IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20180034997A1
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Published: 02/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Yuto
• Granted Patent: US 10,447,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00941 Interaction of different applications H04N1/00949 takes precedence; multiprogramming arrangements of computers G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a device control application for causing the image forming apparatus to carry out a job, a storage control unit configured to perform control for causing the storage unit to store an image processing plug-in application for extending the device control application, and a processing unit configured to execute the image processing plug-in application in conjunction with execution of the device control application.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store a device control application for causing the image forming apparatus to carry out a job;

a memory device that stores a set of instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the instructions to;

perform control for causing the storage unit to store an image processing plug-in application for extending the device control application, and

execute the image processing plug-in application conjunction with execution of the device control application.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor executes instructions in the memory device to cause the storage unit to store an independent function plug-in application operable independently of the device control application.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one processor executes instructions in the memory device to execute the image processing plug-in application in conjunction with execution of the independent function plug-in application.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing plug-in application extends the independent function plug-in application.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing plug-in application performs processing for instructing an external server to perform image processing in conjunction with execution of processing by the device control application.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device control application is any of a print application, a copy application, a scan storage application, and a scan transmission application.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing plug-in application performs any processing among a conversion of a format of an input image, a tilt correction, and generation of translated data after optical character recognition (OCR), in conjunction with execution of processing by the device control application.

8. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus configured to store a device control application, the method comprising:

performing control for causing a storage unit to store an image processing plug-in application for extending the device control application; and

executing the image processing plug-in application in conjunction with execution of the device control application.

9. The control method according to claim 8, further comprising

causing the storage unit to store an independent function plug-in application operable independently of the device control application.

10. The control method according to claim 9, further comprising:

executing the image processing lug-in application in conjunction with execution of the independent function plug-in application.

11. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium recording a program for causing an image processing apparatus configured to store a device control application to perform:

a control procedure of performing control for causing a storage unit to store an image processing plug-in application for extending the device control application; and

a processing procedure of executing the image processing plug-in application in conjunction with execution of the device control application.