Patent ID: 7949607
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a storage device that stores an application program and license information relating to a license for the stored application program; an image forming job-performing device that executes the stored application program to execute an image forming job relating to an image input or output; a license managing device that manages the stored license information in association with the stored application program; and a notifying device that issues a notification notifying the application program of invalidity of the license when said license managing device determines that the license for the application program has become invalid during execution of the image forming job, wherein the image forming job-performing device suspends the execution of the application program in response to the notification from said notifying device, and also suspends the execution of the image forming job associated with the execution-suspended application program, wherein the image forming job-performing device executes remaining processing of the image forming job when execution of the suspended image forming job is restarted in accordance with updating of the license information, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a scanner that reads an image on an original document, and a printer that prints the read image on a sheet, wherein the image forming job-performing device executes the stored application program to execute the image forming job, the image forming job including a sheet reading operation by the scanner or printing operation by the printer, wherein the image forming job-performing device suspends the execution of the application program in response to the notification from said notifying device, and also suspends the execution of the image forming job, including suspending the sheet reading operation by the scanner or the printing operation by the printer, associated with the execution-suspended application program, and wherein the image forming job-performing device executes remaining processing of the image forming job, including executing remaining sheet reading by the scanner or remaining printing operation by the printer, when execution of the suspended image forming job is restarted in accordance with updating of the license information.