Information processing apparatus and method of installing application program

• US 8,239,857 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Osada, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): TECKLU, ISAAC TUKU
• Application Number:
  US11/567,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive an application including a first application for the information processing apparatus, and a second application for a device other than the information processing apparatus, an installing unit configured to install the application received by the receiving unit, and an acquiring unit configured to acquire information for identifying a device on which to install the second application included in the application, wherein the installing unit installs the first application included in the application on the information processing apparatus, and sends the second application included in the application to the device identified by the information acquired by the acquiring unit.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus which can communicate with an external device, comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive information indicating that a first application is to be installed on the information processing apparatus and a second application is to be installed on the external device, the first application, the second application, a first license corresponding to the first application, and a second license corresponding to the second application; and

a controlling unit configured to determine whether the first license permits the information processing apparatus to install the first application, to determine whether the second license permits the external device to install the second application, to install the first application on the information processing apparatus in a case where it is determined that the first license permits the information processing apparatus and the second license permits the external device and to instruct the external device to install the second application on the external device in a case where it is determined that the first license permits the information processing apparatus and the second license permits the external device, wherein in a case where it is determined that the first license does not permit the information processing apparatus or the second license does not permit the external device, the controlling unit does not install the first application and does not instruct the external device to install the second application.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first license includes information identifying the information processing apparatus associated with the first application, and the second license includes information identifying the external device associated with the second application.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit further receives start order information indicating a start order of the first application and the second application, and

wherein the controlling unit determines, based on the start order information, whether to instruct the external device to start the installed second application before the installed first application is started, or to start the first application before instructing the external device to start the installed second application.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first application and the second application are encrypted,

wherein the receiving unit further receives first decryption information for decrypting the encrypted first application,

wherein the receiving unit further receives second decryption information for decrypting the encrypted second application, and

wherein the controlling unit decrypts the encrypted first application using the first decryption information, and sends the second decryption information together with the second application to the external device.

5. A method for installing an application on an information processing apparatus which can communicate with an external device, the method comprising:

receiving information indicating that a first application is to be installed on the information processing apparatus and a second application is to be installed on the external device, the first application, the second application, a first license corresponding to the first application, and a second license corresponding to the second application;

determining whether the first license permits the information processing apparatus to install the first application;

determining whether the second license permits the external device to install the second application;

installing the first application on the information processing apparatus, in a case where it is determined that the first license permits the information processing apparatus and the second license permits the external device; and

instructing the external device to install the second application on the external device, in a case where it is determined that the first license permits the information processing apparatus and the second license permits the external device,

wherein the information processing apparatus does not install the first application and does not instruct the external device to install the second application, in a case where it is determined that the first license does not permit the information processing apparatus or the second license does not permit the external device.

6. A storage medium storing a program for executing a method for installing an application on an information processing apparatus which can communicate with an external device, the program comprising:

a receiving module for receiving information indicating that a first application is to be installed on the information processing apparatus and a second application is to be installed on the external device, the first application, the second application, a first license corresponding to the first application, and a second license corresponding to the second application;

a determining module determining whether the first license permits the information processing apparatus to install the first application and determining whether the second license permits the external device to install the second application;

an installing module for installing the application on the information processing apparatus, in a case where it is determined that the first license permits the information processing apparatus and the second license permits the external device; and

an instructing module for instructing the external device to install the second application on the external device, in a case where it is determined that the first license permits the information processing apparatus and the second license permits the external device,

wherein the installing module and the instructing module are not executed in a case where it is determined that the first license does not permit the information processing apparatus or the second license does not permit the external device.