# US 8,570,583 B2 · Method for controlling an image forming apparatus using information from a detachable recording medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,583 B2 - Document ID: US8570583B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/924,842 - Filed: 2007-10-26 - Published: 2008-05-22 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-06 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Daisuke Okada; Nobuhiro Shindo; Naruhiko Ogasawara; Takeshi Fujita; Kazuma Saito - Inventors: Daisuke Okada; Nobuhiro Shindo; Naruhiko Ogasawara; Takeshi Fujita; Kazuma Saito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570583B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/00965: {using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick} - G03G 15/502: {relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens} - G03G 15/5087: {for receiving image data} - H04N 1/0097: {Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs} - H04N 1/32502: {in systems having a plurality of input or output devices} - G03G 2215/00092: the support being an IC card - G03G 2215/00109: Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host - H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image processing apparatus, method, and computer readable storage medium in which a controller or control means recognizes whether information read from a detachable recording medium can be applied to the image forming apparatus based on the information stored in a memory of the image processing apparatus and a removable recording medium. When the detachable recording medium is recognized as containing information which can be applied to the image processing apparatus, the information from the detachable recording medium is loaded into the image forming apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus, comprising: a storage unit configured to store information regarding the image forming apparatus, the information including first setting information including at least one of a communication setting that includes an IP address, subnet mask, or gateway, an operating environment setting, and a detail setting related to use of a paper tray, toner color, or a print language; a reading unit configured to read information, including second setting information, from a detachable recording medium previously mounted to another image forming apparatus; a control unit configured to recognize whether the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus can be applied to the image forming apparatus based on the first setting information stored in the storage unit and the second setting information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus, the control unit being further configured to apply the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus if the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is recognized as applicable to the image processing apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the control unit is further configured to recognize the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus as applicable to the image forming apparatus if setting information corresponding to the second setting information stored in the detachable recording unit previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is stored in the storage unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the control unit is further configured to recognize whether the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is applicable to the image forming apparatus by comparing character string information stored in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus and stored in the storage unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the control unit is further configured to recognize the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus as applicable to the image forming apparatus if at least one of the character string information stored in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus and the storage unit corresponds with each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the character string information includes at least one of device model information, device identification, and user information of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the storage unit is further configured to store information indicating a relationship with the another image forming apparatus which is applicable to the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the information that wherein the information stored in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus includes information used to boot the image forming apparatus, and the second setting information of the another image forming apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the control unit is further configured to recognize whether the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is applicable to the image forming apparatus before the image forming apparatus is booted and to boot the image forming apparatus using the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus if the information read from detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is applicable to the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit is further configured to reflect the changed information in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus if one of the information stored in the storage unit corresponding to the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is changed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to avoid writing the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus over corresponding information stored in the storage unit. ### Claim 11 An image forming apparatus, comprising: a storage means for storing information regarding the image forming apparatus, the information including first setting information including at least one of a communication setting that includes an IP address, subnet mask, or gateway, an operating environment setting, and a detail setting related to use of a paper tray, toner color, or a print language; a reading means for reading information, including second setting information, from a detachable recording medium previously mounted to another image forming apparatus; a control means for recognizing whether the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus can be applied to the image forming apparatus based on the first setting information stored in the storage means and the second setting information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus, the control means being further for applying the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus if the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is recognized as applicable to the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control means further comprises means for recognizing the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus as applicable to the image forming apparatus if setting information corresponding to the second setting information stored in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is stored in the storage means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control means further comprises means for recognizing whether the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is applicable to the image forming apparatus by comparing character string information stored in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus and stored in the storage means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the control means further comprises means for recognizing the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus as applicable to the image forming apparatus if at least one of the character string information stored in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus and the storage means corresponds with each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the character string information includes at least one of device model information, device identification, and user information of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein storage means further stores the information indicating a relationship with the another image forming apparatus which is applicable to the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the information stored in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus includes information used to boot the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the control means further comprising means for recognizing whether the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is applicable to the image forming apparatus before the image forming apparatus is booted, and means for booting the image forming apparatus using the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus if the information read from detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is applicable to the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control means further comprises means for reflecting the changed information in the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus if one of the information stored in the storage means corresponding to the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is changed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control means further comprises means for avoiding writing the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus over corresponding information stored in the storage means. ### Claim 21 A control method for an image forming apparatus comprising the steps of: storing information regarding the image forming apparatus in a storage device, the information including first setting information including at least one of a communication setting that includes an IP address, subnet mask, or gateway, an operating environment setting, and a detail setting related to use of a paper tray, toner color, or a print language; reading information, including second setting information, from a detachable recording medium previously mounted to another image forming apparatus; recognizing whether the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus can be applied to the image forming apparatus based on the first setting information stored in the storage device and the second setting information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus; and applying the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus if the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is recognized as applicable to the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 22 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores a computer program that when executed causes a computer to perform a process, the process comprising: storing information regarding an image forming apparatus in a storage device, the information including first setting information including at least one of a communication setting that includes an IP address, subnet mask, or gateway, an operating environment setting, and a detail setting related to use of a paper tray, toner color, or a print language; reading information, including second setting information, from a detachable recording medium previously mounted to another image forming apparatus; recognizing whether the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus can be applied to the image forming apparatus based on the first setting information stored in the storage device and the second setting information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus; and applying the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus if the information read from the detachable recording medium previously mounted to the another image forming apparatus is recognized as applicable to the image forming apparatus.