Patent ID: 8274680
Filing Date: 2012-09-25
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a user service for a user by a multifunction peripheral (MFP), comprising the steps of: receiving a request in said MFP for the user service; receiving specification information in said MFP from an external device capable of communicating with the MFP, said specification information specifying at least one parameter of service processing provided by the external device, said service processing being processing executable by the external device as well as by the MFP and required for providing the user service; responsive to receiving the request for the user service, automatically determining within the MFP, based on the received specification information, whether the MFP itself executes service processing required for providing the user service or the external device executes the service processing; responsive to automatically determining within the MFP that the external device executes the service processing, automatically sending an instruction from the MFP to the external device requesting execution of the service processing; and responsive to automatically determining within the MFP that the MFP itself executes the service processing, if the MFP does not have an application required for the execution of the service processing, automatically requesting downloading the application from an external source, the application being executable on the MFP.