Patent ID: 7886268
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An information processing apparatus for realizing a plurality of functions by activating first upon power-on an activation program that activates a basic program and a plurality of functional programs that realize the functions, comprising: a unit that describes a program that is to be activated when any of the functional programs needs another program in association with the any one of the functional program; a hint listing unit that makes a list of hints about the functional programs; a call arbiter unit that manages transmission and reception of a message among the functional programs; a unit that makes the activation program activate only the basic program; a unit that makes the activation program read and interpret the list of hints; a unit that makes the activation program inquire the basic program of a described preference mode, wherein a preference mode is described in the basic program; a unit that makes the basic program inform the preference mode in response to the inquiry from the activation program; a unit that makes the activation program informed of the preference mode activate a first functional program that realizes the function of the preference mode according to the hints from the hint listing unit; a unit that calls a second functional program needed by the first functional program via the call arbiter unit when activating the first functional program; a unit that makes the call arbiter unit request the activation program to activate the second functional program when calling the second functional program needed by the first functional program fails, and repeats calling the second functional program while the activation program activates the second functional program until the activation program completes activation of the second functional program and the calling succeeds; a unit that makes the activation program having received an activation request activate the second functional program; a unit that makes the second functional program respond to calling by the first functional program via the call arbiter unit when an activation of the second functional program is completed; a unit that makes the first functional program make a screen drawing request to the basic program when the second functional program responds to calling by the first functional program; a unit that makes the basic program display a screen of a function that is realized by the first functional program; a unit that makes the basic program having received the screen drawing request inform the activation program of completion of an activation of the first functional program; and a unit that makes the activation program activate an inactivated functional program among the functional programs when informed of completion of the activation of the first functional program that realizes the function of the preference mode.