Dynamic network device reconfiguration

• US 7,610,366 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Richard A Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips; Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Divecha; Kamal B
• Application Number:
  US09/985,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,912 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709223-224, 709/220, 709/226, 709/203, 709/206, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5016 the resource being the memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015

Abstract

Managing a plurality of multifunction network devices on a network, each multifunction network device having a plurality of hardware resources including a storage memory for storing a plurality of function modules, a program memory for use by the function modules and a processor for executing each of the function modules, including detecting a reconfiguration event for one of the plurality of multifunction network devices, sending a reconfiguration command to the one multifunction network device, the reconfiguration command being a deletion command to delete at least one of the function modules or an allocation command to reallocate an amount of at least one of the hardware resources available for use by each of the plurality of function modules, and receiving confirmation that the one multifunction network device has been reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration command.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of multifunction network devices on a network, each multifunction network device having a network interface for communication on the network, each multifunction network device further having scanning and printing capabilities controlled by function modules, and each 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 for use by the function module for controlling the scanning capability and the function module for controlling the printing capability, and a processor for executing the function modules, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a function module from an information processing apparatus;

confirming whether the received function module is or is not authenticated;

executing the plurality of function modules by the multifunction network devices using the hardware resources so as to control the scanning and printing capabilities;

detecting a reconfiguration event for 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 even 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;

sending a first reconfiguration command including a deletion command to delete the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability from said one multifunction device, wherein the first reconfiguration command including the deletion command is sent over the network from an information processing apparatus on the network to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event in case that the reconfiguration event detected in the detecting step indicates the deletion of the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability in response to the increase of demand for the hardware resources; and

sending a second reconfiguration command including a retrieval command to retrieve a deleted function module for controlling the printing capability or the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability by sending the deleted function module from the information processing apparatus to said one multifunction network device via the network, wherein the second reconfiguration command including the retrieval command is sent over the network to said one multifunction network device corresponding to the reconfiguration event in case that the reconfiguration event detected in the detecting step indicates the retrieval of the function module for controlling the printing capability or the function module for controlling the scanning capability in response to the decrease of the demand for the hardware resources;

first reconfiguring said one multifunction network device by deleting the function module in said one multifunction network in accordance with the first reconfiguration command and sending the function module to the information processing apparatus via the network, wherein said one multifunction device operates itself without the scanning capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or without the printing capability corresponding to the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability; and

second reconfiguring said one multifunction network device by retrieving the deleted function module for controlling the scanning capability or the deleted function module for controlling the printing capability deleted in the first reconfiguring step from the information processing apparatus on the network in accordance with the second reconfiguration command, and executing the retrieved function module by said one multifunction network device so as to control a scanning or printing capability using the hardware resources, wherein said one multifunction device operates itself with scanning capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the scanning capability or with printing capability corresponding to the retrieved function module for controlling the printing capability.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration event is a request for execution of one of the plurality of function modules by the one multifunction network device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration event is a trigger set by a configuration module executing in a computing device on the network.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the trigger is set in response to a detection by the configuration module of an increased demand for use of the storage memory and of the program memory in the one multifunction network device.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the detection by the configuration module of an increased demand for use of the storage memory and of the program memory is based on resource information data which is passed from the one multifunction network device to the configuration module.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the resource information data includes a current utilized amount of the storage memory and a current utilized amount of the program memory of the one multifunction network device.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the resource information data is passed in an SNMP message from the one multifunction network device to the configuration module.

8. A method according to claim 3, wherein the trigger is set by the configuration module based on receipt of a request message by the configuration module from the one multifunction network device.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the request message comprises a request by the one multifunction network device for an increased useable capacity of the storage memory and of the program memory in the one multifunction network device.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the request message is passed in an SNMP message from the one multifunction network device to the configuration module.

