Image processing apparatus and reinstallation method therefor

• US 8,281,406 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2008
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Uchikawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Obeid, Mamon
• Application Number:
  US12/268,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/59, 726/26, 726/27, 726/28, 713/189, 713/191, 717/168, 717/169, 717/170, 717/172
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1082 Backup or restore

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes an installation unit configured to install an application for image processing and license information regarding the application, an information setting unit configured to set, as threshold information, operation restriction information, which is included in the license information, regarding the application, a counting unit configured to count operation information regarding an operation of the application, an application operation restriction unit configured to restrict an operation of the application according to the threshold information and the counted operation information, a reinstallation unit configured to reinstall the application, and an information setting control unit configured to inhibit the information setting unit from setting, as the threshold information, the operation restriction information, which is included in the license information, regarding the application reinstalled by the reinstallation unit.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an installation unit configured to install an application for image processing and license information regarding the application;

an information setting unit configured to set, as threshold information, operation restriction information, which is included in the license information, regarding the application;

an application operation restriction unit configured to restrict an operation of the application such that a user is prohibited from using the application in a case where a count value obtained by counting operation information of the application exceeds the threshold information;

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not both of a start-up of a controller, which is configured to count the operation information of the application and to control an image processing unit provided in the image processing apparatus, and a start-up of an application platform, which serves as an application execution environment for executing the application with which the controller is operated and which is realized on an operation system, have been completed;

an uninstallation unit configured to recognize that the start-up of the application is abnormal and uninstall the application in a case where the start-up of the controller and the start-up of the application platform have not been determined as completed by the determination unit;

a reinstallation unit configured to reinstall the application uninstalled by the uninstallation unit at the time of a next start-up of the image processing apparatus; and

an information setting control unit configured to control the image processing apparatus so that the application restriction information included in the license information of the application reinstalled by the reinstallation unit is not added to the threshold information and set the application restriction information used before the application is uninstalled as the threshold information of the reinstalled application.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation restriction information includes an expiration date of the application,

wherein the information setting unit is configured to set the expiration date of the application as the threshold information,

wherein the controller is configured to count days from first use of the application as the operation information, and

wherein the application operation restriction unit is configured to restrict an operation of the application based on the expiration date of the application and the days from first use of the application.

3. A method comprising:

installing an application for image processing and license information regarding the application;

setting, as threshold information, operation restriction information, included in the license information, regarding the application;

restricting an operation of the application to prohibit a user to use the application in a case where a count value obtained by counting operation information of the application exceeds the threshold information;

determining whether or not both of a start-up of a controller, counting the operation information of the application and controlling an image processing unit provided in the image processing apparatus, and a start-up of an application platform, serving as an application execution environment for executing the application with which the controller is operated and realized on an operation system, have been completed;

recognizing that the start-up of the application is abnormal and uninstalling the application in a case where the start-up of the controller and the start-up of the application platform have not been determined as completed;

reinstalling the uninstalled application at the time of a next start-up of the image processing apparatus; and

controlling the image processing apparatus so that the application restriction information included in the license information of the reinstalled application is not added to the threshold information and setting the application restriction information used before the application was uninstalled as the threshold information of the reinstalled application.

4. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

installing an application for image processing and license information regarding the application;

setting, as threshold information, operation restriction information, included in the license information, regarding the application;

restricting an operation of the application to prohibit a user to use the application in a case where a count value obtained by counting operation information of the application exceeds the threshold information;

determining whether or not both of a start-up of a controller, counting the operation information of the application and controlling an image processing unit provided in the image processing apparatus, and a start-up of an application platform, serving as an application execution environment for executing the application with which the controller is operated and realized on an operation system, have been completed;

recognizing that the start-up of the application is abnormal and uninstalling the application in a case where the start-up of the controller and the start-up of the application platform have not been determined as completed;

reinstalling the uninstalled application at the time of a next start-up of the image processing apparatus; and

controlling the image processing apparatus so that the application restriction information included in the license information of the reinstalled application is not added to the threshold information and setting the application restriction information used before the application was uninstalled as the threshold information of the reinstalled application.