Easy modification to method of controlling applications in image forming apparatus

• US 20060215201A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimizu, Koji, Araki, Ryoji
• Granted Patent: US 8,488,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.130
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445

Abstract

An image forming apparatus configured to run a plurality of applications having different activation conditions includes an item acquiring unit configured to acquire from an item storage an item to be displayed on a setting screen for making a setting to an application, and a screen providing unit configured to generate and display the setting screen in response to the item acquired by the item acquiring unit, wherein the screen providing unit generates the setting screen in response to an item acquired from a file that contains one or more items that are unique for each application activation condition.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus configured to run a plurality of applications having different activation conditions, comprising:

an item acquiring unit configured to acquire from an item storage an item to be displayed on a setting screen for making a setting to an application; and

a screen providing unit configured to generate and display the setting screen in response to the item acquired by the item acquiring unit,

wherein the screen providing unit generates the setting screen in response to an item acquired from a file that contains one or more items that are unique for each application activation condition.

2. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen providing unit generates the setting screen in response to a further item acquired from a file that contains one or more items that are unique for each application.

3. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen providing unit is configured to obtain the file through a network.

4. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen providing unit is configured to generate the setting screen in response to the item acquired by the item acquiring unit to display the setting screen on a display screen of the image forming apparatus.

5. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen providing unit is configured to generate the setting screen in response to the item acquired by the item acquiring unit to display the setting screen as a Web page on a display screen of a terminal apparatus of the image forming apparatus.

11. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen providing unit is configured to generate and display the setting screen that is designed to allow a setting to be made to an application activation condition.

12. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen providing unit is configured to generate and display the setting screen that is designed to allow a setting to be made to an application installation condition.

6. An image forming apparatus configured to run a plurality of applications having different activation conditions, comprising:

an item acquiring unit configured to acquire from an item storage an item to be displayed on a setting screen for making a setting to an application; and

an item providing unit configured to provide the item acquired by the item acquiring unit to a screen providing unit that generates and displays the setting screen in response to the item,

wherein the item providing unit provides an item, acquired from a file that contains one or more items that are unique for each application activation condition, to the screen providing unit that generates and displays the setting screen in response to the provided item.

7. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the item providing unit provides to the screen providing unit a further item acquired from a file that contains one or more items that are unique for each application.

8. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the item providing unit is configured to obtain the file through a network.

9. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the item providing unit is configured to provide the item acquired by the item acquiring unit to the screen providing unit that generates the setting screen in response to the provided item to display the setting screen on a display screen of the image forming apparatus.

10. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the item providing unit is configured to provide the item acquired by the item acquiring unit to the screen providing unit that generates the setting screen in response to the provided item to display the setting screen as a Web page on a display screen of a terminal apparatus of the image forming apparatus.

13. An information processing method performed by an image forming apparatus configured to run a plurality of applications having different activation conditions, comprising:

an item acquiring step of acquiring from an item storage an item to be displayed on a setting screen for making a setting to an application; and

a screen providing step of generating and displaying the setting screen in response to the item acquired by the item acquiring step, wherein the screen providing step generates the setting screen in response to an item acquired from a file that contains one or more items that are unique for each application activation condition.

14. The information processing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the screen providing step generates the setting screen in response to a further item acquired from a file that contains one or more items that are unique for each application.

15. The information processing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the screen providing step obtains the file through a network.

16. The information processing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the screen providing step generates the setting screen in response to the item acquired by the item acquiring step to display the setting screen on a display screen of the image forming apparatus.

17. The information processing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the screen providing step generates the setting screen in response to the item acquired by the item acquiring step to display the setting screen as a Web page on a display screen of a terminal apparatus of the image forming apparatus.

18. A computer-readable record medium having a program embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the information processing method as claimed in claim 13.

19. An image forming apparatus, comprising an application controlling unit configured to install a plurality of applications in a unified manner and to control the applications, wherein the application controlling unit is configured to acquire activation conditions of the applications from a setting file recorded on a recording medium to control activations of the applications in response to the activation conditions.

20. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the application controlling unit is configured to control activations of the applications in response to activation conditions that are selected on a setting screen for making a setting to the activation conditions of the applications.

21. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the setting file is obtained through a network.

22. An image forming apparatus, comprising an application controlling unit configured to install a plurality of applications in a unified manner and to control the applications, wherein the application controlling unit is configured to acquire install conditions of the applications from a setting file recorded on a recording medium to control installation or uninstallation of the applications in response to the install conditions.

23. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the application controlling unit is configured to control installation or uninstallation of the applications in response to install conditions that are selected on a setting screen for making a setting to the install conditions of the applications.

24. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the setting file is obtained through a network.

25. An information processing method performed by an image forming apparatus configured to install a plurality of applications in a unified manner and to control the applications, comprising:

an activation condition acquiring step of acquiring activation conditions of the applications from a setting file recorded on a recording medium; and

an activation controlling step of controlling activation of the applications in response to the activation conditions.

26. The information processing method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the activation controlling step controls activations of the applications in response to activation conditions that are selected on a setting screen for making a setting to the activation conditions of the applications.

27. The information processing method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the setting file is obtained through a network.

31. A computer-readable record medium having a program embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the information processing method as claimed in claim 25.

28. An information processing method performed by an image forming apparatus configured to install a plurality of applications in a unified manner and to control the applications, comprising:

an install condition acquiring step of acquiring install conditions of the applications from a setting file recorded on a recording medium; and

an installation controlling step of controlling installation or uninstallation of the applications in response to the install conditions.

29. The information processing method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the installation controlling step controls installation or uninstallation of the applications in response to install conditions that are selected on a setting screen for making a setting to the install conditions of the applications.

30. The information processing method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the setting file is obtained through a network.