11. A method according to claim 3, wherein the configuration module monitors an overall demand for execution of each of the plurality of functions by the plurality of multifunction network devices, and wherein the trigger is set by the configuration module based on a detected increase in the overall demand for execution of one of the plurality of functions.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the configuration module monitors the overall demand for execution of each of the plurality of functions by monitoring a plurality of function request messages which are sent to the plurality of multifunction network devices.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one multifunction network device is reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration command by deleting at least one of the function modules from the storage memory.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one multifunction network device is reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration command by deleting all of the function modules except one designated function module from the storage memory.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one multifunction network device is reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration command by reallocating a designated amount of the program memory for use by each of the function modules.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one multifunction network device is reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration command by instructing an operating system in the one multifunction network device to respond only to a function request message which requests execution of a designated function module.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the sending step the reconfiguration command can further be selected from an addition command to add a designated function module to the storage memory and the program memory of the one multifunction network device.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the reconfiguration event is a trigger set by a configuration module executing in a server on the network, and the trigger is based on a detection by the configuration module that the one multifunction device has a decreased demand for use of the storage memory and of the program memory.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the detection by the configuration module of an decreased demand for use of the storage memory and of the program memory is based on resource information data which is passed from the one multifunction network device to the configuration module.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the resource information data includes a current utilized amount of the storage memory and a current utilized amount of the program memory of the one multifunction network device.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the resource information data is passed in an SNMP message from the one multifunction network device to the configuration module.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein the reconfiguration event is a trigger set by a configuration module executing in a server on the network, and the trigger is based on an expiration of a predetermined time duration which was initiated at a last reconfiguration event for the one multifunction device.

23. A method according to claim 17, wherein the reconfiguration event is a trigger set by a configuration module executing in a server on the network, and the trigger is based on receipt of a request message by the configuration module from the one multifunction network device.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the request message comprises a request by the one multifunction network device for the addition of at least one function module to the storage memory and to the program memory in the one multifunction network device.

25. A method according to claim 17, wherein the reconfiguration event is a trigger set by a configuration module executing in a server on the network, and the trigger is based on discovery by the configuration module of the one multifunction network device on the network.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the one multifunction network device is discovered by detection of an SNMP announcement message sent over the network by the one multifunction network device.

27. A method according to claim 17, wherein, in the case that the reconfiguration command is an addition command to add a designated function module to the storage memory and the program memory of the one multifunction network device, the designated function module is downloaded to the one multifunction network device.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the designated function module is downloaded to the one multifunction network device from a component repository module in response to an instruction from a configuration module.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the component repository module and the configuration module are executing on a same computing device on the network.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the component repository module and the configuration module are executing on a separate respective computing devices on the network.

31. A method according to claim 28, wherein the component repository module executes on a server on the network.

32. A method according to claim 28, wherein a version identification of the designated function module is provided in the instruction from the configuration module to the component repository module.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the version identification is determined in accordance with a preset profile corresponding to the one multifunction network device.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the preset profile corresponding to the one multifunction network device contains information regarding allowed function modules that can be downloaded to the one multifunction network device and a version identification for each of the allowed function modules.

35. A method according to claim 27, wherein the designated function module is downloaded to the one multifunction network device from a component repository module in response to an instruction from the one multifunction network device.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein a version identification of the designated function module is provided in the instruction from the one multifunction network device to the component repository module.

37. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration event is a trigger set by the one multifunction network device based on a determination by the one multifunction network device that there is a need for an increased useable capacity of the storage memory and of the program memory in the one multifunction network device.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the reconfiguration command is sent internally within the one multifunction network device which is reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration command by deleting all of the function modules except one designated function module from the storage memory and from the program memory.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the deleted function modules are sent from the one multifunction network device to a component repository on the network, and wherein the deleted modules are subsequently retrieved by the one multifunction network device from the component repository and added to the storage memory and to the program memory.

40. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one multifunction network device is reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration command by prohibiting the use of program memory for at least one of the function modules.

41. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one multifunction network device is reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration command by prohibiting the use of program memory for all of the function modules except a designated function module.

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. 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.

49. 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.