Patent ID: 9578197
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. A program management method performed in an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: by the image forming apparatus, including at least one processor: generating programs that perform functions that have been previously performed according to a user setting regarding image forming job, wherein the image forming job comprises at least one of printing, copying, scanning, and faxing; confirming information of a user; displaying a screen provided on a user interface of the image forming apparatus to receive information regarding whether access by other users to the generated programs that perform functions that have been previously performed according to the user setting is allowed; wherein the generating of the programs comprises by way of the user interface: receiving information of an application supported by the image forming apparatus, in response to selection for the application, receiving functions, options of the selected application, causing generation of the selected application, functions, options as the programs that perform functions that have been previously performed according to the user setting, in response to selection of a programs button, and causing storing of the generated programs with the confirmed user information, information regarding the generated programs, and the received information regarding whether access by other users to the generated programs is allowed in a storage unit, in response to selection of a save button; displaying the programs differently, that perform functions that have been previously performed according to the user setting and are stored in the storage unit, according to the received information on the user interface of the image forming apparatus so that the user identifies whether access by others to the generated programs is allowed, wherein the displaying comprises displaying the programs that perform functions that have been previously performed according to the user setting as icons or a program list, wherein the displaying further comprises placing an indicator on top of the icons or in the program list, wherein the indicator denotes public or private, and wherein the public indicator is displayed differently than the private indicator using different background colors; receiving one of the displayed programs that perform functions that have been previously performed according to the user setting and are selected by and sent from the user via selecting an icon on the user interface for a predetermined period of time for notifying about a merger request of programs that perform functions that have been previously performed according to the user setting; dividing the programs that perform functions that have been previously performed according to the user setting into the programs that can and cannot be merged with the selected program and displaying the divided programs as enabled programs and programs that are colored gray; additionally receiving at least one of the programs that are divided, displayed, and can be merged with the selected program selected by and sent from the user; merging the selected program and the additionally selected at least one program via a drag and drop operation; storing the merged programs with the user information and information regarding the merged programs in the storage unit; and displaying on the user interface the merged program separately from each of the at least two programs selected by the user, the merged program displayed in the form of a merged program icon containing the multiple programs selected for merging and the indicator denoting public or private.