Information processing system, information processor, image forming apparatus, and information processing method

An information processing method executed by a plurality of apparatuses configured to execute one or more applications and an information processor connected to the apparatuses through a first network, the information processing method comprising:

• obtaining license status information of the applications installed in each of the apparatuses from the corresponding apparatuses through the first network;
• transmitting a request, based on the obtained license status information, to a computer through a second network for issuance of license data authorizing usage of the applications;
• generating, at the computer, the license data in response to the request made by the license data request unit, the license data including information on one of the apparatuses and limitations on a use of one or more functions of one of the applications, the limitations being determined on a function basis;
• obtaining the generated license data from the computer;
• delivering the license data to each of the apparatuses;
• retaining the license status information in correlation with each of the apparatuses and updating the license status information upon receipt of the generated license data from the computer;
• and
• displaying, by the information processor, a screen based on the license status information, a dialog box for inputting identification information of a license to be purchased on the screen, and requesting generation of the license data for the license based on the input identification information of the license and identification information of one of the apparatuses corresponding to an application selected on the screen.

An image forming apparatus configured to execute one or more applications, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• an application list transmission unit configured to transmit a list of the applications in response to a request received through a network;
• a license status information processing unit configured to transmit license status information for the applications based on license data stored in a storage part of the image forming apparatus in response to a request to obtain the license status information generated based on the list of the applications and received through the network;
• a license reception unit configured to receive the license data according to the license status information from a computer through the network and store the received license data in a storage unit, the license data including information on the apparatus and limitations on a use of one or more functions of one of the applications, the limitations being determined on a function basis;
• an invalidation unit configured to make the license data, which is activated, invalid in response to a request to make the license data invalid;
• and
• a determination unit configured to determine whether it is authorized to use the applications based on the stored license data,
• wherein the license status information is retained in correlation with the apparatus and is updated upon receipt of the license data from the computer;
• and
• wherein the license status information processing unit is implemented as hardware or as a hardware/software combination.

An information processor, comprising:

• a license status information processing unit configured to obtain license status information of one or more applications installed in each of a plurality of apparatuses configured to execute the applications from the corresponding apparatuses through a first network;
• a license data request unit configured to make a request, based on the obtained license status information, to a computer connected through a second network for issuance of license data authorizing usage of the applications;
• a license data obtaining unit configured to obtain the license data generated by the computer in response to the request made by the license data request unit from the computer, the license data including information on one of the apparatuses and limitations on a use of one or more functions of one of the applications, the limitations being determined on a function basis;
• a license data delivery unit configured to deliver the license data to each of the apparatuses;
• and
• a license status information retention unit configured to retain the license status information in correlation with each of the apparatuses and to update the license status information upon receipt of the generated license data from the computer,
• wherein the information processor displays a screen based on the license status information, displays a dialog box for inputting identification information of a license to be purchased on the screen, and requests generation of the license data for the license based on the input identification information of the license and identification information of one of the apparatuses corresponding to an application selected on the screen, and
• wherein the license status information processing unit is implemented as hardware or as a hardware/software combination.

An information processing method executed by an image forming apparatus including an information processor configured to execute one or more applications, the image processing method comprising:

• transmitting a list of the applications in response to a request received through a network;
• transmitting license status information for the applications based on license data stored in a storage part of the image forming apparatus in response to a request to obtain the license status information generated based on the list of the applications and received through the network;
• receiving the license data according to the license status information from a computer through the network and storing the received license data in a storage unit, the license data including information on the apparatus and limitations on a use of one or more functions of one of the applications, the limitations being determined on a function basis;
• making the license data, which is activated, invalid in response to a request to make the license data invalid;
• determining, by the information processor of the image forming apparatus, whether it is authorized to use the applications based on the stored license data,
• wherein the license status information is retained in correlation with the apparatus and is updated upon receipt of the license data from the computer.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein a computer-executable program that includes instructions, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method, comprising:

• obtaining license status information of one or more applications installed in each of a plurality of apparatuses configured to execute the applications from the corresponding apparatuses through a first network;
• transmitting a request, based on the obtained license status information, to a computer through a second network for issuance of license data authorizing usage of the applications;
• obtaining the license data generated by the computer in response to the request transmitted from the computer, the license data including information on one of the apparatuses and limitations on a use of one or more functions of one of the applications, the limitations being determined on a function basis;
• delivering the license data to each of the apparatuses;
• retaining the license status information in correlation with each of the apparatuses and updating the license status information upon receipt of the generated license data from the computer;
• and
• displaying a screen based on the license status information, displaying a dialog box for inputting identification information of a license to be purchased on the screen, and requesting generation of the license data for the license based on the input identification information of the license and identification information of one of the apparatuses corresponding to an application selected on the screen.