning capability and a function module for controlling the printing capability, and further has a plurality of hardware resources including a storage memory for storing a plurality of function modules which includes the function module for controlling the scanning capability and the function module for controlling the printing capability, a program memory to be used by the function modules, and a processor for executing the function modules, wherein said process steps comprise:

• an executing step to execute the plurality of function modules by the multi function network device using the hardware resources so as to control the scanning and printing capabilities;
• a determining step to determine whether the hardware resources need to be reallocated based on a status of use of the hardware resources by the plurality of function modules;
• a first reconfiguring step to reconfigure by deleting the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability from said multifunction network device and sending the deleted function module over the network via the network interface so as to secure the hardware resources in said multifunction network device, wherein the deleted function module is sent over the network to an information processing apparatus on the network, responsive to a case when the determining step determines that the hardware resources need to be reallocated, wherein said multifunction network device operates itself without a scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without a printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability;
• and
• a second reconfiguring step to reconfigure said multifunction network device by retrieving the deleted function module for the scanning capability or the deleted function module for the printing capability from the information processing apparatus over the network via the network interface in response to a status of use of the hardware resources after the first reconfiguring step, and to execute the retrieved function module by said multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources,
• wherein prior to execution of the retrieved function module, said multifunction network device confirms whether the retrieved function module is or is not authenticated, and
• wherein said multifunction network device operates itself with a scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with a printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• a network interface for connection to a network and for communication with a plurality of multifunction network devices on the network, wherein each multifunction network device has function modules which include a function module for controlling a scanning capability and a function module for controlling a printing capability of the multifunction network device, as well as hardware resources used by the function modules to perform the scanning and printing capabilities;
• a storage unit for storing a plurality of function modules and for storing computer-executable process steps;
• and
• a processor for executing the computer-executable process steps stored in said storage unit;
• wherein said process steps comprise:
• a detecting step to detect a reconfiguration event from at least one of the plurality of multifunction network devices, wherein the reconfiguration event is triggered by an increase or a decrease in demand for hardware resources of said one multifunction network device, and wherein the reconfiguration event indicates deletion of the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability or indicates retrieval of the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability;
• a first sending step to send a deletion command over the network to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event, wherein the deletion command instructs deletion of the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability, in case that the reconfiguration event detected by the detecting step is the event indicating a need to delete the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability in said one multifunction network device in response to the increase of demand for the hardware resources, wherein said one multifunction network device operates itself without a scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without a printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability;
• and
• a second sending step to send a requested function module stored in the storage unit over the network to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event, wherein the requested function module is the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability, in case that the reconfiguration event detected by the detecting step is the event indicating a request for the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability or the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability in response to the decrease of demand for the hardware resources, followed by an execution of the retrieved function module by said one multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources,
• wherein prior to execution of the retrieved function module, said one multifunction network device confirms whether the retrieved function module is or is not authenticated, and
• wherein said one multifunction network device operates itself with a scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with a printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.

A multifunction network device comprising:

• a network interface for communication on the network;
• and
• a plurality of hardware resources including a storage memory for storing a plurality of function modules which includes a function module for controlling a scanning capability of the multifunction network device and a function module for controlling a printing capability of the multifunction network device, a program memory to be used by the function modules, and a processor for executing the function modules,
• wherein said program memory stores computer-executable process steps executable by the processor, and
• wherein said process steps comprise:
• an executing step to execute the plurality of function modules by the multifunction network device using the hardware resources so as to control the scanning and printing capabilities;
• a determining step to determine whether the hardware resources need to be reallocated based on a status of use of the hardware resources by the plurality of function modules;
• a first reconfiguring step to reconfigure by deleting the function module for controlling the scanning capability or the function module for controlling the printing capability from said multifunction network device and sending the deleted function module over the network via the network interface so as to secure the hardware resources in said multifunction network device, wherein the deleted function module is sent over the network to an information processing apparatus on the network, responsive to a case when the determining step determines that the hardware resources need to be reallocated, wherein said multifunction network device operates itself without a scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without a printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability;
• and
• a second reconfiguring step to reconfigure said multifunction network device by retrieving the deleted function module for the scanning capability or the deleted function module for the printing capability from the information processing apparatus over the network via the network interface in response to a status of use of the hardware resources after the first reconfiguring step, and to execute the retrieved function module by said multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources,
• wherein prior to execution of the retrieved function module, said multifunction network device confirms whether the retrieved function module is or is not authenticated, and
• wherein said multifunction network device operates itself with a scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with a printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.