Patent ID: 9742949
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. An image forming system comprising: an information processing device connected to a network; and a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected each other via the network, the information processing device including: a display device that includes one of a liquid crystal display, an Electro-Luminescence (EL) display, a plasma display, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display; an operational input device that includes one of a mouse, a keyboard, and a touch panel; and a Central Processing Unit (CPU) that functions as an image forming apparatus selection part, an optional function selection part, a license key acquisition part, and an optional function activation part, wherein: the CPU as the image forming apparatus selection part i) presents a first screen to an administrator on the display device, the first screen displaying a list of the plurality of image forming apparatuses for activation of an optional function, and ii) then accepts a selection of one or more among the plurality of image forming apparatuses by the administrator via the operational input device; the CPU as the optional function selection part i) presents a second screen to the administrator on the display device, the second screen displaying a list of a plurality of optional functions to be activated on selected image forming apparatuses, and ii) then accepts a selection of one of the plurality of optional functions by the administrator via the operational input device; the CPU as the license key acquisition part acquires license keys for activation of the selected one of the plurality of optional function on the selected image forming apparatuses; and the CPU as the optional function activation part that issues to the selected image forming apparatuses an instruction for activating the selected one of the plurality of optional functions on the selected image forming apparatuses with use of the acquired license keys, wherein the CPU as the license key acquisition part: presents a third screen to the administrator on the display device, the third screen displaying i) the selected image forming apparatuses, ii) the selected one of the plurality of optional functions on the selected image forming apparatuses, and iii) a button for importing a license key; and acquires, when the button for importing the license key causes an Operating System (OS)-file operation screen to be opened, a CSV file by designating the stored CSV file in the OS-file operation screen, and wherein the CSV file has recorded the license keys, and at least one of host names and IP addresses, which are identifiers for uniquely identifying the plurality of image forming apparatuses respectively, on a combinational set basis.