Patent ID: 8321599
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A license issue system comprising: a plurality of image forming apparatuses; and a license issue device, wherein the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the license issue device are connected via a network, wherein each image forming apparatus includes: an accept unit that accepts transfer license information for moving a license of a designated function to a transfer destination device, wherein the transfer license information is issued by the license issue device, and wherein the transfer destination device is an image forming apparatus that is different from a transfer source device and is one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, a license information generation unit that generates activation license information for activating a function in the transfer destination device based on the transfer license information accepted by the accept unit, a provision unit that provides an information processing apparatus with the activation license information generated by the license information generation unit, and a deadline management unit that periodically compares a current date with a stored expiration date of the transfer license information and, when the stored expiration date has passed the current date, invalidates a function corresponding to the transfer license information, wherein the information processing apparatus, which is connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses, provides the image forming apparatus, which is to function as the transfer destination device, with the activation license information.